Valley News Dispatch category, Page 404
Hometown Heroes banner program launches in Blawnox
After its inaugural program sold out, Blawnox has relaunched the sale of Hometown Hero banners to salute residents who served in the military. Anyone interested in honoring a loved one with an 18-by-38-inch banner can apply on the borough’s website. Cost is $110. “We have people asking for them all...
Feisty Ukrainian resistance explained by Pitt scholars
As the world watches Ukrainian soldiers and citizens fight off a brutal and bloody invasion by Russia, scholars at the University of Pittsburgh are providing answers to what’s behind Ukraine’s feisty resistance and more. Pitt’s Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies, with nearly 90 affiliated faculty members, will...
Hundreds celebrate St. Patrick’s Day early at New Kensington pub crawl
Green beer, Irish whiskey, and everything in between flowed a week early in New Kensington on Saturday as hundreds turned out for the Pre-Patty’s Pub Crawl event that saw patrons shuttled from bar to bar, decked out in as much green as possible. The event was put together by the...
New Kensington-Arnold looking for monitors to help with substitute shortage
New Kensington-Arnold School District is seeking classroom monitors to help with a shortage of substitute teachers, Superintendent Chris Sefcheck said. Gov. Tom Wolf signed Act 91 into law in December to address the staffing shortage. Under the pilot program, monitors are allowed to oversee classrooms but not allowed to instruct...
The Stroller, March 5, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your community Easter Egg hunts, breakfasts with the Easter Bunny 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. Evening of chocolate to benefit Animal Protectors Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley will host, “Chocolate...
Contractor charged after Kiski Township woman accuses him of cashing $16K check, failing to finish work
Kiski Township police filed felony charges against a contractor after a property owner accused him of cashing a $16,000 check for work in August 2020 and not completing the project. David Lynn Patton, 67, of Limestone Township, Clarion County, was charged with felony counts of theft by deception and failing...
Motorcyclist, 45, critically injured in 2-vehicle crash in Harrison
A motorcyclist was critically injured Friday when his bike collided with the rear of an SUV near the Walmart plaza off Freeport Road, according to Allegheny County Police. The crash occurred at the intersection of Freeport Road and Evergreen Drive, county police said. First responders found the 45-year-old motorcyclist suffered...
Taco Bell in Allegheny Township on schedule to open this month
Construction continues on a Taco Bell in Allegheny Township, expected to open this month at intersection of Hyde Park Road at Route 56. Kevin Kupniewsk, senior director of operations for Charter Foods/Taco Bell, KFC, Long John Silvers and Pizza Hut, confirmed this week that the project is on schedule. An...
Air Force sergeant from Apollo surprised with Penguins tickets from Burrell students
Ricky Libengood, who has served in the Air Force since 1999, was fortunate to return home to Apollo from Saudi Arabia in January. But the chance to enjoy family and friends wasn’t the only gift he received when he got home. Students from Burrell High School’s National Honor Society showed...
Alle-Kiski Valley fire companies awarded state grants for equipment, training
Summit Hose firefighters will be equipped with new portable radios thanks to a state grant awarded this month. Chief Josh Fox said his department is expected to receive $15,000 through the state fire commissioner’s office. “We’ll use it to cover several new radios to replace ones that are now old...
The Stroller, March 4, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your events, club meetings and fundraisers for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Irish celebration to raise funds for recovery ministry Addiction Recovery Ministry will host an Irish celebration event at 4:30 p.m. March 27...
Gas prices continue climb on local and national level
Barb Constant of Plum didn’t mince words about gas prices Thursday, which skyrocketed 12 cents to $3.82 a gallon, up from $3.70, across the Pittsburgh region. “It sucks, but there’s nothing we can do about it,” Constant said as she fueled her car at the Sheetz station on Pittsburgh Street...
Part of Sarver Road in Buffalo Township closed Thursday, no reopening date given
PennDOT closed a portion of Sarver Road in Buffalo Township on Thursday. The closure is at the intersection Sarver Road and Monroe Road. A detour has been posted using Route 356 (South/North Pike Road). The detour is about 9 miles long. PennDOT officials said there is no estimated time for...
Gas prices continue climb on local and national level
Barb Constant of Plum didn’t mince words about gas prices Thursday, which skyrocketed 12 cents to $3.82 a gallon, up from $3.70, across the Pittsburgh region. “It sucks, but there’s nothing we can do about it,” Constant said as she fueled her car at the Sheetz gas station on Pittsburgh...
Police file felony charges against West Deer man involved in standoff, house fire
A West Deer man was charged with felony aggravated assault after police accused him of shooting fireworks at officers before barricading himself inside his home and setting it on fire. William J. Bryar, 54, also faces charges of reckless endangerment and arson in connection with an incident at his home...
Arnold to consider proposal for gas station, convenience store on Freeport Road
Arnold Council will consider a proposal for the redevelopment of a former gas station along Freeport Road. Mike Thakkar of Yashvi Oil said he wants to open a gas station and convenience store at 1610 Freeport Road. The property is between Woodberry Road and Warren Avenue. The property and its...
Valley freshman Sidnie Shirey won’t let disability keep her from swimming, inspiring othersVideo
Sidnie Shirey stands on the pool deck beside the starting block. She is confident. She dives in the water and her core muscles and legs go to work, helping her cut through the water. She is strong. As she approaches the wall to make each turn, she hopes to gain...
New Kensington police investigating fights at Valley High School
New Kensington police are investigating two fights that broke out at Valley High School on Wednesday, police Chief Bob Deringer said. According to New Kensington-Arnold Superintendent Chris Sefcheck, about 10 girls got into a shouting match that escalated into a fight Wednesday in the hallway outside the cafeteria and near...
Arnold man rejects, then accepts, plea deal for sexual assault of teen
An Arnold man will serve up to three years in prison for the sexual assault of a girl in her mid-teens. Marcel Lynne Hayes, 31, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one felony count as part of a plea bargain. Hayes initially rejected the deal but ultimately accepted after a Westmoreland County...
The Stroller, March 3, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your events, club meetings and fundraisers for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Bowlers needed for party to benefit Animal Protectors The Pins for Pets bowling party to benefit Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley will...
Talks at home, school can help children process Ukraine war images, information
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been dubbed the TikTok war by some, as videos of the violence have surfaced across that and other social media platforms favored by many of today’s youths. “It makes it more real for them, not just some distant event,” said Jaime Rininger, who teaches geography...
‘Smashing bots’: High schools battle in regional robotics competition
Riley Davison’s Wednesday was filled with excitement for one reason: “smashing bots.” The Pine-Richland senior was among dozens of high school students who crowded in Robert Morris University’s John Jay Center for the 17th annual BotsIQ, a regional competition in which student-made robots fight each other gladiator-style. In one corner,...
Vandergrift resident pours creativity into new candle and craft business
Stuck at home for long stretches during the pandemic, Shannon Gourley picked up the craft of making candles. “It gave me something to focus on,” said Gourley, a Vandergrift resident and the mother of four. Now, she has turned that creative accomplishment into a business, selling candles and promoting other...
Leechburg Mayor Wayne Dobos, beloved as civic booster, dies
Leechburg Mayor Wayne Dobos, known as a tireless advocate for his borough and a driving force behind countless projects, died Wednesday. “He’s going to be a hard act to replace,” Council President Tom Foster said. “He was trying to revitalize Leechburg one project at a time.” Foster said he was...
Penn Hills graduate, Upper Burrell resident publishes her own book
After living in others’ fantasy worlds, Penn Hills High School graduate and Upper Burrell resident Jenna E. Faas was ready to create her own. Writing has been a core passion for Faas, who remembers her mom reading books to her before bedtime at 5 years old. Although she was unable...
