Valley News Dispatch category, Page 255
Fawn police accuse man of injuring woman in crash while driving car without title, insurance, registration
A Uzbekistani national has been ordered to stand trial, accused by Fawn police of seriously injuring a woman when he ran a stop sign and crashed into her vehicle while driving without insurance, registration or proper title. Farkhod Akbarov, 35, of the 1000 block of Hillgate Place in Scott Township...
Sparrow’s Nest clothes and household pantry in Harrison helps stretch dollars, save environment
Dakota Kuniak browsed the clothes racks and artwork at the new Sparrow’s Nest pantry in Harrison, commenting on the mounds of items available for free. “This is so great for people who need help,” said the teen, an eighth grader at Mary Queen of Apostles in New Kensington. “It’s also...
Alle-Kiski Valley High School Reunion news Aug. 18, 2023
• Freeport High School Class of 1955 will have a get-together at 1 p.m. Sept. 6 at River Forest Country Club, Allegheny Township. Classmates and spouses welcome. • Ken Hi Class of 1958 will have a reunion at noon Sept. 21 at Hill Crest Country Club, Lower Burrell. Classmates who...
The Stroller, Aug. 18, 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. Tickets on sale for wrestling event and craft show Citizens Volunteer...
Employee exodus blamed on hostile work environment in Allegheny Township
A slew of administrative resignations in Allegheny Township apparently has resulted from unrest among its three supervisors. Three township administrative employees — administrative assistant Denise Johnston, Director of Public Safety Lee Schumaker and Township Manager Greg Primm — submitted letters of resignation to supervisors. Johnston intends to resign effective Aug....
Plum School District partners with therapists to serve those impacted by explosion tragedy
A few days ago, Erica Kuhn and Melissa Gionta-Oliver were strangers. Now the two therapists from Plum are spearheading efforts to provide an online database of mental health resources for the Plum Borough School District and community after the tragic house explosion Saturday in the borough’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood. The...
Therapy dogs provide comfort in Plum’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood
Gloria Frick says everyone knows the power dogs can have on a person’s well-being. On Thursday, Frick and other members of the Alliance of Therapy Dogs brought some four-legged comfort to Ridge Top Park in Plum’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood, where six people were killed in a home explosion Saturday. Those...
Rustic Ridge residents meet with Plum officials as community begins to recover
Plum, Allegheny County and American Red Cross personnel shared resources to help residents in the borough’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood during a meeting Thursday night, in the wake of a house explosion in the neighborhood Saturday that killed six. “We want you to know that there’s a large community here that’s...
Vandergrift man sentenced to federal prison for robbing North Apollo bank in 2021
A Vandergrift man has been sentenced to serve nearly five years in a federal prison after he was convicted of robbing a North Apollo bank. Bradley Mondi, 36, was ordered by U.S. District Judge William S. Stickman IV to spend 57 months in prison followed by three years of supervised...
Murrysville business offers free cleaning services to families affected by Plum explosion
A Murrysville business has stepped forward to help families recovering from Saturday’s deadly explosion and fire in Plum. Murrysville Cleaners is offering free cleaning services to residents of the affected Rustic Ridge neighborhood, including free pickup and delivery of clothing. The offer is good through the end of September. “We...
Plum youth football community mourns, honors Keegan ClontzVideo
Keegan Clontz’s No. 40 football jersey hung from one of the goalposts during the Plum Little Mustangs 12U scrimmage Wednesday evening against Franklin Regional at the Plum Midget Football Association fields along Ross Hollow Road. His initials also were painted on the field at the 40-yard line. They were two...
Felony charge dropped against Arnold woman accused of fatally shooting dog in June
A felony charge filed against an Arnold woman accused of shooting her dog to death in June has been dropped. Arnold police charged Susan Mullenax, 49, of Alcoa Drive on June 11 with a felony count of aggravated cruelty to animals. She was detained for a day in the Westmoreland...
Gathering to celebrate life of Plum blast victim Kevin Sebunia set for Sunday
A gathering to celebrate the life of one of the six people who died in last week’s house explosion in Plum will be held Sunday afternoon. Family and friends of Kevin Sebunia, 55, will gather from 1 to 8 p.m. at Larry Mills Park to share photos, stories and messages...
Peoples mum about possible natural gas odor in Rustic Ridge prior to house explosion
Officials at Peoples Natural Gas Co. on Thursday would not say whether they had received reports of natural gas odors in Plum’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood in the days before a fatal house explosion. “It wouldn’t be appropriate for us to share any information on that front, because this is all...
Remembering soccer/hockey dad who died in Plum explosion: Paul Oravitz’s heart ‘was always in the right place’
Paul Oravitz insisted his friend should come. He had called Andy Zarroli, a neighbor and friend, the night before a St. Patrick’s Day beer crawl that Oravitz and others in their Rustic Ridge neighborhood were attending. Oravitz asked Zarroli if he was coming. “I said, ‘No, I don’t want to...
Gov. Shapiro orders DEP probe of Plum house explosion
Stating that he is “extremely concerned” after a house blew up in Plum over the weekend, killing six people and causing catastrophic damage, Gov. Josh Shapiro has broadened the probe into the disaster by ordering the state Department of Environmental Protection to launch an investigation. The governor’s directive was issued...
Burrell’s Huston Middle School isn’t getting air conditioning after bids came in too high
Students at Burrell School District’s Huston Middle School won’t be learning in air-conditioned classrooms any time soon. The school board Tuesday rejected bids to install air conditioning at the school. That’s because bids for the work, which was projected to cost about $1.2 million, came in at around $1.6 million....
Fire marshal finds no signs to link 5 Plum house explosions
Allegheny County’s top emergency management official confirmed Thursday that investigators have not uncovered any links among five house explosions in Plum since the mid-1990s, including the one Saturday that killed six people and decimated part of a subdivision. Emergency Services Chief Matt Brown, who is also the county fire marshal,...
East Deer zoning board recommends approval of 3 billboards; decision pending on a 4th
East Deer’s zoning hearing board found the township’s zoning ordinance is exclusionary regarding billboards and recommended, for now, approval of three of four billboards proposed by America First Enterprises. The board held a public hearing on America First Enterprises’ proposal for four billboards in the township June 29. The company,...
Millions in state funds sought for proposed development in Sharpsburg
Sharpsburg is seeking $3 million in state funds to develop infrastructure and create access for a proposed riverfront development. The Mosites Co., best known for its redevelopment of the East Liberty commercial corridor, wants to create housing, commercial and retail space along the Allegheny River from Sharpsburg to O’Hara. Sharpsburg...
The Stroller, Aug. 17, 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. Summer Celebration set Saturday in East Deer The East Deer Summer...
Extended weekend lane restrictions on Route 28 to start Thursday in Harmar
PennDOT’s extended weekendlong single-lane restrictions in both directions on Route 28 will begin Thursday in Harmar, near the structure over Barge Basin. Crews will perform expansion dam replacement work and approach roadway reconstruction according to the following schedule: • Northbound — Starting at 6 p.m. Thursday and running through 3...
No common links between Plum home explosions, gas company says
Peoples natural gas company officials said Wednesday there does not appear to be a common denominator linking last weekend’s fatal house explosion in Plum with four previous blasts in the borough since the mid-1990s. “At this point, there’s not any indication of any relationship,” said spokesman Nick Paradise, adding that...
Fox Chapel Area School District officials excited to start the school year
The halls of Fox Chapel Area School District schools soon will echo with young voices and the tread of new shoes as students and staff begin the new school year on Aug 29. And for those wondering, the last day of school for students is June 6, 2024. The district’s...
6th annual Officer Brian Shaw Memorial Scholarship Ride to draw 800-plus bikers
A charity motorcycle ride in memory of New Kensington police Officer Brian Shaw has grown into the largest of its kind in Western Pennsylvania. The event, scheduled to pull out of the Shrine Center in Harmar at 10 a.m. Saturday, is expected to draw more than 800 riders, organizers said....
