Valley News Dispatch category, Page 319
Harrison police investigate report of 13-year-old posing on TikTok with firearm; video taken down
A video of a Harrison teen posing with what appeared to be a firearm has been removed from the TikTok social media platform after police investigated a report about the incident, according to authorities. The 13-year-old boy from the Sheldon Park neighborhood actually was posing with a toy firearm, police...
Police: Remains of missing Frazer woman believed to be found in Armstrong County
The remains of a Frazer woman who went missing in September are believed to have been found, according to Allegheny County Police. Although a coroner has not formally identified the remains, a license plate number on a motorcycle that was found and reported by a hunter Monday on a hillside...
Harmar car dealership to host pet adoption event
As Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley operates at full capacity, a Harmar car dealership will host its first-ever adoption event this month with the hopes of getting all the animals to good homes. Shults Ford of Harmarville will hold the event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12, at...
Harrison man finds meaning in giving back through CVS workforce training program
Harrison resident Sean Ware is coming off the Thanksgiving holiday feeling even more motivated to help those in need. An Army veteran, Ware is associate manager of CVS Health’s Workforce Innovation Training Center (WITC) in Pittsburgh, where he works to assist veterans and people transitioning from poverty. “I’m thankful that...
‘A celebration of hope’ at St. Vladimir in Arnold a year after fire
Members of St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church in Arnold filed into the social hall along Kenneth Avenue on Sunday, filling the two dozen or so folding chairs to celebrate Divine Liturgy. It was a special day for parishioners of Arnold’s only Catholic church. Exactly one year prior, the 74-year-old building...
Lower Burrell detectives accuse man of selling cocaine during 2 undercover operations
A Washington Township man was accused of being a cocaine dealer after an undercover investigation by Lower Burrell police. Keith Brian Banichar, 32, of the 600 block of Edgewood Road was charged with four felony counts of possession of drugs with the intent to deliver and two counts of drug...
Woman accused of punching Tarentum officer faces felony charge
Tarentum police accused a woman of punching an officer in the back of the head while he was trying to arrest a man who was fighting outside a bar. Brianna Hooper, 24, of the 800 block of Kenneth Avenue in New Kensington was charged with a felony count of aggravated...
The Stroller, Dec. 5, 2022: 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. Tarentum to sponsor holiday light decorating contest Tarentum Recreation Board is...
Lower Burrell’s 1st Christmas parade in years is part of resurgence of holiday events
Lower Burrell is holding its first Christmas parade in recent memory Saturday, the day after a tree-lighting ceremony at Stewart Elementary School. The city has been hosting multiple parades annually with good turnouts, including a St. Patrick’s Day parade initiated by residents during the covid-19 pandemic. “We hope to build...
Domestic dispute in New Kensington leads to drug charge, 2 warrant arrests
A New Kensington man was arrested after officers responding to a call for a domestic incident said they found evidence of drug dealing in the home he shares with his mother. Aquay Omar Mitchell, 22, of the 1200 block of Taylor Avenue was charged with a felony count of possession...
Police: Arnold man arrested after parole agent spots stamp bags during home visit
Arnold police arrested a man after his parole officer reported she saw evidence of drug dealing when she visited his home, according to his arrest papers. Vernon Allan Daniels Jr., 34, of the 1900 block of Ridge Avenue was charged with three felony counts of possession with the intent to...
Harrison fitness studio looks to provide locals with customized training experience
Javon Thorpe and Kristen Rue of Tarentum want to provide their clientele with a friendly, personalized fitness training experience that larger gyms may not be able to provide. Thorpe, 28, and Rue, 39, made that their goal when opening Flexwork Fitness at 2418 Freeport Road in Harrison in February. Thorpe’s...
Building the Valley: Coffee shop debuts in Vandergrift on the heels of successful ‘sister’ site in Freeport
If you had to pick a day to hold the grand opening for a new shop serving up steaming hot cups of fresh-ground coffee, a cold blustery one might just be the ticket. The whipping wind sending light snow dancing through the streets of Vandergrift’s business district on Friday, Nov....
The Stroller, Dec. 4, 2022: 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. Kiski Area toy drive to aide Toys for Alle-Kiski Kids The...
Vandergrift Back When Holiday Extravaganza wows crowds through Sunday
The Vandergrift Back When Holiday Extravaganza kicked off Friday with a bang. Thousands of festival-goers lined Grant Avenue to watch more than 20 floats, costumed characters and the award-winning Kiski Area High School Marching Band. “It was great,” said Steve Broda, a member of the committee who helped organize the...
Despite U.S. loss, World Cup draws Western Pa. interest
Bars and casinos don’t typically draw big crowds during breakfast time on the weekends, but the World Cup provided an exception to the rule Saturday morning. Thousands of Western Pennsylvania soccer fans flocked to nearby hangouts to watch the U.S. team ultimately fall to the Netherlands, 3-1. “(Soccer fans) like...
New Kensington Christmas parade dazzles with dancers, fire engines, Santa and even (fake) snow
The forecast called for rain but there were snow flurries in New Kensington on Saturday for the annual Christmas parade. The guest of honor, Santa Claus, arrived atop a fire engine under a squall of huge white flakes — made of foam and sprayed from a nearby truck. Crowds lining...
Tree falls on person in Allegheny Township
A tree fell on a person Saturday afternoon in Allegheny Township, according to Westmoreland County 911. The incident happened about 1 p.m. in the 100 block of Lynn Lane, according to a county dispatcher. EMS responded, the dispatcher said. An Allegheny Township police officer on duty Saturday said only the...
Highlands National Honor Society students stuff a bus with toys for needy kids
Members of Highlands High School National Honor Society braved the rain on Saturday to collect presents for the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program. The group, led by teachers Mindy Eckenrod and Jordan Murdock, were scheduled to be part of the Harrison Recreation Committee Holiday Parade and persevered despite...
Leechburg, Parks Township to commission study on forming regional police department
Officials in Leechburg and Parks Township are considering creating a combined police department. Officials already have approved plans to commission a study with the state Department of Community and Economic Development to determine whether regionalization could cut costs and ultimately ensure 24/7 police coverage, said D.J. Zelczak, a Leechburg councilman...
New Kensington residents gather for Christmas tree lighting, mayor’s holiday dinner
New Kensington residents sang together before breaking bread together as the holiday season got underway in the city Friday night. Christie Sabulsky came to the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree for the first time with her children, Brayden, 9, and Brooklyn, 6. “I like when the community gets together,”...
The Stroller, Dec. 3, 2022: 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. Plum students and staff to conduct toy drive Students and staff...
Court hearing held for all 7 suspects in July shooting in New Kensington
A Westmoreland County judge said he will consider early next year requests to transfer to juvenile court four criminal homicide prosecutions in connection with the July fatal shooting of a man in New Kensington. All seven suspects accused in last summer’s alleged murder of 39-year-old Jason Raiford appeared in court...
Lower Valley Ambulance Service pleads for help to avert ‘financial crisis’
The Lower Valley Ambulance Service is pleading with local officials for financial aid so it can stay afloat — as fingers are being pointed about how much help they actually are receiving from an outside entity. With what he said are a lack of payments from patients being serviced and...
Trib honors employees on 25th anniversary of purchase from Gannett
Trib Total Media on Thursday marked the 25th anniversary of its acquisition of three newspapers from Gannett Publishing Co., including the Valley News Dispatch. The Trib took over ownership of the publications on Dec. 1, 1997. In addition to the Valley News Dispatch in Tarentum, Tribune-Review Publishing Co. acquired the...
