Plans to Cut Saturday Mail Service in Cranberry Delayed

Congress isn't allowing the change.

The U.S. Postal Service's plan to cut Saturday mail service is delayed, including the U.S. Postal Service in Cranberry. The Board of Governors of the agency stated that Congress passed a spending bill that continues to prohibit the reduction of delivery days. "Although disappointed with this Congressional action, the board will follow the law and has directed the Postal Service to delay implementation of its new delivery schedule," the board stated. Saturday mail service was set to be cut on Aug. 5. Like Us on Facebook | Follow Us on Twitter Check out some of today's other top stories here.

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Cranberry Township Recognized as 2013 Banner Community

The Allegheny League of Municipalities and County Executive Fitzgerald designate 21 municipalities around the region for the honor.

Cranberry Township is being recognized as one of nearly two dozen "banner communities" throughout Western Pennsylvania. The Allegheny League of Municipalities and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald announced 21 communities that received the special designation. Pete Poninsky, chairman of ALOM, said the communities chosen have a significant amount of intergovernmental cooperation efforts in place, as well as community activities and mentoring and educational programs. Cranberry was one of two Butler County communities to be named to the list. "Cranberry is honored to be named a 2013 Banner Community," said manager Jerry Andree. "Residents and businesses rely on the various services we provide on a daily basis, and they expect and …

• Photos (1)

Cranberry Breaks Ground for New EMS Company Home

The ambulance company will lease the new building to be located on Route 19 next to the Park Fire Station.

Construction is underway on a new home for Cranberry Township Emergency Medical Services. A groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday to mark the official start of work on the $1.6 million project, which will house the agency's ambulance fleet. The new two-story building, which includes six ambulance bays, will be located next to the Cranberry Township Volunteer Fire Company’s Park Station on Route 19. The building also will have sleeping quarters, recreation space and a small meeting room for workers. The township is financing the 7,200 square-foot structure and will rent it to the independent Cranberry Township EMS for $3,200 a month over the five-year term of its lease. Cranberry will pay for the new building with help from a $10 million…

• Photos (4)

Patch Poll: How Would You Rate the Region's Infrastructure?

Take our poll and give a grade to the roads, bridges and other parts of the public infrastructure.

The American Society of Civil Engineers has released its 2013 Report Card for America's Infrastructure. Every four years, the ASCE grades the nation, state by state, on the condition and performance of the nation’s infrastructure in the form of a school report card—assigning letter grades that are based on physical condition and needed fiscal investments for improvement. Put mildly, the country didn't do so well. America's GPA (grade point average) came in at a D+. The ASCE says some investment is needed to raise that GPA—an estimated $13.6 trillion by 2020. Pennsylvania fared a little better, earning a C- as its grade. The report card indicates the state has 852 high-hazard dams, 5,540 structurally deficent bridges and notes that 57 …

•  41 Comments
• Photos (1)

Margaret French

9:30 pm on Sunday, April 7, 2013

cc-He/she is so uninformed. Pitiful-huh? But unfortunately a lot of the population is. Maybe they will realize it when we are all living like Little House on the Prairie.   more ›

Ehrman Road Update: Traffic Signal Equipment Could Be Weeks Away

Currently being shipped from a facility in Nebraska, the signal poles are scheduled for more testing under PennDOT’s new regulations.

After a long slow march that included several delays, plans to construct a traffic signal at the intersection of Route 19 and Ehrman Road in Cranberry are nearing the finish line. “We’re getting there now,” said Jason Kratsas, Cranberry’s director of engineering. Kratsas said the traffic signal equipment currently is being shipped from a facility in Nebraska where the design was tested under regulations recently adopted by the state regarding the construction and fabrication of signal poles, mast arms and their foundations. Kratsas said pipe-bending facility in Nebraska is one of the few places in the country approved by PennDOT to bend and to test the signal’s mast arm. The equipment was shipped there in January, he said. “There was a …

•  4 Comments
• Photos (1)

2013 Cranberry Paving Plan: Is Your Street on This Year's List?

The township plans to spend just over $1.2 million on its roads. Check out the list to see if your street will be getting a fresh coat of asphalt this summer.

Now that pothole season is on its way out (at least we hope), Cranberry is preparing for its 2013 paving program. This year, the township will pave 8.43 miles of road at a cost of $1,238,000. The goal is to resurface all roads with a "C" grade, according to the township. A "C" grade means the road has potholes, frequent patches and the rideability is below average, according to public works director Jason Dailey. Base issues also are evident on the street. The cost to pave a one mile of road is about $98,903, a 4.6 percent increase over last year's cost of $94,520. Cranberry is responsible for township roads. PennDOT is in charge of maintenance for state roads, including Route 228, Route 19 and Freedom Road. Without further ado, here is …

•  6 Comments
• Photos (1)

Illegal Alien Found Living in Adams Township Charged with Immigration Violation

Police discover the Honduras native after a traffic stop.

A Honduras native found in Adams Township has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of re-entry into the United States after deportation, according to United States Attorney David J. Hickton. The one-count indictment named Marcio Martinez-Bustamante, 31, as the sole defendant. According to indictment, Martinez-Bustamante, an alien, was removed from the country by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Feb. 26, 2010 and Jan. 26, 2011. Adams Police discovered Martinez-Bustamante was living in the area after officers pulled him over during a traffic stop March 9. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of two years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, …

•  15 Comments
• Photos (1)

New State Policy Delaying Traffic Signal Construction at Ehrman Road in Cranberry

Township engineer Jason Kratsas also updates the timeline for construction of the Sheetz gas station and convenience store to be located at the intersection.

A new PennDOT regulation is delaying a traffic signal from being erected as planned at the intersection of Route 19 and Ehrman Road in Cranberry. “It has really kind of been tough because it’s out of our hands,” said Jason Kratsas, Cranberry’s director of engineering. “We’ve really been trying to push things along.” Kratsas said the state adopted the new policy regarding the construction and fabrication of signal poles, mast arms, and their foundations in mid-2012.  The traffic signal in Cranberry is one of the first to be tested under the new guidelines, Kratsas said. The delays are being caused because the state and Union Metals, the signal manufacturer Cranberry is using for the project, are figuring out the inspection process for the …

•  17 Comments
• Photos (1)

Air Force: 911th Airlift Wing Mission Secure Through 2014

The 911th Airlift wing in Moon will remain open for another year, but uncertainty remains.

The 911th Airlift Wing will keep its eight C-130 tactical aircraft through 2014, maintaining its full flying mission for one year.  Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, announced today that a planned 2013 closure of the base will not occur. Operations at the base will continue into next year, Murphy said in a statement.  The Air Force renewed the base's mission today. The 911th has faced previous closure attempts, including one in 2005. “The past 12 months aside, countless members of our community have been fighting since 2004 to block misguided and misinformed attempts to close the 911th," Murphy said in a statement. The 911th's mission after 2014 remains unclear. Murphy said efforts to stave off a closure have not ended. “Despite this …

• Photos (1)

LIVE: Winter Storm Updates Around Western Pennsylvania

A winter storm warning remains in effect through this afternoon for much of Western PA, so keep checking with Patch for travel advisories and local conditions. Using a mobile device? Switch to our desktop version to see the live blog.

• Photos (1)