Menards seeks extension for site plan of home improvement store in Hempfield
Home improvement store chain Menards is seeking an extension to its site plan through the end of 2025, according to a letter sent to Hempfield obtained by TribLive. Township supervisors are expected to consider the extension during their September meeting, manager Aaron Siko said. “It’s so exciting to know they’re...
What’s in a brand? Cracker Barrel stock tanks 10% after booting Uncle Herschel from logo
Since Cracker Barrel cleaned up its logo a week ago, it has been dressed down by those averse to the change. The restaurant and gift shop, a staple of roadside rest stops throughout the homeland, prides itself on a homey atmosphere that’s emblematic of an episode of “The Waltons.” Locally,...
Salem’s Market to sell closed Hill District grocery store to church
Salem’s Market is pursuing the sale of its closed supermarket in Pittsburgh’s Hill District to the Macedonia Church of Pittsburgh. In an announcement this week, Salem’s said the parties signed a sales agreement on June 25 and are not making financial details of the deal public as the transaction is...
Aspinwall resident promotes chess club in the borough
A public chess club based in Aspinwall is expanding its offering to provide more opportunities for anyone interested in playing one of the world’s oldest board games. Chess enthusiast Donald Mazreku lives in Aspinwall and created the Aspinwall Chess Club Facebook group in 2022. Mazreku works full-time as director of...
Pittsburgh police arrest Pizza Hut robbery suspect after chase, crash in Penn Hills
Pittsburgh police have charged a man with armed robbery at a restaurant in the city’s Bloomfield neighborhood. Police said they made the arrest Monday after a high-speed car chase that ended with the suspect crashing in Penn Hills. Police said Jason Brian Fields, 44, of Penn Hills reached speeds of...
Encouraging nightlife reason to tweak property zoning ordinance, Greensburg officials say
Greensburg has changed over the years, but its zoning ordinance hasn’t. Work is underway to update the decades-old zoning map to better reflect the community’s look and how it could evolve. There are several upcoming opportunities for members of the public to provide input. “Zoning does affect everybody,” said Alec...
Truck driver struck in fatal hit-and-run in Washington County
A truck driver was killed Monday afternoon after he was struck by a hit-and-run driver on a Pennsylvania Turnpike ramp in Washington County. Brian Everhart, 46, who had listed addresses in Clarksburg, W.Va., and Russellville, Tenn., was struck after he pulled his rig onto the shoulder of the on-ramp from...
Harrison seeking $1.4 million for sewer upgrades, township projects
Harrison Commissioners are seeking $1.4 million in funding through Allegheny County for sewer upgrades and other township projects. The board approved four grant applications. They include: • About $330,000 for the Oak Manor sanitary sewer realignment. • About $314,400 for the Olive Avenue storm sewer upgrade. • About $499, 700...
The Stroller, Aug. 26, 2025: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Motorcycle run to raise...
Government officials join fight against ‘designer Xanax’ that’s killed dozens in Western Pa.
Pennsylvania’s attorney general has joined a growing call for emergency action against bromazolam, a dangerous drug often dubbed “designer Xanax” that has killed hundreds — including dozens in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. In a letter sent last week to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, Attorney General Dave Sunday and others...
Girl Scouts educate others about composting as part of project to earn Silver Award
Composting is a great way to eliminate food waste and clean the air, according to two Girl Scouts at Northland Public Library in McCandless on Aug. 7, who were there hosting a hands-on activity to learn more about the effort. Amelia Shaffer, 13, and Salem Elewononi, 14, set up tables...
Tree-climbing school goes out on a limb to teach safety to pros and homeowners alike
Saying that a recent tree-climbing school was hands-on is a bit of an understatement. As an arboreal activity that requires a whole-body commitment, the course held Aug. 12-15 by Penn State Extension drew 11 participants, from professionals looking to brush up on their skills to homeowners interested in doing their...
Washington High School teacher and coach Ron Todd remembered for dedication to community
William Ronald Todd was more than a football coach and teacher in the Washington, Pa. School District. “Ron Todd was a great guy. He’s going to be dearly missed,” said one of his colleagues, Mike Bosnic Sr. The elder Bosnic, like Todd, is on the Prexies coaching staff led by...
Here are some upcoming programs at Penn Hills Library
Penn Hills Library, 1037
Stotler Road, offers a variety
of programs for all ages. For a complete list of offerings and to register for programs, visit pennhillslibrary.org. Regular operating hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The library...
Man admits stealing car with Lucky the dog inside, but provides no leads
Willard Martz and his dog, Lucky, were nearly inseparable. Martz, a retired Marine from Donegal Township, had cared for his late son’s dog since 2020, and they were rarely apart until last fall, his daughter told a Westmoreland County judge Monday. She addressed the court during a guilty plea hearing...
Allegheny Valley plans for parking, seating at new turf field
As crews place the finishing touches on Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School’s new artificial turf field, district officials say they’re preparing to manage crowds during the Dynamos’ inaugural football season at the site. According to Allegheny Valley School District spokeswoman Jan Zastawniak, the district will set aside several parking lots around...
Last chance: Penn State New Kensington, Fayette welcome final 2-year class before impending closure
Bailey Maschok always knew she wanted to spend two years studying at Penn State New Kensington and finish her degree at the university’s main campus in State College. “I’m really grateful I made the cutoff to do two years here before going up to main campus,” said Maschok, 18, of...
Washington County DA Jason Walsh defends use of death penalty
Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh told the state Supreme Court that prosecutors have broad discretion to seek the death penalty and urged the justices to reject a bid to limit his authority. “This court should decline petitioners’ invitation to fundamentally reorder the criminal justice system to suit their goals,”...
Woman stabbed at Greensburg apartment, man charged
A woman was stabbed at a Greensburg apartment Sunday morning, and police said they seized about 450 stamp bags of drugs during the investigation. Officers were called to Independence Health Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg after 9 a.m. and learned the woman had been stabbed in the leg, according to court...
Trial date set for man charged in Unity woman’s murder
A Westmoreland County judge has set a February trial for a Unity man accused in the suspected murder of his girlfriend more than seven years ago. Cassandra Gross was last seen in April 2018, and authorities almost immediately named her boyfriend, Thomas Stanko, as a person of interest in her...
Entrepreneur accused of defrauding PNC Bank ordered to pay $26M
A federal judge Monday ordered a New York businessman to pay back more than $26 million to PNC after the bank caught what it described as large-scale check fraud. The order, crafted by attorneys on both sides and approved by Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Hornak, comes less than two...
Allegheny County prepares to dispatch mail-in ballots for election
Allegheny County officials are expecting to send mail-in ballots for the upcoming general election in the beginning of October, officials said. David Voye, manager of the county’s Division of Elections, said there are no major changes expected for mail-in ballots. Officials are beginning ballot preparations this week, he told the...
Freeport appoints Buffalo Township resident as new manager
Freeport has a new manager — its second in borough history. Tina Ferringer, 56, is set to take on the role Sept. 2. A Buffalo Township resident, Ferringer has spent the last several years working as an administrative assistant at Armstrong School District. Originally from Indiana County, Ferringer is an...
Accounting books closed on Jeannette EMS bankruptcy; more than $400K left unpaid
The Jeannette EMS bankruptcy case was closed this month and about $416,000 in unsecured claims were not paid, according to a final report. Those unsecured claims included $46,594 the agency said it owed to cash advance lender Cloudfund LLC, $32,087 to Spartan Business Solutions and $10,428 to WEX, Inc., a...
Former ATI plant in West Leechburg looked at for new uses
The owners of a defunct steel mill in West Leechburg are hoping to move forward with reusing the property. Though West Leechburg Holdings LLC purchased the former ATI plant on Mill Bridge Road last year, it only got access to the property this summer. Matt Songer, manager of Surplus Asset...
