Valley News Dispatch category, Page 514

CNX Resources’ grants totaling $12,200 will help two local school districts, providing one with equipment to tap free high-speed internet for students in the New Kensington-Arnold School District, where 150 homes either don’t have internet access or lack reliable service. The CNX grants, $6,500 to New Kensington-Arnold and $5,700 to...

Annual Lions Club event goes virtual this year The annual Jack Marino Tarentum Area Lions Club Charity event will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 online on the club Facebook page. Prizes totaling $5,000 will be given away. Proceeds will benefit Lions Club charities. Tickets are $50. For tickets, call...

Another student in the Leechburg Area School district in grades 7-12 has tested positive for covid-19, Leechburg Superintendent Tiffany Nix said Friday in an email to district parents. The student was last on campus Nov. 19. The district did not identify the infected student. Current total cases in the district...

Three Alle-Kiski Valley communities that have drafted a plan to guide their collective future have scheduled public hearings for residents to comment on it. Tarentum, Brackenridge and Harrison, in that order, will hold hearings on their proposed joint comprehensive plan in December. The plan, in development for more than a...

Exemplifying that the show must go on, the Burrell High School Drama Club is taking it a step higher, donning theatrical, hand-painted masks for the upcoming play, “Fantastic Mr. Fox.” While the actors will be performing live on stage, the district will present the play virtually for three shows on...

Three black bears were taken by archers in Allegheny County so far, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The black bears bagged in Allegheny County were in West Deer, Elizabeth and in the state game lands in Marshall and Franklin townships, said Zeb Campbell, game warden for Allegheny County. While...

Like most other places, Market Street in Leechburg was calm early Thanksgiving Day morning. People appeared to be staying in amid covid-19 travel advisories. And newly hired, part-time borough police Officer Kyle Lewis was hoping it would stay calm. “I don’t want to jinx it by saying it will be...

HOPE Center seeks support for program The HOPE Center is seeking support for its annual Adopt-A-Family Christmas Program to benefit HOPE Center families. This program is recommended for individuals, families, community groups, businesses, churches, schools, or anyone looking to do something for those in need and give back to their...

Christmas festivities in Vandergrift will be altered to account for covid-19, but the festivities will continue. The Vandergrift Improvement Program’s (VIP) “Light-up Night” takes place every year the weekend after Thanksgiving, normally including a Christmas parade attended by every fire department in the area, incorporating floats, food vendors and entertainment....

Allegheny Township residents won’t have a property tax increase next year, marking the 11th consecutive year without an increase. Township supervisors presented the preliminary 2021 budget Monday. The budget includes a general fund of just under $4 million, along with about $335,000 allocated for debt service, $235,000 for the fire...

The Allegheny County Jail inmate who died Thursday is a 63-year-old man from the Natrona Heights neighborhood of Harrison, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office said. Daniel Pastorek, 63, was found unresponsive in his cell, Warden Orlando Harper said. A corrections officer and medical staff tended to Pastorek until paramedics...

A heartfelt thank you to all our loyal readers. Happy Thanksgiving! – Carol Pinto-Smith Westmoreland County Marines to supply Christmas groceries Westmoreland County Marines will provide Christmas groceries to local veterans’ families in need. To apply, veterans must provide proper identification and proof of military service such as a VA...

Operation Santa Claus has been helping Western Pennsylvania families with the gift of a holiday meal for 36 years, and this year may prove to be the most challenging in the long history of the nonprofit organization. “The need is greater than ever this year. We’re trying our best to...

Lower Burrell’s American Legion, Post 868, along Wildlife Lodge Road is closed until at least Monday because of a verified covid-19 case. Legion officials found out that one of their patrons tested positive for covid-19 on Monday night, said Post 868 Commander Ed Zollinger. The Legion promptly closed its facilities,...

Riverview High School senior Alexio Ciorra has been selected as one of eight bassists in this year’s All-National Honors Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra, under the direction of world-renowned international conductor and violinist Nobuyoshi Yasuda, features the top high school musicians from across the nation. They usually perform at a festival...

A Secret Santa is spreading Christmas cheer again in Leechburg Area School District. A handwritten letter with a $10,000 check enclosed was received this month by David Leech Elementary School Principal David Keibler. Keibler said the donor wishes to remain anonymous, but revealed that the Secret Santa is a former...

Boy Scouts to sell Christmas trees in Allegheny Township Boy Scout Troop 551 of Hyde Park is conducting its annual Christmas tree sale at Stanford Home Center, 1173 Route 356, Allegheny Township. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Black Friday, 4 to 8 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 6...

New Kensington police said they found guns, ammunition and drugs in a man’s home Monday after responding to a fight allegedly brought about by his girlfriend trying to catch him with another woman. Police said Albert Earl Taylor, 49, is a felon who is not legally permitted to possess firearms....

Around the WPIAL, schools have delayed the start of winter sports season. Whereas teams were set to begin practice last Friday, some schools pushed their start dates to Dec. 7. On Monday, the Highlands School District announced it was postponing winter sports until Jan. 15, though athletic director Drew Karpen...