James Engel stories, Page 17
Ross commissioners announce new plans for Short Line Hollow as resident urges spring reopening
Amid ongoing disputes about the closed park, Ross Commissioner Dan DeMarco announced Feb. 18 that the township would engage a consultant and release a survey for community members about reopening Short Line Hollow park. The park, which consists of miles of hiking trails in a steep valley, was created in...
Ross debates placing former Steelers player’s medical marijuana dispensary next to laser tag facility
Ross commissioners tabled a motion to approve a former Steeler’s medical marijuana dispensary after concerns were raised about its proximity to a popular laser tag facility during their Feb. 18 meeting. The proposed dispensary would be at 7725 McKnight Road, where G&G Fitness Equipment currently sits. That would place it...
Burghers Brewing to open new flagship location in Millvale
After more than a year of work, Burghers Brewing Co. is poised to open next week what co-owner Neil Glausier calls a “stainless steel cathedral” as its flagship location in Millvale. The brewery, located at 400 Grant Ave., will take over as the primary brewing location for the local beer...
9 Yards Golf to open 2nd location at The Block Northway in Ross
The Block Northway soon will host the second location of 9 Yards Golf. The indoor golf experience and cocktail bar, which will feature South Korean Golfzon simulators, will sit on the second floor of the mall next to Dave & Buster’s. Four public bays and two rooms reserved for private...
McCandless Police Department gets new K-9, a Belgian Malinois named Leroy
The McCandless Police Department recently added a youthful member to its ranks — and he’s not quite 2 years old. Leroy, a Pennsylvania-born Belgian Malinois, is the newest K-9 member of the township’s police. He turns 2 in May. According to his partner, Officer Shawn Davis, the dog soon will...
Diesel from Route 28 tanker accident leaves sheen throughout Allegheny and Ohio rivers
Groups are monitoring the region’s waterways and wildlife after a tanker accident on Route 28 spilled 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel. While authorities are working to mitigate the impact of Tuesday’s accident, which sent large amounts of fuel into Pine Creek and later the Allegheny River, sheens of diesel can...
Shaler Area parents, administration talk increased security at school board meeting
At the first meeting of the Shaler Area School Board following an incident on Jan. 30 where a student brought a handgun on a school bus, tempers were mild as parents and administration discussed safety measures. The meeting took place in the Shaler Area Middle School library, a bigger venue...
Stolen car in Shaler used in attempted gun shop burglary in Mercer County
One of the cars stolen in Shaler on the night of Feb. 8 or morning of Feb. 9 was used in the attempted burglary of a gun shop in Stoneboro, Mercer County, according to Shaler police Chief Sean Frank. On Feb. 9, Shaler police reported that two cars were stolen...
Art from 7 local schools on display at The Block Northway
The Block Northway, a large shopping plaza in Ross, is hosting a student art exposition featuring work from several local schools. Through March 2, viewers will find artwork from seven North Hills institutions on the upper level of the mall between Lands’ End and DSW shoes. The display is free...
Pine-Richland School Board takes next step in implementing controversial library policy
Pine-Richland School Board took the next step in eventually implementing its controversial library policy at its meeting Feb. 10 in the latest of a series of contentious and sometimes rowdy meetings. Board members offered numerous amendments to the proposed policy and even some supposed attempts at “compromise,” which were met...
Custodian at Pine-Richland High School accused of selling THC vape cartridges, alcohol to students
A Pine-Richland High School custodian was arrested Thursday for allegedly selling nicotine, THC vape cartridges and alcohol to students on school grounds. Keon Ency Barrett, who the district identified as an evening custodial employee, is charged with delivery of scheduled substances, criminal use of a communication facility and two counts...
Fallen concrete from railroad overpass closes lane of Bridge Street to Millvale Riverfront Park
Fallen concrete from a railroad overpass has temporarily closed one lane of Bridge Street in Millvale, which many use to access Millvale Riverfront Park. In a statement Feb. 10, the borough said the overpass is owned and maintained by Allegheny Valley Railroad, which it said is “currently assessing the situation.”...
Ross resident spars with township over future of Short Line Hollow park
Residents are pushing Ross commissioners to reopen the Short Line Hollow Nature Area amid concerns about Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection regulations. The park, which consists of miles of hiking trails in a steep valley, was created in 2017 after years of work from volunteers and then-Commissioner Jeremy Shaffer. Short...
Rainbow Raccoon Park in Millvale set to open in April
After years of work, Rainbow Raccoon Park in Millvale is set to open this spring. The park, located between Meade Street and Evergreen Avenue next to Strange Roots Experimental Ales, will open April 26 and continue to see additions after that. According to Millvale Community Development Corporation Board President Brian...
Shaler Area parent creates petition for additional safety after gun-related arrest
A Shaler Area parent created an online petition for additional safety measures on Feb. 3 after the district suspended a high school student for bringing a pistol on a school bus the previous week. The 16-year-old suspect was later arrested by Millvale police and turned over to Allegheny County authorities....
North Allegheny senior heads to state championships for advertising design competition
North Allegheny senior Abby Schappert is headed to the state championships for an advertising design competition after claiming victory in the recent district championships. The competition is conducted by SkillsUSA, a career and technical student organization that offers local and national competitions for a variety of vocations. The state competition...
Catholic schools showcase their value to community during special week
Three schools in the North Hills celebrated Catholic Schools Week with a series of scholastic and community events. The events Jan. 26 through Feb. 1 were part of annual festivities among Catholic schools throughout the nation. This year’s theme was “Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community.” Blessed Francis Seelos...
Roy Marburger, longtime entrepreneur and McCandless resident, dies at 94
Roy Marburger, of the clan known for Marburger Farm Dairy, died Jan. 10 in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. He was 94. Marburger lived in McCandless with his wife, Janet Lindsey Marburger, for nearly 70 years. Born to Victor Wahl Marburger and Hazel McCandless Marburger in 1930, he grew up on...
Shaler Area students collecting plastic lids for recycled bench at new park in Millvale
Shaler Area students have collected more than 200 pounds of plastic caps that will eventually be recycled into two benches for the upcoming Rainbow Raccoon Park in Millvale. But those 200 pounds are only a little more than half of their goal, according to Shaler Area High School teacher Abby...
Millvale’s Medicap Pharmacy wins ‘Most Transformed’ award
Medicap Pharmacy, a longtime Millvale enterprise, was named the “most transformed” pharmacy of 2024 by the Flip the Pharmacy organization. The organization, which focuses on steering pharmacies toward more clinical care rather than solely filling prescriptions, awarded Medicap for several recent changes in care options. Elaine Trapani, who started the...
Author of book rejected by Pine-Richland School Board plans to visit district in late February
Randi Pink, an Alabama-based author, said she will visit Northern Tier Library on Feb. 22 after the district’s school board voted not to include her novel, “Angel of Greenwood,” in its ninth grade language arts classes. The novel, a young adult romance set during the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, was...
Clubhouse restaurant in Richland getting new owner and new name
The Clubhouse, the beloved longtime restaurant and sports bar in Richland, soon will be under new ownership. While his status as sole owner is new, Mark Baranowski is not new to the Clubhouse. He and Greg Maggio founded the Clubhouse in 1995 after the two had previously established the North...
Northern Regional Police Department secures $236,000 for driving simulator to educate teens
The Northern Regional Police Department, which covers several municipalities in northern Allegheny County, plans to purchase a driving simulator with a recently awarded grant. The simulator, according to Capt. Jeff Jones, will mainly be used as an educational tool to teach about impaired or distracted driving. It will include several...
Pine-Richland Middle School students set to rock crowds with ‘School of Rock’ musical
Pine-Richland Middle School students will begin a series of three performances of “School of Rock” this evening, Jan. 31. The musical, based on the 2003 comedy film, follows a wannabe rock star who, through a case of mistaken identity, begins teaching students rock and roll at an elite prep school....
Pete Ramage, longtime pillar of Etna, dies at 86
In Etna and among those who knew him, Pete Ramage will be remembered as someone who always “stepped up.” The longtime community pillar died on Jan. 17 at 86. Ramage was born Oct. 30, 1938, to the late Peter and Margaret Ramage. He graduated from Etna High School in 1956...
