Valley News Dispatch category, Page 122
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...
Free veterinary clinic at Sharpsburg nonprofit helps pet owners in need
A newly launched pet clinic at Roots of Faith in Sharpsburg is working to boost the health of animals and their humans. In partnership with Allegheny Health Network and Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh, a semiregular event will tend to the health of furry friends and their owners — all...
New housing development proposed in Indiana Township; public hearing scheduled
Indiana Township residents and property owners have an opportunity to weigh in on a proposed residential development off Saxonburg Boulevard. Imperial-based developer Maronda Homes wants to build 32 single-family homes on a 22.47-acre property in a residential district. The housing plan, called Frederick Farms, is expected to feature similar homes...
North Apollo sticks with Kiski Township for police coverage, withdraws from proposed regional force
North Apollo is right back where it started with police coverage after months of haggling with different departments and infighting among officials. Kiski Township police got the nod Monday to provide protection for another two years. Kiski Township will be paid $68,000 in 2025 and $72,000 in 2026. The decision...
Harrison seeking safety boost along Freeport Road
Harrison officials are seeking to boost safety along Freeport Road for vehicles and pedestrians. Police Chief Brian Turack said traffic signals along the business stretch are “pretty outdated.” “They were all added or designed at different times so none of them really work together,” he said. Commissioners have hired HRG...
Attorneys for Springdale residents seek reargument over boiler house ruling
Attorneys representing 16 Springdale residents seeking to block an implosion of the former power plant’s boiler house say they weren’t required to go through other outlets to challenge the demolition and permitting, contrary to a recent state Superior Court decision that ruled they should have. That’s part of the argument...
Harrison business delivers Christmas locally and in hurricane-ravaged North Carolina
Harrison real estate agent Cameron Yockey wants to work some holiday magic at home and more than 400 miles away in communities ravaged by Hurricane Helene. Through his company, Realty One, Yockey is spearheading a toy collection to provide a joyful Christmas for children in North Carolina towns that are...
Cheswick budget maintains property taxes, increases sewage, trash rates
Cheswick Council approved its 2025 budget on Tuesday with no tax increase, but residents will see increases in their trash and sewage rates. The fixed sewage rate for borough customers will increase 12%, or $10.68 per quarter, from $88.03 to $98.71. The increase is to cover the borough’s share of...
Plum residents to get new annual or quarterly bills for garbage, stormwater fees
Plum residents will pay two fees in a new way in 2025. Starting next year, current and delinquent charges for garbage collection and the borough’s flood prevention or stormwater fee will be billed by Keystone Collections, replacing the Plum Borough Municipal Authority. Keystone also collects the borough’s earned income tax....
