Valley News Dispatch category, Page 161
2.65% tax hike OK’d for Allegheny Valley School District property owners
Property owners in the Allegheny Valley School District will be paying 2.65% more in real estate taxes for the coming school year. The school board approved a $25.8 million budget Tuesday increases the millage rate by 0.552 mills, from 20.8377 to 21.3899. “We’ve been as conscientious as any district,” board...
East Deer opts into exploratory committee to save Eureka ambulance service
While the clock is ticking on the potential closing of Eureka Community Ambulance Service in Tarentum, another of the municipalities it covers has joined an effort to save the ailing EMS. East Deer commissioners on Wednesday opted into an exploratory committee that will research the formation of an ambulance authority....
The Stroller, June 27, 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. Community outreach set Friday in New Kensington Westmoreland Community Action will...
Foxwall EMS has a new chief and ambulance
Foxwall EMS has a new chief and a new ambulance. The official ambulance service provider of Aspinwall and Fox Chapel is now run by Ben Shopland of Pittsburgh’s North Side. He was selected out of multiple candidates and five finalists to formally replace the late Tony Cuda, who died Oct....
Sharpsburg mural artists selected
Emily Paige Armstrong had hoped to make a positive impact on her new community. The 2015 Valley High School grad had recently bought a home in Sharpsburg with her twin sister, Catherine. Still in the process of settling in, Armstrong found an opportunity she couldn’t pass up. A request for...
Duquesne Light promises improvements, touts upgrades in wake of power outages
Cathy Schantz was among the tens of thousands of people whose homes lost electricity during storms amid last week’s heat wave. The Richland resident, who lives in a housing plan near Bakerstown Road, said she lost power for more than three days — a total of 73½hours. The next outage...
Suspected electrical fire displaces 2 in New Kensington
Two New Kensington residents were displaced Wednesday evening when an apparent electrical fire began damaging their home. Firefighters from New Kensington, Arnold, Tarentum and Logans Ferry Heights responded to the call shortly before 9 p.m. at 19 Cherry St. The home is tucked away at the end of the block...
Brother: Gillian Tones, Montana park drowning victim, ‘had a natural gravitation toward helping people’
Dillon Tones once asked his younger sister, Gillian, why she wanted to get into nursing. He was curious why people chose the field because nurses often see people at their worst. “She said, ‘You’re right, but I also get to be there to do as much as I can,’ ”...
Tarentum police nab juvenile wanted on McKeesport warrant, recover 4 guns
Police searching for five juveniles Tuesday night in Tarentum apprehended two of them and seized four guns, all of them believed to be stolen, according to borough police. One of the two boys arrested was taken to Allegheny County Jail, where he was being held on a warrant out of...
WWII veteran and longtime Lower Burrell police officer leaves behind stories of airborne exploits
Albert Chamrad, a resident and retired police officer from Lower Burrell, died earlier this month, taking his firsthand account of performing one of the most dangerous duties in World War II with him. The 99-year-old died in his sleep June 13 at Southwestern Veterans’ Center in Pittsburgh. He lived a...
Missing Fawn man found safe
A missing 19-year-old Fawn man has been found. Arden Verner III, who was missing since June 23 has been found safe, Fawn Chief Tim Mayberry confirmed Wednesday....
The Stroller, June 26, 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. Fridays on Fifth event to feature food, music and more The...
Allegheny Township mechanic retools after shop fire sends life savings up in smokeVideo
Chunks of Jamie Napoletano’s life now fit into a wheelbarrow, not even half filled with wrenches, bolts and clamps. On an afternoon in June, he sifted through his diminished collection, clutching a greasy towel and rattling off lost equipment. By his estimate, only about 1% of his tool collection survived...
Stewart School closing hearing prompts wide range of reactions
An array of viewpoints were shared by a dozen Burrell residents Tuesday during a public hearing on possibly closing Stewart Elementary School. Some requested Stewart remain open in some capacity, and others advocated for its closure. Some requested fifth-grade classes move to Huston Middle School, and others suggested they be...
Defense suggests alternate causes for New Kensington toddler death
The lawyer for a New Kensington man accused in the death of a 2-year-old boy said Tuesday that fatal injuries suffered by the child were caused by accidents or another family member. Prosecutors contend Keith Dale Lilly Jr., 35, caused multiple head wounds and other injuries suffered by Mikel Fetterman,...
North Apollo woman who drowned at national park in Montana remembered as sweet and compassionate
A North Apollo woman who slipped and fell from rocks and drowned Sunday at a national park in Montana is being remembered for her kind heart. The National Park Service said in a statement that Gillian Tones, 26, slipped on slick rocks at Glacier National Park about 5:20 p.m. and...
Blighted Sharpsburg brownfield gets $25 million boost in Allegheny Shores transformation
Transformation of Allegheny Shores, a 52-acre brownfield along the Allegheny River in Sharpsburg, got a boost of nearly $25 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Money will be funneled to construction of a multimodal transportation network to support the project. Work includes a bridge over the Conemaugh rail line,...
Deer Lakes junior Madison Rethage among 250 selected for Congress-Bundestag program
Deer Lakes junior Madison Rethage was running typical errands last weekend, heading to the pet store to buy supplies for her guinea pigs, Jacques and Pierre. “My mom happened to check her phone and saw an email for a scholarship I had been waiting on,” the 16-year-old said. “She wanted...
The Stroller, June 25, 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. Free meals available at Knead Community Cafe Knead Community Café will...
Some skeptical, others confident in Housing Authority police’s word to step up Sheldon Park patrols
Eric Walters has witnessed this before. The notion that police will step up patrols in the Sheldon Park apartment complex in Harrison isn’t believable to the nine-year resident. “They’ve been saying that,” Walters said. “If they do, they’ll do it a couple days and say they’re doing something, and then...
Freeport specialty baker launching Rollin’ Along food truck
Freeport resident Lori Zarichnak wasn’t keen on any of the pumpkin rolls she ate while growing up in Western Pennsylvania, so she decided to do something about it. “I like to bake, and I used my degree in chemistry to come up with a pumpkin roll recipe that I would...
Late Secretary Lorraine Zebrine ‘dedicated to Cheswick’
Lorraine Zebrine was dedicated to her job as Cheswick’s borough secretary. She was always willing to step up to a challenge or take on additional responsibilities. Just ask those who knew her well. “During her time — I’ve been on council 42 years — there are few people who have...
St. Joseph High School eyes expanding band and chorus to meet growing demand
St. Joseph sophomore Louisa Palumbo misses the chance to showcase her musical chops in school. The 15-year-old participated in chorus throughout middle school at Mary Queen of Apostles in New Kensington and said it helped her grow not only as a singer but socially. “It’s nice to be a part...
Morning Roundup: No injuries reported in Brackenridge boat fire
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, June 24: No injuries reported in Brackenridge boat fire Emergency services were called to a boat fire in Brackenridge on Sunday night. Allegheny County 911 said services were dispatched at 8:46 p.m. to Brackenridge Park. There were no...
The Stroller, June 24, 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. HOPE Center accepting donations The Alle-Kiski HOPE Center is seeking donations...
