Valley News Dispatch category, Page 2

Judy Sproat of Buffalo Township is no stranger to working hard during the holiday season. “I worked as a nurse all my life. I always worked holidays and the day after,” she said. “I don’t take a day off.” Sproat, 75, brought the post-holiday habit into her retirement as she...

Builders may soon build a new home on one of the plots left vacant for two years after a 2023 Rustic Ridge house explosion in Plum that left six people dead. The land formerly occupied by the home at 143 Rustic Ridge Drive, which was leveled after sustaining enormous damage...

Taylor Harris, 29, was pleasantly surprised when she arrived at the Walmart at the Pittsburgh Mills shopping complex Friday morning. “I think not ripping the bottom of my car out makes it easier to spend money,” Harris said. The New Kensington woman took an Uber to the store out of...

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. Tarentum Lions plan annual...

This Thanksgiving, siblings Garry Wiles and Jamie Long got together to share more than just a meal. They honored their father, a Vietnam veteran, by keeping alive a five-year long tradition of sharing Thanksgiving dinner at the American Legion in Lower Burrell. “Our dad is a member here. He’s in...

The public will be able to enjoy the new $2 million pool at Highlands High School through a free, open swim program for adults. District officials plan to open the program as soon as January for people 18 and older to swim laps, engage in self-paced water aerobics or just...

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. Count your blessings this...

Fire crews spent about three hours Wednesday battling a blaze at a home in the 40 Acres neighborhood of New Kensington that had heavy hoarding conditions, according to city Fire Chief Ed Saliba Jr. Volunteer fire departments from numerous Alle-Kiski Valley towns — including New Kensington, Arnold, Lower Burrell, Plum...

Eric Doutt, a former Arnold police chief, is awaiting another court date after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday in Armstrong County on several felony charges. Doutt, 56, of Arnold was arrested Nov. 13 in connection with a drug investigation by the state Attorney General’s Office. He was...

Leechburg Area is among four school districts that have filed a lawsuit against the state’s largest cyber charter school asking that tuition be dropped for local students. The suit claims Commonwealth Charter Academy, as well as the state Department of Education through lack of sufficient oversight, fails to provide students...

Property taxes will not change under New Kensington’s $12.4 million budget for next year. Council this week approved the city’s budget in a 4-0 vote, with Todd Mentecki absent, said City Clerk John Zavadak. The property tax remains at 32.02 mills. A property assessed at the city’s median value of...

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. Opportunities available to help...

Amy Bocceri is no stranger to helping others. During the covid-19 pandemic, she helped deliver meals to local students who couldn’t attend school in-person. Now, she’s part of a growing trend of grassroots efforts that emerged across the region this year — not only for help with the holidays, but...

Brian Regli, a consultant for the company seeking to construct a large data center in Springdale, says he’s optimistic the project will be approved by borough council next month. Land developer Allegheny DC Property Co. wrapped up its testimony during a five-hour meeting Monday night. That came a week after...

There is no tax increase projected in West Deer’s 2026 proposed budget. With expected revenues and expenditures balanced at almost $9.8 million, millage is projected to stay at 2.90 mills. Homeowners with the median assessed property value of $122,000 would continue to pay about $354 on their property tax bill....

After general election votes were certified Monday, Leechburg Area School District saw one race for a four-year board seat flip. Rather than losing a spot by 10 votes, which unofficial results showed on election night, Neill Brady received six more votes than newcomer Janie Borsh Symons to secure a four-year...

The Pittsburgh Brewing Co. is expecting 1,500 people to attend its sold-out third annual Light Up Night in East Deer. Despite the large number, the Pittsburgh Brewing team said it’s around the same amount of attendees as last year’s celebration and they’re prepared for the crowd. “We do much more...

Amy Lenart, a principal at Burrell’s Bon Air Elementary School, will be leaving the school in January for another leadership role outside the district. School directors this month accepted Lenart’s resignation, effective Jan. 15. Lenart has worked for Burrell for 23 years in both teaching and administrative roles, said Superintendent...

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. Vandergrift holiday events to...

It’s now up to Springdale Council to make a decision on a massive proposed data center at the site of the former Cheswick Generating Station. After months of meetings and questions, developers wrapped up their formal testimony before council late Monday night. Springdale Solicitor Craig Alexander said he expects a...

A twinkling luminary hike is among the newest features at Christmas in Guyasuta, a holiday kickoff for all ages. The longstanding event is a winter-themed festivity hosted at Camp Guyasuta, accessed off 23rd Street in Sharpsburg. The wooded campus owned by Scouting America is glowing with thousands of lights –...

It’s been 27 years since Fawn property owners have seen a property tax increase, and that streak is likely to be extended. The township supervisors have proposed a $1.8 million preliminary budget that holds the tax rate steady at 3.04 mills. If approved, the owner of a home with the...

Former Arnold police Chief Eric Doutt on Monday was ordered to stand trial on theft, receiving stolen property, obstruction and drug-related charges after a search of his home allegedly turned up cocaine and items reported missing from the city’s police department. Washington Township District Judge Jason Buczak held for court...

An Arnold man will find out next month when he will stand trial for the stabbing death of his mother outside her home in August 2024. Brian J. Rebold, 39, has been in jail since he was charged with criminal homicide and first-degree murder Aug. 4 in connection with the...

An effort by Tarentum to upgrade its failing water system has gotten a boost. The borough was awarded $200,000 in federal grants for upgrades to the water treatment plant and pump house, much of which is nearly 100 years old and considered a maintenance nightmare. “This project is another major...