Valley News Dispatch category, Page 235
Magnet fishing couple pulls piece of Harrison history from Allegheny River in Lawrenceville
You never know what you might pluck from the Allegheny River. Magnet fishing enthusiasts George and Suzanne Murphy Haught have pulled up boat parts, locks and even a gun. “I pulled out a washer from a barge that was the size of a dinner plate,” said George, who began the...
Injured player flown by medical helicopter from Kiski-Laurel Highlands football game
Laurel Highlands football standout Antwan Black Jr. was transported by medical helicopter from Kiski Area after suffering an injury during a game Friday night in Allegheny Township. First responders called for a medical helicopter around 9:40 p.m., in response to Black’s injury at the game at Richard Dilts Field on...
Man accused of breaking into cars in East Deer charged with assaulting police chief during arrest
An man accused of trying to break into vehicles along Freeport Road in East Deer was charged with a felony after allegedly kicking a police chief in the chest while officers were trying to arrest him. Jordan Smith, 32, of the 400 block of Freeport Road in East Deer was...
Investigators say cause of fatal Plum explosion came from inside the home
The point of origin for a deadly home explosion in Plum on Aug. 12 came from inside the house at 141 Rustic Ridge, the Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s Office said Friday. Officials continue to investigate the explosion that occurred just less than a month ago in Plum’s Rustic Ridge subdivision,...
Body art: Meeting of the Marked tattoo convention inks three decades of skin design
A tattoo needle punctures the skin around 100 times per second, depositing the ink 1.5 millimeters to 2 millimeters below the surface. It bypasses the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin. Tool firmly in hand, the image that appears is more than ink injected into the skin — tattoos...
Slide repair work to close part of Saxonburg Boulevard in West Deer starting Monday
A portion of Saxonburg Boulevard in West Deer will be closed starting Monday as crews begin to fix road slides. The work requires the road, between Trump Road and Saxony Road, to close completely. The road will be closed to traffic starting at 7 a.m. Monday, and will reopen Friday,...
Springdale mother accused of manslaughter in methadone death of 5-year-old daughter
A mother in Springdale is facing charges in the death of her 5-year-old daughter, who died in June of methadone toxicity. Samantha McMunn, 34, of Springdale was charged by Allegheny County Police on Thursday with felony counts of involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of children. McMunn surrendered to authorities...
The Stroller, Sept. 8, 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. Let us know about your Halloween happenings The Valley News Dispatch...
Summit Hose Company’s fall festival continues through Saturday at Riverview Memorial Park in Tarentum
Apollo brothers Noah and Elliott Gould surveyed the Riverview Memorial Park landscape in Tarentum from the highest point possible Thursday night. With smiles on their faces, the boys sat down on large cloths and launched themselves down a bumpy, colorful slide to start their first experience at the three-day fall...
Kiski Township officials draft ordinance to end alligator ownership; police fear more gators are in Kiski River
Kiski Township officials are clamping down on alligator ownership in the township after two reported alligator sightings in recent weeks along the Kiski River. In light of the recent capture of a juvenile alligator some nicknamed Chomper in August and a rogue alligator named Neo that remains at large after...
Two new Allegheny Township businesses now hiring in Hyde Park Plaza
Two new businesses are hiring in Hyde Park Plaza, Allegheny Township. Ollie’s Bargain Outlet and Dollar Tree have signs posted with contact information for potential employees. The stores are located where a former Big Kmart once occupied about 85,000 square feet of retail space. Township officials have not provided opening...
Vandergrift woman accused of trying to stop cops from arresting man wanted on homicide charge
Vandergrift police accused a woman of trying to prevent officers from capturing a man who was on the run after being charged with vehicular homicide. Rachel Lynn Cook, 36, of the 200 block of Bryant Street in Vandergrift was charged with a felony count of hindering apprehension along with counts...
Liquor Control Board to rule on East Deer noise exemption
Whether East Deer can enforce its noise ordinance regarding amplified music is now in the hands of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. The LCB held a hearing Wednesday on a township request that, if granted, would allow East Deer to enforce its own noise regulations instead of the state’s. East...
The Stroller, Sept. 7, 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. St. James Parish to host fall festival A fall festival will...
New Kensington man charged with fleeing traffic stop was wanted for skipping trial
A New Kensington man wanted on multiple arrest warrants is accused of fleeing in a vehicle to avoid arrest after the woman who was driving pulled over and surrendered to police. Zion Ethan Lee Wright, 23, of the 1300 block of Victoria Avenue was charged Aug. 18 with felony counts...
Owner of 2nd alligator seen in Kiski River explains how it got there, efforts to bring him back home
The recent report of a second alligator swimming Sunday in the Kiski River appears to be a runaway reptile named Neo. Austin Randall, 23, of Lyndora, Butler County, said Wednesday he lost Neo on Aug. 29 while attempting to re-home the baby male alligator to Kiski Township resident and alligator...
Oakmont Council discusses possibility of scenic byway
Rick Duncan, president of the Allegheny River Boulevard Preservation Association, and Michael Dawida, chairman of Scenic Pittsburgh, attended Oakmont’s Sept. 5 work session to begin a discussion in support of naming the Allegheny River Boulevard a scenic byway. Duncan said that he has already received a resolution of support from...
Plum EMS to host car seat safety check at Holiday Park VFD
Safety is always top of mind for Plum first responders, which is why they have organized an event to make sure families are taking proper care of their most precious cargo. Plum EMS hosts its annual car seat safety check from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 16 at the...
Separate Oktoberfests brewing in Saxonburg and Vandergrift
Say cheers to beer at two separate Oktoberfest festivals on back-to-back weekends in Saxonburg and Vandergrift. Sprankle’s annual Octoberfest celebrates its fifth anniversary with a three-day celebration Friday through Sunday at the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company fairgrounds in Saxonburg. Oktoberfest in Vandergrift is a one-day celebration Sept. 16 on Grant...
Tarentum boaters say borough deadline to retrieve docks is ‘impossible’
People who have dock space along the Allegheny River in Tarentum are asking for added time to pull their items from the water and shoreline after council eliminated leases until further notice. Council in August said leases will not be approved until the borough has a finalized riverfront development plan,...
Truck gets stuck at railroad intersection in Springdale
A tanker truck got stuck Wednesday morning at the Colfax Street railroad crossing in Springdale. The truck became hung up on the Norfolk Southern tracks, causing railroad traffic to shut down while police and officials worked to remove the tractor-trailer from the tracks. It appeared the truck might have gone...
Canine ‘Cavalier’ Roo celebrates 1st birthday posing for yearbook picture at Kiski Area High School
A Kiski Area School District therapy dog was ready for her closeup Wednesday during picture day in the high school library. Roo, a 1-year-old deaf therapy dog, joined the Kiski Area staff in January after being adopted by Superintendent Misty Slavic. “She’s the sweetest thing when she roams the hall,”...
Oakmont Volunteer Fire Department swears in 8 members
Oakmont Mayor Sophia Facaros swore in eight volunteer firefighters Tuesday at the borough’s monthly work session. Facaros chose to call on each volunteer separately to recite the oath of office. “You all probably don’t get as much recognition as you should for the work that you do for the community,”...
DA: State police justified in fatally shooting Fawn man last October
Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. said Wednesday that state police were justified in fatally shooting a Fawn man who brandished a gun last fall after troopers responded to a domestic disturbance report. Zachary John Cervice, 50, was killed on Shamrock Lane as he got out of a...
Residents invited to discuss social, economic and other issues with officials in Leechburg
“Let’s talk.” That’s the message from Leechburg-area clergy and officials as they prepare to host an inaugural town hall meeting Sept. 27 at the Marconi Club in Leechburg. The meeting is presented by the Leechburg Ministerial Association, which comprises several Leechburg and Gilpin churches. Participants will include government officials, school...
