Rafal Kolankowski and his family have felt the full embrace of the Plum community since August — some of it in the form of bracelets, lemonade and yard signs. The Kolankowskis are among about a dozen families whose homes were destroyed or severely damaged when a nearby house exploded in
It can be hard to move forward after a tragedy. There is a kind of triage aspect. Address the actual problem in front of us. Take care of what is happening right now. That is the priority. It has to be. That is what happened with Rustic Ridge. The priority
Greg Renko, an Allegheny County Police detective and the president of the Rustic Ridge Homeowners Association, pulled victims to safety in the moments after the explosion.
Plum has honored a man for his heroism in the aftermath of the Rustic Ridge explosion, while also taking a step to help the borough’s government move forward from the August catastrophe that left six dead. Greg Renko, president of the Rustic Ridge homeowners association, received a proclamation honoring him
Rick Napoleon’s home felt so much bigger before it was gone. A steel beam crossing the width of the foundation was the only thing above Napoleon’s head as he recently stood in what had been the garage and basement of his family’s home of 18 years. The rest of the