Valley News Dispatch category, Page 106
Scenes from the Valley: Images captured in the Alle-Kiski Valley from Nov. 28-Dec. 4, 2024
Here is a weekly look at recent images captured throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley. From major news events to routine gatherings, TribLive’s “Scenes from the Valley” photo package brings to life activities and moments happening in your backyard. To have a photo considered as a “Scenes from the Valley” candidate, please...
Faces of the Valley: Lower Burrell boy showcases creativity through art
Mindy White remembers looking at son Toby’s assignment years ago where he had not only written each letter of the alphabet, but also incorporated designs of animals, lizards and dinosaurs within and around them. While the additional designs weren’t part of the assignment, it stood out to her. “Toby has...
Plum mulls paying stipend to volunteer firefighters to boost daylight staffing
Plum firefighters could get paid for some of their time under a proposal being considered by the borough. Council is discussing a plan from the borough’s four fire chiefs to begin paying volunteer firefighters a stipend to boost daytime staffing. As proposed, the daylight coverage program would see four firefighters...
The Stroller, Dec. 8, 2024: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Plum toy collection to...
Peers say New Kensington’s revitalization efforts paying off
For decades, New Kensington’s elected leaders, business owners and residents have striven to improve the city’s downtown in both image and function. Those efforts now appear to be bearing fruit. The Pennsylvania chapter of the American Planning Association singled out New Kensington’s Fifth Avenue corridor for a Great Transformation award...
Folks get festive at Freeport Home Town Christmas
Freeport Area ninth grader Lizzi Smetak has been volunteering regularly at Freeport Area Library for about a year now. “I just love coming in here,” said Smetak, 15. “It’s a really nice place to spend my time.” She didn’t think twice when she agreed to spend her Saturday morning helping...
Harrison Township Christmas Parade draws crowd
People of all ages donned their coats and hats and braved the cold to watch the annual Harrison Township Christmas Parade on Saturday afternoon. The pararde began at 1 p.m. at the intersection of Alabama Avenue and Broadview Boulevard and ended on Montana Avenue. The Harrison Police Department cleared the...
New Kensington celebrates the holiday season with its annual Christmas parade
Hundreds of people lined the streets of New Kensington on Saturday to enjoy the city’s annual Christmas parade. The parade featured fire trucks, the Valley High School Marching Band, children and adults parading on foot or riding on floats from a slew of Alle-Kiski social organizations and businesses that decked...
Upper Burrell considers injection well rules
Upper Burrell officials don’t want their township to become an attractive site for drilling companies looking to dispose of waste fluids. With between 100 and 200 abandoned gas or oil wells in the township, according to supervisors Chairman Ross G. Walker III, township officials want stricter rules for using those...
The Stroller, Dec. 7, 2024: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Annual live Nativity planned...
BNY sells South Buffalo data center for $5.5 million
The Bank of New York Mellon Corp. sold its data center and office building in South Buffalo for $5.5 million to a subsidiary of an Irish firm. Commonly known as BNY, the company’s departure from RIDC Armstrong Innovation Park represents a “strategic consolidation,” spokesperson Ryan Wells said. He did not...
New Kensington police accuse Pittsburgh man of sexually assaulting 14-year-old girl
New Kensington police have charged a man from Pittsburgh’s Sheraden neighborhood with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. Jeffrey Shaquille Shipman, 30, was charged Wednesday with felony counts of statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and corruption of minors. He had not been arraigned on the charges...
Plum ministry proposes 2nd church on property
A Plum ministry says it’s running out space and wants to build a second church on its property. In an application to the borough, Jubilee International Ministry says it has outgrown its 125-seat, 4,220-square-foot church on Center-New Texas Road, across from O’Block Elementary School. It’s proposing an additional 6,100-square-foot, single-story...
Sharpsburg magistrate announces candidacy for Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas judge
District Judge Matthew Rudzki of Sharpsburg wants to become a judge for the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. Rudzki announced his candidacy to become a county judge Dec. 4, a few days after the death of Judge Alexander P. Bicket. Bicket, 68, of Mt. Lebanon died on Dec. 2...
Plum homeowner accused of trying to blow up his house with natural gas
A Plum man’s apparent change of heart might have saved the borough from another house explosion, according to court documents. Neil Andrew Yetsko, 39, is charged with risking a catastrophe by creating a natural gas leak in his home then leaving town with two candles burning inside the home, police...
The Stroller, Dec. 6, 2024: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Free seminar to discuss...
Condition of New Kensington-Arnold schools feeds need for comprehensive plan
The New Kensington-Arnold School District has potentially millions of dollars’ worth of maintenance and repairs needed at its buildings but no plan, yet, on how to get the work done. Officials want to devise a five-year plan for buildings and grounds. It could include projects ranging from remodeling a loading...
Arnold man impaired by alcohol, marijuana in crash that seriously hurt 2 in New Kensington, police say
An Arnold man had a blood-alcohol level more than twice the legal limit and tested positive for marijuana after a crash in New Kensington in which two people in another vehicle were seriously hurt, according to New Kensington police. Police charged Brett Matthew Hedeen, 32, on Thursday with felony aggravated...
Upper Burrell fire hydrant fee to jump slightly next year
Most Upper Burrell property owners will pay a few dollars more next year for fire hydrants. Township supervisors approved the municipality’s 2025 budget by a 2-0 vote, with Ken Slahtovsky absent, on Wednesday night. It keeps property taxes at 12 mills, but increases its fire hydrant fee by 0.01 mill....
Plum School District expects to keep property tax increase within state inflation limit
Plum School District will be able to balance its 2025-26 budget without raising property taxes beyond its state-imposed limit of 5.3%, according to the district’s business manager. School districts across Pennsylvania are required by Jan. 30 to declare that they won’t raise taxes beyond their state limit or else make...
Plum School Board slated to move O’Block building project, electric bus purchase forward
The Plum School Board is expected to advance two multimillion-dollar projects this month. The board will vote to approve the next phase of design work for an addition and renovations at O’Block Elementary School and a purchase order agreement for 25 electric buses during its Dec. 17 meeting. The district...
1-mile Leechburg trail finished, open to public; other sections to come
A new trail is short but eventually will connect Leechburg to hundreds of miles of trails along the Allegheny and Kiski rivers. The Leechburg Area Community Development Corp. has officially kicked off its Tow Path Trail project, which has the potential to give Leechburg access to almost 600 miles of...
Fox Chapel teen looking for volunteers to expand nonprofit recycling program
A Fox Chapel teen who launched a free recycling program last year is looking to add some helpers. Kabeer Chopra, 17, founded GreenBridge412 to help residents get rid of materials such as batteries, plastics and glass in a responsible manner. He goes to clients’ houses on Sundays to collect the...
Buffalo Elementary to upgrade heating and air conditioning systems
More than $57,000 in improvements on Buffalo Elementary School’s heating and air conditioning system are moving forward. In November, the Freeport Area School Board voted to approve the repairs and upgrades on the school, which was built in 1936. Brad Walker, the district’s business manager, said they’re part of a...
The Stroller, Dec. 5, 2024: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Holiday program to benefit...
