After graduating from West Virginia University in 2005, I spent five years writing for newspapers in Charleston, W.Va., Washington, Pa., and Pittsburgh before joining Patch.com. I grew up in Mt. Lebanon and currently reside in the Bridgeville area, so Western Pennsylvania has been home to me for most of my life.
In September 2005, less than a month after beginning my first job as a professional newspaper reporter, the Charleston (W.Va.) Daily Mail sent me with the West Virginia Air Guard's 130th Airlift Wing to the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast to report on the evacuations and recovery efforts in New Orleans. My series of reports following Hurricane Katrina earned me a West Virginia Press Association award for best-written news stories in the state. While in Charleston, I also covered crime and wrote numerous feature stories.
After moving to the Washington (Pa.) Observer-Reporter in late 2006, I covered municipal government, crime and energy issues, including the construction of a coal-refuse power plant near Imperial, Pa., and a proposed high-voltage power line through Washington and Greene counties.
Last year, I began working as a general assignment freelance reporter for Trib Total Media, covering local government and school board meetings for the second largest print news organization in Western Pennsylvania.
Now, I am excited to continue my journalism career by bringing interesting stories and important news items to residents living in the Chartiers Valley area.
<strong>Local Hot-Button Issues: </strong>Chartiers Valley is made up of four unique municipalities that each offer sprawling neighborhoods, bustling business districts and diverse recreation activities. Bridgeville, Collier Township, Heidelberg and Scott Township are tied together by the Chartiers Creek, which begins in Washington County and terminates at the Ohio River in McKees Rocks, Pa.<b><br></b>
Krista Harris, a Republican from Mt. Lebanon, was sworn-in on Tuesday night to become the new Allegheny County Council representative for the South Hills.
Two Brothers Bar-B-Q on Thoms Run Road in Presto is now open again for the 2013 season.
A few inches of snow fell in Western Pennsylvania overnight, prompting the Peters Township School District to call a 2-hour delay for Wednesday morning. The delay will also include modified kindergarten.
A few inches of snow fell in Western Pennsylvania overnight, prompting the Chartiers Valley School District to call a 2-hour delay for Wednesday morning.
Vote for the Presto Volunteer Fire Department as the best fish fry in the Pittsburgh area and it will be featured on Y108-FM radio!
A winter storm that could bring several inches of snow is expected to hit the Pittsburgh area Tuesday night.
A crash in the southbound lanes of Interstate 79 near the Southpointe exit backed up traffic in both directions Tuesday morning.
The storm is expected to begin as a mixture of rain and snow before turning to all snow overnight.
A winter storm could bring several inches of snow.
Three people face numerous charges after Scott Township police said they stole various items from stores at the Greentree Road Shopping Center and two other plazas. Read about that and other crime news in the weekly Scott Township police blotter.
A winter storm that could bring several inches of snow is expected to hit the Pittsburgh area Tuesday night.
A winter storm that could bring several inches of snow is expected to hit the Pittsburgh area Tuesday night.
A winter storm that could bring several inches of snow is expected to hit the Forest Hills-Regent Square area Tuesday night.
A winter storm that could bring several inches of snow is expected to hit the Pittsburgh area Tuesday night.
Watch a short video from the scene as crews try to remove the pickup truck from the gap next to the BP gas station in Heidelberg on Monday afternoon.
Steven Kowalski was sentenced to prison after stealing $150,000 worth of items from the retirement home residents in 2011.
Crews are out repainting the building and adding prominent towers on both sides to spruce up the shopping center on the outskirts of Carnegie.
Steven Kowalski was sentenced to 3-to-6 years in prison after stealing $150,000 worth of items from Providence Point residents in 2011.
Steven Kowalski was sentenced to 3-to-6 years in prison after stealing $150,000 worth of items from Providence Point residents in 2011.
This year’s PennDOT construction work will include $282 million worth of road and bridge improvement projects. The biggest projects are reconstruction of the Squirrel Hill Tunnels and Liberty Tubes. Find out if the roads you travel on will be fixed.
