Valley News Dispatch category, Page 172
Blawnox councilwoman resigns; letters of interest to fill vacancy being accepted
Blawnox officials are seeking to replace Councilwoman Meghan Kennedy, who has resigned. Her colleagues on council accepted her resignation 5-0 on April 10. Council President Deborah Laskey was absent. Kennedy was appointed to council in 2016 and has since served as the borough’s finance expert. She was chair of council’s...
No tax increase 6 of past 10 years contributes to Plum School District’s 6.2% proposed hike
Plum School Board members say they can’t afford to continue putting off raising property taxes. The board has opted not to boost taxes for six of the past 10 years. Some board members say that’s one reason why district property owners are facing a hefty increase now. The board is...
Police allege New Kensington man gave 10-year-old girl candy after sexual assaults, rape
A New Kensington man is accused of using candy treats to placate a young girl when he sexually assaulted her two years ago. Thomas Lee Burruss, 48, gave the girl, who police say was 10 when the assaults started, Starburst and Sugar Daddy candy while telling her not to tell...
Frazer Olive Garden to pay $30,000 to settle disability discrimination claim
The parent company of the Olive Garden at the Pittsburgh Mills complex in Frazer will pay $30,000 to settle a federal lawsuit that alleged the restaurant’s management discriminated against a man by not hiring him because of his disability. GMRI, operator of the Olive Garden at Pittsburgh Mills, and the...
Slain Brackenridge police chief, McKeesport officer to be included on Washington, D.C., memorial
Brackenridge police Chief Justin McIntire will be memorialized this month in Washington, D.C., with a bittersweet honor for fallen officers. “We remember him and carry him in our hearts every day,” Mayor Lindsay Fraser said. “We memorialize Chief McIntire in how we can and do treat each other and in...
Fox Chapel Area School Board seeking member after Kimberly Andrews resigns
Fox Chapel Area School Board member Kimberly Andrews said she’ll take away nothing but pride from her nearly three years spent serving the district. The Aspinwall resident resigned Monday after announcing she would be returning to her native North Carolina. “I have been honored to sit on the board and...
Plum recruits young officer to fill police ranks
Cristina Sargent showed interest in police work from a young age. Her father said she would watch “America’s Most Wanted” when she was 4 years old. But White Oak police Chief Mark Sargent, who has been chief for six years and with his department for more than 30 years, didn’t...
River Road reopened in Parks Township
Route 66/River Road in Parks Township reopened Wednesday morning when crews completed cleanup of a mudslide, according to PennDOT. A portion of the road between Vandergrift and Leechburg closed April 3 because of the slide, caused by days of heavy rain that led to flooding throughout the region. Crews will...
Penn State New Kensington students show off skills, network with future employers
Bryce Eddy knew the New Kensington cat rescue Frankie’s Friends often takes in lots of cats rescued from poor conditions. So, to take some pressure off Frankie’s team of volunteers, the Harrison native and his Penn State New Kensington classmates James Matus and Heather Shultz decided to put their skills...
The Stroller, April 10, 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. Memorial service scheduled at Good Samaritan Hospice Good Samaritan Hospice, a...
Like Valley, Maryland high school believes it was scammed by costume company
When Angela Smithhisler read a TribLive story about Valley High School’s drama club likely getting scammed out of $8,000 for costumes, her heart sank. “I started to feel sick to my stomach because that (dollar amount) seemed very familiar,” she said via email. “I opened up the article and read...
Portion of East Deer’s Days Run Road closed through late April
Days Run Road in East Deer is closed between Bailies Run Road and Holsing Lane while PennDOT crews repair a retaining wall. The road closed Tuesday morning and is expected to remain closed until late April while crews conduct 24-hour operations, according to PennDOT. The posted detour uses Kurn, Mahaffey,...
More than $16,000 in copper wire stolen from Harmar concrete plant
An East Butler man is accused of stealing copper wire from a Harmar concrete plant that, according to the business, costs them nearly $16,500 to replace. Harmar police charged Colton Shane Miner, 24, with felony counts of theft by, receiving stolen property and theft of secondary metal, along with summary...
More than a dozen departments respond to house fire in Plum
At least 14 departments responded to a two-alarm house fire Tuesday morning in Plum, authorities said. The fire was reported around 7 a.m. in the 100 block of Elwood Avenue, according to Glenn Kopec Jr., assistant chief of Unity Volunteer Fire Department. It took about 45 minutes to knock down...
The Stroller, April 9, 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. Salvation Army accepting summer camp reservations Reservations for summer camp at...
EMS providers need more than state money to fix funding woes
Regional ambulance service officials say they’ll try to grab a piece of increased state funding for emergency medical services, but repeated their plea for a new funding model. “In a nutshell, the system has been collapsing for a good while,” said Brad James of Eureka Hose EMS in Tarentum. The...
Burrell student to perform with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
When he was in the fourth grade, Alex Platt told his parents he wanted to play the clarinet because it sounded “jazzy.” “It’s an odd reason, but that’s the reason,” said Platt, now 18 and a senior at Burrell High School. “But I stayed with it, and it’s a beautiful...
‘Make the town a little bit nicer’: East Deer schedules first cleanup day
An East Deer man is hoping to make a difference in the township, even if it comes down to picking up one piece of litter at a time. Adam Klingensmith is organizing what’s believed to be the township’s first cleanup day April 21. “We’re going to be picking up any...
The Stroller, April 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. Tickets on sale for Casino Theatre jazz concert The Casino Theater...
Washington Township fire department’s auto swap brings fun, camaraderie
Dean Jacobs grew up selling popcorn at the South Park Speedway, which is what sparked his love for racing and automobiles. Later in life, he would manage B&R Speed Supply in Verona. On Sunday, he set up shop at Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department’s auto part swap meet. “I’ve been...
Scenes from the Valley: Images captured in the Alle-Kiski Valley from March 28-April 3, 2024
Here is a weekly look at recent images captured throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley. From major news events to routine gatherings, the Tribune-Review’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,...
Faces of the Valley: New director seeks to expand impact at Northern Westmoreland CTC
John Augustine knew he would have to let Jason Hicks move on to bigger things. Augustine has been a career and technology center director for 24 years, the past 18 at Greater Johnstown, where for several years Hicks was his right-hand man. “I could tell he had more capabilities than...
The Stroller, April 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. Valley High School Drama Club presents ‘The Addams Family’ The Valley...
Tony Recchia went from Kiski Area to Pitt football powerhouses of early 1980s
Growing up in Vandergrift, Tony Recchia craved competition. “I just remember fighting every day, every play, competing in every sport,” said Recchia, who now lives in Valencia. “I ingrained competition into everything from Little League on. I just loved to compete.” Recchia relied on that competitive spirit to find success...
After heavy rain during the week, anglers still have fun at 1st day of trout season
Eight-year-old Ava Martini was excited when a fish hooked onto her line cast in Deer Lakes Park on Saturday. With the help of her grandfather, Bill Martini of West Deer, she was able to reel in the trout and display it proudly to Bill and her father, Will Martini of...
