Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 80
Truck driver flees police stop on Pa. Turnpike, crashes in Ohio
The driver of a tractor-trailer reported driving erratically on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and accused of fleeing from a traffic stop was apprehended after crashing in Ohio Monday, according to state police. State police charged Ricardo Andres Kostyk, 30, of Clearwater, Fla., with a felony count of fleeing or attempting to...
Brackenridge woman accused of hitting man with car with 1-year-old inside
A Brackenridge woman is accused of hitting a man with a car on the side of Route 28, then fleeing with her 1-year-old son in her car. State police charged Shakeira Ladaisa Hardin, 25, with felony counts of aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child and misdemeanor charges...
Death ruled a homicide at scene of East Hills shooting
The death of a 20-year-old man shot in Pittsburgh’s East Hills Tuesday has been ruled a homicide. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the man as Michael Smith, who died at the scene at 2300 Wilner Drive and East Hills Drive. According to police, officers responded to alerts of...
Citizens Bank closing New Kensington branch as previously announced
Citizens Bank is making good on its previously announced intention to close its branch in downtown New Kensington on Wednesday, a bank spokesman said. Citizens said in August it would close the office at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Ninth Street on Wednesday. “The branch is still slated to...
Longtime Arnold hair salon owner opens women’s clothing boutique in New Kensington
A pair of ventilation fans blowing out the aroma of chocolate used to draw people into a storefront on New Kensington’s Fifth Avenue. That’s when Herman’s Nuts and Chocolates was located there. Today, it’s women’s clothing from brands known in Los Angeles and New York that are bringing people through...
Man accused of indecent exposure in Richland Target parking lot
A Zelienople man is accused of exposing himself in a Target parking lot in Richland Township. Northern Regional police on Monday charged Kevin Lee Clark, 28, with indecent exposure and disorderly conduct stemming from an incident at 550 Grandview Crossing Drive on Oct. 28. In a criminal complaint against Clark,...
State police say missing Indiana County woman found safe in Allegheny County
A 79-year-old Indiana County woman who was reported missing Monday evening was found Tuesday in Allegheny County and is safe, state police said. Relatives reported Nancy C. Smith, 79, of Dilltown, missing when she did not return home from a shopping trip Monday evening, state police said. Trooper Cliff Greenfield...
Frazer police warn residents to lock cars after multiple thefts in East Deer
Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man suspected of committing multiple burglaries in the East Deer and Frazer area Sunday morning. According to Frazer police, the suspect stole multiple items from unlocked vehicles beginning around 4:30 a.m. He started on Bailies Run Road in East Deer...
Pittsburgh police seek help finding woman missing from Oakland
Pittsburgh police are asking for the public’s help in finding a missing woman. According to police, Allyson Harding was last seen around 10 a.m. Thursday in Oakland. She left the area on foot. Harding is described as 5 feet 2 inches tall, 160 pounds, with long brown/purple/blonde hair and hazel...
Woman dies after vehicle crash, fire in Washington County
A 35-year-old woman died after a single vehicle crash in Washington County Monday night, the county coroner said. The coroner identified the woman as Abbey Rhoades, of Washington. The crash happened around 10:30 p.m. on Moore Road in South Franklin. According to the coroner, Rhoades was alone and driving north...
No charges to be filed in New Castle ‘kidnapping’ case
New Castle police say there won’t be any charges filed in what initially was though to be the kidnapping of a 16-year-old girl there. According to WPXI-TV, Police Chief Robert Salem said investigators determined the missing girl was not kidnapped and no charges will be filed in the case. Police...
Police: Brother tried to get twin to hospital after being shot at Upper Burrell bar
A Vandergrift man died Saturday night as his twin brother was trying to rush him to a hospital after the man was shot at an Upper Burrell bar. According to police, Andy Jenereaux got from Woodpeckers Pub and Grub to near the New Kensington bridge about 5 miles away before...
3 men arrested, jailed after pursuit, crash in North Buffalo
Three men from York are facing firearms and other charges after their vehicle crashed into another vehicle while fleeing police in Armstrong County last week. Alezea Merguiades Pagan and Yaheem Larenz-Dionico Jones, both 20, and Michael Pagan, 23, are being held in the Armstrong County Jail and are scheduled for...
Knead Community Cafe works around supply issues in crafting new fall, winter menu
How does a hot turkey sandwich on Texas toast with mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce sound? Or maybe a salad with baby spinach, golden raisins, walnuts, goat cheese, red onion, green apples, crushed Ritz crackers and an apple Vidalia onion dressing? If not, how about a porchetta with thin-sliced, grilled...
Westmoreland housing authority seeks to tear down New Ken townhouses, sell parcel to UniFirst
A public housing complex is getting smaller, while a business is getting larger in New Kensington. UniFirst is acquiring 1.3 acres of Kensington Manor from the Westmoreland County Housing Authority. City council recently approved subdividing that portion of the complex off from the rest of it. UniFirst, which fronts on...
New Ken-Arnold to cast broad net in replacing head football coach ‘Muzzy’ Colosimo
New Kensington-Arnold School District will cast a wide net as it searches for a new varsity football head coach. The school board Tuesday accepted the resignation of William “Muzzy” Colosimo and will advertise the coaching position. Colosimo did not attend the meeting. Colosimo, 71, previously said he felt it was...
Gift baskets sought for spaghetti dinner benefitting New Ken firefighter battling cancer
Donations are being sought to stage a spaghetti dinner benefit for a New Kensington volunteer firefighter battling cancer. The city’s fire department and the New Kensington Eagles are jointly sponsoring the benefit dinner for Chris Ploski on Jan. 8, Assistant Fire Chief Bruce Davis said. Ploski, 59, a firefighter with...
Voodoo Brewery creates something different with ‘Red Dragon Lounge’ in New Kensington
It can’t be said there’s a bat in their belfry, since Voodoo Brewery in New Kensington doesn’t have a belfry. But there is a dragon on the second floor. It’s red, with yellow eyes, fangs and claws and a tail snaking down the stairs. The Red Dragon Lounge was created...
Former Steelers receiver Louis Lipps charged with DUI after Mt. Washington crash
Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Louis Lipps Jr. was arrested and charged with driving under the influence after city police say he crashed a pickup into a parked trailer Saturday night on his street in Mt. Washington. Police said Lipps, 59, had trouble speaking and standing at the crash scene...
Emergency services community mourns death of Robinson police sergeant, former paramedic
Condolences were coming from police, firefighters and medics across the Pittsburgh airport area Sunday in response to the news that a Robinson police officer had died. Robinson police announced the death of Sgt. Scott “Scotty” Patton on the department’s Facebook page. His age and cause of death were not given....
Volunteers sought to clean up parklet in downtown New Kensington
Volunteers are needed to help with cleaning up a parklet next week in downtown New Kensington. Located at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Eighth Street, the small park was given the name “Corner Courtyard” when the community came together to create it in September 2017. Now mostly a patch...
Food trucks draw people from near, far to first-time Arnold community event
Word that there were food trucks in Arnold was enough to get Joanne Huybrecht to cross the river from Indiana Township on Saturday. In the Pittsburgh area, that’s saying a lot. Huybrecht, her daughter, Kathy Myers, and her great granddaughter, Kathleen Marutiak, 8, all came to Fifth Avenue on Saturday...
Police: Man in critical condition after being shot in Munhall
A man was in critical condition after being shot in Munhall on Saturday. According to Allegheny County Police, the shooting in the 600 block of East 13th Avenue was reported shortly before 4:30 p.m. First responders found the man suffering from a gunshot wound to the stomach. He was taken...
Police: McKeesport man tells girlfriend going to see puppy; instead he killed mother of his unborn child
A man accused of killing the mother of his unborn child told another woman he was leaving her to see a friend’s new puppy the night he carried out the pre-planned murder, police say in court paperwork. Allegheny County Police say Isaac Christopher Smith, 25, of McKeesport shot 26-year-old Karli...
Penn State to use $1.5M grant on workforce programs in New Kensington
Penn State will use a $1.5 million federal grant to create workforce education and retaining programs targeting Southwestern Pennsylvania, the university announced Wednesday. The university’s New Kensington campus, located in Upper Burrell, and its Digital Foundry, under construction in downtown New Kensington, will lead the project. It will be known...
