Valley News Dispatch category, Page 550

Westmoreland officials confirmed Friday that an inmate who was placed in custody last week at the county prison tested positive for coronavirus. This is the first confirmed case involving inmates or staff at the lockup. Warden John Walton said the inmate was arrested July 11 by New Kensington police and...

The Kiski Valley Water Pollution Control Authority is raising its rates to help pay for $11.5 million in system improvements. The average household that uses 10,000 gallons of water per quarter will pay a total bill of $87.50, about 6.4% higher than the current $82.22, starting with January’s bill. Officials...

Springdale Township has bought surveillance cameras that can capture high-resolution images to record license plates and are capable of facial identification to thwart vandalism, illegal dumping and other misconduct. The township has contracted with Secure Technical Solutions Inc., of New Kensington, for about $4,000 for three to four cameras and...

Drivers will have to contend with lengthy detours while a section of Saltsburg Road in Plum is closed for 27 days starting Saturday. While the posted detour for passenger vehicles is about 11 miles, the one for commercial truck traffic is more than twice as long. Saltsburg Road (Route 380)...

Highlands School District students would be in schools two days a week and work remotely the other three days under the district’s tentative reopening plan. The district also would offer a full virtual learning option for families with children who cannot return to any in-person schooling in August, according to...

Plum residents had mixed reactions to a controversial post by a school board member in a private social media page. More than a dozen people came to Thursday night’s special meeting with many calling for the resignation of board member Amy Wetmore for her comments on the Black Lives Matter...

Is your non-profit organization going to have a fundraiser? Send information to The Stroller at least a week in advance to vndnews@tribweb.com or The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Bus service reinstated in Oakmont and Verona Riverview Community Action...

Plum School District’s reopening plan gives parents a choice to maintain their children’s distance learning or send them back into school next month. The plan, which is available for review at the district’s website, was approved by an 8-1 vote at a special meeting Thursday night. School Director Michelle Stepnick...

Days after closing due to a possible covid-19 exposure, Vandergrift’s Joseph A. Petrarca Pool is reopening Friday. The reopening was announced Thursday on the Vandergrift Pool Facebook page. Officials closed the pool July 11 after an employee was possibly exposed to the coronavirus. “To be clear, this is not a...

Lower Burrell Volunteer Fire Company No. 3 is looking to fill a pandemic-related hole in its budget by filling people’s stomachs. The department lost an estimated $12,000 to $13,000 when it had to cancel one of its largest annual fundraisers, the weeklong Fireman’s Carnival, because of the coronavirus pandemic, said...

Kayakers will be able to get out on the water in Aspinwall this weekend, Venture Outdoors announced Thursday. After a stalled start to the season amid covid-19 concerns, the group said it will open its Kayak Pittsburgh site at the Aspinwall Riverfront Park on Friday for members. Access will be...

Is your non-profit organization going to have a fundraiser? Send information to The Stroller at least a week in advance to vndnews@tribweb.com or The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Apollo Library to open to patrons Apollo Memorial Library, 219...

A Facebook post by Plum School Director Amy Wetmore has some borough officials calling for her resignation. The post in question was made on July 8 by the school board’s finance committee liaison in a private page called “Black Lives Matter In Plum Boro.” It appears to have been made...

New Kensington-Arnold School District’s health and safety plan calls for students and staff to wear face coverings and practice social distancing as much as possible when returning to schools in late August. Wearing masks on buses and temperature checks upon arrival are also part of the plan that was discussed...

The Sheetz in Creighton closed Wednesday after an employee tested positive for covid-19. The employee was at the Sheetz location on Freeport Road, in the Creighton section of East Deer, on Wednesday morning. Because of the positive test, the store closed immediately. The location is being professionally deep cleaned, sanitized,...

Dueling petitions to keep or change the name of Squaw Valley Park in O’Hara are heating up online and will likely be debated during the township’s parks and recreation committee meeting on July 22. Council heard Tuesday night from several people advocating for a name change to the 31-acre park...

Is your non-profit organization going to have a fundraiser? Send information to The Stroller at least a week in advance to vndnews@tribweb.com or The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Women’s golf outing scheduled Aug. 11 A women’s golf outing...

Communication is important in all aspects of life. It might be even more so during a coronavirus pandemic. “Society has become so focused on the question ‘What’s in it for me?’ that we are almost paralyzed when it comes to interpersonal communication,” said Cathi Gerhard, lecturer at Penn State New...

Lower Burrell Council has agreed to pay a national company to create a new city website offering more information and services online, including delivery of city council minutes and easier access to information. The city is contracting with CivicPlus, of Manhattan, Kan., to set up and develop the website for...

An Arnold man who has been in jail for more than three years as he awaits his murder trial will appear before a Westmoreland County judge next week to ask for his freedom. Cashaan Williams, 21, has been behind bars since May 2017 after his two $50,000 bonds were revoked...

An annual event that raises money for causes in the Pittsburgh region will not be happening this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Ian Coyle said the safety of the attendees was paramount in his decision to cancel the fifth annual “Small Town, Loud Voice” fundraiser in West Leechburg, which...

A North Apollo man is accused of threatening to kill another man as he hit him numerous times in the head and torso with a chain, according to Kiski Township police. Police charged Randy Lee Hollis, 58, with two felony counts of aggravated assault as well as lesser charges including...

New Kensington-Arnold School District’s plan for the coming school year includes remote learning for students who don’t want to go back to the district’s buildings because of coronavirus. The district also will be providing a cyber program, the district announced. The district’s reopening plan will be presented to the school...

Is your non-profit organization going to have a fundraiser? Send information to The Stroller at least a week in advance to vndnews@tribweb.com or The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Free food to be distributed at Highlands High School 412...