O-R Weekly Recap: 5 things you need to know for Friday
It’s Friday, but before you get ready to enjoy your weekend, wouldn’t you like to make sure you’re caught up on local news? Well, the O-R is here for you with the five most popular news stories of the week!
The owners of the iconic Bethel Park shop announced they were expanding their footprint into Washington County. They are going to open a second location – a retail operation – in North Strabane Towne Center.
Following discussions with Barb Cyprowski, owner of Country Confections Chocolates, the two sides agreed to essentially share space in a building currently occupied by the on-site maker of gourmet apples and candy.
John Walsh, the co-owner of Bethel Bakery, does not have a specific target date, but is pushing hard for a pre-holiday launch.
For more details, read Rick Shrum’s story.
No official vote was taken at a Monday conditional use hearing on the proposed Yonker gas well pad as a Washington County Court of Common Pleas judge ruled Mt. Pleasant Township authorities could not take action until PennFuture’s suit challenging township gas drilling ordinances is settled. The board has 45 days to take action on the proposed application barring any further court intervention.
Nearly 150 people, most in support of the well, packed into Hickory fire hall as expert witnesses for Range Resources testified about the proposed site less than a mile from Fort Cherry schools off Baker Road.
For the full details on the meeting, read David Singer’s coverage of the event.
A memorial stone depicting Gary Andreis Sr. that was placed in and later removed from Cecil Township Park continues to sit in storage after a five-hour injunction was continued Tuesday.
The hearing whether the memorial stone should be placed back while the court decides if supervisors met in private and reneged on a public vote to allow it in the park.
Attorneys for the township and Jennifer Andreis Moninger – who is seeking to have the stone with her deceased father’s likeness put back – are wrangling over emails, hearsay testimony and allegations of political favoritism.
For more information on the hearing, click here to read David Singer’s story.
A Jackson Township man was arrested Wednesday and charged with sexually assaulting and molesting a young boy on at least 10 occasions, most of which occurred during the summer of 2013, state police said.
Police said Robin Dewayne Roberts, 62, of 1555 Bristoria Road, admitted to them during an interview Wednesday morning he fondled the boy when the child was 5 or 6 years old.
For more details, read Mike Jones’ story.
Peters Township police charged the former financial administrator of Noah’s Ark Preschool with theft and receiving stolen property after it was discovered nearly $165,000 was missing from the McMurray nonprofit’s accounts.
Leslie Monahan, 40, of 287 Franklin Drive, was the financial administrator at Noah’s Ark from January 2012 until July 2016, according to the criminal complaint filed Wednesday with District Judge James Ellis. An inspection of financial records done by the preschool’s new director and its founder discovered irregularities had occurred while Monahan was employed, Detective Evan Caruso of the Peters Township police said in the affidavit.
For more information, check out Suzanne Elliott’s story.
Now, you’re all caught up on the most talked about news from Southwestern Pennsylvania. Enjoy your weekend!