January 05, 2026 |
By T.J. Martin | Posted in: White Oak News
White Oak police officer Nate Werderber was introduced to the community at the borough’s December council meeting after being sworn in earlier in the day. He became the White Oak police department’s 10th officer in addition to the chief of police. (T.J. Martin photo for Tube City Almanac)
The White Oak Police Department continues to grow. At borough council’s December meeting, Mayor Ina Jean Marton introduced the department’s newest officer, Nate Werderber, who she had sworn in earlier that day.
Marton said Werderber is a 2020 graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School and afterwards served for five years in the U.S. Marine Corps. In November of 2025, he graduated from the Westmoreland County Community College Police Academy and, Marton said, was at the top of his class in academics, firearms and driving proficiency.
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January 05, 2026 |
By T.J. Martin | Posted in: White Oak News
White Oak residents will see no real estate tax increase under the 2026 budget passed by the borough council as 2025 drew to a close.
Finance Committee Chairman Jason Russell said the budget has expenditures of $6.75 million and will be balanced against revenues with $161,559 added from the fund balance. The tax rate is 9 mills.
Last year’s budget was $6.67 million.
Russell said some highlights of the 2026 budget include funding for 13 police officers including the chief of police and seven public works employees, $200,000 in a capital fund reserve for future street paving projects and a $25,000 payment to be spread over the next two years as the borough’s matching fund to a grant of $50,000 from the state Municipal Assistance Program to pay for an update of the borough’s zoning ordinance.
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December 22, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News, White Oak News
White Oak and Allegheny County police are investigating the chain of events that took the life of a McKeesport woman in a one-car collision on Sunday.
The Allegheny County medical examiner’s office said Keisha Fortner, 45, was pronounced dead at AHN Forbes Regional Hospital in Monroeville following the collision on Route 48 near McClintock Road.
White Oak police Chief Jason Binder said Fortner was the driver of a Chevrolet SUV that was traveling north when the crash occurred just before 4 p.m. Sunday. A male passenger in the vehicle was taken to an area hospital where he was in critical condition, Binder said.
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December 09, 2025 |
By T.J. Martin | Posted in: White Oak News
New White Oak police officers Larry Bishop and Cody Stanoszek were introduced to the public at November’s monthly council meeting. (T.J. Martin photo for Tube City Almanac)
White Oak has added two new police officers who have roots in the area.
At November’s monthly council meeting, council introduced to the public Officers Cody Stanoszek and Larry Bishop.
Mayor Ina Jean Marton, who earlier had sworn in the officers, said Stanoszek has years of law enforcement experience, including a stint with the Irwin Borough Police Department.
Bishop has 28 years of experience in law enforcement. After retiring from the McKeesport Police Department in 2019, Bishop served for the last six years with the Penn State University Police, Marton said.
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November 24, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News, White Oak News
A Liberty Borough man who died after being shot multiple times on Route 48 in White Oak was targeted by members of a rival motorcycle club in retaliation for his alleged role in a fight in Washington County, Allegheny County prosecutors said.
Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. has charged three men in connection with the Oct. 12 death of Kenneth Hayman, 33.
Hayman, who police identified as a member of the War Dogs Motorcycle Club, died at AHN Forbes Hospital in Monroeville about one hour after police said three armed men attacked him at the intersection of Lincoln Way and Route 48 in White Oak.
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October 16, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: White Oak News
Funeral arrangements have been made public for a Liberty Borough man shot to death on Sunday afternoon in White Oak.
Kenneth Hayman, 33, will be buried Nov. 1, said the DeCarbo Funeral Home in New Castle, Lawrence County, which is caring for the arrangements.
Hayman died Sunday in AHN Forbes Hospital, Monroeville, about one hour after police said three or four armed men shot attacked him at the intersection of Lincoln Way and Route 48 in White Oak.
Witnesses said Hayman was on his motorcycle at the intersection when a Chevrolet Silverado truck approached and the occupants opened fire with rifles. The vehicle then fled on Lincoln Way.
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October 09, 2025 |
By T.J. Martin | Posted in: White Oak News
White Oak Mayor Ina Jean Marton (at podium) introduces new White Oak Chief of Police Jason Binder at the September borough council meeting. (T.J. Martin photo for Tube City Almanac)
After a months-long selection process, White Oak Borough has appointed a new police chief.
Jason Binder was introduced as the new chief of police at the borough’s September meeting after being sworn in earlier in the month. He replaces Mark Sargent, who resigned in March.
In July, Public Safety Committee Chairwoman Loree Scharritter told her fellow commissioners that, after accepting applications for the Chief of Police position for a month, she and the other members of the Public Safety Committee were joined by Mayor Ina Jean Marton, Borough Manager John Palyo and chiefs of police from neighboring communities to conduct the first round of interviews.
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October 07, 2025 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements, White Oak News
Pros of Wrestling will present a “family friendly” event at White Oak Athletic Association on Oct. 25 featuring eight matches, a spokesman said.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and wrestling begins at 7:30 p.m.
The main event will feature AAA Lucha Libra star Sam Adonis, a Pennsylvania native and a graduate of Gateway High School who has been wrestling professionally for 20 years. Adonis, who has wrestled in Mexico, Japan, Italy, England and Canada, will be pitted against Bryant Starr of New York City.
Tickets are available from Eventbrite.com and at the door.
Merchandise and refreshments will be available, as well as prizes. WOAA is located at 1798 Lower Heckman Road in White Oak. For more information, call (412) 335-1622 or visit Pros of Wrestling on Facebook or X.
September 29, 2025 |
By Stacy Alderman | Posted in: White Oak News
Ariel Jenkins turned her love of party-planning into a full-time career. Her new store, Party Rockers Pittsburgh, recently celebrated a grand opening on Route 48 in White Oak. (Submitted photo)
When Ariel Jenkins became a mom at 19, she didn’t have a lot of help. So when special occasions like birthday parties came around, she ended up planning the events by herself.
Turning to the Pinterest social media app for inspiration, Jenkins began constructing balloon arches that soon caught everyone’s attention.
“People were always asking—‘who did that?’” she said. “And the answer was always me. Soon I was creating things for other people for free, but then I realized I could start charging for this kind of service. It helped pay for college and childcare while I was working retail.”
Fast-forward several years. With hard-earned experience behind her, Jenkins now has her own business — Party Rockers Pittsburgh — with a brand-new storefront on Jacks Run Road in White Oak. The store opened last month.
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June 26, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News, White Oak News
A Port Vue man was killed Wednesday in a motorcycle accident in White Oak, emergency personnel said.
Jake Wilson, 23, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash in the 1200 block of Long Run Road (Route 48) just after 1 a.m. Wednesday, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office said.
Allegheny County police said 9-1-1 dispatchers received a call at 1:18 a.m. that a man was lying in the road just south of Lincoln Way. First responders found the victim, later identified as Wilson, dead at the scene.
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