Valley News Dispatch category, Page 556
After missing for more than 100 years, 8 species of freshwater mussels found in the KiskiVideo
— A recent scuba survey of the Kiski River, the first in more than 110 years in what was once a dead river, turned up eight species of freshwater mussels, surprising researchers. For more than a century, the river was sullied by large amounts of noxious drainage from coal mining...
Cement blocks keeping cars off pedestrian-only road in Harrison
Bollards that blocked cars from driving on the pedestrian-only portion of Center Street in the Natrona area of Harrison will be replaced, Commissioner William Heasley said. The bollards were removed when part of the road, closed to vehicles between Spruce and Pond streets, was repaved, and vehicles immediately began driving...
The Stroller, Oct. 11, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
The Valley News Dispatch is compiling a list of autumn events and Halloween parades, parties and trick-or-treat nights. Send information to cpinto-smith@triblive.com. Drive-through food distribution set for Tuesday at Pittsburgh Mills Allegheny Valley Association of Churches and the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank will host a drive-through food distribution for...
West Deer house fire that killed girl, 14, ruled an accidentVideo
The fire that killed a 14-year-old West Deer girl in March has been ruled accidental, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office said Saturday. Dayanna Shaffer, an eighth-grader at Deer Lakes Middle School, called 911 to report the fire at her home on Shepard Road on the morning of March 26....
Lower Burrell applies for grant to pay for $30,000-plus in pandemic expenses
Lower Burrell officials want help from a Westmoreland Cares Municipal Grant to pay for covid-19 expenses. Municipalities in Westmoreland County are eligible for the grant, which covers unbudgeted, covid-19-related expenses from March 1 to Oct. 1. The grants are paid for from relief monies from state and federal government agencies....
The Stroller, Oct. 10, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
The Valley News Dispatch is compiling a list of autumn events and Halloween parades, parties and trick-or-treat nights. Send information to cpinto-smith@triblive.com. Turkey Trot to aid youth group The Kiski Valley Turkey Trot 5K Race to benefit Kiski Area Youth Network will be Thanksgiving, Nov. 26 at Kunkle Park, 985...
Consolidation of Springdale, Cheswick police forces working well one year later
It’s been just over a year since Springdale Township commissioners approved merging the township’s police department with Cheswick’s to create the Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department. The merger appears to be going smoothly with consolidation bringing more efficient policing. Both municipalities contribute equally to the department’s roughly $450,000 annual budget,...
New Kensington man acquitted of charges in 2018 overdose death
A New Kensington man accused of selling a dose of fentanyl-laced heroin to a Natrona man who died of an overdose two years ago was acquitted Friday. A Westmoreland County jury deliberated more than three hours before it found Adrian Morris, 23, not guilty of drug delivery resulting in death...
Allusion Brewing Co. to open Saturday in VandergriftVideo
After months of delays, Vandergrift’s Allusion Brewing Co. will officially open Saturday. Robert Buchanan and John Bieranoski had planned to open their craft brewery in the spring. They were ready to make Vandergrift a new destination for craft beer enthusiasts. In February, Buchanan said everything was on track for a...
Allegheny Valley church association going forward with annual hunger walk in HarrisonVideo
Facing an increased need for food brought on by the covid-19 pandemic that also prevents people from gathering for things like fundraisers, the Allegheny Valley Association of Churches is going forward with its annual Walk for Hunger in Harrison on Sunday. The association has held the walk for more than...
New Kensington residents can help paint mural that will brighten gateway to city
A three-story mural will grace a gateway to New Kensington, and residents have one last chance this weekend to take part in creating it. A third and likely final “paint day” for the community mural will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday outside of Voodoo Brewery, 956...
Growing up in Leechburg shaped monsignor’s faith, devotion to churchVideo
Growing up in Leechburg, Monsignor Larry Kulick was no stranger to church. “I often say one of the main reasons I’m a priest today is because of my experience in my home parish,” Kulick said. “I can remember being really interested in altar serving.” Kulick, 54, serves as diocesan administrator...
Ready. Aim. Party! Indoor Nerf gun arena opens at Pittsburgh Mills mall
Mike Polimadei’s newest business venture was all inspired by his Nerf gun loving son. Polimadei said his 12-year-old son Roman was the driving force behind his desire to open Turf Attack, an indoor Nerf gun arena at the Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer. “He has a million Nerf guns,” Polimadei...
Freeport Area School District moves to in-person instruction 4 days a week
Freeport Area School District on Thursday voted to allow students in-person instruction four days a week, with Fridays serving as an online instruction day. The plan will go into effect on Oct. 13. Students were previously learning in a hybrid model, in which they could be in-person twice a week....
Pandemic relief money awarded to fire departments, EMS agencies
Millions of dollars soon will be in the coffers of local fire departments, rescue and ambulance services to help offset the negative impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on fundraising. About 90 Westmoreland County fire departments are getting more than $2 million. Fourteen EMS agencies in the county are set to...
Upper Burrell officials say there’s no stopping new Dollar General
Residents along Dewey Drive in Upper Burrell don’t want a proposed Dollar General store at Route 780 and Dewey, although supervisors told upset residents Wednesday night there’s little they can do. The land proposed for the store is in a C-1 district known as a commercial neighborhood service zone, which...
West Deer Food Bank continues to help those in needVideo
Carol McCaskey spent close to 40 years teaching elementary students. She knows what it’s like to see children go hungry. When McCaskey’s career first began, schools didn’t offer breakfast to students. She said students would come to school with stomachaches on Monday mornings because they didn’t have anything to eat...
The Stroller, Oct. 9, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
The Valley News Dispatch is compiling a list of autumn events and Halloween parades, parties and trick-or-treat nights. Send information to cpinto-smith@triblive.com. Campfire ghost story events planned in Allegheny County parks Allegheny County Parks Department will host four nights of Campfire Ghost Stories during October. All events begin at 7...
‘No room in hockey’ for assault on referee in New Kensington, players say
Adult recreational hockey league players and referees said Thursday a player who allegedly assaulted a referee in an adult league game at Pittsburgh Ice Arena in New Kensington should be dealt with harshly. The incident happened Friday at the Craigdell Road arena. Jeremy Gregory Gilbert, 43, of Buffalo Township was...
Charges against West Deer Park vandals dropped after men agree to community service, restitution
Summary offenses for three men who West Deer police say damaged sports fields at two township parks last year by driving on them in a pickup were dismissed earlier this week, according to online court records. Court records show criminal mischief charges brought against Ethan Adamiak, 19, Devin Andrew Colucci,...
Witness in trial of New Kensington man admits to buying drugs that killed his friend
A former Oklahoma Borough man told a Westmoreland County jury he knew he couldn’t stick around after he and another man left their unconscious friend across the front seats of his pickup parked in the New Kensington Taco Bell parking lot two years ago. Keith Klingensmith testified he didn’t know...
Because of covid, Lower Burrell farm market has best year ever; 2 Saturday markets left
As the pandemic rushed in only a few months ahead of farm market season, Lower Burrell farm market organizers knew it wouldn’t be the same. No more picnic tables for the public to eat homemade pie bought by the slice, all with live music nearby. Bud Myers, a member of...
Oakmont Chamber of Commerce to host Halloween event Oct. 29
Oakmont Chamber of Commerce and borough businesses want to do their part to ensure children have a safe and spooky Halloween. The chamber is hosting a trick-or-treat event from 5-7 p.m. Oct. 29 along Allegheny River Boulevard. Many shops from College to Pennsylvania avenues will have candy for children, and...
Police: Hockey player assaults referee over holding penalty at New Kensington skating rink
A Buffalo Township man attacked a hockey referee at Pittsburgh Ice Arena in New Kensington after the referee called a holding penalty against him, police said. New Kensington police charged Jeremy Gregory Gilbert, 43, of Buffalo Township with assault on a sports official, a first-degree misdemeanor, in which they say...
Halloween activities in the Alle-Kiski Valley – Oct. 8, 2020
To have your event listed, send information to Carol Pinto-Smith, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum, PA 15084; or email cpinto-smith@triblive.com. Community events Trick-or-treat and events open only to residents of the designated community include: • Allegheny Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31 • Apollo: Trick-or-treat: 6 to...
