Community Corner

A Versatile Week in Review

There was a wide variety of stories in the past week.

This week brought a versatile group of stories that ranged from second graders building science projects to a firefighter trainee being accused of pouring milk into firemen boots.

A Scott Township man who was having trouble with state-mandated training is accused of vandalizing equipment at the Heidelberg Volunteer Fire Department. Fire officials said there was about $700 worth of damage to boots and coats. Just a little farther down Route 50, three people were injured in a two-vehicle crash during Friday evening rush hour.

But there were happier stories as well. Students at Chartiers Valley Primary School displayed their science projects that ranged from model solar systems to miniature turbines. And the high school boys’ basketball team upset Mt. Lebanon to make it to the WPIAL championship game at Duquesne University.

Find out what's happening in Chartiers Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 

Find out what's happening in Chartiers Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A man training to become a Heidelberg volunteer firefighter is accused of destroying some of the department’s equipment. Michael David Stoakes, 24, of Scott, was charged with defiant trespassing and criminal mischief after investigators said he destroyed two pairs of boots and damaged several firefighting coats. Heidelberg police Chief Vernon Barkley described Stoakes as a “disgruntled volunteer fireman recruit” who was removed from the department’s roster because he did not complete state-mandated training.

 

Three people were injured in a two-vehicle crash that snarled the Friday evening commute on Route 50 in Collier. Police said a motorist was pulling out of the ChemTech parking lot at about 4:30 p.m. when the vehicle was struck by another car traveling east on Route 50 near Thoms Run Road. Two women and a man were injured and transported by ambulances to St. Clair and Allegheny General hospitals, police said.

 

With 18 seconds remaining in last night’s Class AAAA WPIAL semifinals game against Mt. Lebanon, the Chartiers Valley fans starting chanting, “Coach McConnell, Coach McConnell.” Then, with just under five seconds to play, the colorful coach acknowledged the fans, as his Colts sealed the deal in a 54-48 upset victory over the second-seeded Blue Devils at Baldwin High School. And while Mt. Lebanon defeated the Colts in both regular season meetings this season, junior forward Christian Kuntz said his team was confident entering the game.

 

Police said a person came to their department on Feb. 25 and filed a complaint about a domestic abuse incident. Police later charged Bobbi Tucker, 41, of Collier, with simple assault after the incident at a St. Mellion Drive residence.

 

With so many distractions for kids nowadays, it sometimes is difficult to get students interested in schoolwork. But teachers at Chartiers Valley Primary School did just that when they encouraged more than 150 second-graders to participate in the school’s science fair. “Times are changing,” teacher Gretchen Wentz said. “If you don’t make it as exciting as their video games at home, you’ve lost them.”


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Chartiers Valley