Valley News Dispatch category, Page 561
New Kensington-Arnold going to all remote instruction for 1 week
New Kensington-Arnold School District will change from in-person to remote instruction for all students the week of Nov. 2, the school board decided Tuesday. The state Department of Education has recommended that Westmoreland County districts move to fully remote instruction to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. On Tuesday, the county...
The Stroller, Oct. 28, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Is your church or organization going to host a free Thanksgiving Dinner? Send information to The Stroller as soon as possible to vndnews@tribweb.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Veterans Day information sought The Stroller is compiling a list of Veterans Day parades and events to be published online and...
Fall Greek Food To-Go event may become new tradition for Oakmont church
An Oakmont church already known for its annual food festival might have started a new tradition this year. The Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church hosted a Greek Food To-Go event Oct. 24 and 25 in order to help recoup some of the financial losses incurred due to the...
Incumbent state Senator Brewster faces GOP challenge from Lower Burrell attorney
A Lower Burrell attorney is challenging a Democratic incumbent known for working both sides of the aisle in the 45th State Senate District, which includes parts of Allegheny and Westmoreland counties and stretches from McKeesport to the Alle-Kiski Valley. While both candidates assign importance to similar issues, like the economy,...
Upper Burrell man accused of pointing loaded AR-15 at woman
An Upper Burrell man is accused of pointing a loaded AR-15 rifle at a woman and pulling the trigger, but police said the weapon malfunctioned. Matthew Best, 32, of Upper Burrell, has been charged with aggravated assault, making terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person, loitering and prowling at night, and...
Police: Washington Township woman falsely claimed to be sheriff’s deputy
A Washington Township woman who police said has been repeatedly warned in the past to stop identifying herself as a sheriff’s deputy was charged with impersonating a public servant after an incident near her home. Barbara Lynne Szulc, 61, allegedly was riding a red lawnmower around Wellington Estates at 3:45...
Kiski police: Chase ensues after officers see boys smoking marijuana in store parking lot
A Kiski Township police vehicle was hit in a chase that ensued Monday night after police said they saw two juveniles smoking marijuana in the parking lot of a Dollar General store in North Apollo. Police did not identify the boys or disclose their ages or where they are from....
The Stroller, Oct. 27, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Is your church or organization going to host a free Thanksgiving Dinner? Send information to The Stroller as soon as possible to vndnews@tribweb.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Free Narcan distribution and resource fair planned in Harrison The Building Block of Natrona and the Allegheny County Health Department will...
West Deer approves $100 fine to combat false alarms
West Deer residents and businesses will now have to pay $100 each time their alarms accidentally go off three or more times per year. Supervisors at their October meeting approved updating the township’s existing false alarm ordinance to help out West Deer’s police and volunteer fire companies, who have been...
Fox Chapel will host private meeting with some residents to hear input on ‘Squaw’
Residents of Squaw Run Road and Squaw Run Road East in Fox Chapel will get a final chance to provide input on their road names — and whether the word Squaw is removed — during a private meeting Nov. 9. Council will host a closed meeting with residents to hear...
Police: Intoxicated Tarentum man attacks wedding party, threatens officers
A Tarentum man was arrested Saturday after police said he shouted obscenities at a wedding party as he drove past them and then got out of his vehicle and went after them. Borough police charged Brian S. Henning Jr., 32, with resisting arrest, driving under the influence, disorderly conduct and...
Coronavirus case confirmed at Leechburg Middle/Senior High School
A staffer at Leechburg Middle/Senior High School has tested positive for coronavirus, according to Superintendent Tiffany Nix. The district notified families of the positive case in a letter dated Thursday. The letter did not identify the infected individual. Nix said the district has followed recommendations by the state’s health and...
Dozens of items seized from Washington Township home likely stolen, police say
When Washington Township Police Chief Scott Slagle went on the hunt for a 30-ton log splitter that had been reported stolen, he was surprised to find it this month sitting in the driveway of a Spring Hill Road home. Now, investigators are trying to figure out the origin of dozens...
The Stroller, Oct. 26, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Is your church or organization going to host a free Thanksgiving Dinner? Send information to The Stroller at least a week in advance to vndnews@tribweb.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. TryLife Center accepting donations The TryLife Center in Lower Burrell is accepting donations of new and gently-used children’s clothing...
Police: Off-duty New Kensington cop accused of assaulting girlfriend after birthday party
An off-duty New Kensington police officer is accused of beating up his girlfriend after drinking at a Pittsburgh bar over the weekend, according to a criminal complaint. The woman told police she had been navigating their route home with a GPS when the incident happened. Joseph Martino II, 32, of...
Trick-or-treat during a pandemic: ‘We don’t have the power to stop Halloween’
It didn’t take long for the first trickle of school-related coronavirus cases this fall to turn into a steady drip that has seen multiple school buildings close. State health officials said earlier this week that the fall surge they had anticipated had arrived. Many communities, however, are going ahead with...
Student tests positive for covid-19 at Kiski Intermediate School
A student has tested positive for covid-19 at Kiski Intermediate School, a letter from Superintendent Tim Scott said, but the school will remain open. The Department of Health was contacted and the district is following state recommendations, according to the letter, sent Friday. “Last night the Department of Health informed...
Wild turkey chase around Murrysville tree may look crazy, but it’s normal, expert saysVideo
At first glance, the three wild turkeys chasing one another around a tree in Murrysville look crazy, but what seems like silly play is really a struggle for dominance, according to a state turkey expert. PixCams captured the clip on a webcam trained on a field in Murrysville earlier this...
Renovation plans in the works for Vandergrift Public Library
Repairs are likely to come at Vandergrift Public Library. Library Director Vanessa Groholski said Vandergrift Council members and a structural engineer have visited the building to assess damage caused by longstanding water seepage, which has caused interior paint to bubble and walls to crumble. “It’s going to be a really...
Burrell lands prestigious arts designation by state group
The Burrell School District was selected as one of 26 in the state as a Visual Arts Outstanding Community. The Pennsylvania Art Education Association bestows the recognition to highlight “exceptional schools that support their visual arts programs,” said Lisbeth M. Bucci, association president. “Burrell’s arts programs demonstrate rigor, using standards-based...
New Kensington fire department hosting open houses at all 5 companiesVideo
All five New Kensington fire companies will host open houses Tuesday in observance of October as Fire Prevention Month. Residents are invited to tour the stations with their children, Assistant Chief Matt Sobecki with Company No. 1 said. Open houses will run from 6-8 p.m. Station locations are Company No....
Salvation Army faces more need, fundraising challenges as Red Kettle season nears
The covid-19 pandemic is presenting a challenge to the Salvation Army and its iconic Red Kettle campaign. “We’re kind of up against needing to raise more money but it’s also harder to raise money with everything that’s going on,” said Lt. Alex Senak with the Allegheny Valley Salvation Army in...
The Stroller, Oct. 25, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Is your church or organization going to host a free Thanksgiving Dinner? Send information to The Stroller at least a week in advance to vndnews@tribweb.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. New Kensington Fire stations to host open house events The New Kensington Fire companies will welcome children and adults...
Biden supporters caravan around the A-K Valley, rally in Harrison
A caravan of about 140 cars, trucks and SUVs adorned with decorations touting support for the Biden-Harris presidential ticket paraded around the Alle-Kiski Valley on Saturday, then parked at Harrison Hills Park for a social distance-friendly political rally. The event marked an opportunity for supporters of Democratic nominee Joe Biden...
Fall version of Oakmont Greek Food Festival going on this weekendVideo
A shortened version of the Oakmont Greek Food Festival is going on this weekend. The Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church is hosting Greek Food To-Go Saturday and Sunday from noon to 7 p.m. or while supplies last at 12 Washington Ave. Co-chair Andy Gavrilos said they hope to...
