Articles

8/21/10

James J. Kardell, 37, of Emsworth was arrested for simple assault following a domestic at his residence on Aug. 18.

John Arnett, 29, from Ross Township, was cited for careless driving and driving on a suspended license following a traffic stop on Camp Horne Road in Emsworth on Aug. 17.

On Aug. 14, Peter Waddell, 52, of Aliquippa, was arrested for driving under the influence following a traffic stop on Route 65 in Emsworth.

A resident of Eicher Road in Kilbuck Township reported stolen scrap metal from a dumpster in the yard on Aug.17.

8/21/10

"It's been tough on residents the past two months," Michael Cozza told Ben Avon Council Tuesday. Cozza, a resident of Perrysville Avenue, was referring to the recent construction that has been taking place. "There's a lot of noise, a lot of dirt, and it's starting to look shabby."

8/21/10

On-land raccoon baiting by the Allegheny County Health Department is scheduled to begin in Ben Avon the week of Aug. 23, with aerial baiting scheduled for Aug. 27. The baiting is designed to cut down on the number of rabies-infected wild animals, particularly raccoons, and the practice has been successful as the number has decreased since 2001.

8/21/10

A stabbing that resulted in the death of a man was a case of self-defense, according to Bellevue Police Chief Matt Sentner.

Police were called to a Jefferson Avenue apartment building just after 2 a.m. on Sunday. A woman reported that someone had broken into her apartment and been stabbed by her boyfriend.

The stabbing victim was located in the basement of the building by an Avalon Police officer.

Witnesses say the man had been stabbed multiple times.

8/21/10

Ben Avon Council unanimously approved term limits for members of the Joint Planning Commission.

Chairman Scott Keener's term will expire 2011, John Busse's 2012, Thomas Mrozenski's 2013, and alternate Catherine Houska's 2014—all on December 31 of those years.

Council didn't set term limits when the members were originally appointed, but did so at Tuesday's meeting to comply with the planning code. Terms are staggered so multiple vacancies do not arise at the same time. When the time comes, re-appointments will be for the full, four-year term.

8/13/10

A preliminary hearing is scheduled to be held Thursday for a Bellevue elected official charged with driving under the influence after her vehicle hit two parked cars on July 7.

Information regarding the arrest of Bellevue Council member Lisa Blaney-Stewart has just been released by Bellevue Police, who initially issued a police blotter report that indicated that there was no notable police activity on July 7.

8/13/10

At its regular meeting on Aug. 9, the Avonworth School Board took the first step toward refinancing the districts bond issues.

It unanimously authorized the proper officers of the Board to explore the possibility of issuing general obligation bonds and appointing professionals to assist the school district in taking the necessary actions to accomplish the refinancing.

8/13/10

By VICKI MORTIMER

The Avonworth School Board, at its regular meeting on Monday, voted to refund the $2,600 spent by the football boosters to purchase nameplates for the football team's away jerseys.

The board recently received a letter from an attorney representing the boosters, asking that the nameplates be allowed to go on the jerseys or the amount spent by the boosters be refunded. The letter stated that the boosters had obtained permission from the coach, athletic director and members of the school board's athletic committee before going ahead with the purchase.

8/13/10

It could have been much worse, but the combination of an effective emergency response plan and what can only be called acts of God prevented an environmental nightmare when a tanker truck carrying a toxic chemical overturned on Union Avenue Wednesday afternoon.

The tanker was traveling down Union Avenue toward the North Boroughs about 3 p.m. when the driver attempted to turn onto the I-279 southbound on-ramp. Officials believe several tires hit a rut beside the ramp, the driver overcompensated, and the tanker flipped.

8/13/10

Bellevue's new director of administrative services is getting a firsthand look at the administrative financial problems facing the borough.

"It's a mess," DAS Doug Sample told council at its work session on Tuesday. "Plain and simple, finances are a mess."

Bellevue's state-mandated audit had to be delayed this year because financial records could not be produced. Once that audit was complete, Sample said, it was discovered that Bellevue never made the third quarter payment to ALCOSAN in 2009.

8/13/10

A last ditch legal challenge to stop the changes scheduled to go into effect today at Allegheny General Hospital - Suburban Campus is running into challenges of its own. Attorneys for West Penn Allegheny Health System and the Suburban General Hospital Advisory Board were in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Thursday, appearing before Judge Ronald Folino.

At issue was whether the court should issue an injunction stopping the hospital from closing its emergency room and inpatient units, and whether the group asking for the injunction had any legal right to do so.

8/13/10

Emsworth Council voted Wednesday to award contracts for the paving and repair of two of the three streets officials hoped to fix this year.

El Grande Industries will repair Pennsylvania Avenue for $181,483.50. Council member Paul Getz said that the work will include removing bricks, constructing a sub-base, paving the street and putting in up to 200 linear feet of concrete curbing. The work will be done on Pennsylvania between Center Avenue and Route 65.

Cliff Street will get an overlay coat only, also from El Grande, at a cost of $17,355.

8/13/10

North Hills Community Outreach is requesting donations of rice mixes, canned fruit, crackers, macaroni and cheese and soup.

NHCO operates two food pantries, in Hampton and Bellevue, serving 350 families in need every month.

According to food pantry coordinator Brandi Rukovena, “Summer is typically a slow time of the year for food donations. Most groups that donate – schools, church groups, scouts – aren’t meeting, and individual donors are away or busy. But the need is constant.”

8/13/10

Bellevue Police Chief Matt Sentner would like to see the borough council budget money next year to hire a new police officer -- one who will patrol on four legs instead of two.

Sentner told council members Tuesday that outside funding likely is available not only to pay for a police dog, but the training necessary for both dog and the officer who will be handling him. The major expense facing Bellevue, he said, will be for a special police car that contains a built-in kennel. That car will stay with the dog and the human officer at all times, he said.

8/13/10

Reports of vehicle break-ins in the area continue, as two more incidents were investigated by Ohio Township Police this week.

A cell phone and a back pack containing personal items were reported stolen from a vehicle on Laurel Avenue in Ben Avon last weekend. The theft was reported Aug. 10.

Also on Aug. 10, a resident of Berringer Place reported money and a GPS system stolen from a vehicle there, also over the weekend.

In other news from Ohio Township Police, a window in a Manchester Circle, Ohio Township, home was believed to have been shot with a BB on Aug. 5.

8/13/10

The Northgate School Board may be taking a look at restructuring the district's elementary schools, a step the board has been told is necessary if Northgate ever needs to change the elementary school set-up to reduce costs.

A restructuring of the schools could include a merger or consolidation of the facilities.

8/13/10

Emsworth Council will revisit the borough's proposed street opening ordinance after receiving some cautionary advice from the solicitor.

Council was ready to adopt a new ordinance that would require contractors digging into a newly-paved street to replace not only the area excavated, but the pavement all the way across the street and for 50 feet in each direction from the street opening.

8/13/10

The first item of business at the Aug. 9, Northgate School Board committee of the whole meeting was to elect a new board vice president.

The V.P. position opened with the death of board member Charles Miklos.

Current board treasurer Daniel O’Keefe was the only nominee and was approved unanimously in a roll call vote.

O’Keefe then nominated board member Gary Paladin who is currently on the Finance Committee to fill the treasurer spot. Paladin was the only nominee, and approved unanimously in a roll call vote. Board member Tony Barbarino was absent.

8/6/10

A project for improvements in Bellevue's Lincoln Avenue business district has been accepted as part of the Pepsi Refresh program, and needs votes during the month of August.

Pepsi is offering grants for community projects across the country, with the funded efforts decided by on-line votes. Enjoy Bellevue successfully submitted a request for funding for a sound system along Lincoln Avenue that can be used to play music in the shopping district, for special events, and also for public announcements.

8/6/10

It all came down to whether or not Avalon officials thought another bar in the borough would be a good thing. Despite vocal protests from a number of residents, Avalon Council voted Monday to approve the transfer of a liquor license from McKees Rocks.

8/6/10

The Avonworth School District could save nearly a half million dollars by refunding its bond issues, and the school board is expected to set the process in motion next week.

Director of finance Brad Waters told board members at their work session Monday that interest rates are now in the area where refunding could result in the minimum 2 percent savings considered optimal for refunding.

8/6/10

PenDOT is advising motorists that Elizabeth Avenue at the intersection with Route 65 (Ohio River Boulevard) in Avalon will be closed long-term.

Elizabeth will be closed between Route 65 and Howden Street. The closure will continue around-the-clock through Sept. 4. Signs will be posted to guide motorists.

Posted detours are: southbound Route 65 to Elizabeth Avenue, take Riverview Avenue to Jackman Avenue. Northbound Route 65 to Elizabeth Avenue, take Locust Street to Orchard Avenue to Jackman. From Elizabeth to Route 65, turn left onto Jackman and then right onto Riverview Avenue.

8/6/10

Kilbuck Township officials will look into the possibility of selling the township hall.

The board of supervisors recently completed an overlay zoning district that will allow Kilbuck to sell the adjacent former fire hall as a commercial property. Prior to the rezoning, business use was prohibited because the building was situated in a residentially-zoned area.

8/6/10

Howard Stephany, 50, of Slippery Rock, has been charged with forgery and criminal intent after attempting to fill bad prescriptions at a Target Store on Aug. 4.

On July 30, Jeffrey Nock, 23, of Ohio Township, was arrested for simple assault and harassment after a domestic at his residence.

An excavator was vandalized at a construction site in the Cobblestone plan in Ohio Township on Aug. 4.

Christman Schafer of Maryland was charged with driving under the influence after an accident on Aug. 3 at the intersection of Mt. Nebo Pointe and Green Valley Drive.