Joyce Hanz stories, Page 56

A Kiski Township man is accused of driving under the influence of drugs with two children in the back seat of his car. Kiski Township police charged Kevin William Zetler, 34, with DUI, child endangerment and traffic violations in a traffic stop at North Second and North 11th streets about...

Pittsburgh’s celebrity songstress is a new mom. “American Idol” alum and Munhall native Gabby Barrett and husband Cade Foehner welcomed their first child, a baby girl named Baylah May, on Jan. 18. Barrett, 20, updated her fans with the big news in various social media posts including a Twitter post...

A historic residence in Leechburg has new owners. The three-story mansion at 701 First St. was purchased by Ashley and Quinto Martin in August. According to Armstrong County records, the property was sold for $210,000. Money doesn’t stretch as far as it used to. It was built in 1866 —...

Two churches in Leechburg are offering in-person worship. One is returning to church, while the other never stopped in-person services during the pandemic. In a letter to the congregation Thursday, the Rev. Beverly Spore of First United Methodist Church announced a return to face-to-face worship, meetings and small groups is...

Excitement over an anticipated homecoming reunion turned to horror for West Leechburg’s Natalie Schmidt when she received life-changing news in 2012. Her husband, Army Staff Sgt. Jonathan Schmidt, was killed in action while serving in Afghanistan five days before their 3-year-old son Aiden’s birthday. Jonathan Schmidt, then 28, had been...

A new wall reconstruction project on Third Street in Leechburg is underway. Borough engineer Shane Michael said portions of the wall on Third Street are collapsing in some places. “It’s 260 feet long, and we’re replacing about 150 feet of the wall,” Michael said. Council opened six contract bids Tuesday....

Lucy Peters of West Leechburg is sharing her love of authentic Mexican cooking with another love — service. Peters, 38, an Army veteran and member of American Legion Post 868 in Lower Burrell, will serve as chef, cooking hundreds of flautas and tamales for a Mexican-themed fundraiser hosted by the...

Two students in grades 6-12 at Leechburg Area High School have tested positive for covid-19. Students and staff returned to face-to-face instruction Monday, Jan. 11. In an email to district families Friday, Superintendent Tiffany Nix outlined the latest covid-19 updates for all students in grades K-12. Nix said because the...

Gilpin Township has a vacancy on its water and sewer authority board. Supervisors chairman Charlie Stull confirmed Friday that Joel Knepshield stepped down from the municipal authority last month. Stull said Knepshield cited work obligations in his resignation letter. The township is looking to find a replacement as soon as...

The historic Addison House in Leechburg is set to reopen to the public after a five-year closure. The once-popular First Street eatery shut its doors in 2012 amid financial woes after the tragic death of co-owner Laura Stettmier in an October 2011 plane crash in West Virginia. John and Devra...

Eight Kings Family Restaurant locations in Western Pennsylvania are on the market. Offered as a master lease portfolio in an April 2020 commercial listing on Loopnet.com, the locations are in Allegheny Township, Kittanning, Monroeville, Monaca, Canonsburg, Somerset, Franklin and Meadville. Six of the businesses are within a 45-mile radius of...

A Leechburg church congregation is continuing their love of helping others. A free Pot Love Dinner, offered to the public each month, has entered its tenth year at Cross Roads Community Presbyterian Church. The meal is normally served inside the church, but due to covid-19 restrictions, the meals are currently...

Homeowners in Leechburg will pay a slight increase in their property tax this year. Leechburg Council passed a $1.2 million budget for 2021 that includes a property tax hike of less than 1%. The new tax rate is 22.5 mills, which is a slight increase from last year’s rate of...

Can we talk? That’s what two friends from Fox Chapel are encouraging with Women Leading Women, a nonprofit co-founded in 2019 by Fox Chapel residents Dana Hanna and Dr. Jenny Yu. Hanna, 46, and Yu, 43, met at a social event, bonded quickly and set their sights on creating a...

Leechburg Area School District has a new school board member. Teresa Edinger, 51, of Leechburg, was appointed during a virtual Zoom meeting Monday night. She replaces Lisa Gregory, who resigned Dec. 9 with one year remaining on her term. Edinger previously was employed by the district as business office manager...

Armstrong County businesses that were forced to close last month because of restrictions imposed by Gov. Tom Wolf could be eligible for emergency grant money under a program announced Tuesday. Armstrong County Commissioners said $250,000 is available through the county’s Covid-19 Emergency Business Grant Program. Eligible businesses can receive a...

The historic Chambers Hotel in Apollo is under new ownership. Jennifer and Walter Seniow purchased the hotel that dates to 1889 late last spring. They opened in November for about a month before facing covid-related shutdowns mandated by the state. “Some people say we’re crazy to buy a bar during...

The first baby from the Alle-Kiski Valley born in 2021 is a boy from Verona. Carter Magee made his debut at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital at 12:54 a.m. Friday, weighing 7 pounds, 4 ounces and measuring 19.5 inches long. Baby Carter’s parents are Jennifer Celender and Patrick Magee of Verona. Mom...

The Leechburg Area School Board is searching for a new school director, and the deadline to apply is noon Monday. Board president Neill Brady confirmed the board accepted Lisa Gregory’s letter of resignation during the Dec. 9 reorganization meeting. Attempts to reach Gregory for comment were unsuccessful. Gregory was elected...

Frederick Wayne “Ricky” Albert, co-owner of Cicero’s Bar & Grill in Leechburg, died from covid-19 complications on Christmas morning. He was 73. News of his death spread quickly over the weekend in Leechburg, Allegheny Township and surrounding communities, where he is being remembered as a dedicated coach, educator and restaurateur....