WHITE OAK, P.A. (KDKA) — With the very frigid temperatures we’re experiencing – that can make it difficult for people who do work outside, including firefighters.
Rainbow Volunteer Fire Chief Brandon Schmidt knows just that.
“It’s nothing that we haven’t dealt with before – so the firefighters, they’re kind of used to it by this point,” said Schmidt.
The temps have been way below freezing – and they could touch below zero next week. Precautions are imperative.
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“Firefighters can’t do the things that they do without a large support staff,” said Schmidt.
That means help from police and public works – even utilities.
“We always have to watch where the water goes after we spray it on the house or whatever’s on fire,” said Schmidt.
That’s because runoff may freeze over and police may have to block off the roads, or they may need some salt.
“Where issues arise – they’re very quick to respond to help us out to make sure we can do what we need to do as well,” said Schmidt.
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As for the firefighters? Damp gear – is not fun.
“Once it gets wet – it’s pretty much game over at that point,” said Schmidt. “Usually the firefighters themselves will just have extra shirts and socks and underwear – different stuff too.”
So many things could happen while fighting fires this time of year. Water from hydrants could freeze up — but Schmidt says it’s all about finding a way to get it done.
“What’s gonna happen – is gonna happen, no matter what, but we need to be able to put the water still on the fires.”
Schmidt said it’s important to practice fire safety all of the time, but especially during this time of the year.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Dreams continue to come true for a pair of Chattanooga area high school football stars, who each have their senior season still to come.
Five days after claiming his first TSSAA state championship gold ball trophy while also earning BlueCross Bowl MVP honors, Baylor’s David Gabriel Georges joined elite company as the Terrebonne, Quebec, native became the fifth high school football player from the Chattanooga area to win the Mr. Football award for a second time.
The five-star recruit and the nation’s No. 14 prospect for the Class of 2027 finished the season with 162 carries for 1,756 yards and 27 touchdowns to help Baylor cap off a perfect 12-0 season in Division II-AAA and earn a No. 16 national ranking from ESPN.
South Pittsburg junior Dayon Cooper also earned the state’s most prestigious individual honor, as he was named Class 1A’s Mr. Football winner. The speedster helped the Pirates win their eighth TSSAA state title and finished the regular season with 29 catches for 681 yards and 10 touchdowns to go along with 37 carries for 421 yards and five scores. Cooper also returned three kickoffs for touchdowns.
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The other 2025 Tennessee Titans Mr. Football award winners to be recognized Tuesday inside of Nissan Stadium were East Robertson’s Zach Groves (2A), Westview’s Graham Simpson (3A), Greeneville’s Caden Baugh (4A), Sevier County’s Cooper Newman (5A), Southwind’s Kelvin Perkins (6A), Nashville Christian School’s Jared Curtis (Division II-A), Battle Ground Academy’s Kaedyn Marable (DII-AA) and Brentwood Academy’s Tommy Bauchiero, who won Kicker of the Year honors.
Gabriel Georges joins former local prep icons Adarius Bowman (Notre Dame, 2001-02), Gerald Riggs Jr. (Red Bank, 2000-01), B.J. Coleman (McCallie, 2005-06), and Jacques Smith (Ooltewah, 2008-09) as two-time Mr. Football winners.
Gabriel Georges has the chance to become the state’s second three-time Mr. Football award winner, where he would join Eric Gray, who won three times while playing at The Lausanne Collegiate School from 2016-18 before playing in college for Tennessee and Oklahoma and later with the NFL’s New York Giants.
Baylor has now produced 11 Mr. Football award winners, while there have been 55 local winners since the awards began in 1985. South Pittsburg and Tyner are tied for the second most Mr. Football award winners with seven each.
Three other local stars were honored as Mr. Football runner-ups Tuesday, including Baylor senior quarterback Briggs Cherry, Boyd Buchanan senior running back/defensive back David Green in Division II-A, and Notre Dame senior Owen Maddox, who was a nominee for Kicker of the Year.
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Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.
Two Frays Brewery x Bike PGH 5113 Penn Ave., Garfield. twofraysbrewery.com
Bike Pittsburgh and Two Frays have teamed up on a spruce-infused winter beer. Be among the first to try the new bike beer (and learn its name) on Tue., Dec. 9, from 6-9 p.m. during a Beer Release Party at Two Frays. The free event includes giveaways, activities, and NA drinks. A portion of the proceeds benefits Bike Pittsburgh’s advocacy for safer infrastructure.
Holiday Cookies 2025
Last week, Pittsburgh City Paper brought you cold treats for the season, but don’t sleep on classic holiday cookies at swaps, walks, markets, and more.
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Riverstone Books in McCandless relaunches its cookbook club with a Holiday Cookie Swap. On Thu., Dec. 11, from 6:30-8 p.m., bakers are invited to bring three dozen cookies to swap with other attendees, fill a take-home box, and vote for a Best-in-Show winner. RSVP online.
How about cookies with soup? Waverly Presbyterian Church in Braddock hosts its annual Cookie Walk and Soup Sale on Sat., Dec. 13, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Snag a kid- or adult-sized box of homemade cookies, a quart of soup, or a soup flight, and enjoy a raffle and crafts for sale.
The Lawrenceville Cookie Tour returns Sat., Dec. 13-Sun., Dec. 14. The 28-year-old tradition offers free homemade cookies and snacks at 45 stops along Butler Street. Participants include Cork Harbour Pub, Mix Candle Co., the new Kinship Gifting shop, the Office of Pa. Rep. Lindsay Powell, and Pita My Shawarma (plus its recently opened wine and mezze bar). Shoppers can also vote on which treat should earn the Cookie Tour Cup.
A Cookie Mall and Pop-Up Market coincides with the Cookie Tour on Sat., Dec. 13, from 1-5 p.m. at the Estelle S. Campbell (Lawrenceville) Boys & Girls Club. Help support seven nonprofit groups during an event that offers free hot dogs, a market with more than 40 artisans and vintage vendors, caroling, pictures with Santa, and more. The Pop-Up Market will return for a second day on Sun., Dec. 14, from 12-4 p.m.
Polish Hill Civic Association 3060 Brereton St., Polish Hill. polishhillcivicassociation.org
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Who says hot dogs are only for summer? The Polish Hill Civic Association celebrates the season on Fri., Dec. 12, from 6-9 p.m., with a Holiday Weenie Roast that features festive glizzies, a craft vendor market, tree toss, refreshments, tunes, and a Santa appearance. The organization is also accepting bake sale donations for the Weenie Roast.
Attack Theatre x Trace Brewing 212 45th St., Lawrenceville. attacktheatre.com
Attack Theatre mashes up dance, cheer, and craft beer at its Holiday Hops winter celebration. On Fri., Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m., head to the dance company’s Lawrenceville studio for an all-ages cabaret-style event featuring a lighthearted “Holiday Unwrapped” performance (set to music ranging from classical to techno to klezmer), interactive games, craft beer from Trace Brewing, and other “surprises.” Tickets cost $45 for general admission, $25 for students, educators, and seniors, and $10 for kids 12 and under.
Grist House Fire Fest Credit: Gary Yon Photography
Grist House Craft Brewery 10 E. Sherman St., Millvale. gristhouse.com
Grist House promises to keep things extra merry and bright at its seventh annual Fire Fest. On Sat., Dec. 13 from 12-10 p.m., the Millvale brewery transforms into a “glowing, crackling celebration of craft beer and fire” with 10 custom indoor and outdoor fire pits and tabletop stoves. Those who “embrace the chill” enjoy a lineup of specialty stouts (including a Fire Fest Reserve) and hot cocktails, glassblowing demonstrations, and fire performances, along with the return of the “Gristmas” mystery gift tree. Fire Fest is free and open to the public. Guests are encouraged to dress warmly and arrive early.
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7 Brew Coffee 5960 University Blvd., Moon Township. 7brew.com
7 Brew, an Arkansas-based drive-thru coffee stand with a legion of fans, opened its first Pittsburgh-area location on Dec. 8 in Moon Township. According to a company release, the new coffee stand near Robert Morris University features two drive-thru lanes and offers more than 20,000 drink combinations for a “completely customizable” coffee. 7 Brew also serves chillers, tea, infused “7 Energy” drinks, and sodas. The Moon Township location is the first in 7 Brew’s “growing Western Pennsylvania expansion,” with plans to open 80 locations by the end of next year.
7 Brew Coffee Credit: 7 Brew Drive-Thru Coffee
In Pittsburgh, Jeff Goldblum always finds a way. Creative Chem Co., a Bloomfield-based cafe and coworking space, opened on Dec. 1 and debuted its “Jeff Goldbloomfield” mural. According to Axios, Pittsburgh artist Jeremy Raymer painted the 10-by-18-foot Goldblum mural, which appears on the cafe’s first floor. Billed as the neighborhood’s first coworking club, Creative Chem Co. includes a retro public cafe serving Commonplace Coffee on its first floor, and rentable members-only studios, meeting rooms, and quiet booths on the second floor. The space is now open Mon.-Fri. from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sat. from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Food delivered from Carmi Soul Food: Carmi Rolls, shrimp and grits, and fish stew Credit: CP photo: Lisa Cunningham
Carmi Soul Food/Carmi Express 1912 Federal St., North Side. carmirestaurant.com
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Carmi Soul Food Express announced it will close its final brick-and-mortar restaurant on Dec. 12.
“This decision comes with deep reflection, gratitude, and a heavy heart,” the North Side mainstay wrote on its Instagram page. “Carmi has always been more than a restaurant — it has been a place of family, comfort, celebration, and community.”
Owners Carleen and Michael King originally opened Carmi Soul Food on the North Side 13 years ago. The restaurant gained a reputation for its authentic Southern and soul food, including shrimp and grits and its famous mac and cheese, before moving its sit-down operations to the South Side in 2018. Carmi reopened its North Side location for “express takeout” during the pandemic, then closed its South Side restaurant in Jan. 2024, part of a strategy to “divest” from indoor dining and move to a take-out only model.
The closure announcement stated Carmi will continue its catering operations, special events, and pop-ups.
Police said they believe there may be more victims after a former Highlands School District teacher was charged last week with sexually abusing two students.
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Allegheny County police said a 16-year-old boy came forward in November, alleging he was abused in 2021 by then-Highlands School District teacher Sean Dicer. After discovering a second victim, police arrested Dicer on a slew of charges, including institutional sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and sexual extortion. He’s now in the Allegheny County Jail.
After the 53-year-old’s arrest made the news, police said detectives received more information indicating there may be additional victims. County police are asking anyone with information to call the tip line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS.
Police are looking for other victims after Sean Dicer was charged with sexually abusing two students when he was a teacher at Highlands School District.
(Photo: Allegheny County police)
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Criminal complaint details allegations of abuse
According to the criminal complaint, the first victim told police he met Dicer at a park when he was 8 years old, and after that, Dicer acted as a “father figure.” The victim told police that in the summer of 2021, he brought a friend, who was also a Highlands student, to Dicer’s home in Brackenridge, and that’s when the abuse began.
Police said the sexual abuse continued until school started in the fall. When one of the victims threatened to tell, police said Dicer would apologize and offer him anything he wanted. Detectives said they saw proof of Cash App payments from Dicer to the victim totaling $6,000.
In a statement, the Highlands School District confirmed Dicer was a teacher until 2022 when he resigned.
“While we are unable to comment on specific personnel issues, Highlands School District follows all required procedures if there is an allegation of an inappropriate relationship between a teacher and a student,” the district said.
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7 Brew Coffee 
Food delivered from Carmi Soul Food: Carmi Rolls, shrimp and grits, and fish stew 
