16056 Area Insight

05/31/2026

The 16056 area weather outlook for May 31, 2026, is much different than 41 years ago. It was May 31, 1985, when a series of tornadoes tore through Butler County, including the Saxonburg area. Six people died in Butler County on that Friday evening in 1985. The Butler Eagle reported that a tornado touched down in the county at about 8:30 p.m. There were five confirmed touchdowns in Butler County. In addition to the 6 deaths in the county, 69 were injured, 10 persons were hospitalized, and damages rose beyond $15 million. Around 110 homes and businesses in the county were destroyed and 97 sustained damage. The deaths occurred in the Saxonburg and Evans City areas. Killed were Dennis Armstrong, Sherri Durci, John Bogus, Karen Bogus, Edward Fink and Lorraine Fink. A tornado touched down along Knoch Road and KDKA Boulevard (now Pittsburgh Street) near Saxonburg and struck a mobile home, killing 13-month-old Dennis Armstrong and 19-year-old Sherri Durci, who was watching the baby. Both were thrown a few hundred yards and died of their injuries. Nearby on Knoch Road, John and Karen Bogus apparently sought shelter in the basement of their two-story brick home and were killed when a stone wall fell on them. Sharon Lee Chernick, a reporter for the Butler Eagle, wrote that the storm “cut a horizontal path across the southern part of the county, leveling homes, uprooting trees, and reducing cars and mobile homes to twisted bits of metal. Trees pulled from the ground and scattered like pickup sticks across the landscape and pieces of metal twisted like aluminum foil around trees and poles indicated the savageness of the storm.” One of the stories of the storm was given nationwide attention by the Associated Press which reported that 9-year-old Carmella Fennell called her parents in San Diego (they were attending a business convention) and said: “Mummy, something’s wrong. It’s going to be a hurricane.” Then the phone went dead. The Fennells caught a flight back home. Their children, Carmella, Leah and Dustin were saved by their babysitter Marie Gratta. The June 4, 1985, The Post-Star carried the full AP article. (Credit: The Associated Press, Butler Eagle, newspapers.com, The Cincinnati Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Record Searchlight, Borough of Saxonburg, Fred Caesar research)

05/30/2026

Excerpt: The Knoch softball team had scored nine runs a game during the regular season, so it came as no surprise when the Knights had eight runs by the fourth inning of their WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinal game against North Catholic on May 19. But at the end of the seventh inning, North Catholic had matched Knoch’s run total. The Trojanettes rallied from an early deficit and then tied the score with three runs in the top of the seventh to send it into extra innings. The 10th inning called, and North Catholic exploded for five runs. Knoch responded with two in the bottom of the inning: one on a groundout by senior Liz Danik and the second on a double from fellow senior Lindsey Wise. But it could get no more and fell 13-10. Suddenly, the No. 2 seed was gone from the tournament. The Knights’ season was over at 16-3. ... “The girls were devastated,” Knoch coach Chris Gardner said. “We had that one in hand, and we let it slip away. It was really emotional for everyone, for sure. ... But despite the tough ending to the season, Gardner said all involved were able to take a step back and see what they accomplished to garner the No. 2 seed for the playoffs. Knoch lost its opener to Class 5A Plum and its first section game to rival Indiana before closing out the regular season with 13 straight wins. Gardner praised a senior class that went 39-5 in winning three section titles and finishing second the other time over its four varsity years. Danik (center field), Wise (second base), Alena Tekely (right field) and Marlee Fraser (third base/pitcher) started their final game. “We had our banquet on Tuesday, and we celebrated our seniors and all they gave to this program,” Gardner said. “They had a great high school career. The mood at the banquet was pretty positive. The girls had gotten over the loss and were just focused on being together and celebrating all of the positive moments.”

The Knoch softball team had scored nine runs a game during the regular season, so it came as no surprise when the Knights had eight runs by the fourth inning of their WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinal game against North Catholic on May 19.

05/28/2026

𝙄𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙣 𝙪𝙥𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙢𝙖𝙮 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙧.

05/28/2026

Heads up if Route 228 Ekastown Road is a route you use. ... The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) District 10 is alerting drivers to upcoming utility work on Route 228 (Ekastown Road) in Clinton and Buffalo townships, Butler County. Gas line work will take place June 1 through October 1 on Route 228 (Ekastown Road) between the intersections of Saxonburg Boulevard and Sarver Road. Motorists should expect short-term temporary lane closures with flagging during this project. Work is weather dependent.

Utility Work to Begin June 1 on Ekastown Road

05/28/2026

Hope you had a good Wednesday with a beautiful evening to be outdoors!

05/27/2026

Give a look at the fantastic wreaths made at another great workshop event at the South Butler Community Library.

05/27/2026

𝐓𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐞 ... 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 – 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝟐𝟓𝟎 𝐒𝐚𝐱𝐨𝐧𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐠

The Boots and Grace Music Festival – America250 Featuring Country Music Sensation Karen Waldrup ... Saturday & Sunday, September 12-13, 2026 Saxonburg VFC — First Responders Park

Saturday, September 12, 2026
Country and Bluegrass Celebration – America250
6p (Gates Open at 5p)
An evening of fantastic country music outdoors featuring Nashville Headliner Karen Waldrup with special guests including Cecilia Tomko, Gary Burk III and more!!! (outdoors- rain or shine)

Sunday, September 13, 2026
Grace Gospel Music Revival – America250
4p (Gates Open at 3p)
An evening of faith, patriotism and gospel music featuring Nashville Headliner Karen Waldrup and special guests. (outdoors- rain or shine)

Tickets: https://admin.eservicestech.com/p/saxonburgambulance/events/11776/view

Both shows include access to food, beverage and a variety of other vendors on-site.

05/27/2026

Good Wednesday morning!

05/26/2026

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝟏𝟖𝟗𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲! 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟔 𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐬 “𝐒𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐱𝐨𝐧𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐠.” Who? Well, it was May 26, 1837, when Washington Augustus Roebling, the first child of Saxonburg co-founder and renowned bridge designer John Augustus Roebling, was born in the Roebling house that is now the Saxonburg Memorial Presbyterian Church - SMPC. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, Washington Augustus Roebling was born just about the time his father began experimenting with production of the wire rope that would make suspension bridges practical. Young Roebling was fluent in both English and German. He also spoke some French. For some of his schooling, he was sent to Pittsburgh. John Roebling’s projects kept him away from home during much of Washington’s youth. As a result, Washington helped to take care of his younger brother Ferdinand and three younger sisters. When Washington was 12 years old, the family moved to New Jersey. After earning his engineering degree, he helped his father build the Allegheny Bridge in Pittsburgh between 1857 and 1859. Then Washington served with the Union Army during the Civil War where he was assigned to do engineering work. But he was also assigned to be an observer to gather intelligence, a duty he performed at Gettysburg. He is said to have been one of the first to spot General Lee’s army approaching Gettysburg. When the war ended, Roebling had attained the rank of Colonel. He also had made the acquaintance of the woman who would become his wife, Emily Warren, the sister of his commanding officer. He and Emily married in 1865. He returned to work with his father building bridges. In 1869, he was chosen by investors to complete the Brooklyn Bridge after his father died of a tragic accident just as construction of the bridge was to commence. Col. Washington became ill during the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. He could only watch the construction progress from a window of his sickroom, and it was left to his wife, Emily Roebling, to carry on the work, relaying his instructions to the workers and fending off skeptics who believed that the bridge couldn't be completed without his active participation. He survived the illness. Although he spent the remainder of his life in great pain, Roebling recovered enough to resume management of the wire rope company. He died in New Jersey on July 21, 1926, at the age of 89. A few tidbits about Col. Washington Roebling. It is said he returned to visit Saxonburg twice. Once in 1858 and then again in 1868. And did you know there is a mineral named after him? In 1897, a mineral found only in New Jersey was named Roeblingite in his honor. In fact, besides being an engineer, Col. Washington was a renowned for his knowledge of minerals. After his death, his collection of 16,000 minerals was given to what is now the National Museum of Natural History. And lastly, in September of 1924, Col. Washington wrote about his early years in Saxonburg for the Butler County Historical Society. (Credit: History.com, Wikipedia, Wikimedia, newspapers.com, Library of Congress, encyclopedia.com, American Society of Civil Engineers, Borough of Saxonburg, Butler County Historical Society, Rutgers University, Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Princeton University, Fred Caesar research)

05/26/2026

Here is the finished Memorial Day Banner that was a joint project of the South Butler Community Library and Kiki & Lolo’s. Youngsters traced their hand prints to make an American Flag that hung at Kiki & Lolo’s. Great job!