Valley News Dispatch category, Page 295
Cheswick man who pleaded guilty in 2020 to breaking infant’s legs arrested in FBI child sex sting
A Cheswick man who pleaded guilty in 2020 to assaulting an infant by breaking both of her legs and causing injuries to her face is accused of sending sexually explicit messages, photos and a video to an undercover agent pretending to be a 14-year-old girl on a social media site....
Police accuse man of assaulting Vandergrift woman, stealing her debit card, car
Vandergrift police accused a man of slapping his former girlfriend in the face and stealing her debit card and vehicle when she refused to give him $50. Ramon Juan Sims Jr., 26, formerly of Lincoln Avenue in Springdale but now homeless, was charged with a felony count of robbery along...
Manufacturing apprenticeships a boon to students, employers
When his pursuit of a mechanical engineering degree at Penn State New Kensington was derailed, Cameron Fouse turned to Plan B. “I tried machining for the first time and learned everything I could online,” said Fouse, 29, of Ford City. An entry-level job at Metplas Inc. in Harrison landed Fouse...
The Stroller, March 5, 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. Evening of chocolate to benefit Animal Protectors Animal Protectors of Allegheny...
West Deer firefighters respond to bedroom fire, heavy smoke at Poplar Street home
A home at 350 Poplar St. in West Deer sustained damage after a fire damaged a top-floor bedroom early Saturday. Firefighters from West Deer Volunteer Fire Company No. 3 said the fire started around 3 a.m., according to the company’s Facebook post. The cause of the fire was under investigation....
Multiple felony charges filed against Cheswick man accused of being serial shoplifter at Walmart
A Cheswick man with more than a dozen prior convictions for shoplifting faces multiple felony charges after security officers at the Walmart in the Pittsburgh Mills complex told police they tracked a series of thefts to him. Joseph William Zalin, 43, of the 1200 block of Linden Street was charged...
Woman accused of punching Allegheny Valley Hospital guard, biting second one arrested on felony charges
A New Kensington woman is accused of repeatedly punching an Allegheny Valley Hospital security guard in the head and biting another guard’s arm when they tried to calm her after she became combative in the emergency room, police said. Teresa Cox, 31, of the 1200 block of Kenneth Avenue was...
New Kensington woman accused of letting toddler eat pot-laced candy to stand trial
A New Kensington woman accused of letting her toddler become intoxicated by eating cannabis- laced candy has been ordered to stand trial on a felony charge. Kasey Lynne Condon, 31, of the 800 block of Franklin Street was charged Jan. 17 with felony child endangerment along with a count of reckless...
2nd annual ‘Restaurant Ramble’ features 10 downtown New Kensington eateries
An Allegheny Township man who took over a Lower Burrell pie business will be opening a storefront in New Kensington in time for the city’s second annual “Restaurant Ramble” this month. Jim Rennick, owner of Farm House Fresh, said a mini cheesecake will be his contribution to the small bites...
The Stroller, March 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. Leechburg HS students craft donor board for foundation Students at Leechburg...
Glass show at New Kensington Quality Inn draws hundreds for ‘treasure hunt’
Susan Conforti of Green Tree stopped counting her collection of Depression-era wine glasses at 120. As she gleefully perused the offerings Saturday at the 46th annual Depression Glass and Pottery Show at the Quality Inn in New Kensington, her husband tagged along behind and playfully shook his head. “I just...
Feds announce 57 arrests in Operation Lake Effect bust of fentanyl, meth ring
An investigation that stretched over four years and across the country resulted in the arrests of 57 people, the seizure of more than 673 pounds of fentanyl-laced faked prescription pills and more than 400 pounds of methamphetamine, the acting U.S. Attorney in Pittsburgh announced Friday. “Nearly every family in Western...
Greensburg man accused of sexually assaulting child in New Kensington faces felony charges
A 24-year-old Greensburg man has been accused of sexually assaulting a child in New Kensington starting when he was 17 years old and the child was 9, according to investigators. Nicholas Thomas Sales, 24, of the 400 block of South Urania Avenue was charged with two felony counts each of...
Vandergrift takes another step in its efforts to fight blight in the borough
When dealing with blighted properties, the answer is almost always addition by subtraction. That scene is playing out in Vandergrift, where officials are making progress in the fight against blight. Two dilapidated and long-abandoned buildings, at 109 and 111 Washington Ave., were reduced to piles of debris after demolition crews...
Westmoreland inmate assault tied to Arnold fatal shooting, detectives say
A Wilkinsburg man was arraigned Wednesday after authorities said he beat an inmate at the Westmoreland County Prison for testifying against a man convicted of a 2020 Arnold fatal shooting, according to court papers. County detectives said Shawnti Shifflett, 27, attacked the fellow prisoner at the Hempfield lockup on Feb....
The Stroller, March 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. Ride for the Fallen Officers planned March 11 The Ride for...
Arnold fire department accuses former chief of misusing funds
The former chief of Arnold’s No. 1 fire department is facing a civil claim against him by the department and is the subject of a criminal investigation. In a civil complaint filed with New Kensington District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr., the department says Brian Gouza owes $1,525 for advance...
Lower Burrell man accused of intentionally crashing into vehicle during road rage incident
Lower Burrell police arrested a man after a motorist accused him of purposely crashing into his vehicle during a road rage incident and then fleeing, according to authorities. Gregory Thomas Costanzo, 60, of the 100 block of Caribou Circle in Lower Burrell was charged with a felony count of aggravated...
Pittsburgh’s Prime Stage heads to Narnia with ‘Lion, Witch & the Wardrobe’
Rehearsals for Prime Stage Theatre’s production of “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” are about to enter what stage manager Britt Kolek said is the best but also the most difficult phase. “We’re starting the really heavily technical rehearsals,” said Kolek, 24, of Freeport, who has been working at...
Highlands administrators say focus on Workforce Readiness sets up all students for success
Curriculum changes in the Highlands School District are intended to expose students, as young as kindergartners, to options that will excite and prepare them for success after high school — whether that means college, trade school or employment. A Career and Workforce Readiness Program is moving forward for all grade...
Police: New Kensington woman arrested after 1-year-old tests positive for drugs
A New Kensington woman was arrested after traces of cocaine, marijuana and prescription drugs were found in her 1-year-old daughter’s urine, according to investigators. Caroline Willa Cramer, 33, of Fifth Avenue was charged with a felony count of endangering the welfare of children. She is being detained in the Westmoreland...
‘Operation Lake Effect’ drug raids sweep through the Alle-Kiski ValleyVideo
FBI agents, assisted by state and local police, conducted a wide-ranging series of drug raids in the Alle-Kiski Valley early Thursday. According to residents who witnessed some of the raids, police activity was seen in the hours just before and after dawn in Arnold, Gilpin, New Kensington, Tarentum, Upper Burrell...
West Deer police say convict out on probation had 2 pistols, 1,300 rounds of ammo, pot inside home
A convicted felon who was arrested for violating his probation faces additional charges after West Deer police said they found two pistols, more than 1,300 rounds of ammunition and marijuana in his house. Shawn Dewayne Daniels, 41, of the 2400 block of Saxonburg Boulevard in West Deer was charged with...
Harrison emergency crews lauded for saving 2 lives
Though his crew is in the business of saving lives, Citizens Hose EMS Director Jim Erb was stunned when they had the chance to rescue two Harrison residents within a month. Quick action by Harrison police and Citizens Hose Fire-Rescue-EMS helped save a woman’s life during a cardiac incident at...
The Stroller, March 2, 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. Dinner to benefit St. Joseph HS musical St. Joseph High School,...
