Valley News Dispatch category, Page 359
Faces of the Valley: Volunteer Janet Purdie helps grow BridgePoint Church in Tarentum
When the pandemic forced Janet Purdie’s layoff from her full-time job at Leeds in New Kensington, it was a sure bet she wasn’t going to sit around the house. A seven-year parishioner at BridgePoint Church in Tarentum, Purdie ramped up her volunteer efforts at the site along East Ninth Avenue...
West Deer woman accused of beating, sexually assaulting 7-year-old girl faces multiple felony charges
A West Deer woman faces multiple felony charges after a girl told authorities she was beaten and sexually assaulted by the woman multiple times. Kerren Amanda Morra, 28, of Hampshire Lane was charged with two counts of aggravated indecent assault and counts of unlawful contact with a minor and endangering...
Harrison commissioners to vote on police chief’s retirement and rehiring
The question of whether Harrison police Chief Michael Klein can retire later this year and be rehired on a part-time basis will be a topic for discussion by the township commissioners Monday. The board last month held off on voting whether to allow Klein to retire Oct. 28 and return...
New Kensington ‘pig-nic’ to benefit Frazer-based mini-pig rescue
Pigs will be guests, not food, at an upcoming picnic in New Kensington. The first-time Summer Pig-nic will benefit a rescue for miniature pigs in Frazer. The vegan affair at the Voodoo Brewing New Kensington Pub will feature food from Veggies N’At and Sweet Alchemy, a vegan bake shop. Tickets...
Professional wrestling training school coming to downtown New Kensington
Michael Young wants to show that there’s more to professional wrestling than what many people think. Young, 27, a Lower Burrell native living in Bloomfield, is the current singles champion for Pittsburgh-based Enjoy Wrestling, where he’s known as MV Young. He is opening a wrestling school, Technique 2 Train Pittsburgh,...
Harrison library reveals ‘Secrets of the Allegheny River,’ including long-popular Jack’s Island
Growing up in 1940s Natrona, Mary Ann Debor didn’t have to look far for a perfect riverfront getaway. Her family was among a dozen who built wooden cabins on Jack’s Island, an idyllic retreat plopped in the middle of the Allegheny River between Harrison and Lower Burrell. “We had a...
Carnegie man identified as suspect in theft of pickup from Sheetz in New Kensington
Police say they used DNA and surveillance video to identify a man accused of stealing a pickup from the Sheetz parking lot on Freeport Street in New Kensington last year. New Kensington police charged Michael Joseph Spears, 29, of Carnegie on Wednesday with a felony count of theft. In a...
Kinloch Meals on Wheels to close; elderly clients to lose a meal a week
A lack of volunteers, mainly the kitchen manager, is causing the closure of the Kinloch Meals on Wheels. The program will shut down July 29. Kinloch delivers meals on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to 27 clients, mostly elderly or disabled residents, in the Kinloch section of Lower Burrell and parts...
The Stroller, July 21, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15068. Please include a daytime telephone number. Fun on Wheels to be featured at Leechburg events Leechburg Volunteer Fire...
Indiana Township garage a family affair for 74 years
Three brothers are continuing the legacy of their family-owned automotive repair business in Indiana Township. Kepple’s Garage, co-owned by Wilbur, Howard and Chuck Kepple, celebrates 74 years of repairing vehicles and equipment this year. The garage, founded by their late parents, Edna and John Kepple, opened in 1948. “I learned...
Pickup truck ends up in the Allegheny River from Harmar boat ramp, no one hurt
Harmar police are investigating after a pickup ended up submerged in the Allegheny River on Wednesday evening. Allegheny County dispatchers said no injuries were reported in connection with the incident at the boat ramp along the 2500 block of Wenzel Drive. Two men went boating late that afternoon when things...
Dog park construction underway at Harrison Hills Park
Ground has been broken for the off-leash dog park planned at Harrison Hills. The 1.3-acre site will sit along Woodchuck Drive, across from Laurel Shelter in the upper portion of the park. Allegheny County landscape architect Joel Perkovich said the open field is a perfect spot to let dogs of...
New Kensington man accused of attacking caregiver with shovel handle
A New Kensington man is accused of assaulting a caregiver with the cut-off handle of a shovel. Police charged Marvin Tyree Hall, 36, of Constitution Boulevard with two felony counts of aggravated assault and a misdemeanor count of simple assault. Police said the assault was reported shortly after 11 a.m....
New Kensington native to patrol Ohio River as part of Fish & Boat Commission’s newest officer class
Tyler Balla knew he wanted a career in law enforcement when he was growing up in New Kensington. “My uncle was a police officer in St. Petersburg, Fla., and he was my buddy,” Balla said. “Every time he’d come home, he’d always tell law enforcement stories. He passed away from...
Another closing of Logans Ferry Road in Plum to detour thousands for up to 3 months
Work to repair a landslide will close a section of Logans Ferry Road in Plum for up to three months. The stretch between Entrance Drive and Columbia Road, near the border of Plum and New Kensington, tentatively is scheduled to close beginning Aug. 2. PennDOT spokesman Steve Cowan said, if...
Police: Pair face felony charge for stabbing each other with fork during dispute
Two people from Springdale were charged with a felony after each of them told police the other person stabbed them with a fork. Gary Joseph Turner, 64, and Theresa Marie Smiesko, 50, both of the 600 block of Lincoln Avenue, were charged with a felony count of aggravated assault in...
Remember When: Fur trader Peter Chartier laid roots in Alle-Kiski Valley in 1700s
Business owners dream of having a captive audience for their products. But in the mid-18th century, a businessman had the Alle-Kiski Valley and much of Western Pennsylvania to himself. Pierre (Peter) Chartier was a trapper who set up a fur trading post in 1734 near where Chartiers Run empties into...
4th annual Officer Brian Shaw Foundation Concert Series to rock Lower Burrell
The fourth annual Officer Brian Shaw Foundation Concert Series will feature six live bands and more than 140 auction baskets Saturday at Mogie’s Irish Pub in Lower Burrell. Admission is $10 for the event, which runs from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Shaw, of Lower Burrell, was a New Kensington...
Lower Burrell couple charged with fraud over insurance claim on jewelry
A Lower Burrell couple face fraud charges after police say they filed an insurance claim for gold and diamond jewelry and a Louis Vuitton handbag they reported stolen after selling the items. William Leonard Klems II, 41, and Kaylyn Leeann Klems, 31, of the 100 block of Chippawa Drive, each...
Firefighters battle house blaze in Washington Township
No injuries were reported in a house fire Wednesday morning in Washington Township. Fire crews responded about 7:30 a.m. to a home in the 100 block of Hope Hollow Road. Clayton Murphy, Washington Township fire chief, confirmed a man and a dog were not at home when the blaze broke...
The Stroller, July 20, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15068. Please include a daytime telephone number. Performers needed for annual Casino Theater Christmas show The Casino Theater in...
House fire under investigation in Arnold
An Arnold house was unoccupied when it was damaged by fire Tuesday afternoon. The fire at 1432 Third Ave. was reported at 5:20 p.m., according to Westmoreland County 911 and Arnold No. 1 fire Chief Brian Gouza. The house is at the rear of the lot, abutting Cherry Alley. Units...
Chimney fire shuts down New Kensington coffee shop
No serious damage was caused by a chimney fire Tuesday at a coffee shop in downtown New Kensington. Firefighters responded to the call at Steel Cup Coffee Roasters on 10th Street about 11 a.m., fire Chief Ed Saliba Jr. said. Business owner Doug Pinto said he was roasting coffee when...
Police: 1 of 2 women scuffling charged with felony after punching cop trying to break them up
A New Kensington police officer who was trying to break up a fight between two women has charged one of them with felony aggravated assault after she began punching him in the head. Katelyn Marie Conrad, 27, of the 1800 block of Leishman Avenue also faces charges of simple assault...
Kiski Area hires new director of student support services
Kiski Area School District has created a new full-time position to help serve the district’s special education and gifted programs. Darren Kennedy was hired as the district’s new director of student support services at a salary of $115,000. He started in the position July 1 and will serve students on...
