Valley News Dispatch category, Page 566
Oakmont officials discuss next year’s budget; trying for no tax increase
Oakmont officials hope to hold the line on real estate taxes in next year’s spending plan. Council had its first 2021 budget meeting Monday night at the borough building. Discussions focused on the general fund with expenses and revenues estimated at $4.8 million, about $100,000 less compared to the current...
Highlands parents asked to complete survey on children’s schooling model
Parents of students in the Highlands School District are being asked to fill out a survey if they want to change how their children attend school. The district is conducting the survey as it nears the end of the first nine week grading period. Surveys are due by Friday. At...
Deer Lakes confirms covid-19 case at middle school
A staff member at Deer Lakes Middle School has tested positive for covid-19, according to Superintendent Janell Logue-Belden. The district was notified of the case on Monday, Logue-Belden said in a letter sent to families. The letter did not identify the infected individual other than to say it is a...
Vandergrift to show movie in the park Oct. 17
Vandergrift will host a movie night in Kennedy Park on Saturday, Oct. 17. The field will open around 5:30 p.m. for viewers. The plan was initially discussed at the council’s September meeting. Councilman John Uskuraitis said he pitched the idea “to give the community something to look forward to” amid...
Staff member at Allegheny Valley School District’s Acmetonia Elementary tests positive for covid-19
The Allegheny Valley School District was notified Friday that a staff member at Acmetonia Elementary School has tested positive for covid-19. The last date of possible exposure at the school was last Tuesday. “We were made aware by the staff member that they tested positive on Friday,” superintendent Patrick M....
Hockey referee plans to keep officiating after attack at New Kensington arena
When Mario de Leon returned home from refereeing an adult league hockey game Oct. 2, his wife saw the cut on his nose and wanted to know what had happened. He decided not to tell her, but then a court summons showed up. A Buffalo Township man accused of attacking...
The Stroller, Oct. 12, 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. Allegheny Valley Association of Churches Food Bank open Wednesday The Allegheny Valley Association of Churches Food Bank will be open to anyone in need from 1:30 to 5:30...
Be my guest: Charming Leechburg bed-and-breakfast (and former church next door) can be yours
The only B&B in Leechburg is for sale. John Truett, a former Disney World executive, owns both the Old Parsonage Bed and Breakfast and the Enchanted Abbey (formerly Holy Innocents Episcopal Church) at 156 Siberian Ave. The two buildings are listed at $185,000 and are on the same lot. Truett,...
Trump supporters gather in Alle-Kiski Valley for caravan, rally
Hundreds of people made their way to the Heights Plaza in Harrison on Sunday for a caravan and rally in support of President Trump’s re-election campaign. Supporters waved American flags and carried signs that read messages such as “Make America Great Again” and “Keep America Great.” The caravan left shortly...
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...
