Valley News Dispatch category, Page 454
Springdale High School drama club to perform in front of live audience for 1st time since 2019
Springdale High School drama club students are eager to perform a production in front of a live audience for the first time since 2019. The school will perform “The Wildman” by J. Omar Hansen. The one-act play is a comedic hillbilly retelling of the ancient folk tale “The Heartless Giant.”...
Traffic stop leads Kiski Township police to arrest man on parole violation for drug conviction
In a traffic stop Wednesday, Kiski Township police arrested a man wanted for a parole violation on drug charges from 2019, according to authorities. An officer on patrol along Route 56 stopped Damien Kemerer, 32, of Vandergrift after he ran a stop sign at Balsiger Road, according to a criminal...
New assistant principal joins O’Hara Elementary
An elementary school in the Fox Chapel Area School District has a new assistant principal. Benjamin Canan, 34, joined O’Hara Elementary School this month as program principal, the official name for the role. He said he seeks to bring a personalized approach to helping lead the school and promises to...
New Ken-Arnold to cast broad net in replacing head football coach ‘Muzzy’ Colosimo
New Kensington-Arnold School District will cast a wide net as it searches for a new varsity football head coach. The school board Tuesday accepted the resignation of William “Muzzy” Colosimo and will advertise the coaching position. Colosimo did not attend the meeting. Colosimo, 71, previously said he felt it was...
1,000 rounds of ammunition disappear on way to Allegheny Township Police Dept.
Allegheny Township police Chief Duane Fisher didn’t have to open the box delivered to his station Monday to know there was something wrong with the delivery of ammunition for his department. “As soon as I saw the (United Parcel Service) driver get out of the truck carrying the box rather...
Police memorial flag causes a flap in Aspinwall
A flag honoring fallen police officers is causing a flap in Aspinwall. Council members fielded comments during last week’s meeting from about 15 residents either supporting or opposing the flag that has flown outside the borough building for 12 years. Aspinwall resident Karen Hart took to social media to express...
West Deer Police to hold 25th annual toy drive for families in need
West Deer Township is ringing in the holiday cheer with its 25th annual toy drive. Former West Deer Police Chief Jon Lape started the drive to help families experiencing hardship during the holiday season. This year will be first time Lape is not leading it after his retirement in June....
Gift baskets sought for spaghetti dinner benefitting New Ken firefighter battling cancer
Donations are being sought to stage a spaghetti dinner benefit for a New Kensington volunteer firefighter battling cancer. The city’s fire department and the New Kensington Eagles are jointly sponsoring the benefit dinner for Chris Ploski on Jan. 8, Assistant Fire Chief Bruce Davis said. Ploski, 59, a firefighter with...
Lower Burrell Cross on the Hill will continue to shine thanks to outpouring of support
All it took was a mention that the locally iconic Cross on the Hill needed repairs, and people across the country responded. “Donations are really rolling in,” said Karen Snair, executive director of the Allegheny Valley Association of Churches in Harrison, which owns the 34-foot landmark. “We’re overwhelmed by the...
Spotted lanternfly numbers skyrocket in Allegheny, Westmoreland counties
The spotted lanternfly — a beautiful but invasive plant hopper from Asia — continues its invasion of the region with a 1,722% increase in reports in Allegheny County, a 351% increase in Westmoreland County and a 177% increase in Butler in the past year. The insect doesn’t harm people, but...
Tips for getting rid of the invasive lanternfly
To slow the scourge of the invasive lanternfly, state experts weigh in on the many ways to kill the nectar-loving, honeydew-dropping pests. “The only good spotted lanternfly is a dead one,” said Amy K. Korman, an entomologist for 40 years and a horticulture extension educator with the Penn State Extension...
The Stroller, Nov. 10, 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. Comedy night to benefit Markle fire chief Markle Volunteer Fire Department, Allegheny Township, will have a comedy night fundraiser at 8...
Armstrong School District vows to punish student who attacked transgender teen
The Armstrong High School student involved in the attack of a transgender teen late last month will be disciplined by the district and could face criminal prosecution, according to a school board member. The Oct. 27 incident, which was videotaped and circulated on social media, shows 14-year-old Willow Andring being...
Clean Eatz, a healthy food chain, opening 1st regional location in Blawnox
A national chain focused on healthy eating is opening Wednesday in Blawnox, the first location in the Pittsburgh area. Clean Eatz is opening at 175 Freeport Road, in a new retail plaza at the corner of Center Avenue. Owner Darryl Duncan, 58, hails from the corporate health care field and...
Another Route 356 closure planned for next year
Allegheny Township officials are warning motorists and residents of major closures along Route 356 next summer. As work on the connector to Freeport and the Allegheny Valley expressway wraps up for this year, the project in 2022 will impact residents along the Route 356 corridor. Work will start on either...
Highlands will drain its pool, ship swimmers to Burrell, Valley
The leaking swimming pool at Highlands High School will be drained this week while district leaders consider long-term fixes that could cost up to $160,000. In the meantime, the swim team will get its laps in at Burrell and Valley school districts, which have offered to open their pools to...
The Stroller, Nov. 9, 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. Students invited to develop engagement strategy for PennDOT The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Department of Environmental Protection invite high school...
Defense attorney second guesses trial strategy in Arnold murder appeal
Defense attorney Ralph Karsh told a Westmoreland County judge on Monday that he never considered evidence during a 2017 murder trial that his client’s young age mitigated the decision to shoot and kill a man during a 2015 melee in Arnold between two families. “In retrospect, I wish I had...
Police: Pair arrested on drug charges after Vandergrift cop spots them in stolen vehicle
Vandergrift police arrested two people on drug possession charges after officers spotted an SUV that was reported stolen in the borough on Saturday. James Daniel Higgins, 41, of Washington Township, was charged with felony counts of receiving stolen property and four drug-related offenses. He is in the Westmoreland County Prison...
Suzie’s Barbershop serving men’s haircut needs in SpringdaleVideo
Opening a male barbershop was scary for Suzie Hloznik. She questioned if seeing a female barber-owner would be comfortable for men accustomed to the guy’s world of a typical barbershop. But she was determined to make her dream a reality. As she opened Suzie’s Barbershop in Springdale in June, all...
Bell Township man jailed without bond, charged with stabbing teenager
A 16-year-old boy is reported in stable condition in a Pittsburgh hospital after being stabbed in his back with a knife during an argument Sunday, according to state police at Kiski. Richard Cain, 58, was arraigned Monday on charges of aggravated assault, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, reckless endangerment,...
Turkey talk: Customers placed orders for fresh Thanksgiving birds earlier than usual
The early bird gets the … turkey? This Thanksgiving season, with people set to gather with family and friends once again, hosts and hostesses want to ensure the main course will be there as well. According to area farmers, customer orders for fresh birds are way ahead of last year....
Voodoo Brewery creates something different with ‘Red Dragon Lounge’ in New Kensington
It can’t be said there’s a bat in their belfry, since Voodoo Brewery in New Kensington doesn’t have a belfry. But there is a dragon on the second floor. It’s red, with yellow eyes, fangs and claws and a tail snaking down the stairs. The Red Dragon Lounge was created...
The Stroller, Nov. 8, 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. Food items needed for Leechburg weekend distribution The Leechburg Food Bank and Leechburg School District sponsor the Community Providing Alternatives to...
The Stroller, Nov. 7, 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. Drive-through food distribution set for Tuesday at Pittsburgh Mills Allegheny Valley Association of Churches and the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank...
