Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 62
6th suspect arrested in New Kensington homicide; 1 remains at large
One of two teens still at large and charged in the shooting death of a man last month in New Kensington was arrested Monday. U.S. marshals apprehended Elijah Rashad Gary, 18, on Ella Street in Wilkinsburg without incident, Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli said. Gary is one of seven...
Plan for disc golf course in neighborhood park alarms New Kensington residents
A New Kensington man’s desire to use his neighborhood park for a disc golf course has put him at odds with some of his neighbors, who fear it will attract too many people and infringe on their privacy. Jim Jackson moved to Fairmont Drive from Arnold in January. His house...
New Kensington Back to School Bash open to families in need from anywhere
An upcoming Back to School Bash in New Kensington will be open to grade school children in need from anywhere. “We’re going to give them a stocked book bag,” said Laurie Johnson-Wade, a founder of Lost Dreams Awakening, one of the event sponsors. “Our theme is: Positioning Them for Success.”...
Arnold native, retired officer brings books, hope home to New Kensington
After seven years, Lillie Leonardi reached the point of having to grow or end her literary services and audio production business, Passages & Prose. She has chosen to grow, investing what she had left and bringing it home to New Kensington. “I wanted to bring it back here. Everything started...
2 teens charged in New Kensington homicide appear before judge for welfare hearings
Two of the five teens in custody and charged as adults in the July homicide of a man in New Kensington appeared before District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. on Friday. The hearings for Amir Kennedy, 14, and Avian Molter, 15, were held to check on their welfare as required...
Art projects proposed for downtown New Kensington alley, crosswalks
A proposed project would decorate an alley and two intersections in downtown New Kensington with artwork. The New Kensington Downtown Partnership and the New Kensington Arts Center are proposing the art projects for Ivy Alley, which runs between Fourth and Fifth avenues, and the Fifth Avenue intersections at Eighth and...
East Deer man bathing in Allegheny River found dead
An East Deer man who went bathing in the Allegheny River on Friday was found dead in the water two days later, according to police. Arnold police Chief Eric Doutt identified the man as Addam Isaac Roe, 28, of Sherman Street in East Deer. A boater found Roe’s body floating...
More states see gas prices fall below $4; Pennsylvania not among them
Average gas prices have gone below $4 per gallon in nearly 20 states, but Pennsylvania is not one of them. The state’s gas tax — 57.6 cents per gallon — and tight gasoline inventory for much of the Northeast are to blame, said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis...
Welcoming Westmoreland brings coffee talk to New Kensington at Knead Community Cafe
An effort at helping people feel welcome in Westmoreland County held its first event Friday outside Greensburg. Welcoming Westmoreland, a project led by Westmoreland Community Action, held a coffee talk at Knead Community Cafe in New Kensington. A collaboration between a variety of groups, the Welcome Everyone Program grew out...
Allegheny Township police charge Oakmont man with assaulting, raping teen
An Oakmont man is accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl multiple times before raping her late last year. Allegheny Township police charged Jeffrey Thomas McMeekin, 60, of California Avenue on Thursday with one count of rape, three counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, two counts of aggravated indecent assault...
Downtown New Kensington building in danger of collapse taken down in emergency demolition
An emergency demolition was underway Thursday afternoon on 10th Street in downtown New Kensington. The three-story building, between Third and Fourth avenues, was declared a public safety hazard, City Clerk Dennis Scarpiniti said. Simply pulling ivy on an outside wall caused the entire building to shake, code enforcement officer Pat...
Jane Seymour among attendees of Celebrity Care Fest in Pine
The Celebrity Care Fest, which hasn’t been held since 2019, returned to Pine as a two-day event the weekend of July 22-23. The theme for the weekend promoted by the HM3 Partners Independence Fund with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Penguins and Pirates was “Unity & Equality for All.” A “Unity Dinner”...
Pine, Franklin Park businesses among those receiving $10K Comcast ‘RISE’ grants
Dr. Megan Stock was inspired at a young age to become a dentist by her own childhood dentist, the mother of a friend. While dentistry was once a male-dominated field, Stock said her dental school graduating class at the University of Pittsburgh was nearly half female, a ratio she believes...
Arnold-based Colorful & Sweet Creations throws parties across Pittsburgh region
When Monique Teasley saw how much others were charging to plan events and decorate for parties, she knew she could do it for less and enjoy it at the same time. And that’s how Colorful & Sweet Creations was born, with the help of her childhood friend, Dionna Mott, and...
Gas price decline streak hits 40 days; Pittsburgh-area prices among highest in state
Gas prices have been coming down across the country for 40 days in a row, but average prices in Southwestern Pennsylvania remain above the national and state averages and among the highest in the state. According to AAA, the national average on Monday was about $4.36. That’s about 17 cents...
Dumpster rental business looking to build new home in Arnold
Joe Cene worked a grueling schedule for two years — one job at night, another during the day — until he knew his fledgling dumpster rental company could support his family. “It was a struggle,” Cene said. Six years after starting Triple P Disposal, Cene is at the point of...
Couple combine talents into new salon, art shop in downtown New Kensington
A couple from Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood are hoping everything will come up roses for them with their new business in downtown New Kensington. Chloe Chiovitti and Kiley Shuman opened Pure Rose Beauty & Art Studio on Fifth Avenue in late June and had a grand opening July 9. Co-owners and...
Arnold man accused of illegally firing gun in New Kensington
An Arnold man is facing charges after New Kensington police say he fired a gun near a child. New Kensington police charged Gabriel Garfield Golding, 27, of Leishman Avenue on Thursday with recklessly endangering another person and discharging a firearm. In a criminal complaint against Golding, police said the incident...
Georgia man accused of taking $30K from women in expert witness scam targeting doctors, nurses
A Georgia man is accused of taking more than $30,000 from two women in a scam targeting doctors and nurses in the Pittsburgh area. Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin Kraus on Thursday announced the apprehension of Richard Wayne Long, 48, of Ellenwood, Ga. According to a criminal complaint, detectives found Long...
New Kensington ‘pig-nic’ to benefit Frazer-based mini-pig rescue
Pigs will be guests, not food, at an upcoming picnic in New Kensington. The first-time Summer Pig-nic will benefit a rescue for miniature pigs in Frazer. The vegan affair at the Voodoo Brewing New Kensington Pub will feature food from Veggies N’At and Sweet Alchemy, a vegan bake shop. Tickets...
Professional wrestling training school coming to downtown New Kensington
Michael Young wants to show that there’s more to professional wrestling than what many people think. Young, 27, a Lower Burrell native living in Bloomfield, is the current singles champion for Pittsburgh-based Enjoy Wrestling, where he’s known as MV Young. He is opening a wrestling school, Technique 2 Train Pittsburgh,...
Carnegie man identified as suspect in theft of pickup from Sheetz in New Kensington
Police say they used DNA and surveillance video to identify a man accused of stealing a pickup from the Sheetz parking lot on Freeport Street in New Kensington last year. New Kensington police charged Michael Joseph Spears, 29, of Carnegie on Wednesday with a felony count of theft. In a...
Pine-Richland hires 2 new assistant high school principals
Two new assistant principals are joining Pine-Richland High School. The school board approved hiring Tracy Kuchnicki and Lisa Harding at a special meeting on July 14. Kuchnicki, who started July 18, has an annual salary of $92,000. Harding, who will start July 25, will be paid $97,000, according to the...
New Kensington man accused of attacking caregiver with shovel handle
A New Kensington man is accused of assaulting a caregiver with the cut-off handle of a shovel. Police charged Marvin Tyree Hall, 36, of Constitution Boulevard with two felony counts of aggravated assault and a misdemeanor count of simple assault. Police said the assault was reported shortly after 11 a.m....
Another closing of Logans Ferry Road in Plum to detour thousands for up to 3 months
Work to repair a landslide will close a section of Logans Ferry Road in Plum for up to three months. The stretch between Entrance Drive and Columbia Road, near the border of Plum and New Kensington, tentatively is scheduled to close beginning Aug. 2. PennDOT spokesman Steve Cowan said, if...
