Valley News Dispatch category, Page 463
Promoting smart fashion for all women, East West Boutique to open storefront in Vandergrift
They’re two best friends with a passion for fashion. Alle-Kiski Valley natives Dessie Mitcheson Pilek and Jen Zatko Atchison met as cheerleaders in seventh grade and graduated together from Kiski Area High School in 2009. These days, they are business partners expanding their online clothing business — East West Boutique...
Apollo man charged with raping woman sheltering with him after PFA order against her husband
Apollo police arrested a borough man on charges he raped a woman staying at his house with her daughter after she split with her husband. Joshua Allen Gibbon, 20, of Woodward Avenue, was arrested on Oct. 30. The police acted after the accuser provided them with a detailed layout of...
3 newcomers elected to Burrell School Board, along with 2 incumbents
Tuesday’s election brought change to the Burrell School Board, with three newcomers joining the two incumbents who were reelected. Four at-large seats were open this year. Timothy Vinkovich, a former Tarentum councilman, received 22.6% of votes, the highest share. Newcomer Nikki Watson brought in 21.5%, incumbent Rick Kaczor attracted 20.6%...
New Kensington woman sentenced to probation in drug scheme at Westmoreland jail
A New Kensington woman was sentenced to three years of probation Thursday for a minor role in what authorities have described as a year-long scheme to get drugs into the Westmoreland County Prison. Sandra Gonzalez-Morales, 24, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility. “I’m just looking...
‘Pumpkin Guy’ on target to hit goal for Project Bundle-Up
It’s the gourd that keeps on giving. Donations are still rolling in for Pittsburgh’s Project Bundle-Up, thanks to the dedication of one Aspinwall resident. Joel “The Pumpkin Guy” Keefer, 70, of Fourth Street began carving elaborate oversized pumpkins for the public 25 years ago. After collecting and donating $89,000 over...
Kiski Area students experience 9/11 history with Flight 93 Memorial visit
Kiski Area Upper Elementary sixth graders are experiencing a field trip to a sacred field this week. Almost 300 students are visiting the Flight 93 National Memorial on three days, in three groups, in Shanksville. “For those that remember 9/11, it’s living history. But for the kids, it’s history,” Kiski...
New Kensington police investigating bathroom bullying incident at Valley High School
New Kensington police are investigating a bullying incident in which garbage was dropped on at least one student in a bathroom at Valley High School. Students found to have been involved could face discipline ranging from detention to expulsion depending on the severity and their own disciplinary history, Superintendent Chris...
The Stroller, Nov. 4, 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. Springdale chiropractic clinic hosts food drive Frazetta Family Chiropractic’s 28th annual Thanksgiving food drive for Lower Valley Food Bank will be...
Leechburg Council race yet to be decided, resolution could come Thursday
Armstrong County Elections results show a tie between two incumbents in the Leechburg Council race, while a well-known Leechburg pharmacist earned the most votes cast Tuesday at the polls. Democrats Chuck Pascal and Alan Tarr each earned 179 votes, according unofficial returns posted by the elections bureau. Both currently sit...
Victor in Tarentum mayor’s race still unclear
Tarentum mayoral candidates Carrie Fox and Bob Lang still were waiting midday Wednesday for Allegheny County to declare a winner in the borough’s top race, more than 18 hours after the polls closed. “I haven’t heard a word,” said Lang, who ran as a Republican candidate after securing a write-in...
Federal Street in Harrison gets new trees thanks to partnership with ATI, Western PA Conservancy
Jim Mazur grew up in the 1950s along Center Street in Natrona, just a block away from the former Penn Salt Manufacturing Co. and an accompanying row of Federal Street homes where his grandfather, the local justice of the peace, lived. The houses, about 20 of them, are long gone,...
Incumbent, newcomer secure 2 Harmar supervisors’ seats
An incumbent and newcomer will be taking seats as Harmar Township supervisors. Newcomer Sam Boak, a Democrat, came out on top with 29.18% of the vote, according to unofficial results from the Allegheny County Board of Elections. He was followed by incumbent Harry Lenhart, also a Democrat, with 27.57%. First-time...
Incumbent, 3 newcomers elected to Deer Lakes School Board
Voters in the Deer Lakes School District selected an incumbent school director and three political newcomers to fill the four open seats on the school board in Tuesday’s general election. Five candidates were vying for the four seats. Three of the four board members whose four-year terms expire at the...
Republicans sweep ballots in Plum mayoral, council races
In the Plum mayoral race, Republican Mayor Harry Schlegel beat Democrat David Biondo, 3,524 to 3,390, for another four-year term. Eight candidates were on the ballot to fill four seats on Plum Borough council. The top vote-getters were all Republicans: incumbents Paul Dern and Mike Doyle, as well as newcomer...
No city real estate tax increase planned for Lower Burrell next year
Lower Burrell Council voted unanimously Monday on a $10.77 million preliminary budget that holds the line on real estate taxes for next year . The city’s proposed 2022 budget will keep real estate taxes at 24.75 mills. That means a property assessed at $20,000 would be subject to a real...
Sharpsburg’s Roots of Faith, Pittsburgh International Airport partner for coat giveaway
Roots of Faith in Sharpsburg is partnering with the Pittsburgh International Airport to dole out winter coats that never quite made it to their intended destination. For the fourth consecutive year, the ministry has received an array of warm weather clothes left at the airport by travelers and other visitors....
Guilty plea entered in New Kensington fatal overdose case
Westmoreland County prosecutors this week dropped a felony charge of drug delivery resulting in death against one of three men charged in connection with a 2018 fatal drug overdose in New Kensington. Matthew Covey, 50, formerly of Missouri, pleaded guilty to a lesser drug possession charge as part of a...
The Stroller, Nov. 3, 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. Community library to host pop culture trivia night Community Library of Allegheny Valley will host a pop culture Trivia Night at...
Lenny Collini to become Vandergrift’s new mayor
Vandergrift will have a new mayor to start the new year. Councilman Lenny Collini, who was listed on both party ballots Tuesday, won 76.5% of the vote against a write-in campaign waged by incumbent Democrat Barbara Turiak, who received 23.5%. With all of Vandergrift’s six precincts reporting, Collini had 485...
Political newcomer ousts longtime supervisor in Allegheny Township
A political newcomer appeared to be successful in his campaign to replace a longtime supervisor in Allegheny Township. According to unofficial election results Tuesday night and with all precincts reporting, Republican James Morabito had 56% of the vote, defeating incumbent Supervisor Kathy Starr, who had about 44%. This is the...
Lindsay Fraser unseats Tom Kish as Brackenridge mayor
Brackenridge residents cast a ballot for change on Tuesday, electing a new mayor for the first time in 12 years. Political newcomer Lindsay Fraser, who is not affiliated with any party, handily won the election against Democratic incumbent Thomas Kish by more than 30%, with a total of 275 votes...
Oakmont police investigating thefts from unlocked vehicles
Oakmont police are investigating a rash of vehicle break-ins. Chief Michael Ford said a group of young men reportedly entered at least eight unlocked vehicles on multiple blocks between Fifth and Thirteenth streets sometime between Monday night and Tuesday morning. Victims reported cash and other items being stolen. No forcible...
New Kensington gives preliminary approval to 2022 budget with no property tax hike
The property tax rate will not be going up in New Kensington next year. City Council on Monday approved an $8.47 million preliminary budget for 2022 that keeps the tax rate at 32.03 mills. The city would spend almost 4% more than its $8.16 million budget for this year. City Clerk...
Registered sex offender accused of sexually assaulting teenage girl in Kittanning a decade ago
A Lawrence County man has been charged with felony counts of indecent contact with a minor and indecent assault of a person under the age of 13 for an incident that happened in Kittanning about a decade ago, according to authorities. An arrest warrant was issued for Charles James Airgood...
Oakmont celebrates all things fall during annual festival
Despite a tenuous beginning with the weather, the Oakmont Fall Festival and Halloween parade went off as planned Oct. 30. Costumed children and their parents marched down Allegheny River Boulevard to kick off the day. The Riverview marching band led the 10 a.m. parade to celebrate the day’s festivities. The...
