Valley News Dispatch category, Page 449
Man arrested after volley of gunfire near New Kensington police station
New Kensington police charged a man with felony theft and gun charges after a volley of gunfire within earshot of the police station early Thursday morning, according to authorities. Dravontae Marques Hendon, 24, of Arnold was arrested and charged with one felony count of receiving stolen property, two counts of...
Fox Chapel Area Region 2 sees Zych, Dolan vying for position
Voters in Fox Chapel Area Region 2 will see a race for school board between Ariel Zych and Greg Dolan. Both have cross-filed as Democrat and Republican. Region 2 covers Fox Chapel Borough Districts 2, 4, and 5, and all of Indiana Township. Here are their answers to questions posed...
Former Highlands teacher, administrator Ang Bruni recalled for lifelong service
Longtime Highlands teacher and Brackenridge Councilman Ang Bruni is being recalled by friends and family as a consummate professional with a gift for writing and public speaking. Angelo “Ang” Bruni Sr., 84, died Tuesday at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. “He was my English teacher in the 1970s,” Highlands School...
Freeport community shows up for fire safety, shopping events in business districtVideo
Freeport Volunteer Fire Department Lt. Josh James donned his gear, grabbed a fire extinguisher and put out a controlled burn outside the station along Market Street. He received congratulations from local Cub Scouts and hugs from other children for his efforts in demonstrating fire safety at one of two community...
5 seeking 4 positions on Sharpsburg council
Sharpsburg voters will choose among five candidates seeking four open council positions. The candidates are incumbent Karen Pilarski-Pastor, recent appointees Kayla Portis and Brad Truman, and newcomers Carrie Tongarm and Brian Kozera. All are registered Democrats but Truman is running on the Republican ballot after securing a write-in nomination in...
Ross Hollow Road segment closing for bridge work in Plum
Part of Ross Hollow Road in Plum will be closed for four days because of work on a bridge on Stotler Road, Allegheny County Public Works announced Thursday. Ross Hollow is scheduled to be closed between Harris Road and Rustic Ridge Drive at 5 p.m. Oct. 22. The closure is...
Missing New Kensington woman found
A New Kensington woman who was reported missing has been found, according to New Kensington police. According to police, Alexis Johnson, 33, was last seen in New Kensington on Oct. 5 or 6. She was reported missing Wednesday. Johnson was located by her family, New Kensington police Detective Sgt. Matt...
The Stroller, Oct. 14, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your club meetings, community events 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. Truck and tractor pull planned Saturday in South Buffalo South Buffalo Volunteer Fire Department will host its third annual benefit truck...
Westmoreland County approves drop boxes for mail-in ballots
A drop box for mail-in ballots will be available at the Westmoreland County Courthouse starting Oct. 18 and at five regional locations during the two weekends before the Nov. 2 general election. Westmoreland elections officials said more than 19,000 ballots were mailed to voters on Wednesday, according to election bureau...
Highlands parent collecting coats to help students in need
Highlands parent Christina Faltot was looking for a way to “do good during the bad.” “In the midst of 2020, I was personally lost in the negativity of our world. Between isolation and division of covid and a very divided community over the election, I just wanted something to throw...
Arnold backs Westmoreland dividing up covid relief funds to municipalities
Arnold Council is getting on board with Export Mayor Joe Zaccagini’s proposal for how Westmoreland County could best allocate $105 million in covid relief funds. Zaccagini recently proposed distributing the money equally among the county’s 65 municipalities. Arnold Councilman George Hawdon said the city also will suggest the county do...
Tarentum couple says ‘I do’ at UPMC St. Margaret so hospitalized mom can attend
Tarentum residents Chaz and Amanda Wilburn were married earlier this month in the chapel at UPMC St. Margaret, in a ceremony they called a dream that arose from a nightmare. Chaz Wilburn spent 38 days in the hospital this summer with congestive heart failure. While he was recovering, his mom,...
Arnold candy shop celebrates 75th season making chocolate dreams come true
A smell of homemade chocolate hits the nose the second that doors are opened at Valos Chocolates. The eyes are drawn to decorated tables and shelves full of chocolate-coated nuts, cherries, raisins, pretzels, caramels and clusters. Such has been the experience at the Arnold candy shop along Freeport Road for...
The Stroller, Oct. 13, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your club meetings, community events 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. Highlands High School to celebrate homecoming The annual Highlands High School Homecoming festivities will begin Friday at 6 p.m. with a...
Harrison woman accused of setting dumpster fires in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh police accused a Harrison woman of setting dumpsters on fire in Uptown and knocking over construction cones and signs in the South Side on Monday. Jennifer Robare, 30, faces a felony count of arson and misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief and giving false identification to law enforcement in connection...
Ghost Tour resurrects local history at Brackenridge cemetery
A leisurely stroll through Prospect Cemetery in Brackenridge on Thursday evening will turn up prominent figures from the past brought to life by local actors who revel in Alle-Kiski Valley history. Henry Brackenridge will be among those portrayed at the cemetery’s annual ghost tour. The borough is named for the...
1 dead following head-on crash on Greensburg Road in Plum
A New Kensington man died in a crash on Greensburg Road in Plum Tuesday, according to Allegheny County police. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office identified the deceased man as Enzo Grosse, 21, of New Kensington. Police said they were notified around 7:45 p.m. of the crash in the 1600...
10-month drug investigation leads to Plum man’s arrest
A Plum man was taken to the Allegheny County Jail on Tuesday after police say they found several kilograms of suspected narcotics and weapons in his apartment. Plum Det. Dan Moriarty said borough police, along with the District Attorney Narcotics Enforcement Team and federal DEA agents, served a search warrant...
2 hurt when vehicle rolls over in Frazer
A woman and a child were transported to a hospital with minor injuries after their vehicle rolled over Tuesday afternoon along a well-traveled road in Frazer. An Allegheny County dispatcher said there was a single-vehicle crash in the 100 block of 908 Extension. Frazer No. 1 fire Chief Isaac Caplan...
Nurse and quick-thinking dog lauded for lifesaving rescue at River Forest
Tom Kissel is alive today thanks to the combined efforts of strangers and a three-legged pooch named Tater Tot. Their quick work was recognized Tuesday in a ceremony sponsored by the American Heart Association and Allegheny Health Network at the River Forest Yacht Club in Allegheny Township. On July 10,...
New Kensington man guilty in case of meth lab found in parent’s basement
The lawyer for a New Kensington man convicted last week by a Westmoreland County jury of six offenses in connection with a methamphetamine lab found in the basement of his parents’ home vowed to appeal the guilty verdict. Following two days of testimony, the jury on Oct. 8 found Sean...
Highlands teachers mark 100th day without contract, negotiations continue
Highlands School District teachers passed 100 days working without a contract. Several members of the Highlands Education Association (HEA) on Friday displayed neon green signs in their vehicles, all marked with a bold “100” to signify the status of negotiations. “In an act of solidarity, it was a way for...
Students, parents air questions for Highlands administrators in coffee talk event
Highlands Superintendent Monique Mawhinney met Monday with district residents of all ages for a coffee talk, and the youngest members of the audience didn’t hold back with their questions. “Why do we have a dress code that doesn’t allow ripped jeans?” asked sixth grader Acailah Hogan. “Why do our skirts...
Alle-Kiski Valley museums welcome public with open houses
Four Alle-Kiski Valley museums are banding together to promote history and heritage with a free tour of their premises. An open house showcasing the historical museums of Leechburg, Hyde Park, Apollo and Vandergrift is scheduled from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Free shuttle trips among the four museums will...
Fire crews dispatched for natural gas odor across Harrison; no danger found
Firefighters from multiple departments were dispatched early Tuesday to check on reports of a natural gas odor that wafted along the entire stretch of Freeport Road in Harrison. “Nobody is in danger,” James Bartolovich, chief of the Harrison Hills Volunteer Fire Company, said. “All of the levels have been within...
