Joyce Hanz stories, Page 17
Redeemer Lutheran High School students enjoy benefits of new location in Penn Hills
A Christian high school has plenty of space for more students in Penn Hills. Redeemer Lutheran High School relocated from the nearby Redeemer Elementary campus to a new school building exclusively for grades 9-12. Freshman Quincy Davis of Penn Hills is happy to have a school solely catering to teenagers,...
Pharmacies in Lower Burrell, Leechburg abruptly close
Customers of certain pharmacies in Lower Burrell and Leechburg have to find somewhere else to fill their prescriptions. Burrell Health Mart Pharmacy located in Stewart Plaza, Lower Burrell, and Leechburg Health Mart Pharmacy located on Market Street in downtown Leechburg closed Wednesday, without prior notice. The news, however, quickly spread...
Leechburg minister to co-pastor churches from different denominations
A Leechburg pastor is prepping for double ministerial duty at Protestant churches that cross denominational lines. With The Rev. Sue Washburn preparing to leave her post as interim pastor of Leechburg’s Cross Roads Community Presbyterian Church in mid-February, church leaders on Sunday approved naming the Rev. James Arter as part-time...
Mixed emotions as Allegheny Township catering business Dobi goes up for sale
It’s not usually a good thing when someone cries at work. But happy tears were at the ready recently for Nikki Miller, banquet coordinator at Dobi Catering and Take Out in Allegheny Township. Miller was working last week when an elderly couple showed up to order the signature Dobi chicken,...
Plans advance on proposed public dog park in Oakmont
Linda Merle of Arnold visits Oakmont often for medical appointments with her dogs, Mopsy and Nixon, in tow. Within the borough, dogs must be leashed and are not permitted to run at large. A proposed outdoor dog recreation site called Chateau Beach Dog Park would provide an unleashed area for...
Leechburg Area board appoints new interim superintendent, who also will find a permanent replacement
After eight years, Leechburg Area School District is getting new leadership, albeit in a temporary role. The school board voted 6-3 Wednesday to hire Peter Emery D’Arcangelo as acting superintendent. He will temporarily replace Superintendent Tiffany Nix, who will be leaving for Penn-Trafford early next month. D’Arcangelo served as superintendent...
Leechburg forges ahead with regional police plans; state study supports move
Leechburg officials are moving forward with efforts to regionalize their police force with West Leechburg and Parks Township. A regional police study was completed in December, and it recommended consolidating the departments. Officials met Jan. 11 to review the study results. “The biggest thing is the coverage and the assistance...
Harrison native has never missed a Super Bowl. He’s set to attend for 58th time
Harrison native and mega-Steelers fan Tom Henschel isn’t letting recent physical ailments deter him from continuing his streak of attending every Super Bowl. “It’s my 58th year going to a Super Bowl,” Henschel said Tuesday. “He’s determined to go and on a mission,” added Regina, his wife of 47 years....
Annual Sprankle’s Octoberfest festival moving to permanent, rural location
A German-themed festival is moving to new permanent digs in southeastern Butler County. The annual Sprankle’s Octoberfest, in its sixth year, has grown from a fledgling festival to a full-scale three-day event filled with beer, fellowship, food, music, family fun and entertainment. “We’ve been looking for land, and the Sprankle...
New Fox Chapel Area club ‘bakes’ a difference for those in need
A classic round green cake, decorated with a simple phrase, “Congratulations,” delivered a big message of support to a cancer patient who completed chemotherapy. The cake, a gift delivered to a person who recently completed chemotherapy, is one of numerous desserts donated by a group of student bakers from Fox...
Leechburg church to host new, free, after-school youth club
A church is ready to spread some good news to children in Leechburg. Kiski Valley Community Church is extending an invitation to Alle-Kiski Valley youngsters enrolled in grades K-6 to join the “Good News Club,” a free weekly Bible-themed after-school program. The program kicks off Monday from 6 to 7:30...
Leechburg Cub Scouts’ Pinewood Derby brings out more than 100 spectators
More than 100 spectators showed up Saturday at the Leechburg Elks club to watch one of the most celebrated events in Scouting — Pinewood Derby Day. More than 30 scouts from Leechburg Cub Scout Pack 553 revved up their engines — gravity — as they competed in six divisions. The...
Retired doctors combine creativity with camaraderie through woodworking
A group of medical professionals with almost 200 years of combined service in the health care industry are using their hands for something beyond helping and healing: woodworking. Dr. Frank Kunkel, 66, of McCandless shares his passion for creativity through woodworking with a group of retired medical professionals, including an...
Indiana Township dad continues backyard hockey rink tradition
The more than 2,700-square-foot ice hockey rink in Ken Kieffer’s Indiana Township backyard is a far cry from the first rink he made as a kid. “It was a dam in a creek that flowed into Pine Creek,” said Kieffer, 46, a plumber who grew up in Shaler. He was...
Leechburg Area School Board’s vice president pushes to implement policy against nepotism, encounters resistance
The youngest Leechburg Area School Board member is spearheading discussions in favor of implementing a nepotism policy. Vice President Andrew Pallus again brought up the topic under a review of policy during the board’s meeting last week. Pallus previously discussed nepotism in October. “I think it’s a way to be...
West Leechburg Hill Road work to last another 3 months
Motorists will have to wait another three months for work to be complete on West Leechburg Hill Road. On Nov. 13, PennDOT closed a portion of the road in West Leechburg between South Leechburg Road and Pleasant Hill Road to make structural repairs to a large culvert. The $400,000 project...
Unused metal detectors from Acrisure Stadium to be donated to Leechburg schools
Leechburg Area School District plans to boost security thanks to a sharp-eyed school security officer and the generosity of officials at Acrisure Stadium. Mike Kapustik, a security guard at Leechburg schools, recently noticed unused metal detectors inside a storage area during a visit to Acrisure Stadium. “One of our security...
Building the Valley: Freeport graduate makes the cut with new salon business
A Freeport native has opened her first business — in her hometown. Jamie Bieranowski opened Bier Beauty on Jan. 4 at 227 Fifth St. The salon offers complete hair, nail and waxing services, with an emphasis on brides, color and haircuts. “The salon is co-ed and all ages are welcome,”...
No word on superintendent replacement at Leechburg Area; board members criticized for ‘bullying’Video
There’s still no word from Leechburg Area School District officials on when or who will replace Superintendent Tiffany Nix. Nix, who announced this month that she’s resigning to become an assistant superintendent at Penn-Trafford School District, said Thursday she is not aware of the school board’s plan to select a...
Former Freeport golf course, restaurant sale pending; future use uncertain
It was apparently an offer two Freeport business owners couldn’t refuse. Co-owners and married couple Michael and Virginia Graff of Fawn recently closed their businesses, The Clubhouse on the Hill and White Buffalo Golf Course, after receiving two separate offers from different buyers interested in purchasing the public golf course...
West Leechburg firefighters take delivery of new firetruck
West Leechburg Volunteer Fire Department officials are ramping up fundraising to pay for a new custom firefighting vehicle. The department purchased a 2023 Pierce Saber Tanker for $572,000 using two loans, one from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the other from Kansas State Bank. The new truck replaces a...
Historic mansion reopens as cafe in Leechburg
A long-shuttered historic mansion in Leechburg has reopened as the 1st Street Cafe. The cafe occupies the space in the building formerly known as the Addison House Restaurant & Lounge. Serving specialty coffees and homemade desserts, the cafe opens at 6 a.m. and is the retirement project of Devra Gromley...
Age no barrier for newly elected female mayor in Leechburg
Doreen Smeal of Leechburg received a unique gift on her 70th birthday. A mayoral title. She was sworn in Dec. 29 as the second female mayor of the borough she has called home her entire life. “I live in my late grandfather’s house,” Smeal said Monday while stopping by the...
Police accuse Parks Township man of stealing thousands from relatives’ bank account
A Parks Township man is accused of stealing more than $9,000 from his parents’ bank account, police said. Brandon Watterson, 52, was charged via summons Friday by state police with six felony counts, including theft, theft by deception and access device fraud. Watterson faces a preliminary hearing March 28 before...
Faces of the Valley: Leechburg woman volunteers countless hours at Alle-Kiski Valley organizations
Volunteering is more than a word for Leechburg resident Robin Patton. It’s a lifestyle. Patton volunteers at four Alle-Kiski Valley organizations: Leechburg Area Food Bank, Cat Crusaders, Homeless Cat Management Team and Gilpin Volunteer Fire Department. “I’ve met a lot of special people in all the groups I work with...
