Valley News Dispatch category, Page 25
Oakmont man arrested by ICE is home, but being monitored; future unclear
Jose Flores, the Oakmont man arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents late last month, is home with his family again, but not necessarily out of the woods. Flores, 47, originally from Nicaragua, was taken into custody by ICE agents the morning of Jan. 29 in front of his home...
Burrell basketball coach accused of draining $246K from Montgomery County nonprofit
Authorities in Montgomery County have charged Burrell High School’s boys basketball coach with stealing more than $246,000 from a nonprofit group where he formerly served as treasurer. Michael Fantuzzo, 40, faces theft charges from allegations stemming from when he served as volunteer treasurer of the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association, a...
1970s water lines to be replaced on Bull Creek Road in Fawn
A $2.4 million water line project along Bull Creek Road in Fawn is expected to alleviate frequent line breaks that have become an issue for Fawn-Frazer Water Authority. The authority plans renovation and construction this year on an original line that stretches from its connection in Brackenridge and runs for...
Arnold man sentenced to 13 years for heroin, fentanyl trafficking
An Arnold man who led police on a high-speed chase with a child in the car was sentenced to 13 years in prison on a federal fentanyl and heroin trafficking charge. Kevin Watson, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge W. Scott Hardy. His sentence will be followed by five...
Freeport Council appoints former manager to vacant seat
Zachary Filous has returned to the Freeport Borough Building. The small borough’s former manager was appointed to a vacant seat on Freeport Council earlier this month. The vacancy was the result of former Freeport Council President Rick Fennell vacating his seat last month to take up the borough’s tax collector...
Northern Westmoreland students’ SpongeBob pedal car wins big at competitionVideo
A SpongeBob SquarePants-themed pedal car and months of work paid off for Northern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center students — not only for a recent competition, but also for their future careers. Students in the school’s Auto Body Collision Repair and Refinishing Technology program placed first in the 65th World...
The Stroller, Feb. 9, 2026: 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. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Tickets available for murder-mystery...
Just add spaghetti: Local restaurants that nudge the noodle into popular dishes
Spaghetti is the most classic pasta dish in America. At some local restaurants, the famous noodle is getting joined with other food elements for mashups that diners love. Among those venues is New Kensington’s Knead Community Cafe, where a toasted sandwich filled with fried spaghetti and melted cheese has...
The Stroller, Feb. 8, 2026: 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. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Food distribution set Tuesday...
Oakmont man released from ICE custody ‘profoundly relieved and grateful to God,’ attorney says
The Flores family is back together after Jose Flores was released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody Saturday. A Saturday evening Instagram post from Oakmont Bakery, where Flores works, said Flores was released and reunited with his family. The post thanks various parties, including ICE officials, “who made the decision...
Downtown New Kensington businesses cater to women with city’s new ‘Galentine’s Day’ eventVideo
Wickedly cold winds and slushy streets and sidewalks didn’t deter women from coming to downtown New Kensington on Saturday afternoon for a little gal time. Businesses on or near Fifth Avenue participated in the first Galentine’s Day event, sponsored by the New Ken Downtown Partnership. In addition to storefronts, several...
Alle-Kiski Senior Citizen News: Jan. 31, 2026
Armstrong County Senior Centers Apollo Thursday: Valentine’s Day party. Hours: 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays. Details: Charlotte at 800-368-1066 or Amy at 724-478-1410. The center is at 707A N. Fifth St., Apollo. Freeport Tuesday and Thursday: bingo. The center is at 102 Fifth St., Freeport. Leechburg Tuesday: program about...
Springdale tries to stay out of dispute over railroad crossing
Springdale Council is not budging on who should repair a railroad crossing that was the scene of a train-truck crash. That sentiment was made clear by Council President Mike Ziencik when he questioned an item on the engineer’s report referencing the need to assess what work needs to be done...
The Stroller, Feb. 7, 2026: 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. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Drive-thru dinner to aid...
Drainage work will restrict traffic in East Deer, Tarentum, Harrison and Brackenridge
A drainage project will cause single-lane restrictions in East Deer, Tarentum, Brackenridge and Harrison, beginning Monday. Traffic restrictions will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. between Bailies Run Road and Butler County while crews work on drainage, base repairs, pavement marking, guardrail improvements and other details. Weekend work...
Landslide knocks part of Logans Ferry Road in Plum down to 1 lane until summer
A section of Logans Ferry Road in Plum will have a single-lane restriction until summer after a landslide on a short portion of the roadway. The stretch sits between Browntown and Webster roads. New stop signs have been installed at each end as well as signage before the section that...
Police say New Kensington man already jailed for SWAT incident assaulted, fathered child with 8th grader
Westmoreland County detectives accuse a New Kensington man who has been in jail since 2024 of fathering a child with an Arnold teenager after repeatedly sexually assaulting her. Burnell Johnson, 27, is facing charges of statutory sexual assault, corruption of minors and indecent assault of a person younger than 16....
PennDOT plans another sweep for puzzling metal fragments in Harrison
PennDOT plans to return to Harrison once the snow melts to inspect for more of the metal shards found scattered across township roads this week. Spokesman Steve Cowan said sweeper trucks canvassed Freeport Road, Route 28 and Burtner Road on Wednesday and Thursday, picking up some of the small metal...
Man who led police on icy river pursuit held for court
The man who tried to evade Pittsburgh police by walking 5 miles along the frozen Allegheny River on Jan. 29 will remain in Allegheny County Jail. Gary Cawley, 47, of Pittsburgh was held for court during a preliminary hearing Thursday in Pittsburgh Municipal Court. Bond was set at $100,000. His...
Cheswick plans to redo sidewalks, add lights along Pittsburgh Street
Cheswick’s main business district could see significant updates soon. The borough plans to repave its sidewalks and curbs and add light poles along Pittsburgh Street with a $1.1 million state grant, according to Council President Brad Yaksich. Yaksich said the effort is part of an effort to revitalize the corridor....
Morning Roundup: Police charge caretaker with theft from Verona patient
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, Feb. 6: Caretaker accused of stealing from patient Verona police are seeking assistance in locating a woman they say stole money from a woman she was hired to care for. Police responded to a report of money stolen...
The Stroller, Feb. 6, 2026: 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. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Voting underway Community Library...
‘I’m capable’: Special Olympics athlete Sheena Black to compete in national games
When Sheena Black found out she would be competing in track and field at the Special Olympics USA Games this June in Minneapolis, she couldn’t contain her excitement. After 34 years as a Special Olympics athlete and earning 259 medals, she will have her first chance at running on the...
Oakmont Bakery harassed over ICE arrest
It appears no one is safe from public ire when it comes to the nation’s debate over immigration, not even a popular local bakery. Marc Serrao, co-owner of Oakmont Bakery, said his business has faced harassment on social media and via telephone since the arrest of Oakmont resident Jose Flores...
Moving goal post: Lawyer thinks Oakmont ICE arrest the result of new immigration priorities
It appears politics, not immigration law, sparked the arrest of Jose Flores in Oakmont last week, the man’s lawyer suggested. “Jose’s legal posture in the country is one that allows him to remain and work lawfully in the U.S. while his case is being adjudicated and, for the last 30...
