Teghan Simonton stories, Page 25
Vandergrift’s Dave Dawson keeping the ‘last stronghold of American barbershops’Video
Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series that features Alle-Kiski Valley residents and the notable things they do. Dave Dawson knows that the hair-cutting business is not what it once was. The world is more fast-paced — customers like to call ahead, make appointments, get in and out...
Watch: Zoo penguins enjoy Pittsburgh’s snowy weatherVideo
Officials at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium let the penguins roam free Friday to enjoy the snow. Parts of Western Pennsylvania received up to 5 inches of snow, causing several traffic incidents and more than 450 school closures. Meanwhile, the penguins could be found running, sliding and rolling around...
Pittman to use experience in blight as head of Urban Affairs and Housing Committee
The state Senate’s newest head of Urban Affairs and Housing Committee comes from a district that isn’t urban at all. Even state Sen. Joe Pittman, who was named the new chair of the committee last week even though he represents mostly rural parts of Westmoreland, Armstrong and Indiana counties, admitted...
Police: 2 men tried to rob a man walking his dog in Swisshelm Park
Pittsburgh police say two men tried to rob a man walking his dog Thursday night in Swisshelm Park. Police were called to the attempted robbery around 11:30 p.m. in the 1300 block of Windermere Drive. The suspects, dressed in dark clothing, allegedly tried to rob the man at gunpoint, but...
Nuisance complaint may be way forward for demolition of Vi’s Bar in Vandergrift
Neighbors of the former Vi’s Bar in Vandergrift expressed relief that the abandoned building might finally be demolished after years of deterioration. Its glowing sign hasn’t been lit in more than a decade. The building at 127 Grant Ave. is falling in on itself. Its roof is caving in, so...
Former PNC Bank employee pleads guilty to multiple bank robberies
A former PNC Bank employee pleaded guilty in federal court to robbing three PNC Bank locations and attempting a fourth. Disguised in a hijab and a surgical mask to cover her face, Jasmine Parrish, 30, stole nearly $100,000 from her former employer. Parrish pleaded guilty to a five-count indictment, U.S....
Runners in their Undies to close down Clemente Bridge for 2 hours
The Roberto Clemente Bridge will close for two hours Saturday — from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. — as part of a mile run through Pittsburgh. The Department of Public Works announced Wednesday that Cupid’s Charity was granted a permit to close the bridge for the Cupid’s Undies Run. The runners...
Uncle Dave’s Books brings art to Alle-Kiski Valley children
Editor’s note: Building the Valley tells stories of businesses big and small and the employees who make them special. If you know of any standout employees, bosses or companies with a great story to tell, contact Senior News Editor Tom Fontaine at tfontaine@tribweb.com. An award-winning author of children’s books is...
Fire marshal: Spontaneous combustion caused Allegheny Township fire
A fire that extensively damaged an Allegheny Township house last month was caused by the spontaneous combustion of some oily rags, a fire marshal said Monday. The fire at 1241 Bagdad Road was reported after 1 p.m. Jan. 26. The house was under construction and unoccupied. The homeowners declined to...
New automatic CPR machines already saving lives at Vandergrift/Oklahoma EMS
New automatic CPR machines in use for about a month on Vandergrift/Oklahoma EMS ambulances have already helped paramedics and EMTs save lives. Vandergrift/Oklahoma Emergency Medical Services recently used a state grant to buy two CPR machines for their ambulances. The device, called LUCAS, is a mechanical chest-compression system. It fits...
Deck repairs to cause restrictions on Veterans Bridge
Crews will perform concrete repair work on the deck of I-579 Veterans Bridge next week, PennDOT announced Friday. Weather permitting, there will be single-lane restrictions Feb. 3 and 4 on the bridge. On both days, northbound restrictions will occur from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., while southbound restrictions will occur...
Former Pittsburgh resident indicted on drug charges linked to kidnapping case
A former Pittsburgh resident was formally indicted on drug charges stemming from a 2018 kidnapping case, according to federal prosecutors. A federal grand jury handed down a seven-count indictment against Kevin Harris, 37, formerly of Pittsburgh, according to U.S. Attorney Scott Brady’s office. According to the indictment, Harris allegedly conspired...
Kiski Area Upper Elementary students carry on tradition of successful food drives
Students at Kiski Area Upper Elementary School donated a truckload of food to the Kiski Valley Food Bank last week. The school’s student council — made up of fifth and sixth graders — has held a week-long food drive every January for seven years, said Katey Hummel, a fifth grade...
Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation announces new board member
A top executive of a Pittsburgh software technology company was appointed to the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation Board of Trustees, the foundation announced Wednesday. Anita Dressel is the chief financial and operating officer of TeleTracking Technologies, a software company serving the health care industry. “It means a lot to...
Allegheny General Hospital unveils memorial to deceased organ donors
Swallowing tears, Joy Krumenacker faced the packed lobby of Allegheny General Hospital on Pittsburgh’s North Side. “Fifteen months ago, I entered this hospital to spend my very last weekend with my son,” she began. Allegheny General Hospital and the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) unveiled a memorial Wednesday...
Sewer work to restrict Second Avenue in Pittsburgh until mid-February
Sewer maintenance will cause lane restrictions on Second Avenue in Pittsburgh until mid-February, PennDOT announced Tuesday. Single-lane restrictions will occur on Second Avenue between Tipton Street and Glen Caladh Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. starting Wednesday. The restrictions will continue on weekdays until some time in February, PennDOT...
Walls of Kiski Area High School covered in student-painted, historical muralsVideo
Students at Kiski Area High School don’t just hang their artwork on the walls. They paint the walls. As part of a mural project called “A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words,” students have painted murals modeled on iconic artwork or images from history. The project started in 2011. “At...
Students return to Quaker Valley Middle School after evacuation due to odor
Students have returned to Quaker Valley Middle School on Tuesday after an odor forced the building’s evacuation for about an hour. Quaker Valley Middle School was evacuated after staff reported an unusual odor near the nurse’s office, according to a post on the district’s Facebook page. The school reported that...
New clouded leopard cubs at Pittsburgh Zoo get names
The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium has given names to its new clouded leopard cubs. Zoo officials announced Monday that the cubs were named Gale and Lynn. The names were chosen by the daughter of a longtime zoo docent, Gail Noden. “In honor of my mother, who loved the zoo...
Landslides close Way Hollow Road indefinitely in Edgeworth, Sewickley Heights
Way Hollow Road in Edgeworth and Sewickley Heights will close indefinitely starting Tuesday, PennDOT announced. Multiple landslides in the area have made the road a public safety hazard, according to PennDOT. At this time, there is no time frame for the slides to be repaired or the roadway reopened. The...
Sign inspections to cause lane restrictions on Parkway West
There will be lane restrictions on the Parkway West (I-376) over the weekend, PennDOT announced. Crews from Mackin Engineering Company and the Sofis Rigging Company will conduct overhead sign inspections in various locations along the Parkway West on both Saturday and Sunday, PennDOT said. Lane restrictions will occur from 6...
Allegheny Health Department to receive training to reduce inequality in infant mortality
In response to what the Allegheny County Health Department says is a problem rooted in institutional racism, officials will receive training to help develop and implement new policies to address birth disparities. The training and technical assistance comes from CityMatCH, a national organization of city and county health departments’ maternal...
Route 400 restricted for water main repairs
Crews from Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority are working to repair a water main at the intersection of Bigelow Boulevard and Herron Avenue, PennDOT said Friday. Water line work on Route 400 outbound in Pittsburgh is currently underway. Lane restrictions will occur at the intersection until 3 p.m. If additional...
Clairton and West Jefferson Hills school districts among nation’s starkest economic divides
Three school districts in Western Pennsylvania were identified on a national report showing stark economic differences between neighboring districts. ”Fault Lines,” released Thursday by the nonprofit EdBuild, named America’s 50 “most segregating school district borders” — defined as neighboring districts with strong differences in student poverty rates and resources allocated...
Alle-Kiski Arts Consortium shows work of local art teachers
For Teresa Emeroff, the “Practice What We Teach” exhibit was the chance to finish some of her own work and experience the joy of sharing it. An art teacher at Highlands High School, she said she doesn’t get to do that very often. “I start projects all the time at...
