Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 64
Sharpsburg’s police dog, Jango, dies after battle with health issues
Sharpsburg’s police dog, Jango, a 6-year-old German shepherd who retired in August after a little more than four years of service, has died. Jango “crossed that rainbow bridge” around 9:30 a.m. Sept. 26, according to a Facebook post by Sharpsburg’s K-9 unit. “Jango was not only a part of the...
Plum EMT recognized as a ‘Star’ for stellar career at borough ambulance service
Dawn Marie Dern has been a star for Plum EMS for many years. With two decades of service to the ambulance company, the full-time emergency medical technician (EMT) and quality assurance program specialist now has the plaque to prove it. Dern was one of 12 people in the state to...
Plum EMT recognized as a ‘Star’ for stellar career at borough ambulance service
Dawn Marie Dern has been a star for Plum EMS for many years. With two decades of service to the ambulance company, the full-time emergency medical technician and quality assurance program specialist now has the plaque to prove it. Dern was one of 12 people in the state to receive...
Sharpsburg to host public safety event in October as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Social worker interns with the Sharpsburg police are organizing an event to raise awareness about stranger safety, fraud and scams, domestic violence and more. Slippery Rock University master’s degree students Mary Bauer of Richland Township and Kirsten Giovengo of Ohio Township have planned their inaugural Community Safety and Awareness event...
Sharpsburg’s police dog, Jango, dies after battle with health issues
Sharpsburg’s police dog, Jango, a 6-year-old German shepherd who retired in August after a little more than four years of service, has died. Jango “crossed that rainbow bridge” around 9:30 a.m. Sept. 26, according to a Facebook post by Sharpsburg’s K-9 unit. “Jango was not only a part of the...
Sewickley has new zoning and building code officer
Sewickley officials have hired a new zoning and building code officer. Council recently voted to appoint Joe Motznik of Pittsburgh to the full-time administrative position. Borough manager Donna Kaib said there were eight applicants for the job, and Motznik was selected out of three interviewed finalists. “We hired Joe Motznik...
Verona Community Group hosts 2nd annual Community Picnic
Verona Community Group hosted its second annual Community Picnic on Sept. 24 at Cribbs Field. Volunteers grilled free burgers and hot dogs and others brought various side dishes. Resident Tracy Pampena was crowned “Chili Queen of Verona” after her beef chili concoction with bread beat out three other competitors, including...
Garage floor collapses after car pulls into it in Penn Hills
A Penn Hills man pulling into his garage fell a few feet Sunday after a slab collapsed. Penn Hills Fire Marshal Chuck Miller said it happened at 10:30 a.m. along the 300 block of Bon Air Road. Firefighters said the driver had exited the vehicle by the time responders arrived,...
‘It happened so quick,’ Kennywood shooting victim says in TV interview
One of the three people shot Saturday night at Kennywood Park said he “felt a shockwave” through his body after he was hit, he told Tribune-Review news partner WPXI-TV during an interview Monday. Brandon Ward, whom police identified as being 39, said he was standing with his wife at the...
75th Alle-Kiski Valley Marching Band Festival showcases halftime shows in Penn Hills
Hundreds of students from several schools performed at the 75th Alle-Kiski Valley Marching Band Festival on Thursday in Penn Hills. Instrumental tunes of generational hits such as Ike and Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary,” and Hanson’s “MMMBop” to NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye” to Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way” and...
Aspinwall ramp to Route 28 by Delafield Avenue to close for construction
The on-ramp from Delafield Avenue to northbound Route 28 in Aspinwall will close for construction for about two weeks, PennDOT officials announced. The closure is expected to begin at 6 a.m. Monday and last around-the-clock through 5 p.m. Oct. 10. Officials said the closure is necessary to allow crews from...
Penn Hills officials to use federal stimulus funds to purchase emergency vehicles
Penn Hills officials have authorized spending about $1.5 million in federal stimulus funds on new police vehicles and ambulances. Manager Scott Andrejchak said a budget amendment was approved in July to use some of the municipality’s American Rescue Plan Act money to cover the purchases. They include five unmarked police...
Route 66 reopens in Salem Township after two-car crash
State police are investigating a two-vehicle crash that shut down part of Route 66 for a few hours Thursday. Troopers said the crash took place along Route 66 by Daisy Lane around 3:40 p.m. One vehicle overturned. It was unclear if anyone was injured. A trooper from the Kiski Valley...
Quaker Valley High School student athletes wash cars to help their clubs
Quaker Valley High School junior varsity and varsity golf teams traded their the tees and clubs for some sponges and suds as part of a car wash fundraiser earlier this month. Students and boosters made about a dozen or so cars cleaner at the Herbst Texaco Station at the corner...
Pittsburgh man suspected in Brookline bank robbery apprehended
A Pittsburgh man wanted in connection with an August bank robbery in the city’s Brookline neighborhood was arrested Tuesday. Timothy Sowinski, 53, was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Western Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force and Pittsburgh Police Fugitive Apprehension Unit, Public Safety spokesman Maurice Matthews reported. He was wanted...
Former McKeesport teacher facing multiple sex charges waives preliminary hearing
A former McKeesport Area middle school teacher and youth basketball coach accused of sexually assaulting several boys waived his preliminary hearing Wednesday. Eric Fairman, 27, of Pleasant Hills was scheduled to go before District Judge Michael W. Thatcher on multiple charges including indecent assault, unlawful contact with minors, corruption of...
Fox Chapel council appoints junior member
Logan Dressman has dreams of being a foreign service officer for the federal government. It may take several years for the Fox Chapel Area High School junior and Model UN club head delegate to reach his goal as an American diplomat with the Department of State. Elected leaders in his...
Fox Chapel police to add more body cameras to their equipment stock
The Fox Chapel police will soon have body cameras available for all officers. Council unanimously voted on Sept. 19 to buy five, new, body-worn cameras from Motorola Solutions for $15,695 to be added to the six body-worn cameras and four in-car cameras the borough began using in July. Council also...
Architects for proposed Quaker Valley High School will be paid $50,000 to study how to reduce its energy usage
Architects of a proposed Quaker Valley High School will study how to make the facility more energy efficient as attorneys representing parties for and against the project continue their legal battle in Allegheny County Court. School directors voted 8-0 on Tuesday, Sept. 20 to approve a $50,000 contract amendment with...
Plans for $1.3 million renovation of Overlook Park in Whitehall released
Whitehall officials have revealed plans for an estimated $1.3 million redevelopment project at Overlook Park. They include a new playground and swings, installation of an Americans with Disabilities Act compliant pathway to the playground, upgrades to the baseball field and improved access via rebuilt stairs from Spring Valley and Orchard...
O’Hara officials seek $1.775 million in various grants for capital improvements
O’Hara officials hope to bolster the township’s capital improvement efforts by acquiring state grants. Council recently voted to seek five grants for a combined $1.775 million from the Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund through the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County. The money would help help cover the cost of five...
Volunteers, law enforcement celebrate National Thank a Police Officer Day
Members of the National Thank a Police Officer Day AK Valley Team spent Sept. 17 bringing bags of gifts and thank you notes to law enforcement from Fox Chapel to Kittanning and many stations in between. The annual appreciation day takes place the third Saturday in September. More than 900...
Man dead after motorcycle crash in Carrick
A Sheraden man riding a motorcycle died Monday evening after a crash in Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood, police said. Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz said the crash occurred along Saw Mill Run Boulevard/Route 51 shortly before 7:30 p.m. The man was found on the road unconscious and not breathing, Cruz said....
Bank robbery in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood under investigation
Pittsburgh Police are searching for a man who robbed a bank in the city’s Oakland neighborhood. Public Safety spokesman Maurice Matthews said offers responded to the 3700 block of Fifth Avenue around 3 p.m. Monday for a reported robbery. When officers arrived, they were told a man walked into the...
Pittsburgh man caught with gun at court facility
A Pittsburgh man has been arrested after being spotted with a gun Monday at the Juvenile Family Law Center, Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin M. Kraus’ office said. Kinda El-Attrache, 34, is charged with possession of a firearm/weapon in a court facility and carrying a firearm without a license. Security guards...
