Valley News Dispatch category, Page 454
Gary Lewis glad he chose music over following in his famous father’s footstepsVideo
When it comes to mid-1960s pop culture, there was no bigger movie comedian than Jerry Lewis. And there was no bigger band than the Beatles. For Lewis’ oldest son, Gary, it meant there was a fork in the road. A natural performer, he was faced with a choice between following...
Jeff Pyle honored at groundbreaking of new BC3 college in Ford City
As a line of public officials spoke at the groundbreaking of the new Butler County Community College (BC3) in Ford City on Friday, most of them uttered the same name: Jeff Pyle. Pyle is a former Republican state representative, former Ford City mayor and a former teacher at Ford City...
Efforts revving to bolster development in Brackenridge, Harrison, Tarentum and beyond
Once-thriving small towns along the Allegheny River have been disinvested for decades, and their residents are thirsty for renewal, according to Gerald Driggs and David Rankin. Driggs and Rankin are organizers of a community development corporation meant to thrust portions of the Alle-Kiski Valley back into the limelight. “Most people...
Variance approved for car wash at former New Kensington Kmart site
A developer will be able to pursue building a car wash at the site of a former Kmart on Tarentum Bridge Road in New Kensington. By a 2-to-1 vote, the city’s three-member zoning hearing board Thursday approved 100 Riverview’s request for a variance for the car wash, which otherwise is...
The Stroller, Sept. 26, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
The Valley News Dispatch is compiling a list of autumn events and Halloween parades, parties and trick-or-treat nights. Send an email to cpinto-smith@triblive.com. Collection to benefit Veterans Leadership Program Women of Alle-Kiski Engaging (WAKE) is collecting non-perishable food and personal products to be donated to Veterans Leadership Program. Items needed...
Arnold officials float a couple ideas regarding economic development, community involvement
Arnold Council is mulling over a couple of ideas that could boost economic development and community involvement in the city. The first is an idea by Mayor Joseph Bia that could leverage Pittsburgh Brewing Co.’s expected 2022 opening of the Iron City brewery across the Allegheny River in East Deer...
Tails on Trails event draws pups and their people for 12th year
About 100 people and dozens of dogs turned out Saturday for a stroll through Northmoreland Park to raise money for the New Kensington-based Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley. Saturday was the 12th year for the fundraiser and the second year it’s been held in Northmoreland Park in Allegheny Township. “It’s...
The Stroller, Sept. 25, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
The Valley News Dispatch is compiling a list of autumn events and Halloween parades, parties and trick-or-treat nights. Send an email to cpinto-smith@triblive.com. 5K run and 1-mile walk to benefit Roaring Run Watershed Association The Roaring Run Watershed Association Howl at the Moon 5K run and 1-mile Fun Walk will...
Closing of some Highlands Middle School bathrooms has helped curb TikTok challenge, officials say
Several restrooms at Highlands Middle School are off-limits to help administrators curb the “Devious Licks” TikTok challenge, a national social media trend that dares students to steal soap dispensers and unhinge stall doors as part of a prank. The items, or “licks,” are then posted to social media. Videos of...
SoCal Mexicali Grill to bring Southern California cuisine to New KensingtonVideo
Before Jeff Cieslewicz starts cooking his Southern California-themed menu in New Kensington, he’s taking a trip to the state to get some ideas. Cieslewicz, 38, of Latrobe is a chef and partner with Sean Watson, 41, a businessman from Lower Burrell, in SoCal Mexicali Grill, a restaurant they plan to...
Jury deadlocked, mistrial declared in rape and sexual assault trial of Allegheny Township man
A mistrial was declared Friday in the cases against an Allegheny Township man accused of rape and sexual assaults by five women and a teen. Jurors deliberated nearly 14 hours over two days and reported they were at an impasse and unable to reach verdicts on all 24 counts in...
Hearing set for state trooper accused of harassing teen; lawyer balks at charge
A hearing has been scheduled for next month in the case of an Armstrong County-based state trooper who is accused of harassing a 15-year-old boy. Trooper Nickolas R. Elliott, 30, pleaded not guilty to a charge of harassment by physical contact filed against him Wednesday. Elliott, who is assigned to...
RIDC to help market South Buffalo’s Northpointe Industrial Park to potential developers
The Regional Industrial Development Corp. of Southwestern Pennsylvania is stepping in to help market 115 acres of undeveloped land at South Buffalo’s Northpointe Industrial Park. Owned by the Armstrong County Industrial Development Council, the industrial park covers more than 800 acres. While it is home to tenants that include universities,...
The Stroller, Sept. 24, 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. NK Salvation Army to offer holiday assistance, coats The New Kensington Salvation Army will accept applications for assistance for holiday food...
Man shot 3 times in Arnold
A 34-year-old man is expected to survive after being shot three times in Arnold late Thursday, police Chief Eric Doutt said. The shooting happened shortly before midnight in the 1500 block of Fourth Avenue. The man was outside a house when someone shot him with a handgun in an arm,...
Jury deliberations to resume in sexual assault and rape trial of Allegheny Township man
A Westmoreland County jury will continue deliberations Friday morning in the rape and sexual assault trial of an Allegheny Township man. Jurors in the cases against Eric Alan Wright, 49, deliberated more than eight hours Thursday before they were sent home for the night by Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge...
Pa. trooper suspended after being charged with harassing 15-year-old boy
A state trooper stationed in Armstrong County has been suspended without pay after being charged with harassing a 15-year-old boy, according to authorities. Charges were filed by state police against Trooper Nickolas R. Elliott, 30, of Butler following an investigation into the incident by the state police Internal Affairs Division,...
Burrell School District offers unhappy parents individual meetings for mask issues
At a time when many school boards are being confronted by yelling parents irate over mask mandates, Burrell School District is offering up private meetings with students’ parents to work through the mask issues. Two lawsuits are pending in Pennsylvania challenging the legality of the recent mask mandate at schools....
A Steelers vibe for Friday Night Lights coming to Highlands this week
Here we go! Chances are the Highlands football stadium will be rockin’ Friday night with enough black and gold to look more like Heinz Field than RamLand. The 4-0 Golden Rams were selected as the Steelers High School Football Showcase Game of the Week, winning a visit from Steely McBeam...
‘Sustainability Stroll’ highlights New Kensington’s past, new businesses
With the help of a quick scan of a QR code, a stroll down New Kensington’s Fifth Avenue can offer a glimpse of the city’s past along with its present. Signs for a “Sustainability Stroll” recently went up along Fifth Avenue from The Corner at Seventh Street to Westmoreland County...
Upper Burrell Dollar General along Route 780 under construction
After protest from neighbors, the Dollar General along Route 780 and Dewey Drive in Upper Burrell has cleared all township hurdles, and development of the site has begun. The store is tentatively slated to open in late fall, said Katie Ellison, spokeswoman for Dollar General Corp. Although the store, along...
Highlands cheerleaders host Pink Out to support Change for Cancer
On Friday, Oct. 15, they wear pink. Highlands High School cheerleaders are hosting a districtwide Pink Out fundraiser that will culminate Oct. 15 when the Golden Rams football team takes on the Armstrong River Hawks. The squad is teaming up with Change for Cancer, a nonprofit founded by Burrell High...
AHN announces closing date, relocation for New Kensington outpatient center
Allegheny Health Network said Thursday it will move its outpatient center from the former Citizens General Hospital to Kensington Square in New Kensington later this year. The new location at 1B Kensington Square is on Eighth Street, across from Central City Plaza. “After an exhaustive search and assessment of available...
Day care center takes over location of former Creighton Hotel in East Deer
The vacant Creighton Hotel building along Freeport Road is home to a day care center. Raney Day Learning Center opened in August. The day care previously was a block away on 879 Freeport Road. It recently celebrated 16 years in business. Judy Raney, owner of the day care, frequented the...
The Stroller, Sept. 23, 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. Festival scheduled Saturday in West Leechburg West Leechburg Volunteer Fire Department will host a festival from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday...
