Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 48
Pennsylvania average gas price down 28% from record high set 1 year ago
One year ago today, drivers in Pennsylvania were paying about $1.42 per gallon more for gas than they are now. On June 12, 2022, Pennsylvania recorded what remains its highest average price for regular unleaded gasoline — $5.07 per gallon, according to AAA. Today, the statewide average is $3.65, about...
Funding deadline causes cancellation of proposed garden, playground in New Kensington
Two organizations will not move forward with plans for a community park and garden along 10th Street in New Kensington. Westmoreland Community Action and Wesley Family Services had proposed building them on vacant city-owned lots on either side of Third Avenue. The city’s planning commission in February had recommended approval of...
Arnold police officer cleared of final charge related to allegation of unlawfully killing deer
An Arnold police officer has been cleared of all charges related to an allegation that he unlawfully killed an antlered deer. Brackenridge District Judge Carolyn S. Bengel dismissed the third and final charge against Jacob A. Pollick, 30, of Murrysville after a hearing Wednesday, according to court records. The Pennsylvania...
New Kensington-Arnold School Board approves 1.6% property tax increase
Property owners in New Kensington and Arnold will see a 1.6% increase in their school district property tax bills. The New Kensington-Arnold School Board approved the district’s $50.42 million budget for the 2023-24 school year Tuesday, along with the tax increase. The property tax rate was increased by 1.5 mills,...
Penn State New Kensington supports proposal for student housing in downtown New Ken
A New Kensington business owner wants to build housing for college students and others on Fifth Avenue. Jake Lydick, owner of Eye-bot Aerial Solutions and Patriot Technology Holdings, has a plan to build residential units in existing buildings at 713, 715 and 717 Fifth Ave. The addresses are among nine...
Building the Valley: Baker savoring sweet success with growing shop in New Kensington
When Jamie Parker took her home-based bakery into a storefront, small felt right. Two years later, with Sweet Alchemy Bake Shop moved into larger quarters in New Kensington and its offerings expanding, Parker looks back and wonders why she didn’t go big from the start. How has she succeeded? “I...
Mother says she saw son killed in New Kensington shooting; bail denied for alleged shooter
Jackee Harris said her son was kind and generous toward the older teen she claims killed her son in an exchange of gunfire in New Kensington. Harris said she was watching from a car nearby when her son, Divine Warner, 16, confronted Dylan Walmsley, 19, along Fourth Avenue on April...
Field fills in but remains incomplete for 6 New Kensington-Arnold School Board seats
The May primary has filled in some, but not all, of the empty ballot spots for the New Kensington-Arnold School Board. Six of the nine board seats are up for election this year — two in each of the district’s three voting regions. But only three people were on the...
National average gas price expected to stay under $4 this summer, analyst says
The national average price of gasoline is likely to spend much of the summer in the range of $3.35 to $3.85 per gallon, an industry analyst said. But Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said it could go higher “if unexpected refinery outages flare up or we...
Faces of the Valley: Young Plum couple rides waves of emotion as infant son battles through immune deficiency disorderVideo
Every parent knows their child is unique. Eric and Kayla Gidel of Plum didn’t know how unique their son, Easton, was until they had to save his life. Born on Feb. 7, 2022, Easton was diagnosed a little more than six months later with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, or HLH, an immune...
Lower gas prices luring Americans to travel, but inflation, high prices give pause
Americans are wanting to travel this summer, lured by lower gas prices, but remain cautious, price-tracking service GasBuddy says. GasBuddy projects that the national average price of gasoline this Memorial Day weekend will be $3.53 per gallon. That’s $1.10 less than it was in 2022. According to GasBuddy’s 2023 summer...
Plum School Board to discuss needs, cost of work at O’Block, middle schools
The Plum School Board will discuss how to pay for work at two of the district’s schools during a meeting in June. The board also will address priorities at Plum Middle and O’Block Elementary schools, separating needs from wants, board President Michael Devine said. “I can tell you off the...
New Kensington-Arnold considering 1.6% tax increase for next school year
Property owners in the New Kensington-Arnold School District may be facing a property tax increase after all. While the school board approved a $48.9 million preliminary 2023-24 budget in May that carried no increase, the board’s finance committee now is recommending a 1.5-mill hike. That would increase the district’s tax...
Vendors sought for Plum’s Monday Market
Vendors are being sought for the Monday Market in Plum. The market will operate from 3 to 6 p.m. Mondays beginning June 5 through Sept. 25. It will be closed Sept. 4 for Labor Day. This year, it will start at Plum Creek Park on New Texas Road, across from...
Plum, teachers union announce tentative, early 6-year contract deal
The Plum School District and its teachers union announced Thursday they have reached a tentative agreement on a new six-year contract. The agreement was described as an “early bird,” meaning it was reached before the expiration of the existing agreement. The current six-year contract between the district and its teachers,...
Upgrades to Plum natural gas metering, regulating facility to be finished by summer
Work to upgrade a natural gas facility along Coxcomb Hill Road in Plum is expected to be finished by early summer, according to a spokesperson for its owner. The facility is a metering and regulation station, which “takes interstate pipeline pressure and regulates it down to distribution line pressure so...
Primary clarifies race for Plum School Board between 5 Democrats, 5 Republicans
Tuesday’s primary cleared up a crowded field for Plum School Board, narrowing a field of 14 down to 10 — five from each party, to vie for five seats in November. Although all 14 candidates were cross-filed, none of the candidates advanced on both ballots, according to unofficial election results....
New Kensington Council challenger plans to stay involved following close primary loss
Two incumbent New Kensington councilmen survived a challenge in Tuesday’s Democratic primary to keep their seats, according to unofficial election results. With 100% of precincts reporting, Councilman Tim DiMaio claimed the most votes, 709, or about 38% of the 1,886 votes cast. By 43 votes, Councilman Dante Cicconi edged out...
Democratic Arnold mayor nominee plans to oust city police chief
Shannon Santucci, winner of Tuesday’s Democratic primary for mayor of Arnold, says she will change the leadership of the city’s police department should she continue through to claim the office following the general election in November. Santucci led a slate with council candidates Phil McKinley, an incumbent, and newcomer Aaron...
Peck Yakopec, Zellers on track to face off again in November for district judge
The primary contest between District Judge Cheryl Peck Yakopec and challenger Leslie Uncapher Zellers appeared to be moving on to the November general election. With 100% of precincts reporting Tuesday night, Peck Yakopec was leading for the Democratic nomination, with 60% of the vote, according to unofficial results. Zellers claimed...
Pallone, Doyle leading in nominations for Plum district judge
Democrat Melanie Pallone and Republican Mike Doyle emerged from a field of five candidates in Tuesday’s primary to earn a spot in November’s general election to claim the vacant district judge’s office serving Plum and Oakmont, according to unofficial election results. With 100% of precincts reporting, Pallone, an attorney from...
New Kensington-Arnold 5th graders enjoy morning trout fishing at Valley High School
Stocking the trout certainly helped, but they didn’t seem to be needed for some fifth graders from Roy A. Hunt Elementary School to enjoy a morning of fishing in Little Pucketa Creek outside Valley High School. Some students were as happy catching the numerous itty bitty fish in the creek...
Army Corps announces upper Allegheny River lock openings for boaters
Locks on the upper Allegheny River will be open during specific dates and times this summer, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District announced Friday. The corps will provide locking services to recreational boaters through a partnership with the Allegheny River Development Corp. Allegheny River locks six through nine...
New Kensington schedules public hearing on motorcycle club’s use of building
A public hearing is scheduled on a motorcycle club’s request to use a building in a residential area of New Kensington as its clubhouse. City council will hold the hearing Monday, May 22. The Vultures Motorcycle Club goes into the hearing already fighting an uphill battle. The city’s planning commission...
Work continues on bridge replacement over Pucketa Creek between Plum, Upper Burrell
With a temporary span installed, work is continuing to replace a bridge over a creek between Plum and Upper Burrell. Pugliano Construction of Plum is working on the $1 million project to replace Pucketa Creek Bridge No. 5, which carries Lincoln Beach Drive over the creek. Allegheny and Westmoreland counties...
