Observer-Reporter

Observer-Reporter The Observer-Reporter is a daily newspaper covering Washington and Greene counties and the Mon Valley Parent company Observer Publishing Co.

The award-winning Observer–Reporter has been part of Washington and Greene counties since the early 1800s, and the Mon Valley since 1986. Headquartered in Washington, Pa., we cover news, sports, opinion, community stories and more. also publishes The Almanac, a weekly newspaper in the South Hills, as well as monthly magazines and other special-interest publications, and related Web sites.

Chartiers Township police arrested a man Saturday after he allegedly assaulted a woman and attempted to drive away.Randa...
08/27/2025

Chartiers Township police arrested a man Saturday after he allegedly assaulted a woman and attempted to drive away.

Randall Lee Bell Jr., 33, of Chartiers Township, faces a felony aggravated assault charge and misdemeanors of reckless endangerment, simple assault, criminal mischief and driving under the influence.

Chartiers Township police arrested a man Saturday after he allegedly assaulted a woman and attempted to drive away. Randall Lee Bell Jr., 33, of Chartiers Township, faces a felony aggravated assault charge and misdemeanors of reckless endangerment, simple assault, criminal mischief and driving under...

When Rob Schiffbauer started as a volunteer firefighter at Carmichaels and Cumberland Township Volunteer Fire Company tw...
08/27/2025

When Rob Schiffbauer started as a volunteer firefighter at Carmichaels and Cumberland Township Volunteer Fire Company two decades ago, there was a waiting list to join the ranks.

“You basically had to wait for someone else to resign,” Schiffbauer said.

At the time, the fire company accepted only 60 members, and it used to be full. Now, it has 43, said Schiffbauer, who acts as the department’s chief.

When Rob Schiffbauer started as a volunteer firefighter at Carmichaels and Cumberland Township Volunteer Fire Company two decades ago, there was a waiting list to join the ranks. “You basically had to wait for someone else to resign,” Schiffbauer said. At the time, the fire company accepted only...

Three people were arrested in Franklin Township this week after a month-long investigation by the Greene County Drug Tas...
08/26/2025

Three people were arrested in Franklin Township this week after a month-long investigation by the Greene County Drug Task Force.

Charges were filed Thursday against Breya Falconer, 31, of Pittsburgh; William Fields, 34, of Clairton; and Brandon Green, 40, of McKees Rocks.

According to their criminal complaints, a confidential informant was directed to make plans to purchase “Tranq” — a mixture of he**in, fentanyl and xylazine — from Fields at the Residency Inn in Franklin Township.

Three people were arrested in Franklin Township this week after a month-long investigation by the Greene County Drug Task Force. Charges were filed Thursday against Breya Falconer, 31, of Pittsburgh; William Fields, 34, of Clairton; and Brandon Green, 40, of McKees Rocks. According to their criminal...

Cars, trucks, marching bands and floats all paid homage to the area’s coal mining heritage at Saturday’s annual King Coa...
08/26/2025

Cars, trucks, marching bands and floats all paid homage to the area’s coal mining heritage at Saturday’s annual King Coal Parade in Carmichaels.

It was the close of the 70th annual King Coal Festival, which began the Saturday before and continued throughout the week with baby contests, a children’s bicycle parade, the Battle of the Barrel and more.

The parade was preceded by a car and motorcycle show, with participants driving directly from the show to form their own parade immediately before King Coal.

Cars, trucks, marching bands and floats all paid homage to the area’s coal mining heritage at Saturday’s annual King Coal Parade in Carmichaels. It was the close of the 70th annual King Coal Festival, which began the Saturday before and continued throughout the week with baby contests, a childre...

Members of the first year of Connellsville Area High School graduates without a class rank are asking the district to re...
08/25/2025

Members of the first year of Connellsville Area High School graduates without a class rank are asking the district to reinstate it.

Earlier this month, students posted a petition on change.org calling for a return to the previous system, which recognized a valedictorian, salutatorian and class rank. The petition had received 1,056 online signatures as of Friday afternoon.

Members of the first year of Connellsville Area High School graduates without a class rank are asking the district to reinstate it. Earlier this month, students posted a petition on change.org calling for a return to the previous system, which recognized a valedictorian, salutatorian and class rank....

The Washington School District community is mourning the loss of a football coach who died after collapsing in the stand...
08/25/2025

The Washington School District community is mourning the loss of a football coach who died after collapsing in the stands at Friday night’s varsity game.

First responders were called to the Washington High School Stadium at 6:45 p.m. for the coach, who was experiencing a medical issue, the supervisor on duty at Washington County 911 said Saturday morning. He was transported to UPMC Washington, where he was later pronounced dead.

The Washington School District community is mourning the loss of a football coach who died after collapsing in the stands at Friday night’s varsity game. First responders were called to the Washington High School Stadium at 6:45 p.m. for the coach, who was experiencing a medical issue, the supervi...

Five years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the oldest of the “pandemic babies” – born in early 2020 – are head...
08/22/2025

Five years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the oldest of the “pandemic babies” – born in early 2020 – are heading off to kindergarten this month.

And while the 3.5 million U.S. children born between March 2020 and 2021 have been more resilient than anybody could have imagined, educators, parents and doctors are anxious to see what impact the pandemic experience will have on young learners as they begin their educational journeys.

Five years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the oldest of the “pandemic babies” – born in early 2020 – are heading off to kindergarten this month. And while the 3.5 million U.S. children born between March 2020 and 2021 have been more resilient than anybody could have imagined, educ...

The teachers’ union at Carmichaels Area School District voted unanimously to give its negotiating team the authority to ...
08/22/2025

The teachers’ union at Carmichaels Area School District voted unanimously to give its negotiating team the authority to call for a strike.

The vote came during a Monday meeting in which members of the Carmichaels Area Education Association turned down the district’s proposed contract.

“The overwhelming defeat of the tentative agreement and the subsequent unanimous strike authorization demonstrates the disrespect with which the (school) Board has treated their teaching staff” CAEA President Brianna Rice said in a release. “This lack of respect hurts the educational environment for our students and the teachers.”

The teachers’ union at Carmichaels Area School District voted unanimously to give its negotiating team the authority to call for a strike. The vote came during a Monday meeting in which members of the Carmichaels Area Education Association turned down the district’s proposed contract. “The ove...

A powerful downburst from a severe thunderstorm over Ohiopyle sent visitors scattering for cover as high winds toppled t...
08/21/2025

A powerful downburst from a severe thunderstorm over Ohiopyle sent visitors scattering for cover as high winds toppled trees and damaged hiking trails around the popular state park on a busy Sunday afternoon.

Dayden Waggett was visiting the park with his family and enjoying the sun-splashed afternoon near Cucumber Falls about 3 p.m. when the weather changed almost instantly, trapping them and other people far from the safety of their parked vehicles.

A powerful downburst from a severe thunderstorm over Ohiopyle sent visitors scattering for cover as high winds toppled trees and damaged hiking trails around the popular state park on a busy Sunday afternoon. Dayden Waggett was visiting the park with his family and enjoying the sun-splashed afternoo...

The South Fayette Township School District has unveiled its new Freight to Plate trailer – a mobile classroom that will ...
08/21/2025

The South Fayette Township School District has unveiled its new Freight to Plate trailer – a mobile classroom that will connect students across the Pittsburgh region through the universal language of food.

The trailer’s exterior visuals and logo were custom-designed by six students in the graphic design course offered at the high school. The design features the district’s Lion mascot creatively featured on a head of lettuce as well as waving from the back door of the trailer, in addition to multiple food and organic elements across all four sides.

The South Fayette Township School District has unveiled its new Freight to Plate trailer – a mobile classroom that will connect students across the Pittsburgh region through the universal language of food. The trailer’s exterior visuals and logo were custom-designed by six students in the graphi...

The family of Shawn “Sonny” Hriscisce had one word Monday morning for the man who killed their son, nephew and brother a...
08/20/2025

The family of Shawn “Sonny” Hriscisce had one word Monday morning for the man who killed their son, nephew and brother and refused to meet their gaze in court.

“Coward,” Hriscisce’s mother, Christina Campbell, told Sylvester Conaway, 57, at his sentencing in Fayette County Court of Common Pleas. “Just like the night you attacked my son from the back. Coward.”

The family of Shawn “Sonny” Hriscisce had one word Monday morning for the man who killed their son, nephew and brother and refused to meet their gaze in court. “Coward,” Hriscisce’s mother, Christina Campbell, told Sylvester Conaway, 57, at his sentencing in Fayette County Court of Common ...

Pennsylvania Western University begins its fall semester next week, and the new academic year kicks off with Welcome Wee...
08/20/2025

Pennsylvania Western University begins its fall semester next week, and the new academic year kicks off with Welcome Weekend Friday through Sunday.

The weekend offers first-year students the chance to move in at California, Clarion and Edinboro, meet classmates, explore campus resources and take part in activities to celebrate the start of the semester.

Pennsylvania Western University begins its fall semester next week, and the new academic year kicks off with Welcome Weekend Friday through Sunday. The weekend offers first-year students the chance to move in at California, Clarion and Edinboro, meet classmates, explore campus resources and take par...

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