Kellen Stepler stories, Page 40
Lower Burrell Farmers Market to open for season with 60-plus vendors
An array of more than 60 vendors will be available Saturday to kick off Lower Burrell’s farmers market. The Joseph “Bud” Myers Lower Burrell Farmers Market will begin its summer season from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Bon Air Elementary School parking lot. “The market is all about...
Burrell merges athletic and facilities director positions, furloughs 1 as district assesses tax hike
In an effort to save money, Burrell School District officials have combined two administration jobs, creating a new position to oversee its athletics department and building operations. The school board on Tuesday appointed Brian Ferra as director of athletics and building operations. The district eliminated the facilities director position held...
Police say New Kensington man restrained, assaulted woman in Springdale
Springdale police filed charges against a New Kensington man who, they say, broke into a woman’s apartment and assaulted her while he was still on probation for a previous incident against her. Zachery Darnell Hickman, 34, faces a felony burglary charge and misdemeanor charges of terroristic threats, unlawful restraint, simple...
Safety courses encouraged for motorcyclists as peak riding weather nears
Rhonda Diercks knows firsthand the importance of motorcycle safety. In 2020, another motorcyclist collided with her while she was riding her motorcycle, causing her to lose a leg. Now, she stresses the importance of safe riding to her students and instructors as facilitator of a state-approved motorcycle safety class held...
Allegheny Valley School District budget proposes 2.65% tax increase
Property owners in the Allegheny Valley School District could see a 2.65% tax increase next school year. District Finance Director Hamsini Rajgopal is proposing a $25.8 million budget for the 2024-25 school year. A property owner with a median assessed value of $85,900 would pay $1,837 annually in taxes, Rajgopal...
Interest in policing rebounds, earns Burrell students spots in citizen police academy
Eyeing a career in criminal justice, Burrell High School student Mariah Kaiser wants to figure out why people commit crimes. “I’ve always been interested in law enforcement in general,” said Kaiser, 16. “I want to have a better understanding to why people do what they do.” Kaiser and eight other...
Art therapy program boosts well-being of Allegheny Valley School District students
Students in the Allegheny Valley School District are turning to art as an additional way to support their mental well-being. Melissa Holler, the district’s director of pupil services, said the district has implemented an art therapy program. It has done so by contracting with the Pittsburgh Center for Integrative Therapy,...
Lower Burrell first responders receive new fire truck, ambulance
Several years of fundraising and waiting finally paid off for Lower Burrell’s Kinloch Volunteer Fire Company. Kinloch took delivery of a new pumper truck at the end of April. The company has been raising money for the past two or three years to assist with its purchase, Chief Ted Hereda...
Burrell School District now considering 5.8% increase for property owners
Burrell School District is now thinking of a 5.8% tax increase in its proposed budget for the upcoming school year. The district released a proposed budget that includes an increase of 6.5 mills, which would account for future bond payments for capital improvements and construction, said Finance Director Jennifer Callahan....
Lower Burrell school property won’t revert to original owners if school closes
Historians and officials say if Stewart Elementary School in Lower Burrell closes and goes up for sale, the land would not revert back to the Stewart family, despite rumors to the contrary. Lower Burrell historian Ray Rieser said, despite popular belief, the Burrell School District purchased the land from the...
Chartiers Valley’s budget proposal has no tax increase, but future projections are bleak
Chartiers Valley School District’s proposed budget fills a deficit through bond refinancing and dipping into the district’s fund balance, but that quick fix could come back to bite the district next year. At a meeting May 14, board members Darren Mariano, Ed Brosky, Louise Huehn, Kate Drury and Jeff Choura...
Scott firefighter recognized after life-saving action during Chartiers Valley musical
Although Hannah Salerno was well-trained in emergency medical services, she didn’t expect to use those critical skills at Chartiers Valley Middle School’s spring musical last month. Salerno, 22, of Scott was working as a volunteer stage manager at the middle school’s production of “The Addams Family” on April 13 when...
Chartiers Valley still looking for superintendent as candidate withdraws name
Deanna Fink and Michelle Jesko drove to the Chartiers Valley School Board meeting Tuesday from Saltsburg to watch the CV board consider action on hiring its superintendent, Philip Martell of the River Valley School District. “We were excited he was going to move on from (River Valley),” Jesko said. The...
Leechburg woman dies in house fire
A Leechburg woman died Tuesday morning in a fire at her home. Armstrong County Coroner Brian Myers identified the victim as 60-year-old Betty Bail. The state police fire marshal’s office said pets also perished in the fire in the 300 block of Logan Avenue. In a release, Myers said the...
Local parks could see projects completed through Pennsylvania Parks Fund
A new grant program from the Pennsylvania Parks Fund could provide some TLC to local spaces. The program provides participating parks with a grant up to $50,000, said PPF Project Director Justin Spencer. Participating parks submitted a grant proposal which can be found online at PennsylvaniaParks.org. Spencer said PPF created...
CV middle school teachers get free car washes for teacher appreciation week
Teachers at Chartiers Valley Middle School left work Wednesday, May 8 with clean cars thanks to students in the National Junior Honor Society. “When students were asked about doing a service project for Teacher Appreciation Week, they thought of washing the teachers’ cars during their free periods,” said Dina Roberts,...
Burrell gets $582K to upgrade security at Bon Air Elementary, boost kids’ mental health
The state is giving Burrell School District more than half a million dollars to replace the “antiquated” security systems at Bon Air Elementary School and boost the mental health and physical safety of students. Of Westmoreland County’s school districts, Burrell received the most funding. Superintendent Shannon Wagner said state police’s...
Police: Uniontown man charged after attacking paramedic
A Uniontown man faces criminal charges after state police say he attacked a paramedic while first responders were attempting to render aid to him. Eric Parker, 24, had passed out at a Dollar General in North Union, Fayette County. Parker faces a felony charge of aggravated assault, misdemeanor charges of...
Names revealed of latest offspring of Punxsutawney Phil and Phyllis
A special announcement came out of Punxsutawney on Sunday — and it had nothing to do with the weather. Reading from scroll, Dan McGinley, vice president of The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, announced via Facebook video that Punxsutawney Phil’s children have been named — a girl, Sunny; and a boy, Shadow....
New Kensington man arrested in connection with Arnold stabbing
A weekend stabbing in Arnold left one person injured and another behind bars. Sheron Brown, 45, of New Kensington is charged with aggravated assault and simple assault following the incident Saturday night. Brown was denied bond and was being held at the Westmoreland County jail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled...
3rd suspect arrested in connection with fatal West End stabbing
The third suspect in connection to a fatal stabbing in Pittsburgh was taken into custody in Greensburg on Saturday afternoon. Pittsburgh police announced Saturday that Logan Smetanka, 20, was taken into custody by Greensburg police in connection to a March 22 stabbing that killed Marc Kovach, 37, at an abandoned...
Pirates fans optimistic about Paul Skenes’ career; he leaves to standing ovation
Tyler Harrison of Fairmont, W.Va., has been a fan of pitcher Paul Skenes since Skenes’ days of playing for Air Force. An LSU fan, Harrison followed Skenes’ career when he transferred to play for the Tigers in the Bayou State. So when it came time for Skenes to start his...
Collier to bring back Community Day; officials say it’ll be better than ever
Collier Township, years ago, held a community day event that featured a few vendors at Webb Park. That event faded away about a decade ago, but township officials are looking to bring it back on a grander scale. “We’re bringing it back to give back to the community, but we’re...
Lower Burrell to participate in blight study
After passing on the opportunity a few months ago, Lower Burrell officials will participate in a blight inventory study. Council on Monday entered into an agreement with Westmoreland County to participate in the study on behalf of the Alle-Kiski Intergovernmental Council Cooperation Group. The cost for the program is $14,180,...
Drones give Harmar elementary students glimpse at future job skills
Rikki Haas and Elizabeth Pribanic were at school Tuesday but had their eyes in the skies. The duo — as calm and as focused as could be — were operating drones outside the gymnasium of Acmetonia Elementary School in Harmar after school. The 11-year-olds were able to maneuver their drones...
