Valley News Dispatch category, Page 580
Social media threat discovered toward end of Apollo-Ridge graduation ceremony
A threat made via social media had Apollo-Ridge School District officials err on the side of caution during the finale of Friday night’s graduation ceremony and cut it short. School Director Paul King said the district skipped its traditional return of seniors’ caps and gowns in exchange for diplomas after...
No traditional graduation celebration? No problem for Highlands High grads who get parade instead
The Highlands Class of 2020 did not get to march at commencement on Friday evening, but they did get to be recognized. The seniors rode in cars, many poking out of the top of sunroofs, some riding in the back of pickup trucks, all escorted by police and volunteer firefighters...
Alle-Kiski Valley shoppers lament closing of JCPenney in Frazer mall
Sandra Fitzsimmons enjoys shopping at JCPenney and sees it occupying a necessary place in retail — a step above Walmart, a step below Macy’s. Fitzsimmons, of Allegheny Township, was outside the JCPenney at the Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer on Friday, lamenting that the store is among four in Western...
The Stroller, June 5, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
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. Parade to honor Valley High Class of 2020 A...
Not even a pandemic can stop celebration for Leechburg Area High School seniors
The Leechburg Area High School Class of 2020 couldn’t enjoy normal festivities as a result of social distancing rules bought on by the worldwide covid-19 pandemic. But that didn’t stop people from Leechburg, West Leechburg and Gilpin coming out to give them a parade just before they graduated Thursday night....
Tarentum schedules hearing on bridge billboard case
A hearing on a proposal to put up a billboard beside the Tarentum Bridge has been rescheduled. The borough’s Zoning Hearing Board is set to conduct the public hearing at 7 p.m. June 29 at the borough building, 318 E. Second Ave. In a December ruling, Allegheny County Judge Joseph...
New Kensington officials cancel Fourth of July fireworks display due to coronavirus concerns
New Kensington has joined a growing list of towns canceling Fourth of July fireworks celebrations. City officials made the announcement Thursday citing coronavirus concerns. “I think we should have done it sooner,” Councilman Tim DiMaio said. “Everybody else has done it. How are you going to (have) people 6 feet...
Vandergrift braced for unrest, but protest remained peacefulVideo
Police, residents and business owners in Vandergrift braced for unrest that never materialized. A Black Lives Matter protest scheduled for Thursday had some in the borough of about 5,200 people on edge — despite the fact that the protest had formally been canceled after one of the organizers became the...
1 hurt in Fawn crash involving car, fuel truck
A West Deer man suffered minor injuries Thursday when his car crashed into a Glassmere Fuel Service truck in Fawn, police Chief Tim Mayberry said. Mayberry said the crash happened around 12:15 p.m. in the area of 1220 Millerstown Road. Video from the truck helped police determine what happened, but...
Sylvan Park pool set to open this weekend in Harrison
The Sylvan Park swimming pool in Harrison will open Saturday, said Patrick Bundy, president of the pool’s board of directors. That’s almost two weeks later than the pool normally would have opened. “I’m ready for a little bit of normalcy, especially for the kids,” Bundy said. “I think they need...
No injuries reported in Springdale manufacturing plant fire
There were no injuries by a small but smoky fire that broke out at TeckLane Manufacturing in Springdale just before 7 a.m. Thursday. Firefighters quickly knocked down the fire, according to Bruno Moretti, emergency management coordinator for Allegheny Valley Regional Emergency Management Agency. The fire occurred at 930 Railroad St.,...
ATI removes ‘priceless’ stainless steel cars from Harrison plant, plans to auction them
Stainless steel may be resistant to rust and the ravages of time, but the tangible history of Allegheny Ludlum may not be as resilient. That’s the fear of longtime employee Todd Barbiaux. He worries the company’s legacy, and a source of community pride, will fade with the loss of four...
The Stroller, June 4, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
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. Parade to honor Highlands High School seniors A parade...
Protest in Vandergrift canceled after organizers say they received threats
A protest in Vandergrift to support the Black Lives Matter movement has been canceled after organizers said they received numerous threats. Cicily Bailey, 19, said she came up with the idea to organize a march in honor of George Floyd. She started a group chat with a few close friends,...
Leechburg Area students to receive iPads, Chromebooks this fall
Starting this fall, the Leechburg Area School District will provide iPads and Chromebooks to all its students as part of its One-to-One initiative. The district serves 750 students from Leechburg, West Leechburg, and Gilpin. Students in grades K-2 will get iPads. Students in grades 3-12 will be given Chromebooks. Students...
Police: Arnold man’s home searched after 2 heroin buys within days
A 33-year-old Arnold man is in the Westmoreland County Prison after allegedly selling heroin to undercover agents twice over two weeks. Arnold police charged Steffon Ballard, 33, on Tuesday. He was being held on $100,000 bail. According to court documents, agents from the state Attorney General’s Office and Arnold police...
Arnold man sentenced to 13½ years in connection to fentanyl overdose
A federal judge sentenced an Arnold man to more than 13 years in prison for distributing fentanyl that caused a man’s death, U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady said Wednesday. U.S. District Judge Mark Hornak ordered Jarrel Williams, 32, to serve 13 years and six months in federal prison followed by...
New Kensington awards paving contract for 4 roads
Four roads in New Kensington will be resurfaced this year. City council awarded the contract to Shields Asphalt Paving, the lowest bidder with a price of $103,321. Roads to be milled and resurfaced are: • Carl Avenue, from Tarentum Bridge Road to Craigdell Road • Freeport Road, from 7th Street...
Police: Arnold man jumps from 2nd floor window to escape armed ex-girlfriend
An Arnold man jumped from the second-floor window of his house Monday night after city police said his ex-girlfriend busted in and opened fire, shooting at the man and his brother as she chased them up the stairs. A criminal complaint filed against Dowona Ranae Johnson, 42, of Arnold, said...
New Kensington-Arnold considers replacing preschool with ‘developmental kindergarten’
New Kensington-Arnold School District is considering replacing its preschool program with a developmental kindergarten. Developmental kindergarten would be for children who are not yet ready or prepared for regular kindergarten, Superintendent John Pallone said. Pallone discussed the proposal, also referred to as “transitional kindergarten,” with the school board during a...
The Stroller, June 3, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
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. Leechburg Area graduates to be honored with parade The...
Vandergrift to reopen pool and library, Facebook page coming
Restrictions to public facilities in Vandergrift will begin easing, after council voted Monday night to amend its declaration of emergency to fit guidelines in the green phase. “If there is potential funding, I would hate for us to lose it,” said attorney Alaine Generelli, on why the emergency declaration should...
Allegheny County to provide information, take comments on Springhill Road project in Harrison online
Allegheny County will seek public comment on a $750,000 project to create a shared pedestrian and bicycle path on Springhill Road in Harrison. The Department of Public Works will take comments about the project online from June 15 to July 15, the county announced . A project overview and video...
Leechburg Area Pool sets tentative opening date
After a shaky start to the year looking for new board members and volunteers and dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, the Leechburg Area Pool has scheduled a tentative opening date. The pool will open June 12 barring any water issues, pool board members announced on the pool’s Facebook page. “We...
Fresh produce, milk planned for food box distribution in Harrison
A food distribution open to anyone in need will be held Friday at Highlands High School in Harrison. The group “412FoodRescue” will hold a “Farmers to Families” food distribution from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the high school, 1500 Pacific Ave. Boxes of food will be available for up...
