Valley News Dispatch category, Page 517
Stimulus bill could bring money to expand high-speed internet in Westmoreland
Officials with the Economic Growth Connection of Westmoreland County say the region is on track for growth in the coming year, with the expansion of high-speed internet access a top priority. Connection President and CEO Jim Smith, addressing the economic development group’s annual meeting last week via Zoom, said events...
The Stroller, Feb. 28, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s meetings, events and fundraisers in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Let us know about your Easter events The Valley News Dispatch will be publishing a list of community Easter egg hunts and activities. To...
Population rises in Upper Burrell, bucking Westmoreland County trend
Upper Burrell’s population is growing, a phenomenon likely driven by a number of factors, including a low cost of living and competent local leadership. Data show Upper Burrell’s population jumped from 2,056 in 2010 to 2,386 in 2019 — an increase of 16%. “It has a number of great factors...
Exchange student from Italy adjusts to life in A-K Valley during pandemicVideo
Beatrice Latina will take back to Rome a memorable souvenir from her experience living in the Alle-Kiski Valley. Her covid recovery story. Latina, nicknamed “Bi Bi” by her friends, is from Italy and the sole foreign exchange student at Highlands High School in Harrison. She tested positive for covid-19 about...
Harrison neighbors welcome demolition of abandoned houses
Weeds and cats are the main nuisances Alisha Laime says she has to live with because of an abandoned house next to her home in Harrison’s Natrona neighborhood. Hearing that it could be torn down was welcome news. “I absolutely want it down,” she said Friday. “You don’t know what...
Dollar General to open location in Parks Township
Parks Township is getting its first Dollar General discount store. Kelly Shotts, project manager with Harchuck Construction in Washington Township said the new store, located at 1014 East 2nd Street, is expected to open the first week in May. Washington Township-based Harchuck is developing the site on behalf of Dollar...
Kiski Area’s musical will be streamed on YouTubeVideo
It’s still lights, camera, action for Kiski Area Musical students this spring. After sweeping cancellations of high school spring musical productions in 2020 due to covid conditions, directors had to adjust their musical productions. Kiski Musical director Robert Capanna found a creative and covid-19 friendly performance option. The cast is...
Leechburg, New Ken food distributions canceled for 2nd week in a row because truck didn’t come
For the second Saturday in a row, people who showed up to receive food from churches in Leechburg and New Kensington went home empty handed. The pastors of Kiski Valley Community Church and The River church in New Kensington were forced to cancel the drive-thru food distributions because the food...
The Stroller, Feb. 27, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s meetings, Easter events and fundraisers in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Annual cleanup season begins Monday The annual Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful campaign will kick off its cleanup season on Monday. The annual community improvement...
Kiski police seek woman accused of passing fake $100 bill
Kiski Township Police are looking for a woman they said passed counterfeit money at a grocery store on Thursday. In a post made on Friday to the Kiski Township Police Department Facebook page, police said the woman passed the counterfeit money on Feb. 25 at Held’s Shop & Save, 307...
Police: Springdale man fought neighbor during parking spot dispute
After clearing two parking spaces in front of his house free from snow, a Springdale man assaulted his neighbor for parking his truck in one of them, according to police. David Mann, 38, is facing charges including simple assault, strangulation and disorderly conduct. As of yesterday, he was arrested and...
New Kensington family plans to build home for contracting business in Arnold
After nearly 40 years in business, a New Kensington family is ready to move its contracting business out of the basement of its founder’s home and into its first offices with a new facility in Arnold. In addition to a headquarters for the business, Shawn Whalen, the second generation owner...
Tarentum man charged with pointing loaded gun at woman during argument
Tarentum police ordered a man and woman out of a house in the 300 block of West Seventh Avenue at gunpoint after responding to a domestic disturbance early Friday morning. Police said they were told shortly before 12:30 a.m. that Walter Clayton Jordan II, 41, had pulled a gun and...
South Buffalo VFD seeks nominations for family to benefit from truck and tractor pull
The South Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department is seeking nominations for a family in need to be the beneficiary of their annual benefit truck and tractor pull. There are no specific qualifications to be nominated. The VFD asks that people do not nominate themselves, said Erin Pflueger, a member of...
New Kensington-Arnold reports covid cases at 2 elementary schools, closes 1
New Kensington-Arnold School District has announced positive covid-19 cases at two elementary schools, forcing one to close. According to a notice from acting Superintendent Jon Banko, the district was notified of three cases at Roy A. Hunt Elementary and one at H.D. Berkey Elementary. Both schools are in Arnold. Berkey...
The Stroller, Feb. 26, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s meetings, Easter events and fundraisers in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Leechburg Rotary Club accepting scholarship applications The Rotary Club of Leechburg will award community service scholarships to students living within the Leechburg and...
Chick-fil-A a big hit with customers on opening day in O’Hara
Chick-fil-A opened its O’Hara location Thursday, and customers were already lined up in their cars along the Fox Chapel Plaza parking lot eager to satisfy their waffle fries and chicken cravings. “We had 20 cars waiting in line before the restaurant opened at 9 a.m.,” said Drake Rabon, the restaurant’s...
New Kensington CVS among 6 in state getting limited covid vaccine shots
The New Kensington CVS was one of six of the pharmacy chain’s Pennsylvania locations administering covid-19 vaccinations in Pennsylvania beginning Thursday. The vaccinations were by appointment only for those eligible at this time. All six Pennsylvania stores were fully booked. Other CVS locations were in Chambersburg, Franklin County; Enola, Cumberland...
Arnold police say man tried to keep money, heroin from controlled buy
Arnold police say a man who was making a controlled drug buy for narcotics agents tried to keep some of the cash he had been given, as well as some of the heroin. After Shawn M. Ferraccio was arrested, Arnold police say he tried to run away when being taken...
Straight outta Vandergrift, ‘Banshee’ comes to HBO Max
It’s time to go back to Banshee, Pa. — if you dare. The Cinemax action series, which filmed its fourth and final season in the Alle-Kiski Valley and Pittsburgh area, is now available for streaming on HBO Max. “We are home,” actor Matt Servitto, who portrayed Banshee sheriff Deputy Brock...
Vandergrift Borough’s website no longer being maintained
Vandergrift Borough’s website went offline sometime last weekend, but there are no concrete plans at this time to replace it. Visitors to the site will now see a message in huge font reading, “This site is no longer being updated or maintained. If you have any questions or suggestions, please...
The Stroller, Feb. 25, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s meetings, Easter events and fundraisers in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Free food distribution set in Leechburg A free drive-thru food distribution will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Leechburg Fire Hall grounds,...
Lower Burrell community group planning short St. Patrick’s Day parade March 6
In a time when pandemic restrictions have canceled numerous parades and events, a Lower Burrell community group looking to spread a little cheer is planning a St. Patrick’s Day parade March 6. Featuring fire trucks and community groups, the parade route is less than a mile long. The stripped-down event,...
Apollo to hold in-person council meeting at new location; vacancy ordinance to be considered
Apollo Council will hold its first in-person public meeting in months on Thursday, and one of the issues to be discussed will be a proposed vacancy ordinance. Mayor Cindee Virostek is among the happiest of meeting attendees at the new location, the spacious Apollo Volunteer Fire Company No. 2 Fire...
AHN covid vaccination clinic targets marginalized patients in New KensingtonVideo
Getting a needle stuck in her arm felt like normalcy coming back for Doris Hardy. Hardy, 69, of New Kensington was one of about 350 people who received their first dose of the Moderna covid-19 vaccine during a clinic Wednesday at Allegheny Valley Hospital’s outpatient center in New Kensington, the...
