Valley News Dispatch category, Page 290
Tarentum man receives probation for child-related incidents
An Allegheny County judge sentenced a Tarentum man to five years of probation for incidents involving a child over a period of years. Craig Lombardi, 40, pleaded guilty Tuesday to three charges related to the assaults — corruption of minors, endangering the welfare of children and simple assault — in...
Downed tree causes delays, detours on Route 366 in New Kensington
A downed tree along Route 366 in New Kensington blocked traffic and knocked out power for a period from late Thursday afternoon until early Friday morning. A Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher said the incident happened about 5:45 p.m. Thursday. Route 366 was closed from Leechburg Road at Tarentum Bridge Road...
Indiana Township couple helped by Red Cross after house fire
An Indiana Township couple is being assisted by the American Red Cross after their home was heavily damage by fire Thursday afternoon. An Allegheny County fire marshal is investigating what caused the fire at 225 Indianola Drive around 12:15 p.m. No injuries were reported. The couple could not immediately be...
Incorrect, undated mail-in ballots won’t be counted in Westmoreland County
Westmoreland voters will have to take extra care to ensure mail-in ballots are properly dated before being submitted for the May 16 primary. The county’s elections board on Thursday voted to segregate and set aside returned mail ballots that are undated or include an incorrect date returned by Election Day....
Police say video from traffic cameras used to track down man accused of robbing Sheetz in Harrison
Harrison police say video from traffic cameras was used to catch a man accused of robbing the Sheetz on Freeport Road in January even though he tried to avoid being identified by removing the license plate of the vehicle he was driving. Richard Vogan, 40, of Pulaski, Lawrence County, was...
Residents can help ‘Stamp Out Hunger’ with help from U.S. Postal Service
The U.S. Postal Service is making it easy for people to join the fight against hunger. A Stamp Out Hunger campaign will take place May 13 in Blawnox and Sharpsburg where people can set out cereal, chicken soup, canned corn and other items for mail carriers to collect. Food will...
Police say missing Murrysville man back home
Murrysville police reported that a missing man last seen in the New Kensington area was back home on Friday morning. Michael Styslinger, 37, of Murrysville had not been seen or heard from since Monday, when someone gave him a ride to New Kensington, Murrysville police Sgt. Dan Cox said Thursday....
Lower Burrell eyes state program that aims to boost finances
The City of Lower Burrell isn’t in financial distress — nor is it headed that way — but city officials are considering applying for a program to stay proactive in their financial planning and management. Bethany Williams, a local government specialist from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development,...
New Kensington-Arnold elementary students create robot pets, learn coding at Digital Foundry
New Kensington-Arnold elementary students turned cardboard boxes into robotic animals over the course of an eight-week program at the Digital Foundry. A giraffe, a chameleon, a dragon and a capybara were among the animals a group of fourth and fifth grade students from Roy A. Hunt Elementary in Arnold created...
Fox Chapel Garden Club hosts Gardenfest May 13
Eight local gardening organizations plus local artisans will have plants and items for sale at the Fox Chapel Garden Club’s Gardenfest on May 13 at O’Hara Community Park from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The lineup of vendors includes: Toad Hollow Gardener — houseplants, daylilies, perennials Men’s Garden Club —...
Tarentum man who served prison time for child rape accused of racist tirades, threatening police
Five felony counts of ethnic intimidation are among the nearly two dozen charges a Tarentum man faces after, police say, he repeatedly screamed a string of racial slurs at his neighbors and then threatened to harm officers if they tried to arrest him. In addition to the ethnic intimidation charges,...
Burrell educators work to improve students’ learning experiences
The Burrell School District is working to implement new concepts to improve students’ learning experiences and better prepare them for their future careers. Melinda Kulick, technology integration coach for the district, said educators are collaborating to learn more about computational thinking, project-based learning and other practices, including redesigning the senior...
PennDOT announces Saturday traffic restrictions on New Kensington bridge
Traffic will be restricted on the New Kensington bridge on Saturdays beginning this weekend and lasting through early June, PennDOT announced Thursday. Traffic on the two-lane bridge will be limited to a single, alternating lane from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Saturday as part of a $24.6 million preservation...
Tarentum marks First Avenue, other roads for summer paving
Tarentum Council is eyeing a whopping paving list this year expected to cost nearly $540,000 which will include First Avenue, one of the busiest streets in the borough. A total of eight roads will be upgraded, with money coming from the borough’s capital fund and the liquid fuels account. First...
Former bank transformed into event venue in Leechburg
A busy couple is banking on making their latest business venture a success in Leechburg. Sarah and Shawn McGonagle, both 35, hold down steady jobs, Sarah as a Realtor and Shawn working in finance, and juggle the demands of raising four young children. They relocated from O’Hara to Leechburg last...
Sharpsburg parking ordinance updated, fines to go up next April
Parking at charging stations in Sharpsburg is now restricted just to electric vehicles, which may use the stations only while actively charging and for 15 minutes after completion. That is one of several parking ordinance changes that borough officials approved April 27. Other updates include metered parking lots changing from...
The Stroller, May 4, 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. Memorial Day events to be published The Valley News Dispatch is...
New Kensington-Arnold School District’s proposed 2023-24 budget contains no tax hike
New Kensington-Arnold School District property owners won’t pay more in real estate taxes as a result of next school year’s budget. The school board voted, 7-0, Tuesday night to pass a preliminary budget for the 2023-24 school year that includes no tax increase. Board members Eric Doutt and Jane Graham...
Penn Salt Museum to give glimpse of early life in Natrona
Natrona artist Bill Godfrey has long been nagged by the history of the 1850s-era Penn Salt row houses along Federal Street. “Oh, if these walls could talk,” he often tells people. Godfrey’s advocacy group, Natrona Comes Together, purchased the Gothic revival cottage at 34 Federal St. in 2012 and set...
Aspinwall fundraiser brings people to the borough; donations still being counted
A charitable fitness event brought more than 150 people into Aspinwall RiverTrail Park on April 29. Donations are still being tallied for the eighth annual Spin Your Wheels fundraiser for Riding for the Handicapped of Western PA, a group that works to assist disabled children through therapeutic horseback riding. The...
Portion of Saxonburg Road scheduled for 1-day closure
Motorists who travel along Saxonburg Road in Jefferson should allow extra time May 16 for a project that will close a portion of the road. Crews will be replacing a large cross-pipe between Green Manor Drive and Mushrush Road. The project is expected to take one day but work is...
Bishop Larry Kulick returns to hometown to emcee Hall of Fame ceremony in Leechburg
Organizers of the Leechburg Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony are set to honor three people for their outstanding contributions to the community. In its 18th year, the awards dinner is hosted by the Leechburg Area Community Association. This year’s inductees are Ian Coyle, Robin Patton and the Rev....
Pedestrian struck in Plum shopping center
A 77-year-old man was taken to a local hospital after being struck by a vehicle Tuesday afternoon in Plum. Emergency responders were called to the Holiday Park Shopping Center on Golden Mile Highway just before 1 p.m. They found the man who had been hit in the plaza’s parking lot....
Ducky Derby, food, fun highlight Trail Mix at O’Hara Community Park
It’s a mix of things, of course. Train rides and tattoos and even rubber ducks. The Fox Chapel District Association and the Pittsburgh North Optimist Foundation are hosting a family-friendly Trail Mix party May 18 from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at O’Hara Community Park. People can enjoy music, food and even...
The Stroller, May 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. Luncheon to benefit Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley The Hearts for...
