Valley News Dispatch category, Page 389
Closing arguments expected in retrial of Allegheny Township man accused of 6 rapes
The Allegheny Township man who prosecutors say raped and sexually assaulted six women dating back to the early 2000s told a Westmoreland County jury Thursday he is not guilty of the allegations. Eric Wright, 50, testified during the third day of his trial . He denied having any improper sexual...
Successful growth of baby mussels in Kiski River indicates continued health of waterways
Several years ago, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy biologists documented the first freshwater mussels — eight species in all — found in the Kiski River in over a century. Then, last summer, the biologists implanted some baby mussels in concrete silos in the Kiski, as well as a dozen other waterways, to...
Highlands educational equity policy gets initial approval; another vote needed to finalize
The Highlands School Board on Tuesday gave its initial approval to a controversial educational equity measure. The educational equity measure, opposed by most of the residents who commented on the proposal, is recommended by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association. The measure now requires a second reading that, under school district...
The Stroller, April 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. Please include a daytime telephone number. Free paper shredding event planned at Clearview Federal Credit Union A free paper shredding event and electronics collection will be hosted...
Trial for Vandergrift woman accused in killing of Greensburg cousin to begin Thursday
Testimony in the murder trial of a Vandergrift woman accused in the 2018 shooting death of her cousin is expected to begin Thursday morning. A jury was seated Wednesday in Westmoreland County to hear evidence in the case against Ashley Croft. Prosecutors claim Croft, 38, shot and killed her 31-year-old...
Taqueria El Pastorcito opening with authentic Mexican food in New Kensington
A mariachi band will perform Sunday in downtown New Kensington as part of the opening of the city’s newest restaurant. Taqueria El Pastorcito will be open from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday, with the band playing for a couple of hours in the mid-afternoon, owner and chef Jose Tecuanhuehue said....
Sinkhole on Saxonburg Boulevard reduces stretch in West Deer to single lane
Part of Saxonburg Boulevard in West Deer is reduced to a single lane after a large sinkhole opened between Russellton-Dorseyville Road and McClure Road. West Deer police posted on Facebook Monday morning cautioning motorists to be careful driving on Saxonburg Boulevard in that area. The sinkhole is in the northbound...
Former Citizens Bank building in downtown New Kensington sold at auction
The largest office building in downtown New Kensington was successfully sold through an online auction. The winning bidder for the building at 901 Fifth Ave., which until November housed a Citizens Bank branch, is from California, said James Kelly, a managing member of KeWe New Kensington, which has owned the...
Surveillance leads to Arnold man’s arrest; heroin, cocaine seized
Police arrested an Arnold man they had under surveillance because of multiple reports of drug dealing at his apartment and confiscated nearly 6 ounces of cocaine and an ounce of heroin. Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli announced this week that agents from her office, the state Attorney General’s Office...
West Leechburg halts consideration of merger with Allegheny Township
West Leechburg officials have decided not to pursue a merger with Allegheny Township. The decision comes after council reviewed the study conducted by the state Department of Economic and Community Development. The study looked at the impact of consolidation. “It was very nonspecific, and it didn’t show it would be...
The Stroller, April 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. Please include a daytime telephone number. Spring bird hike planned at Harrison Hills Park Friends of Harrison Hills Park will sponsor a spring Bird Hike from 8:30...
Herb Society returns to Beechwood Farms in Fox Chapel with spring sale after pandemic-related break
Members of the Western PA Unit of the Herb Society of America will be back in action for their annual spring plant sale after a two-year covid-related break. “After two years with no sale, it will be great to see and talk with friends and gardeners once again,” club member...
Remember When: Verona inventor was ahead of the curve on land, sea and air in early 1900s
The Alle-Kiski Valley has been blessed with great inventors over the years. Among them is Natrona’s Samuel Kier, inventor of the oil-based lamps that illuminated homes and businesses before the incandescent light bulb came along. Another was New Kensington’s Stephanie Kwolek, a chemist at DuPont who invented Kevlar, the material...
Fox Chapel to spend more than $1 million to rebuild 10 roads this year
Ten Fox Chapel roads are expected to be rebuilt this year as part of the borough’s road paving program. Council unanimously voted April 18 to award a $1.369 million contract to Wampum-based Youngblood Paving. Borough Manager Gary Koehler said the company was the lowest of four bidders and has done...
Fox Chapel graphic designer proposes alternatives to borough’s historic logo and street signs
Fox Chapel resident Bill Kolano believes his town has an image problem. Specifically, the image that serves as the borough’s logo, on street signs and newsletter. “It’s time for a refresh,” the longtime graphic designer told council at its April 18 meeting. Kolano, president of Kolano Design, presented a couple...
First of 6 accusers testifies as rape trial of Allegheny Township man begins
A Westmoreland County prosecutor on Tuesday told jurors the case against an Allegheny Township man charged with rape and sexual assault based on allegations from six accusers was “messy.” “This is a case of a sexual predator who hid in secret for more than a decade who was brought down...
Arnold woman charged with abusing puppy
An Arnold woman was arrested on Sunday after a police officer investigating a complaint at her home said he witnessed her throw a puppy across a room. Brittney Kinsey, 20, of the 1400 block of Fourth Avenue, was charged with a felony count of aggravated cruelty to animals and torture...
Leechburg Area gets $38K grant for additional social, emotional and mental health services
Leechburg Area School District Superintendent Tiffany Nix is fully aware of the challenges facing students in this era of the covid pandemic. At a school board meeting last week, she related the story of a student having a mental and emotional breakdown during class. “It is real, and it is...
The Stroller, April 19, 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. Please include a daytime telephone number. Alle-Kiski Sports Hall of Fame tickets on sale Alle-Kiski Valley Sports Hall of Fame will have its 51st induction banquet at...
Police: Sting in Arnold leads to arrest of Homestead man with 2 ounces of cocaine
A man from Homestead faces felony drug dealing charges after Arnold police and narcotics agents said they arrested him with more than 2 ounces of cocaine in his vehicle. Marco Dane Crowe, 34, 0f the 100 block of West 10th Avenue, was charged with two felony counts of possession of...
Building the Valley: Barnyard Coffee & Creamery brings ice cream and more to No Offseason Sports complex in Russellton
What started as a vision for an ice cream shop evolved into a coffee shop and cafe, Barnyard Coffee & Creamery, offering experimental taste twists at the No Offseason Sports complex in Russellton. Barnyard owner Holly Johnston, a Richland resident and Shaler native, worked for years as a sales rep...
West Penn crew replacing pole hits Peoples natural gas line in New Kensington
A West Penn Power crew drilling to place a new utility pole struck a natural gas line along Tarentum Bridge Road on Monday, causing a leak. Westmoreland County 911 said the incident was reported shortly after 8 a.m. It happened at the entrance to Riverview Plaza in front of Donut...
Leechburg High School baseball field to remain unplayable rest of season
The Leechburg High School baseball team will not be able to play games on its home turf for the rest of the season. The announcement came during an April 13 school board meeting as the school’s solicitor Amy Schrempf gave a status update on the condition of the field, which...
Jury seated in retrial of Allegheny Township man accused of multiple rapes
A Westmoreland County jury was seated Monday to hear evidence in the retrial of an Allegheny Township man accused of the rape and sexual assault of six women. Prosecutors claim Eric Wright, 50, was a serial rapist who committed crimes for nearly two decades. Originally charged with more than 50...
Police: Pair arrested in Upper Burrell; crystal meth, $15K, stolen gun confiscated from home
Two people arrested at an Upper Burrell home face multiple felony drug and weapons charges after police said they found more than 2 ounces of crystal meth, a stolen handgun and other evidence of drug dealing during a search of the home. Djuan “Chiz” Osceola Williams, 42, of the 7000...
