Valley News Dispatch category, Page 231
The Stroller, Sept. 21, 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. Free smoke alarms available to qualified Arnold homes Arnold Fire Engine...
Power station implosion in Springdale on hold as judge weighs injunction
The scheduled implosion of the boiler house at the Cheswick Generating Station in Springdale has been delayed as a judge continues to take testimony over a requested injunction to stop the demolition. The implosion of the building was scheduled for 8 a.m. Friday. However, 16 community residents filed a lawsuit...
Blawnox Council recognizes youth baseball team for undefeated season
The Blawnox Colts, a youth baseball team, and its coaches were recognized by Blawnox Council on Sept. 13 for their undefeated championship season. Led by general manager Randy Adams, the players successfully made their way through the Allegheny North’s 17 and younger league this year. The team is a part...
Oakmont Council passes new social media policy
Oakmont council passed a new social media and communications policy at its Sept. 18 meeting, defining what is expected of borough employees and volunteers who are active on social media. Council member Tracey Holst initiated the policy’s creation, stating that borough employees need to have guidelines for what is acceptable...
Allegheny Township taps new emergency coordinator, accepts police chief’s resignation
Allegheny Township filled one of its vacant public safety positions and will begin to advertise for another one. The supervisors appointed Matt Johnston, 29, of Allegheny Township as the township’s emergency management coordinator. The board also accepted the resignation of police Chief Duane Fisher, who will become the police chief...
Oakmont council celebrates pastor’s retirement
Members of Oakmont Council honored the Rev. Steve Wilson at their meeting Sept. 18. “I met him over 30 years ago,” said Oakmont mayor Sophia Facaros. “He was refereeing our son’s indoor soccer game. I was a coach at the time. I remember I turned to look at him and,...
Oakmont gets a step closer to hiring new police officer
Oakmont has narrowed its search to five candidates for one available full-time police officer position. The position was originally advertised by the borough in early August with applications due in-person by mid-August. Chairman of the borough’s Civil Service Commision, Les Leasure, presented council members with an update Sept. 18. Five...
First Responders Back the Blue event set to roll out in Hyde Park
An event honoring first responders is coming to Hyde Park later this Saturday. The inaugural First Responders Back the Blue event will be held Saturday at the Hyde Park Heritage Pavilion, 291 Railroad St., said Jay Zanotti, president of the Hyde Park Volunteer Fire Company. The event is hosted by...
Freeport Area approves $13K to replace roof of salt storage shed that dates to 1960s
For a small school district with limited finances, stretching a dollar is a year-round school board proposition. Residents attending Freeport Area School District’s board meeting were reminded of that last week. This time it wasn’t computers, textbooks or teaching positions hovering over the chopping block but protection for the district’s...
Leechburg’s David Leech Elementary among state’s 13 National Blue Ribbon Schools
A Leechburg Area elementary school is celebrating earning a prestigious national distinction. David Leech Elementary School has been named a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. The district announced the news Tuesday on its official Facebook page. The school is one of 13 recognized in...
Arnold mayor seeks regulation on use of minibikes
Mayor Joseph Bia said he plans to rein in youths riding minibikes recklessly on Arnold’s streets before they injure somebody, including themselves. Bia brought the matter before city council at its meeting last week. “We’ve got a big problem with kids riding minibikes through the streets,” he said. “They’re breaking...
The Stroller, Sept. 20, 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. New Kensington to celebrate Fridays on Fifth The monthly Fridays on...
Police say Lower Burrell woman attacked boyfriend with hatchet, scissors
Lower Burrell police charged a woman with aggravated assault after she was accused of throwing an ax at her boyfriend and attacking him with scissors. Brittany Lynn Betts, 32, of Lower Burrell faces two counts of aggravated assault with the attempt to cause bodily injury with a deadly weapon. A...
Westmoreland 250: 10 things to see in the Arnold, New Kensington areas
(Editor’s note: To mark Westmoreland County’s 250th birthday this year, we’ve come up with a list of 250 things — 10 things in 25 communities — that we consider to be important to the makeup of our area. This series will appear each week through December. If you have a...
Plum waterlines working as designed on day of deadly home explosion, municipal authority says
Plum Municipal Authority officials said the borough’s water system and hydrants were working as designed when firefighters responded to a house explosion that killed six people in the Rustic Ridge neighborhood on Aug. 12. Firefighters initially attempted to pull water from the hydrants at a greater rate than the system...
New Kensington shooting suspect seeks move to juvenile court
Jonathan Felder was six days shy of his 18th birthday when, according to police, he and six others ambushed and fatally shot a man inside the lobby of a New Kensington apartment building last summer. A forensic psychologist testified Tuesday that Felder, now 19, of Arnold should be prosecuted as...
Springdale residents file lawsuit seeking stop to Friday morning’s plant implosion
An Allegheny County judge has ordered the company scheduled to implode the former Cheswick Generating Station in Springdale on Friday morning to hold off on placing explosive charges in the building until a ruling is issued for a lawsuit filed by residents seeking to halt the demolition. The lawsuit is...
‘Pilgrim George,’ trekked 40K miles to witness for Jesus, dies at 82
“Pilgrim George” lived a humble life focused on serving as a witness for Jesus Christ. For nearly 40 years, the Hampton native lived a hermit-like existence during the fall and winter months, using the time to plan his spring and summer pilgrimage in the name of Jesus. He believed the...
Arnold Council to consider extending tax relief for city’s volunteer firefighters
A vote granting volunteer firefighters limited tax relief may be on Arnold Council’s agenda in October. Council held a public hearing last week on a proposed ordinance that would allowed the city’s firefighters and EMS personnel to claim an earned income tax or a real estate tax credit each year....
Busy Tarentum intersection getting upgraded traffic signal, left-turn arrow
A traffic light replacement at East 10th Avenue and Corbet Street in Tarentum is expected to ease backups at the busy intersection. The long-awaited project began Monday after being stalled for several months because of supply chain issues. “It has been a long time coming,” Councilwoman Lou Ann Homa said....
The Stroller, Sept. 19, 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. Adventures with Wine dinner to benefit Peoples Library The Peoples Library...
Springdale residents say they’re nervous for upcoming boiler house implosion
Myrtle Lamonna spent some of her Monday afternoon shutting and tightening the windows of her Porter Street home. That, she said, was in preparation for the upcoming implosion of the boiler house at the former Cheswick Generating Station in Springdale, which is set for 8 a.m. Friday. “I figured, with...
East Deer appeals zoning board decision recommending 3 electronic billboards in township
East Deer is suing its zoning hearing board over a decision that recommended three of four electronic billboards be built. The township, which filed the appeal last week, claims the zoning hearing board’s decision to recommend allowing three electronic billboards in the township was “arbitrary.” It alleges the board erred...
‘Great mistake’ leads to jail sentence in Greensburg armed robbery
A Mt. Pleasant man who was acquitted two years ago in connection with a shooting in Arnold pleaded guilty to the armed robbery last year at a Greensburg home. Nicholas Haynes, 27, was ordered Monday to serve nine to 23 months in jail and an additional five years on probation...
Harrison man accused of setting fire in basement of Natrona house after argument with homeowner
A Harrison man is accused of starting a fire early Sunday in the basement of a home in the township’s Natrona section. Allegheny County Police announced Monday that Eric Knabenshue, 35, has been arrested. He is charged with two felony counts of arson, felony counts of criminal mischief and endangering...
