Valley News Dispatch category, Page 458
A destination for popular Pop It toys and more, Fidget Tree to open in Lower Burrell
As many brick-and-mortar stores give way to online retailing, not everyone is going along with the trend. Kylee Hornack-Kohler and her mother, Denise Hornack, are popping the scenario with their new store, Fidget Tree, opening Wednesday in Lower Burrell. They specialize in “fidgets” and Pop It devices — sensory and...
Highlands athletic director wants players to prioritize academics
When Highlands athletic director Drew Karpen joined the district two years ago, his focus wasn’t solely on sports. “One of my main objectives was to build the academic side of the program,” said Karpen, a former assistant athletic director at North Allegheny. He launched a Scholar- Athlete program to recognize students...
3 new members to join New Kensington-Arnold School Board
Two teachers who work at other schools and a chemist who works at her brother’s pizza shop are slated to join the New Kensington-Arnold School Board in December. Jane Graham, Nick DiCarolis and Sarah Yurga all were unopposed in the Nov. 2 election. The trio will join the nine-member school...
Thanksgiving plans for Alle-Kiski Valley families almost back to normal
Thanksgiving Day is usually a big deal for Joe Weltner of Harrison. Weltner usually kicks off his Christmas decorating frenzy right after polishing off a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. “I start to politely shuffle the guests out so the first of 15-plus Christmas trees can be put up,” said Weltner of...
Harmar’s proposed 2022 budget could help homeowners but would face high deficit
Some Harmar property owners might pay less in taxes under the proposed $2.7 million budget for 2022, but it will come at a cost. The proposed $2.7 million spending plan would increase the Homestead Exemption by $5,000, from $30,000 to $35,000. That move, though, could cost the township more than...
The Stroller, Nov. 21, 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. Pajama and Book Project seeks donations The Rotary Club of Leechburg and Interact Club of Leechburg Area High School are sponsoring...
Habitat for Humanity helps Iraqi vet and family with new start in Tarentum
Jonathan Butter is giving his four young sons the best Christmas gift he can imagine — room to play. Butter, an Iraq war veteran from Pitcairn, will move with his family into a two-story home at 413 West 10th Ave. in Tarentum once Habitat for Humanity completes an extensive overhaul...
Tarentum-Brackenridge holiday parade wows crowds with Grinches, clowns and Santa
Dressed in a green Grinch sweatshirt and leggings spattered with red poinsettias, Maria Hoscheid was the image of Christmas at the 16th annual Tarentum-Brackenridge holiday parade Saturday. “We never miss this,” said Hoscheid, who lived in Tarentum for 28 years before recently moving to East Deer’s Creighton neighborhood. “It’s not...
The Stroller, Nov. 20, 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. Entries sought for Harrison holiday light contest Harrison Township is sponsoring a holiday light contest for township residents. Categories are: Clark...
Vandergrift Market opens for holiday shopping every Saturday, supporting local businesses
A holiday market has returned to historic Vandergrift. Vandergrift Market offers many vendors Saturdays on the lower-level floor of the former J.C. Penney department store at 134 Grant Ave. Market hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday through Dec. 18. In its second season, volunteers with the Vandergrift...
Churchill man convicted of voluntary manslaughter in Arnold killing
Devon Askew doubled over and cried as a Westmoreland County jury read a verdict that rejected his self-defense claims in connection with a fatal shooting last year in Arnold. Askew, 28, of Churchill, was convicted Friday of voluntary manslaughter — a verdict neither the defense nor prosecutors originally sought —...
M@C Discount signs lease with Pittsburgh Mills mall to expand its locations
One of the largest empty spaces in the Pittsburgh Mills mall has a new tenant. M@C Discount announced it will open a location Dec. 1 in the space formerly used by Sears Grand. The online bidding store signed a five-year lease with the mall. Spirit Halloween occupied the space during...
Online fundaiser set up for Lower Burrell volunteer firefighter whose home caught fire
A fundraising effort is underway to help a Lower Burrell volunteer firefighter’s family after their home was heavily damaged by fire Thursday morning. Multiple fire companies responded to the blaze along Fairview Drive. Angela Veri has lived in the home for 14 years with her husband, two daughters and son,...
West Deer preparing to boost internet, cellphone signals
The West Deer supervisors are taking initial steps toward improving cellphone and internet connectivity in the township. The board unanimously agreed to seek requests for proposals from engineering companies to study the township. Township Manager Dan Mator said the companies will determine where the problem areas are in getting broadband...
Tarentum demolition project spurs positive impact on community
Tarentum Council is looking to close out the year by wrapping up its fourth demolition contract, eyeing one final dilapidated home along West 11th Avenue. Workers from Gillette’s Towing in Harrison already razed a house at 243-245 West Seventh Ave and one at 532 Third Avenue on the east side...
Springdale police to receive raises of just over 3% in each of next 2 years
Wages for Springdale police officers will rise by just over 3% in each of the next two years. Council approved a new two-year contract that gives its seven officers a $1-per-hour increase in each of the next two years. The hourly wage for the department’s six patrolmen is $30.50 per...
Frazer homeowners won’t see a property tax increase next year
The real estate tax rate will remain the same for Frazer property owners in 2022. The township supervisors voted 2-0 to approve a $1.1 million budget preliminary budget on Nov. 2. Supervisor William Creevey was absent for the vote. Property taxes would remain the same, at 2.5 mills. The township...
Missing Allegheny Township police ammo recovered — minus 13 bullets
All but 13 of the 1,000 rounds of .45-caliber ammunition that went missing instead of being delivered to the Allegheny Township Police Department last week have been recovered. Police Chief Duane Fisher became suspicious of the Nov. 8 delivery by United Parcel Service when he saw the driver carrying the...
The Stroller, Nov. 19, 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. Contributions needed for homeless veterans’ project Local veterans’ charity Five Forces is collecting personal items for the Homeless Heroes Stocking Project....
Missing, at-risk Armstrong County man found safe
A missing 82-year-old man from Armstrong County has been found and is safe, according to Pennsylvania State Police. Previously, state police said Fred Fair went missing on Thursday from Cowansville, about 5 miles north of Worthington. He was considered at-risk, and state police issued an advisory on Friday. Before he...
Jury deliberating fate of Churchill man accused of killing intruder at home in Arnold to return Friday morning
A Westmoreland County jury will return Friday morning to continue deliberations in the criminal homicide trial of a Churchill man accused in the killing last year of an intruder at an Arnold home. Devon Askew, 28, contends he acted in self-defense when he shot and killed 34-year-old Richard Hildreth on...
With furry friends and kind words, Kiski Elementary students learn to cope with grief
While adults know that grief is part of life, elementary school kids might just be learning. Counselors in the Kiski Area School District are working to help students cope with their feelings. A daylong grief-themed program was presented Thursday at all four elementary schools as part of Children’s Grief Awareness...
Fire hits Lower Burrell home owned by woman who lost father in blaze 30 years ago
Angela Veri was on her way to work after dropping off her daughter at school Thursday when a neighbor called to tell her she saw smoke coming from her home on Fairview Drive in Lower Burrell. She knew, because nobody was at home, her family was safe as firefighters from...
Leechburg Council election decided: Incumbents reelected but newcomer earns top spot
Political newcomer John Mrvan remained the top vote-getter in the Leechburg Council election, while all three incumbents won reelection, according to official returns from the Armstrong County Election Bureau. Mrvan, a Republican and pharmaceutical technician for Leechburg HealthMart Pharmacy, received 247 votes. Two Democratic incumbents were right behind: Alan Tarr...
Businesses across New Ken getting in on ‘Shop Small Crawl’ for Small Business Saturday
Small Business Saturday is going to be big in New Kensington. More than 40 businesses, from downtown to Parnassus, are expected to participate in the first New Ken Shop Small Crawl on Nov. 27, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. “We want...
