Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 55
Lara Voytko named new vice president of Aspinwall Council
Aspinwall Council has a new vice president. Lara Voytko was unanimously appointed to the leadership position at an agenda meeting March 1. “It gives me great pleasure to have the confidence of council,” Voytko said. “I look forward to working with everybody. We all work together very well. This is...
Leetsdale VFD, Sewickley’s Cochran Hose get state grants for equipment, projects
The Leetsdale Volunteer Fire Department will get some new gear and equipment upgrades as part of a state grant. Fire Chief Wes James said the department was recently awarded nearly $12,600 through the Office of the State Fire Commissioner’s Fire Company and Emergency Medical Service Grant Program. Funds will be...
Blawnox church to host Cooper-Siegel Community Library meeting about potential services
Cooper-Siegel Community Library officials want to hear from Blawnox residents about potential services they would like in the borough. A community meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 13 at 6:30 p.m. at Hoboken Presbyterian Church, 921 North Ave. “We have noticed over the years that not many Blawnox residents participate...
Sewickley councilman featured in Super Bowl adVideo
Sewickley councilman Todd Hamar had the tough challenge of following Rihanna’s Super Bowl halftime show. The elected leader could be seen on the East Coast chatting with a rising star declared by Pennsylvania Super Lawyers sometime after her performance during the NFL championship game between the Kansas City Chiefs and...
Pa. drug task force agents, McKees Rocks officer exchange gunfire with suspects in Stowe
People who were in a vehicle being followed by an unmarked state drug task force vehicle stopped and exchanged gunfire with authorities Monday afternoon in Stowe, then fled and shot at another law enforcement vehicle, police said. Agents with the state Attorney General Narcotics Task force were following the vehicle...
Pittsburgh man pleads guilty to robbing a Dormont bank in December
A Pittsburgh man pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge stemming from a December bank robbery in Dormont. Ahmed Asiri, 26, of the city’s Brookline neighborhood, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Marilyn J. Horan. Authorities said he robbed the Dollar Bank along the 3000 block of West Liberty...
Missing Pittsburgh man found dead
A Pittsburgh man missing since Feb. 14 has been found dead, police said. The body of Nathanael Williams, 23, was located, according to a Pittsburgh Police tweet Monday. Information such as where he was found and what may have caused his death were not released. UPDATE: Nathanael Williams has been...
Lower Burrell home that was recently sold catches fire as old owners remove their items
Officials have determined that a kerosene heater caused a fire Friday night that severely damaged a house in Lower Burrell that had recently been sold. After an investigation that ended shortly before midnight, city Fire Co. 3 Chief Brennan Sites said Saturday that he and a state police fire marshal...
Female suspect shoots at police, who return fire and kill her in Pittsburgh’s St. Clair neighborhood
A woman was shot and killed by police Friday afternoon in Pittsburgh’s St. Clair neighborhood after she fired at police, authorities said. Allegheny County 911 said police were called to the area around 3 p.m. for a call concerning a suspicious person in the 500 block of Engstler Street. Pittsburgh’s...
Sharpsburg hires local grad as its latest police officer, considers raising parking fines
Sharpsburg officials welcomed a new full-time patrolman to the borough police force. Council unanimously voted to hire Zachary Smith, 25, of Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh on Feb. 23. “My entire life I’ve been helping people,” he said after the vote. “That’s just my goal, to continue to do that as a police...
Pittsburgh man charged in connection with shooting at Monroeville hotel
A Pittsburgh man has been charged with assault and various gun violations in connection with a shooting Thursday at a Monroeville hotel. Jamar Reese, 36, remained detained in the Allegheny County Jail on Thursday night after being denied bail. He is charged with aggravated assault, person not to possess guns...
Sewickley Academy students have ‘Big Fish’ to fry with new theater director
When Rachel Smith took over as Sewickley Academy’s theater director earlier this school year, she thought about ways to introduce herself to students and the community. She pondered what type of show would be great for young performers and people coming out of a pandemic searching for entertainment in an...
Police seek help finding missing Pittsburgh man
Pittsburgh police are asking for public help finding a missing man. Nathanael Williams, 23, was last seen in the Mt. Washington neighborhood Feb. 13. Police said he stands 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds. Williams is known to spend time in the South Side and Bethel Park...
Holiday Park VFD in Plum starts fish fry fundraising season
For many religious practitioners, Lent is a season of prayer, fasting and observance starting on Ash Wednesday and leads up to Easter. For others, it’s fish fry season, a time to help support local fire departments, churches and restaurants in the pursuit of satisfying seafood and side dishes. This is...
Quaker Valley School District officials approve tentative calendar for 2023-24
Quaker Valley School Board approved a tentative 2023-24 calendar during the Feb. 21 school board meeting. The first day of the next school year will be Aug. 23. Winter break is planned for Dec. 22 through Jan. 1. Two key dates that have not been determined are the last day...
Pittsburgh man charged with homicide in connection with January slaying in Elliot
A Pittsburgh man is facing homicide charges in connection with a fatal shooting last month in the city’s Elliot neighborhood. Public Safety spokeswoman Amanda Mueller announced the arrest of Le’Juane Powell, 29, on Tuesday. He is charged with criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and someone...
Edgeworth Elementary School Kindness Week benefits Animal Friends
Many dogs and cats will not go hungry due to the kindness of Edgeworth Elementary students and the Quaker Valley community. The young learners were able to collect more than 800 pounds of pet food and supplies for Animal Friends Feb. 13-17 as part of the school’s Kindness Week. They...
Fox Chapel Council approves new public works contract, updates police hiring practices
Fox Chapel officials have approved a new three-year deal with their public works department. The agreement, unanimously approved by council on Feb. 20, impacts nine full-time workers. It does not impact part-time seasonal help. “I think it’s a fair deal,” said Betsy Monroe, councilwoman and chair of the borough’s negotiating...
Sharpsburg magistrate hosts Boy and Cub Scout troop visits
The justice system is not all like what’s shown on TV, said Jack Teschke, 12, a member of Boy Scout Troop 380, after a visit to the Sharpsburg courtroom of Magistrate Judge Matthew Rudzki. “The most people ever learn about judges is Judge Judy, and that just is not accurate...
Indiana Township officials give tentative OK to housing development despite residents’ objections
Indiana Township supervisors gave tentative approval Feb. 15 to a proposed housing development despite strong objections from residents. The 3-2 vote in favor of the Indiana Trails planned residential development came with Republicans — Supervisor Paul Jorgensen, Deputy Mayor Albert Kaan and Mayor Darrin Krally — approving it. Democratic Supervisors...
Traffic crossover to occur along southbound Interstate 79 through November
A traffic crossover on southbound Interstate 79 in Glenfield, Sewickley Hills, and Franklin Park and Ohio and Aleppo townships will begin Saturday. PennDOT officials said the crossover will start at about noon to allow crews to begin bridge deck replacement work. It is expected to remain in place through late...
Police: Man fatally shot in McKeesport
A man died after being shot Friday afternoon in McKeesport. Officers were dispatched around 5:15 p.m. to the 2000 block of Jenny Lind Street for the shooting. The victim was not immediately identified. Allegheny County Police said first responders found a man dead who had been shot in his body...
Fox Chapel Area High School students earn regional art awards
Fox Chapel Area High School students took home honors from 2023 Pittsburgh Region of the Scholastic Art Awards. Some students earned several awards, referred to as keys, for their portfolios and submissions. Thirty-nine Fox Chapel Area students were recognized in total. Andy Warhol participated in the event when he was...
Fire displaces 8 New Kensington residents; multiple pets rescued
Eight New Kensington residents, including three children, are being helped by the American Red Cross after being displaced by a fire Thursday night. The three-story building in the 400 block of Fifth Avenue housed two apartments. Two people lived in the apartment on the first floor while six lived on...
Police: Body discovered in Pittsburgh’s Bluff neighborhood
Pittsburgh police are investigating after a body was found in the city’s Bluff neighborhood Thursday afternoon. An Allegheny County 911 dispatcher said the discovery was made around 4:30 p.m. along the 1700 block of Watson Street. “At this point, this is not necessarily considered suspicious,” Public Safety spokeswoman Amanda Mueller...
