the almanac O C T O B E R 27, 2024
SOUTH HILLS COMMUNITY NEWS
a thealmanac.net
facebook.com/SouthHillsAlmanac
@shillsalmanac
Focus on the future COURTESY OF KATHY RYAN
Eliza Griswold received the Pulitzer Prize for “Amity and Prosperity” in the general nonfiction category.
‘Stories that need to be told’ ‘Amity and Prosperity’ thrust fracking in Washington Co. into spotlight COURTESY OF THE SOUTH FAYETTE SCHOOL DISTRICT
South Fayette School District administrators Matthew Callison and Cristine Wagner-Deitch at a summit on the uses of artificial intelligence in education at South Fayette High School
South Fayette district hosts summit on AI in education By Brad Hundt Staff writer
bhundt@observer-reporter.com
Teachers who usually spend their days in front of students were the ones in the seats and taking notes at South Fayette High School earlier this month. About 250 educators were at the high school Oct. 14 when students were off for Columbus and Indigenous Peoples’ Day for what the district said was its first-ever “future-focused learning summit.” They attended discussions, workshops and presentations about artificial intelligence and how it could reshape education. Most of the educators were from the Pittsburgh region, but there were some from Ohio and New York and one from Canada, according to Jennifer Don-
have people who don’t know anything about AI.” The seminars educators attended covered a broad range of topics, including how AI can assist with the workloads of administrators, and how it can be deployed in special education, music education and SEE SUMMIT PAGE A3
By Brad Hundt Staff writer
bhundt@observer-reporter.com
THE SEMINARS EDUCATORS ATTENDED COVERED A BROAD RANGE OF TOPICS, INCLUDING HOW AI CAN ASSIST WITH THE WORKLOADS OF ADMINISTRATORS, AND HOW IT CAN BE DEPLOYED IN SPECIAL EDUCATION, MUSIC EDUCATION AND ASSIST STUDENTS WITH READING IN GRADE SCHOOL. ovan, a spokeswoman for the South Fayette School District. Cristine Wagner-Deitch, the district’s curriculum director, said the educators who were attending all had different levels of awareness of understanding about AI – some had a basic grasp of it, while, on the other hand, “we
Editor’s note: This is one in a series of stories reflecting on 20 years of gas drilling in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
BRAD HUNDT/OBSERVER-REPORTER
Brian Stamford, program director for accountability and innovative practices with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, talks about how AI will never replace teachers in the classroom at a summit on AI at South Fayette High School Oct. 14.
Natural gas drilling dominated local discussion in Washington County in the 2010s, and with the publication of the book, “Amity and Prosperity: One Family and the Fracturing of America” in 2018, the conflicts over fracking and its impact entered the national discussion. Written by Eliza Griswold, a longtime reporter for The New Yorker, “Amity and Prosperity” was the result of seven years of research and 37 trips to Washington County. The book recounted the story of nurse and single mother Stacey Haney, whose life and that of her family was upended by fracking. The Haneys and some of their Amity neighbors filed suit against energy company Range Resources, claiming that the company’s negligence contaminated their soil and groundwater. That contamination, the 25-count suit alleged, led Haney and her children to become sick and for their pets to die. SEE FRACKING PAGE A2
Off-duty liquor enforcement officer killed in Montour Trail stabbing By Jon Andreassi Staff writer
jandreassi@observer-reporter.com
An off-duty state police liquor enforcement officer died Oct. 21 after he was stabbed on the Montour Trail in Moon Township, Allegheny County. Court documents state that at about 3 p.m. that day, Moon Township police were called to the trail near 1953 Hassam Road, where Benjamin Brallier was JON ANDREASSI/OBSERVER-REPORTER found lying on the ground and unrespon- A state police liquor enforcement sive. agent was stabbed to death on the Brallier, 44, was transported to Heri- Montour Trail in Moon Township, Altage Valley Sewickley Hospital, where he legheny County. was declared dead at 3:52 p.m. Homicide COURTESY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT detectives with Allegheny County police The next day, Allegheny County poA bike belonging to the suspect in Monday’s stabbing was saw what appeared to be multiple knife lice filed a charge of criminal homicide left at the scene along the Montour Trail in Moon Township. wounds on his back, chest and left hand. against Anthony Quesen, 25. The crim-
SOUTH FAYETTE Seven inducted into school’s Hall of Fame PAGE A2 What’s happening, B3
SPORTS Mt. Lebanon wins second tennis title in three seasons PAGE B1 Real estate transactions, A6
inal complaint indicates that Quesen is homeless, and does not provide an address. At the scene of the stabbing, investigators discovered a trail of blood leading to a yellow bicycle. Brallier’s wife told police that he was an “avid runner” and did not own a bicycle. According to the complaint, police found a Pennsylvania ID for Quesen inside a bag near the bike, which police later determined belonged to the suspect. At about 10 p.m. Oct. 21, police found Quesen at the entrance to Montour Woods Conservation Area, a short walk from where Brallier was attacked, court documents state. SEE STABBING PAGE A2
SIGHTS & SOUNDS Bridge named in honor of late firefighter PAGE B3 Classifieds, B4-6