Valley News Dispatch category, Page 217
What does West Deer’s fire tax referendum mean for voters?
West Deer voters will see two additional questions on their ballots on Election Day — one regarding the township’s fire tax, and the other for elected auditors. West Deer is a Home Rule charter community, meaning it is governed by a charter that can only be amended through a voter...
Deer Lakes School District voters have 7 candidates to pick from for 5 board seats
Seven candidates are vying for five seats on the Deer Lakes School Board in Tuesday’s general election. Joining incumbent Democrats Cristy McCloskey and Larry Neidig, who are cross-filed, in the race are former board member Phillip Ziendarski, a Democrat, and newcomers James Calvert, a cross-filed Democrat; Susan Claus, Democrat; Pietro...
PennDOT spends more than $900K fixing roads affected by landslides in Plum
PennDOT spent $925,000 fixing four landslides impacting state-maintained roads in Plum this year. The work on Old Leechburg, Milltown, Leechburg and New Texas roads inconvenienced drivers who had to take detours or find other ways around as the slides were repaired and the roads were rebuilt and resurfaced. The four...
The Stroller, Nov. 3, 2023: 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. Volunteers needed to prepare income tax returns AARP Foundation is seeking...
New Kensington’s small-business owners reflect on how they have succeeded
The owners of a New Kensington ax throwing business are making a joke of their second anniversary. Brothers Brian and Zach Heidenreich and longtime friend Brian Mangone opened Las Hachas on Fifth Avenue in downtown New Kensington in 2021. They will celebrate their anniversary Saturday with their first comedy show...
A look at some of the victims in connection with Heather Pressdee’s murder, attempted homicide charges
Heather Pressdee faces two new counts of first-degree murder and 17 counts of attempted murder for overdosing patients with insulin. The 41-year-old nurse from Harrison is accused of crimes at five nursing homes: Concordia at Rebecca Residence in West Deer; Belair Healthcare and Rehabilitation (Guardian) in Lower Burrell; Quality Life...
Upper Burrell approves 5th well pad in township
A proposed well pad site off Merwin Road in Upper Burrell won the approval of township supervisors Wednesday. Olympus Energy of Cecil Township proposed the Artemis well pad at 931 Merwin Road, on property owned by Harry and Bonnie Edgar. Artemis marks the fifth well pad in the township, and...
New Gilpin supervisor brings nonprofit experience to role
A new supervisor in Gilpin is ready to serve. Tina Thompson was appointed to the board Oct. 17, replacing former Supervisor Linda Alworth, who resigned in September. “It’s a close-knit community,” Thompson said of Gilpin and her decision to serve in a public role. “People genuinely care about one another,...
Harrison nurse Heather Pressdee linked to 15 additional nursing home deaths
Two new counts of first-degree murder and 17 counts of attempted murder were filed Thursday against a Harrison nurse previously charged in killing two patients with lethal doses of insulin. Attorney General Michelle Henry said Heather Pressdee, 41, is again accused of administering excessive amounts of insulin to patients, some...
New Kensington-Arnold superintendent says bed bugs ‘not an issue’ at Valley High School
Bed bugs are “not an issue” at Valley High School, New Kensington-Arnold Superintendent Chris Sefcheck said in a letter Thursday. In the letter sent to district families, Sefcheck said parents have alerted the district that the high school has a problem with bed bugs. In response, the district contracted with...
ATI brings in revenue of $1B for 5th consecutive quarter
ATI’s revenue has topped $1 billion for a fifth consecutive quarter. The third-quarter results, released Thursday, show sales were up 18% over the same time last year. Increasing Aerospace and Defense content has driven the year-over-year earnings, company officials said. “ATI’s growth as an aerospace and defense leader continues,” CEO...
2023 Veterans Day events in the A-K Valley
Veterans Day events are planned throughout the Valley. Note: some events require reservations. Apollo Curran Funeral Homes will host its 20th annual celebration of veterans at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 at Curran-Shaffer Funeral Home and Crematory Inc., 100 Owens View Ave. Reservations required by Nov. 9. Reservations: 724-478-1244. Leechburg The...
The Stroller, Nov. 2, 2023: 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 HS to present fall play The Valley High School Drama...
Free Thanksgiving Dinners in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Free Thanksgiving dinners are being offered in several communities in the Valley. Please note the reservation deadlines. Brackenridge A community Thanksgiving dinner will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Salvation Army, 917 Brackenridge Ave. Dine in or takeout. No reservations required. Dinners scheduled on Thanksgiving Day...
Plum’s new outdoor amphitheater to get 1st use for Christmas at Plum Creek
Plum residents who haven’t been by the new municipal center for a while will get to see its latest amenity during the borough’s annual Christmas event. The borough is putting the finishing touches on a new amphitheater outside the municipal center on Old Mine Road. It will be used for...
Case of missing Springdale man remains unsolved
Attempts to find a missing man in Harmar on Wednesday were unsuccessful, authorities say, and the investigation will return to the hands of Springdale police. Sean Dugan, 58, was reported missing by Springdale police Monday. That evening, Harmar police saw Dugan’s car, an Acura sedan, along Gulf Lab Road at...
Customers flock to Castle Toys and Games for retirement sale in Oakmont
Castle Toys and Games, a store that has stood in Oakmont for five years, attracted a lot of attention after starting a sale when co-owners Jeff and Linda Lyden announced their plans to retire at the end of 2023. The fate of the toy store is unknown. The store is...
Trial for 6 charged in New Kensington man’s fatal shooting set for December
Jury selection for six defendants charged with homicide in connection with the July 2022 shooting death in New Kensington will begin Dec. 4. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Christopher Feliciani said all of the men and teens accused in the alleged murder of 39-year-old Jason Raiford at Valley Royal Court...
Fox Chapel Council welcomes new junior members
Two Shady Side Academy students recently took their seats as junior Fox Chapel Council members. Mayor Alex Scott administered the oath of office to Avery Litwin and Ethan Kolek on Sept. 18. The council selected Litwin and Kolek out of four candidates in August. Litwin is a member of the...
Foxwall EMS Chief Tony Cuda recalled as mentor, inspiration for departments across the A-K Valley
Emergency services lost a giant in the field with the death of Foxwall EMS Chief Tony Cuda on Oct. 28, according to friends and peers. Cuda, 54, served with numerous local departments, from Swissvale to Aspinwall to Penn Hills, inspiring countless members with his mentoring and benchmark of excellence. Service...
Lower Burrell man accused of forging check from Wexford business
A Lower Burrell man who is serving probation for selling a fatal dose of drugs in 2018 is accused of stealing nearly $3,000 from a Richland business by altering and cashing a check he stole from its mailbox. Northern Regional Police charged Donald Keith Lewandowski, 39, of the 100 block...
2 incumbents face 3 newcomers in West Deer race for 3 supervisor seats
Five candidates are vying for three open supervisor seats in West Deer. The board consists of five members, with four-year terms. Supervisors are limited to two terms, as stated in the township’s home rule charter. Incumbent Republican Vernon Frey will appear on the ballot for voters in District 1 in...
Sharpsburg preliminary budget has no tax hike
Sharpsburg residents should not expect to pay more in taxes as part of next year’s budget. The borough’s preliminary spending plan for 2024 contains no tax hike or cuts to services. Borough sewer rates are also expected to remain stagnant. The property tax rate for the 2023 tax year spiked...
Community service can bolster skills, impact job hiring
Valley High School sophomore and welding student Brandon Stankiewicz hoped to sow some career seeds while volunteering at an ATI tree-planting event Wednesday in Harrison. “I’m really hoping to meet up with some other tech students and people from ATI,” said Stankiewicz, 15, who is enrolled at the Northern Westmoreland...
West Deer police accuse woman of forging, cashing check from pump supply company
A Monroeville woman who pleaded guilty to a disorderly conduct charge in April for forging a check is accused of doing the same thing to steal from a business in West Deer. Police charged Chelsea Renee Chase, 34, of the 200 block of Holt Lane with felony counts of theft...
