Valley News Dispatch category, Page 381
Son describes family chaos in Hyde Park man’s murder trial
Chaos is the word that 24-year-old Jeffrey Dakota Fondrk used to describe his upbringing. He told a Westmoreland County jury Tuesday how he would wear headphones and seclude himself in his bedroom and play video games while his parents abused alcohol and fought and argued nearly every day. “I tried...
Goats being used to clear brush, noxious plants at Firemen’s Memorial Park in Aspinwall
People along the walking trail of Firemen’s Memorial Park in Aspinwall may see some new landscapers hard at work. Borough officials are using goats to clear the hillside along the Allegheny River. Six of nature’s lawnmowers started their efforts Tuesday, June 21 and are expected to be in the park...
Gas line installation work to cause single-lane restriction on Route 1028 in West Deer through late July
Gas line installation work will begin Wednesday on Route 1028 (Bakerstown-Culmerville Road) in West Deer if weather permits, according to PennDOT. Crews from Peoples Gas will be doing the gas line work. There will be single-lane alternating traffic from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through late July on Bakerstown-Culmerville...
Arnold man faces felony charge in fatal shooting of friend’s dog
An Arnold man accused of shooting his friend’s dog told police the gun he was holding went off when another dog jumped on his arm and caused the trigger to be pulled. Lower Burrell police charged Nathan Duncan Brown, 22, of the 300 block of Murray Avenue with a felony...
Final leg of PA Hero Walk supporting veterans to march through region
Area residents can show their support for local veterans by greeting or joining members of the PA Hero Walk as they complete the final leg of their 14th annual trek across the state this weekend. The half-dozen veterans accompanied by two drivers started their trip at 8 a.m. June 12...
Highlands residents to see slight tax increase
Highlands School District residents will pay slightly more in property taxes in the coming school year. The board this week approved a $50 million budget that sees the tax rate climb from 24.88 mills to 25.13 mills. It is about a 1% bump. Lori Byron, the district’s executive director of...
Lower Burrell station to offer gas for $2.38 per gallon for 2 hours
If you’re lucky — and patient — you might be able to score some gasoline at almost half-price tomorrow in Lower Burrell. The BP gas station at Leechburg and Wildlife Lodge roads is partnering with a nonprofit to offer gasoline for $2.38 a gallon on Wednesday for about two hours...
The Stroller, June 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. Kennywood Slovak Day activities planned for July 18 The Western Pennsylvania Slovak...
Highlands Meals on Wheels to make its last delivery July 1
Dick Potter has been delivering food for the Highlands Meals on Wheels for more than three decades — about a third of his life. At 93, Potter reports three times a week to the kitchen at Citizens Hose firehall in Harrison to package food and hit the road for distribution...
Building the Valley: Salon marks 1st anniversary of bringing beauty to Tarentum’s revitalization
Decades of working as a hairdresser for national chain salons taught Traci Zinn a valuable lesson: If she ever had the chance to open her own shop, it wouldn’t be like any of the places she had worked. That opportunity came last year when Zinn, 55, decided to use money...
Vandergrift man accused by police of using juveniles, high school friends to cash fraudulent checks faces 15 felony charges
A Vandergrift man faces more than 30 charges, including 15 felonies, after investigators accused him of running a check-cashing scheme in Allegheny Township, Vandergrift and New Kensington. Robert Freeman III, 18, of the 200 block of Linden Street faces four counts each of felony forgery, access device counterfeiting and criminal...
Police: Obstructed stop sign contributes to Fawn crash that injures 1
An obstructed stop sign contributed to a two-vehicle crash in Fawn on Monday, according to township police Chief Tim Mayberry. The crash at Route 908 and Lardintown Road was reported about 3:45 p.m., according to Allegheny County 911. Mayberry said a pickup traveling north on Lardintown toward Route 908 collided...
Arnold eyes community grant money for fire engine, street paving
Street paving and a new fire engine are two uses of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds approved by Arnold Council. Council held its first required hearing to gather citizen input on uses for a federal allocation of $305,473, which, after subtracting $54,985 for redevelopment salaries and administration and $25,000...
State police say Tarentum woman turned over more than an ounce of crack cocaine during traffic stop
A Tarentum woman faces drug charges after a state trooper said she had more than an ounce of crack cocaine in her pocket during a traffic stop. Brittney Teyonia Ellibe, 31, of the 200 block of Allegheny Street was charged with a felony count of possession of drugs with the...
State police say Parks man tried to sell camping trailer he didn’t own
State police charged a Parks Township man with theft after, they say, he tried to sell a camping trailer that he didn’t own. Brandon John Krawczyk, 38, of the 1100 block of Laurel Point Lane faces two felony counts of theft by unlawful taking along with drug possession. Krawczyk is...
Kiski Township police say man choked woman, tried to cut her with steak knife
Kiski Township police said they arrested a man suspected of assault Sunday night on Florida Avenue. Police were called to a residence shortly after 8:30 p.m. for a report of a domestic assault. Officers said Shawn Haidze, 49, had attempted to choke a female victim and later tried to cut...
14th annual Ride Now for Autism motorcycle run set for July
Wicked Witches Bar & Grille in Harmar is gearing up for its 14th annual Ride Now for Autism motorcycle run in July. The charity ride attracts hundreds from across the country on a 100-mile ride to raise funds for the Autism Society of Pittsburgh. There are two to three stops,...
Arnold food truck event returning for 1st full year
A food truck event held once in Arnold late last year is coming back this month, with monthly dates scheduled through October. The first of five Arnold community events will be held from 3 to 9 p.m. June 26 in a lot at 1701 Fifth Ave. Future dates — all...
The Stroller, June 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. HOPE Center accepting donations for its SAF-T pet kennel The Alle-Kiski HOPE...
Faces of the Valley: Married firefighters share a passion for public service
Tamara and Bryan Baum are united in their love for firefighting — and for each other. The married couple from Washington Township are volunteer firefighters with Vandergrift Volunteer Fire Department No. 1. The Baums have served with the department for about 15 years, responding to the same fire calls when...
Corpus Christi festival in Tarentum brings back sawdust carpets
The Corpus Christi Celebration has been a Tarentum tradition since 1943, and the festival with colorful sawdust carpets returned Sunday after the pandemic caused a brief hiatus over the last two years. This year, hundreds participated in creating 17 religious artworks made out of dyed sawdust and laid out on...
Cheswick Volunteer Fire Company awaits state approval for merger
The Cheswick Volunteer Fire Company is coming close to finalizing its merger with the Allegheny Valley Fire Company. Once the state approves the merger, Cheswick will officially consolidate with Allegheny Valley, said Nino Pollino, president of the Cheswick department. The state requested documentation from the borough expressing its support of...
50 years ago, Hurricane Agnes left indelible mark
Floods came with living in Freeport. “You just knew it was inevitable,” said Jim Scott, who grew up in a house on First Street with Buffalo Creek at one end and the Allegheny River at the other. “If you lived there, you took the chance of having to deal with...
Lower Burrell residents urged to take survey on city parks
As part of a comprehensive plan for Lower Burrell’s parks, the city is asking residents to take an online survey on what facilities and activities they want to see in the city’s five parks. City parks include Braeview Fireman’s Park, Burrell Lake Park, Kotecki Memorial Park, Kinloch Fireman’s Park and...
New Kensington native’s new doughnut shop gives customers chance to customize treats
One’s imagination is the menu at a new doughnut shop in New Kensington. Customers of Lasko’s Little O’s can pick a glaze, choose toppings and select a drizzle to create a doughnut that maybe even Homer Simpson couldn’t dream up. “We’re like a Subway for doughnuts,” owner Mikey Lasko Sr....
