Valley News Dispatch category, Page 452
West Deer residents split on whether proposed well pads will benefit township
West Deer residents have differing opinions on whether the township should approve proposed natural gas well pads at two locations in the township. Residents and taxpayers spoke Tuesday during the ninth and final public hearing regarding the proposal presented by Olympus Energy LLC. The hearing took place at West Deer...
Pair accused of stealing copper wire from shuttered ATI plant in Gilpin
A man and woman each were charged with four felony counts in connection with the theft of about 150 pounds of copper wire on Tuesday from the idled Allegheny Technologies Inc. plant in Gilpin, according to police. Township police arrested John Diehl, 37, of Clinton Township and Casey Finley, 35,...
Castle Doctrine debated as defense in Arnold shooting trial
A Westmoreland County prosecutor argued Wednesday that Pennsylvania’s Castle Doctrine is not an applicable defense in the murder trial of a Churchill man charged in connection with a fatal shooting last year in Arnold. Assistant District Attorney Pete Caravello said jurors should not receive legal instructions about the statute that...
Burrell School District ends up with surplus; not as hard hit as expected by pandemic economics
Burrell School District’s finance manager was bracing for declining tax revenues and higher expenses in the 2020-21 school year from the economic distress of the pandemic. But, it turns out, Burrell did better than anticipated, according to the district’s financial statements for 2020-21. Burrell ended the school year with about...
Tarentum-Brackenridge parade set to kick off holiday season; Oscar Meyer Wienermobile will be there
The Oscar Meyer Wienermobile will be parked under the Tarentum Bridge on Saturday morning for anyone who wants to snap selfies with the quirky hot dog-shaped bus. The orange and yellow vehicle is a fan favorite at the Tarentum-Brackenridge holiday parade, scheduled to step off at 1 p.m. In its...
The Stroller, Nov. 17, 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. Operation Christmas Child shoe box collection underway Grace Community Presbyterian Church, Lower Burrell, is conducting an Operation Christmas Child shoe box...
Brackenridge woman accused of hitting man with car with 1-year-old inside
A Brackenridge woman is accused of hitting a man with a car on the side of Route 28, then fleeing with her 1-year-old son in her car. State police charged Shakeira Ladaisa Hardin, 25, with felony counts of aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child and misdemeanor charges...
Police testify suspected murder weapon in Arnold slaying was found in a shoe
Detectives who searched the Arnold home where police said a man was gunned down last year testified Tuesday the suspected murder weapon was found hidden inside of a shoe left behind at the home. Statepolice Detective Nick Iera said he initially didn’t see the weapon as he walked through the...
Citizens Bank closing New Kensington branch as previously announced
Citizens Bank is making good on its previously announced intention to close its branch in downtown New Kensington on Wednesday, a bank spokesman said. Citizens said in August it would close the office at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Ninth Street on Wednesday. “The branch is still slated to...
Kiski Area sticks with mandatory masking, declines mask-optional policy
Mask-wearing will remain mandatory the remainder of the year for students and staff in the Kiski Area School District. The board voted 7-1 Monday to keep the mandated mask policy requiring all students and staff to wear a face covering on campus and district school buses. Michelle Schmidt was the...
Kiski Township police charge man with squatting in North Apollo house; stolen items recovered
Kiski Township police arrested a man on Monday for squatting in a vacant house where they also found stolen items and evidence of drug use. Officers responding to a call for a suspicious man along Hickory Nut Road in North Apollo shortly after 8:30 p.m. searched the neighborhood and found...
Longtime Arnold hair salon owner opens women’s clothing boutique in New Kensington
A pair of ventilation fans blowing out the aroma of chocolate used to draw people into a storefront on New Kensington’s Fifth Avenue. That’s when Herman’s Nuts and Chocolates was located there. Today, it’s women’s clothing from brands known in Los Angeles and New York that are bringing people through...
South Buffalo supervisors to hold line on taxes in 2022 budget
South Buffalo officials plan to hold the line on taxes with next year’s budget. Supervisors approved a 2022 preliminary spending plan and its public posting Monday night. Its formal adoption is scheduled for Dec. 20. The real estate tax rate is expected to remain at 5.7 mills. There has not...
Former Arnold man guilty of federal drug charges after high speed chase with toddler in car
A former Arnold man arrested in 2019 after leading police on a high-speed chase and crashing with a toddler in his car was convicted of drug violations in federal court. Kevin Watson, 32, was found guilty of one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of...
Heights Plaza wreaths a sign of the holidays, nod to the past
Passersby at Heights Plaza in Harrison likely will notice the 28 oversized pine wreaths hung Saturday by Harrison Commissioner Chuck Dizard and a group of fellow holiday elves. The 4-foot wreaths are illuminated with tiny white lights and appointed with a large red bow. Dizard said the sight might evoke...
The Stroller, Nov. 16, 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. Toys for Children campaign underway in West Deer West Deer Police Department is sponsoring its 25th annual Toys for Children drive...
Frazer police warn residents to lock cars after multiple thefts in East Deer
Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man suspected of committing multiple burglaries in the East Deer and Frazer area Sunday morning. According to Frazer police, the suspect stole multiple items from unlocked vehicles beginning around 4:30 a.m. He started on Bailies Run Road in East Deer...
Self-defense claimed in Arnold fatal shooting
The lawyer for the man charged in the fatal shooting of a man in Arnold last year told a Westmoreland County jury that his client acted in self defense. Devon Askew, 28, of Churchill feared for his life and fired two shots to protect himself, a woman and her young...
Kiski Area grad died in wrong-way collision in Washington Township
A Kiski Area High School graduate studying to become a welder died Sunday in a wrong-way crash in Washington Township. Zeth Reber, 22, of Washington Township died when his 2014 Honda Civic was hit head-on by a 2012 Dodge Caravan traveling the wrong direction on Route 380 in Washington Township....
New Kensington-Arnold School Board candidate ineligible to claim seat over residency issue
One of four candidates who ran unopposed for the New Kensington-Arnold School Board will not be able to take the seat, according to the interim director of Westmoreland County Elections. Peter Nkemakolam ran for a school board seat in the district’s Region 3. However, Nkemakolam lives in Region 2, interim...
Police: Brother tried to get twin to hospital after being shot at Upper Burrell bar
A Vandergrift man died Saturday night as his twin brother was trying to rush him to a hospital after the man was shot at an Upper Burrell bar. According to police, Andy Jenereaux got from Woodpeckers Pub and Grub to near the New Kensington bridge about 5 miles away before...
The Stroller, Nov. 15, 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. Neil Simon comedy, ‘Fools’ to be performed at Valley High School The Valley High School Drama Club will present the Neil...
3 men arrested, jailed after pursuit, crash in North Buffalo
Three men from York are facing firearms and other charges after their vehicle crashed into another vehicle while fleeing police in Armstrong County last week. Alezea Merguiades Pagan and Yaheem Larenz-Dionico Jones, both 20, and Michael Pagan, 23, are being held in the Armstrong County Jail and are scheduled for...
1 killed, 7 hurt in wrong-way Washington Township crash
A 22-year-old man was killed when his car was hit head-on by a minivan heading the wrong way on Route 380 in Washington Township Sunday, according to township police. Township police said Zeth Reber, of Washington Township, was driving east in the eastbound lane and Abigail Jones, 23, from Carlisle...
Knead Community Cafe works around supply issues in crafting new fall, winter menu
How does a hot turkey sandwich on Texas toast with mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce sound? Or maybe a salad with baby spinach, golden raisins, walnuts, goat cheese, red onion, green apples, crushed Ritz crackers and an apple Vidalia onion dressing? If not, how about a porchetta with thin-sliced, grilled...
