Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 89
PennDOT plans traffic stoppages on Tarentum Bridge
Brief traffic stoppages will occur Wednesday on the Tarentum Bridge as crews perform work there, PennDOT announced Monday. Stoppages of 15 minutes or less will happen as needed in each direction between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. During the stoppages, crews will perform jacking operations on the bridge, requiring traffic...
Traffic restrictions set to start on Harrison’s Springhill Road for path project
Traffic restrictions on Springhill Road in Harrison are scheduled to start Monday and remain in place into August. The two uphill lanes between North Canal Street in Natrona and McWilliams Drive in Westlawn will close at 9 a.m. Monday, Allegheny County Public Works announced. The date was changed from Thursday...
ATI, Steelworkers return to bargaining table as strike continues
Negotiators for Allegheny Technologies Inc. and the United Steelworkers union returned to the bargaining table Monday. About 1,300 USW members have been on strike at nine ATI facilities since March 30. On Friday, the union said it had proposed returning to in-person negotiations with ATI to resolve the outstanding issues...
Man found shot in East Hills business
A man was found shot in the 7900 block of Frankstown Avenue just after midnight, according to Pittsburgh police. According to police, first responders found the victim inside a business with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. The business was not identified. Police said the victim told officers that an...
Highlands board to vote on contract for unarmed security
Highlands School Board will vote Monday on hiring a new firm to provide unarmed security services for the district. The board will be voting on a three-year agreement with Universal Protection Service, doing business as Allied Universal Security Services, of Conshohocken, Montgomery County. The agreement began March 5 or 25;...
Tarentum’s summer concert series to return to newly renovated amphitheater
The oldies group American Pie had a busy year planned in 2020 with more than 40 gigs scheduled, up from the usual 30 to 35. “We were headed for a pretty good year,” said Richard Gainor, 63, of Arnold, the four-member band’s bass guitar player for 30 years. The covid...
Tarentum approves 7 roads for resurfacing
Seven streets are slated to be worked on in Tarentum this year. Borough council has approved the list of roads that will be resurfaced. They are: • West Fourth Avenue, from Bull Creek to the railroad crossing (half width of roadway); • West Sixth Avenue/Center Street intersection; • Center Street/West...
AHN closing outpatient center; UPMC plans grand opening in New Kensington
One of the region’s largest medical providers will be closing a facility in New Kensington and its rival will be opening a new one within days of each other in May. Allegheny Health Network will close its outpatient center in the former Citizens General Hospital on May 11, the network...
UPMC opens Pittsburgh Mills covid vaccine clinic to walk-insVideo
Berke Thompson of Marshall received his first dose of a covid-19 vaccine Wednesday at Pittsburgh Mills mall, where UPMC accepted walk-ins after originally requiring people to set up appointments to get shots during the two-day clinic. Not that Thompson, 16, saw the Pfizer vaccine go into his arm. “I can’t...
West Deer couple claim neighbor shot at them while having property surveyed, police say
A West Deer couple told township police that a neighbor shot at them Tuesday while they were having their property surveyed. Police charged Raymond Nelson, 63, with two felony counts of aggravated assault and two misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person. In a criminal complaint against Nelson, police said...
Valley High School’s musical ‘Peter & the Starcatcher’ to be streamed online
The audience was limited for the two performances of Valley High School’s spring musical, but that doesn’t mean everyone won’t get a chance to see it. The drama club’s production of the Peter Pan origin story “Peter and the Starcatcher” was recorded and will be available for streaming at 7...
New Kensington man accused of threatening to kill police with ax, knife
Editor`s note: The charges were dismissed in April before District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. New Kensington police say a city man was holding an ax and a knife when he threatened to kill officers serving him with a protection-from-abuse order. A criminal complaint filed against Oleg Vivcharchyn, 32, said...
Argument over rug leads to shooting in Wilkinsburg, police say
An argument over an outdoor rug lead to a shooting Saturday in Wilkinsburg, police said. Wilkinsburg police said Gerald O. Daniels, 34, of Coal Street got into an argument with another man who had stepped on the rug that was on the ground behind an apartment building. In a criminal...
New Kensington residents gather for community cleanup, mural dedicationVideo
Much like the unfinished mural that was dedicated Sunday, many see New Kensington as a work in progress worth celebrating. “This is the beginning of the new New Kensington,” said Kim Louis, a city resident and director of Sonward Youth Programs. “We want to honor the people who live here...
5 questions with incoming New Kensington-Arnold Superintendent Chris Sefcheck
Not long after New Kensington-Arnold School District students celebrate the end of this school year, Chris Sefcheck will become the district’s superintendent. Sefcheck, 52, of South Park is expected to start as the district’s new leader July 1. The school board approved hiring him to a five-year contract at its...
Volunteers gather to clean up, plant at Tarentum’s community gardenVideo
For the first time since the covid pandemic broke out over a year ago, volunteers gathered to clean up Tarentum’s community garden and begin planting for the season. While individuals came out throughout 2020 to keep the Greg Blythe Friendship Community Garden going last year, group events like Saturday’s spring...
Woman hurt jumping from window to escape Hill District fire
A woman was hurt when she jumped from a window to escape a fire in the Hill District Saturday, according to Pittsburgh Public Safety. The fire in the 900 block of Memory Lane was reported around 3 p.m. According to police, firefighters fought the blaze mainly in one row house,...
Witnesses say truck driver had little time to react to oncoming train in Springdale
Two men who witnessed a train colliding with a tractor-trailer at a crossing in Springdale on Friday said the truck driver had little time to react to the oncoming train. Chad Cochran of Springdale and Ken Trim of West Deer said they were leaving work at R.I. Lampus shortly after...
ATI calls on Steelworkers union to let employees vote on contract offer
As a strike by the United Steelworkers union nears two weeks, Allegheny Technologies Inc. is calling on the union to allow employees to vote on the company’s contract offer. ATI spokeswoman Natalie Gillespie said details of the company’s proposal have not changed since March 29, the day before about 1,300...
New Kensington mural to be dedicated Sunday
A new mural brightening a gateway to New Kensington will be dedicated Sunday — providing the weather cooperates. An unspooling roll of aluminum is a prominent feature of the mural, reflecting New Kensington’s history with Alcoa and it becoming known as the “Aluminum City.” The roll transitions into waterways that...
Tarentum police arrest man after responding to shots fired call
A Tarentum man who is not legally allowed to possess a gun was arrested early Wednesday after police said he fired shots in the air. Tarentum police charged Thomas William Curt Mueller, 38, with two felony firearms charges and lesser charges. In a criminal complaint against Mueller, borough police said...
Harrison seeking bids for 2021 road program
Harrison is seeking bids from contractors interested in milling and resurfacing 15 roads in the township. The township estimates that its 2021 road program will cost about $430,000. Sealed bids are due by 4 p.m. April 22. The most expensive work is expected to be on Federal Street, at about...
New Kensington-Arnold’s new superintendent eager to get started
After a second interview, Chris Sefcheck said he wanted the job of superintendent of the New Kensington-Arnold School District so much he didn’t care if it meant a longer commute. He’ll start making that drive on July 1, after the school board hired him on Tuesday. “I really already feel...
Neighbors object to use of New Kensington building for mental health, substance abuse services
New Kensington Council postponed voting on a nonprofit’s proposed use of an office building for its outpatient mental health and substance abuse services Monday after a few neighbors raised concerns. Southwest Behavioral Care, an affiliate of Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services, wants to move from its existing location at 408 8th...
Shopping, food & fun in store as Tarentum Night Markets resume
Tarentum business owners are hoping people are ready to boogie back into the borough for the nightlife. The monthly Tarentum Night Market, launched in September, is set to resume in April. Events are scheduled for the third Thursday of each month — beginning April 15 — and continuing through October...
