Southwest Regional Police vice squad sets up prostitution sting
By Chris BuckleyA vice squad sting operation resulted in last week’s arrest of a Greensburg man who was charged with attempting to solicit a woman for sex. …
Charleroi Area School Board hires secretary
By Rick Bruni Jr.While preparing to pass its final 2013-2014 budget next week, the Charleroi Area School Board made sure someone will be recording its actions and organizing its agenda. The board during Tuesday’s agenda meeting unanimously hired Rebecca Kline as its new …
Landmark Fallowfield DQ has new owners
By Chris BuckleyDave Smith grew up on a dairy farm just outside Smithton. Even today, Smith and his wife, Kim, live on 300 acres of farm land …
Interest in Jack the Ripper inspires California writer’s novel
By Colleen PollockA long-time fascination with the infamous Jack the Ripper inspired a local author to write an historical thriller about the unidentified serial killer and his …
Charleroi Regional cop may be put back on the work schedule
By Rick Bruni Jr.A part-time Charleroi Regional police officer removed from the shift schedule last month after his girlfriend was caught allegedly using drugs in his personal vehicle could be reinstated during Wednesday’s police board meeting, according to the board chairman. If approved …
Boatman: When will ‘easing’ end?
By Gary BoatmanToday, the Fed will issue a statement about its two-day meeting. Stock traders will be busy analyzing every word. The current stock market volatility began May 22 after Ben Bernanke testified before Congress. He hinted that the Fed could begin …
Belle Vernon Area will refinance bond issue
By Rick Bruni Jr.With the budget approval deadline fast approaching, the Belle Vernon Area School Board spent most of its meeting Monday settling financial matters. The board unanimously agreed to refinance a portion of a five-year-old bond issue for an estimated one-time savings …
Bandalo remains devoted to Mon Valley Youth and Teen
By Chris BuckleyMary Anne Bandalo first started volunteering in 1974 to support two important girls in her life. “My children were involved in Camp Fire Girls and …
West Newton judge delays hearing in wild chase, theft case
By Jeremy SellewWEST NEWTON – A homeless man who tried to elude police June 4 by swimming across the Monongahela River showed up for a preliminary hearing …
Youth, civic groups clean up Monessen streets
By Chris BuckleyStreet-related issues were the topic of discussion during Monessen City Council’s work session Monday evening. Members of the Monessen High School National Honor Society and Youth Council recently cleaned up trash along State Street. Members of the Leo and Lions …
Louisiana-based fracking firm could hire 200 Monessen-area residents
By Rick Bruni Jr.A Louisiana-based fracking company is coming to Monessen, potentially providing as many as 200 new local jobs. Mayor Mary Jo Smith on Sunday confirmed the imminent arrival of Green Field Energy Services, which will occupy a 70,000-square-foot building that formerly …
North Charleroi dealing with problem properties
By Miranda StartareNorth Charleroi officials are making progress dealing with problem properties in the borough. Borough Solicitor Christine Cardinale told council during Monday’s business meeting that two properties on Seventh and Lock streets have been deeded to the borough. She said a …
Monessen shooting suspect jailed
By Rick BruniA Donora man wanted by police turned himself in Monday on charges he tried to murder a Monessen man June 8 at a house party. …
Life of hard work pays off for former Charleroi star Lee
By Bill HughesPeople who know Bill Lee are aware his persistence paid off. An intense hard worker, Lee’s determination to do things the right way during his …
Belle Vernon salutatorian honors community in speech
By Les HarvathThree-quarters of the way through his commencement address, Belle Vernon Area Class of 2013 Salutatorian Geno Leone asked those students who were part of his …
Senior Games keep Coal Center man on the go
By Chris BuckleyRick Meneski was caught up in the running craze of the late 1970s, while still in his late 20s. “Running is very good for you …
Frazier, Brownsville teachers invited to prestigious Library of Congress program
By Rossilynne SkenaTwo local teachers who will attend a prestigious national program at the Library of Congress this summer hope to return with skills to help students …
Yough students learn lessons in the great outdoors
By Marilyn ForbesFor 35 weeks out of each school year, students in the third and eighth grades of the Yough School District spend time in a traditional …
Flag presentation a banner event for Mon Valley DAR chapter
By Ron PagliaOne of the basic tenets of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Monongahela Valley Chapter is to foster patriotic citizenship. That point was …
Fayette student-athletes Huffman, Fell choose Division III schools
By Bruce WaldTwo local high school standout student-athletes have decided to continue their academic and sports careers at NCAA Division III schools. California Area High School star basketball guard Tanner Huffman is going to Washington & Jefferson College. A model of consistency, …
Monessen-native Mason eager to face Ft. Hood shooter in court
By Rick Bruni Jr.Brandy Mason isn’t afraid to face alleged Fort Hood assassin Maj. Nidal Hasan in military court. In fact, Mason – a Monessen native and Army …
Early start in Monongahela directed Frederick to music
By Ron PagliaTo say music and entertaining have been a way of life for Paul Frederick would be a major understatement. The Monongahela native has been involved …
Probation likely for ex-Allenport fire department officials
By Chris BuckleyTraci and Victor Fedrick acknowledged late last year that they stole thousands of dollars from the former Allenport Volunteer Fire Department. But the former president and chief, respectively, differed with prosecutors on how much they took. On Friday, the two …
Powerful storms knock down trees, knock out power in Western Pa.
By Staff and Wire ReportsThousands of homes in Western Pennsylvania are without power Thursday morning after a powerful storm moved through the area overnight, knocking down trees and flooding …
Donora animal ordinance delayed
By Jeremy SellewChickens in Donora will live to see another day, because council Thursday tabled an updated animal control ordinance that would prohibit residents from keeping those birds, pigs and other types of animals in the borough. If passed, the ordinance also …
Storage tank part of Mon Valley Sewage Authority upgrade work
By Stacy WolfordConstruction of a major upgrade to the Mon Valley Sewage Authority’s main facility is in full swing. A 3.6 million gallon storage tank is being …
Church volunteers to help in Charleroi
By Miranda StartareCharleroi residents should notice a large presence of volunteers throughout town next week when the borough welcomes 75 students as part of a church volunteer project. Council announced Thursday at its monthly meeting that the borough will host the student …
Ringgold school board member, business manager clash over budget
By Rick Bruni Jr.A discussion over Ringgold’s 2013-2014 budget erupted into a shouting match between a school board member and the district’s business manager during a Wednesday informational meeting. The squabble stemmed from board member Larry Mauro’s objection to a $172,280 increase between …
Hearing to determine how much Washington County fire officials stole from department
By Chris BuckleyIn December, the former chief and president of the Allenport Fire Department pleaded guilty to reduced charges related to money stolen from the agency. Six months later, the fire department doesn’t exist, but the case still does. A restitution hearing …
Police looking for driver in Speers hit-run accident
By Chris BuckleyPolice are looking for the driver of a pickup truck who left the scene of an accident in Speers – allegedly to head off to a driver’s education class. William Franks, 73, who resides in the Nathan Goff Apartments, North …
2 charged in Donora assault
By The Valley IndependentTwo men were arrested Wednesday on charges alleging they assaulted two men last month in Donora. Brent William Large, 26, of Donora, and Jeffrey Allen …
Local Internet radio station Unsigned 99.9 hosting summer concert series
By Stacy WolfordThe local music scene will be heating up this summer thanks to an Internet radio station based in the Mon Valley. Unsigned 99.9 is sponsoring …
Dyno Nobel reaching out to local community
By Chris BuckleyShortly before the holidays, Bob MacPherson sought a food bank where Donora-based Dyno Nobel and its employees could donate. The business excellence facilitator for Dyno …
North Belle Vernon could get a grant to pave Green Street
By Chris BuckleyNorth Belle Vernon could receive federal help to pave a main street in the borough. But, as one councilman suggested, it might need a billy goat to keep its unkempt yards mowed. Council learned Tuesday the borough is in the …
Getting a financial education can improve your life
By Gary BoatmanWe are at a crossroads in the financial world. The Federal Reserve reports that total household wealth reached an all-time high in the first quarter. Like many government statistics, this is not as good as it sounds. While the stock …
Wife won’t testify against Belle Vernon state trooper; charges dropped
By Paul PeirceCharges against a state trooper accused of breaking his wife’s ankle during a domestic dispute were dropped Monday when she refused to testify against him. Jennifer Mauser declined to take the witness stand against her husband, Paul C. Mauser, 39, …
Belle Vernon trooper off hook; wife won’t testify
By Rick Bruni Jr.Charges against a state trooper were dismissed Monday because his wife – the alleged victim – refused to testify at a preliminary hearing. Paul Mauser, 39, of Donora had faced a felony count of aggravated assault and misdemeanor counts of …
Charleroi man accused of failing to register as a convicted sex offender
By Tribune-ReviewPITTSBURGH - A Charleroi man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh for failing to register as a convicted sex offender, U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton announced. The one-count indictment named Kerry McFeely, 53, as the sole …
Rostraver man flees from police following domestic dispute
By The Valley IndependentA reported domestic disturbance at Rostraver Apartments led to short police chase Tuesday afternoon that ended along the on-ramp between Route 906 and Route 201 in Rostraver Township. Rostraver Township police did not identify the male suspect because he was …
