DORMONT (KDKA) — At Pittsburgh International Airport, the buzz is all about bees on a plane.

Wednesday night, a Delta commuter flight loaded with passengers and about to take off for New York, was delayed.

“They were getting ready to fuel and they came around the corner of the plane and right there on the wing is a cluster of honeybees,” Master beekeeper Stephen Repasky of Meadow Sweet Apiaries said. “It was a shocker to a lot of people.”

Swarms of bees are actually nothing new at the airport. Last May, 25,000 to 30,000 landed on the Taxiway-C light.

“At the airport, this would be the fourth swarm that we’ve caught this year out there,” he said.

Repasky scooped them into a box for later release. The Delta bees are now safely in his Dormont backyard.

Swarms form when colonies become too large. The queen leaves with half of the bees to find a new home.

“So it could be a tree 40-feet up, it could be the wing of a jet liner,” Repasky explained.

He suspects that there’s a wild honeybee colony somewhere on airport property. They are a protected species, meaning you can’t kill them. They must be moved.

“Specifically, the airport authority have gone through great lengths to make sure that honeybees receive special attention.”

Hopefully, Hollywood is listening because it sounds like a perfect plot for a “B” movie.

RELATED LINKS
More Local News
More Reports By Mary Robb Jackson

DORMONT (KDKA) — Fifth-grader Chloe Benincasa and her mother walk right past the technology aisle in the Staples store in Dormont.

But Carola Benincasa says her son, in middle school, is a different story.

“He’s got the Kindle Fire, he’s got the iPod. We’ll have to get fancy iPods for him and things like that.”

“Locker accessories. Kids love this kind of stuff. We have a little chandelier here,” Assistant Manager Scott Hummel said. He is talking about a chandelier for a locker.

Back to school shopping has changed considerably since he was a kid.

In addition to the standard pens and notebooks, he says, “You’re looking at calculators, graphing calculators, you have the Spanish to English dictionaries. They’re all electronic now. It’s all technology. Thumb drives, computer software, computers themselves. Even in middle school, we’re seeing them coming in and buying laptops.”

Parents may need some schooling themselves before they embark on back to school shopping in the technology era.

RELATED LINKS
More Local News
More Reports By Dave Crawley

DORMONT (KDKA) — Two people are in custody following a shooting outside of a crowded bar in Dormont.

The incident happened at the R Bar on West Liberty Avenue.

“We never have anything like this in the bar,” Debi Hodell, the bar’s owner, said.

Charles Friedel, 21, of Brookline, was getting loud inside the bar, so he was asked to leave.

“They escorted him out and he got a little – he started – there was some pushing and shoving right by the door and he knocked our one bartender – a little skirmish back and forth and they left,” Hodell explained.

That’s when Hodell says witnesses heard Friedel say he was coming back.

“As he was leaving, he turned around and said that he was coming back with a gun and he also threatened my daughter,” Hodell said. “We locked the door because we were afraid they were going to come back and they did.”

Three shots were fired at the bar and two men ran off. No one was hit by the bullets, but a man and woman were injured by flying glass.

Hodell describes the R Bar as a family business and her customers as friends, so when shots were fired, she was shaken.

“People love coming here and so it was very scary,” she said.

Police arrested Friedel and 22-year-old Anthony Nania. They were arraigned overnight and taken to the Allegheny County Jail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for next week.

Stay with KDKA for the latest details.

RELATED LINKS:
More Dormont News
More Local News

DORMONT (KDKA) – Police are investigating after a local pizza restaurant was held up Sunday evening.

According to police, the armed robbery happened at the Vocelli’s Pizza in the 3000-block of West Liberty Avenue around 11 p.m.

Officials say one person came into the pizza shop with a gun and got away with around $700.

There were no reported injuries.

No arrests have been made at this time.

Stay With KDKA.com For More Details

RELATED LINKS

More Local News
More Dormont News
More Reports From Lynne Hayes-Freeland

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — President Barack Obama won the electoral college– and the popular vote– as well as the state of Pennsylvania.

But despite the support for the president, some fear the nation is too divided.

The headline on Wednesday’s Tribune-Review says it all — Obama will see another term as the president.

This morning at Tom’s Diner, KDKA’s Ross Guidotti asked folks about the election results, like where’s the country headed post-election?

“Tonight more than 200 years after a colony broke to determine its own destiny,” Obama said in his acceptance speech, “the task of perfecting our union moves forward.”

Wednesday morning, at the diner, there were some people who were satisfied with the election.

“I was happy with it,” voter Gary Szarell said. “It was good to see President Obama get re-elected.”

And there were people who were not satisfied.

“I’m not surprised, but I am disappointed because I am a Republican,” voter Tom Fletcher said.

It also revealed, regardless of the outcome, people are worried about our more perfect union.

“I am disappointed that we are so divided,” voter Camille Huzzard.

“Lincoln said a house divided can not stand,” Fletcher said.

According to everyone that KDKA’s Ross Guidotti spoke to, this election has driven Americans apart as no other.

“It’s awful, it’s awful. There are people saying bad things, bad mouthing, it’s sad to me,” Huzzard said.

And once again according to the admittedly small sample at the diner, 10 percent of the right and 10 percent of the left are to blame.

“The 80 percent of us that I think are normal people, I think are really the losers,” Fletcher said.

Normally no matter how bitter the election, Americans more on and get along.

And it’s likely it will happen again, but Wednesday’s small sample group at Tom’s says this time, it won’t be easy.

“I don’t know how to fix it ,” Huzzard said. “I wish I did. I wish there was a magic spell we could cast. I don’t think we’re in trouble, ‘cause I still think we’re America — I still believe there’s hope there.”

And if unity is sought in America, there’s not a lot of time to establish it because the next election’s wheels will start to turn in just two years.

RELATED LINKS
More Local News
More Election News
More Political News

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A man died after falling off of a third-story balcony on the South Side early Sunday morning.

It happened around 2:30 a.m. near the corner of 18th Street and Carey Way.

The man was 25-year-old Andrew Walter Guzzi of Dormont.

Police say he fell onto a concrete driveway, landing on his head. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

They say Guzzi’s death was accidental, but alcohol did play a part.

RELATED LINKS
More Local News
More Police News
More South Side News

BALDWIN (KDKA) — A woman from Dormont is accused in a road rage incident in which a mother and daughter were both punched in the face and a Good Samaritan was hit with a car.

According to court papers, 29-year-old Amanda Petrelli punched both women after she tried to get around their car in Baldwin Township and the two vehicles collided.

A man who was nearby reportedly tried to help, but was hit by Petrelli’s car.

A police officer had to point a gun at Petrelli to get her to stop, according papers filed in court.

Petrelli allegedly had a bag of marijuana in her car, and police smelled alcohol on her breath.

She is charged with DUI, possessing marijuana, aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person.

RELATED LINKS:
More Local News

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — People who live in a 10-story apartment building in Dormont were forced out of their homes after a natural gas leak Tuesday night and they had no idea they were in danger.

Steam from a broken water pipe set off the smoke alarm in a building on Voelkel Avenue.

When firefighters arrived, they didn’t find flames, but they did detect high levels of natural gas.

They immediately evacuated all 10 units.

“You could have had an explosive situation because the level of gas when the rep from Columbia Gas walked in,” Dormont Fire Captain Jeff Stakich said, “he noticed it on his meter. It pegged right away.”

Stakich said the frigid temperatures caused problems for utility crews who couldn’t immediately shut of the gas because of a frozen stem underground.

Displaced tenants were offered shelter in a mobile command unit from Mt. Lebanon.

“We were starting to encourage the firefighters to get in because even though they have a lot of layers of clothes,” Deputy Chief Chris Buttlar said. “They’ve been stuck outside for hours as well.”

The gas was finally shut off and tenants with electric heat were able to return to their units. The other half of the building has gas heat.

Those families are staying with friends and relatives.

RELATED LINKS
More Weather
More Local News
More Police News

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Nestled on a quiet street in Dormont is a direct link to the Super Bowl.

A sign in front of a house indicating the residents’ love for the Ravens is just the start of it.

Inside were Gino Gradowski’s aunts, cousins, two grandmothers and a host of friends where there to cheer on Dormont native – turned Raven guard – in Sunday’s Super Bowl game.

“People say, ‘are you really rooting for the Ravens?’” one of his family members said. “I say, ‘yes I am. My grandson’s playing.’”

And root they did.

Throughout the whole first half, they only caught a glimpse or so of Gradowski on the field – but the Ravens had a great first half.

And when the Ravens do well – so does “Gino’s” Pittsburgh family. And honestly they don’t care what Steelers fans might think of them cheering for the Ravens.

“Blood’s thicker than water,” the family says.

But a few miles away, support for the 49ers was evident in the O’Connor household in Squirrel Hill.

Marlene Emrow was there watching the game, but her heart was in San Francisco with defensive line coach Jim Tomsula – who grew up down the street from her in Lincoln Place.

“He lived four doors away and he was a nice young man,” she said. “Then when he went to high school he decided he wanted to go to Steel Valley.”

And now, years later, he’s coaching a Super Bowl team and those who knew him when, were cheering for his success.
And by the second half, there was something for the 49ers fans to cheer for.

“Being that we didn’t have the Steelers to root for,” Emrow said. “Having watched him grow up and seeing the nice young man that he became.”

RELATED LINKS
More Sports
More Steelers

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The Hollywood Theater in Dormont has to raise $75,000 by the end of this year to switch over to digital projectors or it will have to close its doors.

When it appeared that legendary actor Ed Asner had stepped in to help, the theater’s manager was surprised and confused.

Monday, Asner’s public relations representative said he too was confused as to who is actually behind the bizarre situation.

The Facebook post from the fake Ed Asner page reads “Help the Hollywood Theater! One of Pittsburgh’s last historic neighborhood cinemas. I have found memories of visiting this venue as a much younger man while visiting relatives. I’ll double every donation!”

Theater manager Chad Hunter was excited but skeptical when he saw the post. He tried sending a thank you message to Asner via the social media website but never heard back. That’s when he got suspicious.

A representative for “Charles Sherman Public Relations” who represents Asner says the page is fake and that the actor has never had a Facebook page. They have no idea where this started, but say they would like to get to the bottom of it.

The Hollywood Theater says the link the faux page provided was actually legitimate and because of the Asner impersonator, the theater received $750 to $1,000 for the indiegogo.com campaign.

Hunter says he hopes those who donated didn’t only do so because of the Asner money match but says the theater will refund those donations if need be.

He’s looking beyond this hoax as the theater is hoping to announce a grant that may come through to help with the digital projector installation fund.

Asner’s only connection to Pittsburgh is a cousin.

RELATED LINKS
More Local News
Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – There is what was thought to be a sinkhole near the Dormont pool and it is growing larger.

At first, an underground container the size of a mobile home collapsed and swallowed part of the parking lot.

Now, two more concrete boxes have been discovered.

Dormont officials aren’t actually calling it a sinkhole though – they’re not sure what it is. But they do know they have a problem to be dealt with.

It had the makings of a sinkhole when the earth opened up in the parking lot. But when the digging started, borough officials discovered it was not one, but three underground concrete structures.

“They’re 7 feet below the surface, they are 12 feet deep themselves, 17 feet wide and 53 feet long,” Dormont Borough Manager Jeff Naftal said. “They’re big.”

Speculation is the 8-foot –thick concrete structures were part of an underground storm drainage system.

“It appears that they were there for storm drainage purposes probably for the road,” Naftal said. “We’re not sure of that exactly, because we haven’t fully excavated, so we don’t know that for sure.”

Since no one was around when the structures were built, the borough is hoping to get some idea from the county or PennDOT records. In the meantime, speculation continues.

“We’ve heard bomb shelters and Christmas tree burning sites and at one point, I had a theory that maybe it was a septic tank, giant septic tank,” Naftal said.

A contractor has been hired to dig out the hole, removing large piles of black sludge. It’s hoped that this is the extent of the problem.

“It’s good that we didn’t have a full parking lot when it happened,” Naftal said. “It’s good that we know now, we’re going to knock in the roof of the structures fill up the holes so that it’s solid firm ground and we won’t to worry about this in the future.”

The borough manager assures this will not be a problem for the swimming pool or other park activities. In fact, they plan to have it filled and covered by the end of the month.

Most Talked About Stories On CBS Pittsburgh
Police Say Teacher Made Female Student Perform Lap Dances For Male Students In Class
Moms Launch Petition To Rid Dyes From Kraft Macaroni and Cheese
Health Alert Issued After Roaches At Food Court In Popular Mall

RELATED LINKS
More Local News
Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Officials have solved the mystery of the giant holes plaguing the Dormont pool parking lot.

It was originally thought that the depressions in the parking lot were sinkholes, but once officials realized they were more like concrete boxes – they suspected something else.

And it turns out one of their original guesses of septic tank was correct.

Dormont Borough Manager Jeff Naftal said earlier this month, “we’ve heard bomb shelters and Christmas tree burning sites and at one point, I had a theory that maybe it was a septic tank, giant septic tank.”

The three septic tanks are about 7 feet below the surface, 12 feet deep, 17 feet wide and about 53 feet long, Naftal said.

Naftal said they were able to determine that the structures were septic tanks based on plans from 1937 indicating that they were to be removed – which never happened.

Officials said earlier this month that they plan to have the holes filled by the end of the month.

RELATED LINKS
More On This Story
More Local News

DORMONT (KDKA) – It took firefighters two and half hours to finally put out a stubborn fire this morning in Dormont.

Numerous crews had to be called to the scene to help.

The fire broke out around 5:15 a.m. in the 3200-block of West Liberty Avenue.

The building is home to Angelina’s Pizzeria and has two apartment buildings above it.

One of the residents in the upstairs apartments smelled the smoke and then alerted his neighbors. Three people were able to escape unharmed.

Dormont’s Fire Chief says the fire started in the pizza shop and spread to the upstairs apartments.

“It was a very stubborn fire. We chased it all over the place,” said Chief Jeff Arnold, of the Dormont Fire Department. “Our biggest problem was getting the gas shut off; we could not get the gas shut off. That’s what hampered us a little bit.”

The building is a total loss.

“I don’t have any words,” said Francesco Varrati, the building owner. “I made a living there for 30 years just about, and now it’s all gone.”

At least one of the tenant’s doesn’t have insurance and lost everything in the blaze.

West Liberty Avenue had been shut down for several hours, but has since been reopened.

The Allegheny County Fire Marshal is investigating the case and said it will be a while before officials know what caused the fire.

Authorities say the building has many additions and has had electrical problems before. An electrician is expected to check out the building and determine if the cause was an electrical fire.

The Red Cross is assisting three adults with food and clothing.

RELATED LINKS
More Dormont News
More Local News
More Reports From Christine D’Antonio

PITTSBURGH (NewsRadio 1020 KDKA) – While at DiSalvo’s Station Thursday night KDKA’s Robert Mangino talked with Dormont native Daren Miller who’s goal is to help others swim ocean channels.

Miller says he wants to help raise awareness about the dangers of channel swimming, since he just lost one of his friends to a shark attack in Auckland, New Zealand.

He’s now created a website to help raise awareness, and help raise money for the forever fund at Children’s Hospital. The fund helps families who struggle to afford the costs associated with infant cardiothoracic surgery.

More information on Darren Miller can be found in this story from our News Partners at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette here

DORMONT (KDKA) – Police are investigating a series of burglaries in Dormont over the weekend.

According to police, the burglaries happened on Voelkel Avenue, as well as Connecticut and Broadway Streets starting on Saturday night.

Residents were home and asleep during all three incidents.

The burglars entered the homes through unlocked or open windows or by pushing out one-room air conditioners, and stole cash, purses and other small items.

“My dad woke up and came downstairs, and everything was open,” said Jackie McCartney, a burglary victim. “The windows were open and all our our drawers were open.”

Police are asking residents to be on the lookout for anything suspicious and to make sure their doors and windows are locked.

“Time of year because it’s warm out… have more people out – especially later in the night – with windows being open. I think it’s more of an opportunist,” said Chief Mike Bisignani, of Dormont Police.

Police have also dusted for fingerprints, but no suspects have been identified at this time.

RELATED LINKS

More Local News
More Dormont News
More Reports From Christine D’Antonio

DORMONT (KDKA) — The driver of an SUV is being treated for injuries after his vehicle collided with a trolley Saturday afternoon in the South Hills.

The accident happened around 5 p.m. at the Red Line T tracks near Hillsdale Avenue in Dormont.

The impact of the collision caused the vehicle to roll over and catch fire.

The driver of the SUV suffered neck and back injuries.

Police say the man ignored the flashing red lights at the T crossing.

Port Authority officials say no one on the light rail trolley was injured. However, one man with a heart condition was reportedly checked out as a precaution.

According to the Port Authority, T traffic was re-routed from the Red Line to the Blue Line following the accident.

Stay with KDKA for the latest on this developing story.

RELATED LINKS:
More Dormont News
More Local News

Pennsylvania American Water is asking customers to limit usage in Allegheny and Washington counties.

The alert comes after a power failure at the Becks Run Pumping Station.

Customers in Green Tree, Mount Lebanon, Baldwin, Baldwin Borough, Castle Shannon, Dormont and the City of Pittsburgh are asked to reduce indoor usage while repairs are made.

Customers also might experience no or low water pressure or cloudy water.

According to a press release, “Customers will be notified when the voluntary conservation notice is lifted, and updates will be provided through the Pennsylvania American Water website at under the Alert Notifications section.”

To stay up to date on the repairs, click here.

DORMONT (KDKA) — The little dogs gathered early in the heat of late summer, for the Labor Day Doggy Dip in the Dormont Pool.

The little guys make their way toward the shallow end.

Gretchen Fieser of the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society says the $25 fee will be split two ways.

“I expect, probably with this nice weather, at least 600 people, maybe more,” she says, “and the money goes to the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society to help the animals that are in need in our community. Half the money goes there, half the money goes to the Dormont Pool, which keeps it in operation for the people all summer long.”

Lifeguards are at the ready in case there is trouble in the water. Not to be critical, but most of the swimmers haven’t made it past the dog paddle stage.

Isaiah the cocker spaniel does a pretty good rendition of that particular stroke.

“He did pretty good,” his owner says. “This was his first time.”

A Jack Russell named Rooster needed a little coaxing.

“He won’t go in on his own,” his owner admits, “but once you take him in, he’ll swim.”

But Boo, the Boston terrier, wanted no part of the pool.

“She looked around at the other dogs,” his owner said with a smile, “and walked the other way.”

RELATED LINKS
More From Dave Crawley
More Local News

DORMONT (KDKA) – A quick-moving fire damaged a home in Dormont Wednesday morning.

On a rainy morning, eight fire crews were called to the 3200-block of Pinehurst Avenue for a five-alarm house fire around 9 a.m.

No one was home at the time, but a neighbor called 911 and helped rescue some of the family’s pets.

“I came home, looked up and saw some flames. I stopped and looked for a while to see if anyone was in the house. I knocked on the door and I didn’t see anybody, ran across the street called 911 from my cell phone, then I ran back over to try to get the dogs out,” Reggie Johnson said.

Three people lived inside the house with three dogs and two birds. The birds didn’t make it out alive.

The homeowner fought back tears while watching her belongings and memories go up in flames.

Fire officials said the fire reached five alarms because of the limited volunteer man power during the daytime and because of the danger involved with homes being so close together.

“In Dormont, it’s a very big problem. We’re heavily populated and all these homes are so close together. It’s very dangerous so us getting here very quick and putting water on the fire to minimize the damage was very crucial,” Deputy Chief James Kolesky said.

Emergency responders said that no injuries were reported.

Fire officials said the blaze probably started on the second floor of the home, but they’re still investigating.

RELATED LINKS

More Local News
More Dormont News
More Reports From Kimberly Gill

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Crews worked to put out a two-alarm blaze in Dormont.

It started before 9:20 p.m. in the 1100-block of Mississippi Avenue.

Officials say heavy smoke was scene coming from the building.

One man was able to get out safely with his dog.

No word on how the fire started.

Stay with KDKA for more information.

RELATED LINKS
More Local News
More Police News