Valley News Dispatch category, Page 295

Businesses, volunteers, students and others stepped up in unexpected ways to help give Brackenridge police Chief Justin McIntire the funeral he deserves. From a free burial plot and vault to a horse-drawn funeral caisson, donations of goods and services for McIntire’s funeral stretch beyond the Alle-Kiski Valley. “The family is...

The process has begun to add Brackenridge police Chief Justin McIntire’s name and badge number to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. McIntire was killed Jan. 2 while on duty in Brackenridge pursuing a Duquesne man wanted for weapons-related parole violations and eluding police. The national memorial...

E.L. Swiklinski has lived 10 years along Cleveland Avenue in Brackenridge, a quiet street tucked on a hillside overlooking the Allegheny River. On Jan. 2, the maintenance worker had the day off from Trinity United Methodist Church and spent the afternoon pouring seed into his multiple bird feeders and offering...

Jamie Bock’s earliest memories of Justin McIntire are of him as a boy, running around and playing on Third Avenue in Brackenridge where he grew up. McIntire was 8 years old when he was given an “unofficial” role in Bock’s wedding to his wife, Jennifer, on April 27, 1985. He...

Plum’s four volunteer fire departments were out of service for about six hours Tuesday because of a lapse in insurance coverage. The Holiday Park, Logans Ferry, Renton and Unity departments went out of service at 2 p.m., according to Holiday Park Chief Jim Sims and Unity Vice President Morgan McIlrath....

Kiski Area School Board is seeking a new member after the recent resignation of director Bertram Gardner. Gardner resigned Monday, citing a busy schedule as his reason for stepping down, Kiski Area Superintendent Misty Slavic said. A board vacancy in Region II was announced Monday on the district’s Facebook page...

Westmoreland Community Action and Wesley Family Services are proposing to build a community park and garden in downtown New Kensington. As proposed, the park and garden would be on what currently are vacant lots along the northern side of 10th Street between Cherry and Spruce alleys, with Third Avenue running...

An online fundraiser for slain Brackenridge police Chief Justin McIntire has topped its $100,000 goal in just four days since it was first posted. People and businesses across the Alle-Kiski Valley have stepped up in a major way to help McIntire’s widow, Ashley, and his four children. Donations were nearing...

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. Cash bash to benefit St. Joseph High School St. Joseph High...

George Uhler boarded a yellow school bus at Valley High School mid-Monday, headed to pay his respects to fallen Brackenridge police Chief Justin McIntire. “It’s hard to understand life,” said Uhler of New Kensington. “But you have to honor someone that gave his life for us.” McIntire was gunned down...

The tragic death of Brackenridge police Chief Justin McIntire has reinforced the bonds of the Alle-Kiski Valley community through mourning, cohesion and charity. That spirit will continue Monday when a dinner is held for local law enforcement officers and others from across the state who are traveling to New Kensington...

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. Career advice available Wednesday at Vandergrift library Vandergrift Public Library and...

Crews battled a fire Sunday evening at a multi-unit apartment building in the Natrona Heights section of Harrison. One unit was occupied, but no injuries were reported. Hilltop Hose Company responded to the two-alarm fire at 1257 Eighth Ave., which ignited about 5:50 p.m. Hilltop Chief Jeff Balog said firefighters...

A Penn Hills native is pouring her passion for art into her Oakmont business, one glass at a time. Amanda Lee, 42, of Oakmont has been determined to carve out a career in art since she could hold a crayon. But not everyone shared her enthusiasm. “My dad was a...

Editor’s note: This is part one of a two-part series. Check back next Sunday for part two. High schools in the Alle-Kiski Valley have all kinds of names for all kinds of reasons. There’s topography, people, a fruit and even a popular song. That’s right … a school was named...

Arnold No. 1 fire department is examining its finances after removing its chief and accusing him of misuse of funds, the department’s president said Friday. Brian Gouza was removed as chief effective Dec. 26 and is no longer a member of the fire department, President Al Colelli said. Gouza has...

When the armed man police were seeking for more than a day ran past Brackenridge police Chief Justin McIntire’s cruiser Monday afternoon, he reacted the same way most law enforcement officers would in that situation. McIntire was aware the suspect on the loose in his town likely was armed —...

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. Drive-through food distribution set Tuesday at Pittsburgh Mills Allegheny Valley Association...

Kiski Township police charged a man with six felony counts after he was accused of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 13. Wayne Lawrence Birch Jr., 53, of Hazel Drive faces felony counts of aggravated indecent assault of a child, aggravated indecent assault of a child under the...

Organizers said they raised thousands of dollars for the family of fallen Brackenridge police Chief Justin McIntire during a roadside collection Saturday. Hosted by Pioneer Hose Company of Brackenridge and the Harrison Police Department, more than a dozen volunteers collected donations from passersby on Freeport Road at stops near Morgan...

Plum Council is expected to vote Monday on plans for a new Sheetz on Golden Mile Highway. The convenience store and gas station would be built along Presque Isle Drive at what is today Presque Isle Plaza. A Kings restaurant in the plaza closed in September. The building that housed...

Leechburg police charged a man with burglary and assault after his former girlfriend accused him of breaking into her house and then pushing her down a flight of steps. Donovan Gary Dwire, 30, of the 300 block of Market Street in Leechburg was charged with a felony count of burglary...

Harrison police have charged a home improvement contractor with half a dozen felony counts after two residents reported that they paid him money up front for work he never completed. Jason Raymond Mager, 46, of the 400 block of Ridge Avenue in Springdale faces two counts each of making false...