Valley News Dispatch category, Page 583
New lawyer for Arnold man appeals conviction for 2015 murder
An Arnold man serving a life prison sentence for the fatal shooting of a family friend more than four years ago now contends his trial lawyer’s continued misrepresentation of his age to jurors warrants a new trial. In an appeal filed Thursday, Erik Lamont Reed Jr., now 23, contends his...
Cheswick Council president to step down
Cheswick Council President Paul Jack said Thursday he is resigning to give someone else a chance to serve. “I’ve completed everything I wanted to complete. If I leave now, they can put someone in there who can be in office for a better part of a year and decide if...
Fire at Lower Burrell apartments leaves at least 25 people homeless
More than 25 people are homeless after a fast-moving fire Thursday afternoon destroyed the third floor of the Cedar Crest Apartments along Puckety Church Road in Lower Burrell. No one was injured. The fire likely started in the building’s attic and burned for a while before breaking out into a...
Gov. Wolf signs bill allowing bars, restaurants to sell cocktails to go
Bartenders began whipping up mixed drinks Thursday afternoon at Mogie’s Irish Pub as soon as they learned Gov. Tom Wolf signed a bill into law allowing cocktail to-go sales during the pandemic-spurred restrictions. Craig Licata, who lives nearby the Lower Burrell bar, picked up two plastic foam cups of Long...
Boil water advisory lifted for Blawnox residents
A boil water advisory in Blawnox has been lifted. Manager Kathy Ulanowicz said residents can safely drink water from the tap after the borough ran two consecutive successful water quality tests. She thanked residents for their patience. The borough has been without water since Sunday, when a 12-inch line burst...
The Stroller, May 21, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Read The Stroller daily for announcements of how everyone can ease the pressure and stress of others, even while maintaining social distancing. Information for The Stroller should be emailed to vndnews@tribweb.com. Curbside food drop-off planned in Kiski Township Kiski Township Fire Department and Straight-N-Clear will host a curbside drop-off food...
Leechburg Area School Board meeting ends abruptly when ‘Zoom-bomber’ shares pornographic image
The Leechburg Area School Board ended its Wednesday meeting early after someone attending online aired a pornographic image. The school board was winding down its work session and was set to begin its regular meeting, when the pornographic image first appeared. “Oh dear, we just got ‘Zoom-bombed,’ I apologize,” Board...
Proposed New Kensington-Arnold budget has $1.2M deficit, 2.3% tax hike
New Kensington-Arnold’s proposed budget for the 2020-21 school year now includes a 2-mill property tax increase, but some board members are asking if it should be higher. Such a tax hike amounts to 2.3%. The school board discussed the budget during a virtual finance committee meeting Tuesday. It is scheduled...
Police charge 3rd person in murder of Armstrong County man in Arnold alley last June
A third person has been charged in the murder of an Armstrong County man in a drug deal gone bad in Arnold last year, police Chief Eric Doutt said Wednesday. Santyna Marie Bennett, 26, of Arnold is or was the girlfriend of Allen Duwayne Herring, 33, of Braddock, who is...
Western Pa. Gordmans stores could close after parent company files for bankruptcy
Several local Gordmans stores, including those in Allegheny Township, East Huntingdon and Rostraver, are at risk of closing for good, another victim of the coronavirus pandemic that left stores largely shuttered across the country. Houston, Texas-based Stage Stores Inc. — the parent company of Gordmans, which has been in operation...
Boil water advisory continues for Blawnox residents
Blawnox residents remain under a boil water advisory following a water main break on Sunday. Assistant Manager Mallori McDowell said people can get fresh drinking water at the municipal building at 376 Freeport Road. There are two water buffaloes on site, and residents should bring containers to fill. The boil...
Memorial Day events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
The following Memorial Day observances are planned Monday in the Alle-Kiski Valley unless otherwise noted: Apollo Volunteers are needed at 7 a.m. Saturday to place flags on the graves of veterans in Riverview Cemetery and Historic Apollo Cemetery. Apollo-Ridge School District students can earn community service hours by checking in...
The Stroller, May 20, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Read The Stroller daily for announcements of how everyone can ease the pressure and stress of others, even while maintaining social distancing. Information for The Stroller should be emailed to vndnews@tribweb.com. Christopher’s Light children’s charity accepting donations Due to the increasing number of families experiencing unemployment, Christopher’s Light is seeking...
Tractor-trailer filled with Frito-Lay brand chips and more donated to Feeding Freeport
The Feeding Freeport drive-by meal program got a boost from Frito-Lay with a semi tractor-trailer loaded with Doritos, baked Ruffles potato chips, popcorn and more, much of it in individual servings. Feeding Freeport is a pop-up community effort that’s been at work since March 17 helping area residents impacted by...
Wind propels large brush fire in Allegheny Township
Fawn police officer Keith Lazaron was at work Tuesday when he received a panicked call from his wife, Jessica, telling him he needed to get home as soon as possible. Strong winds had propelled a large brush fire toward their home in Allegheny Township. When Lazaron arrived home about 20...
Elderly couple carried out of their Arnold house as fire rips through vacant house next door
Paramedics carried an elderly couple out of their Arnold home when it was threatened by fire Tuesday. Firefighters stopped the fire from spreading from the empty house it started at, and no one was hurt, officials said. Todd Hutchison said he called 911 to report the fire in the 1300...
Small black bear spotted in Fox Chapel, O’Hara
A small black bear is making his way through Fox Chapel, O’Hara and other Lower Valley communities, according to local police. Residents of Wedgewood Lane in Fox Chapel got a glimpse of the animal, which officials are calling a cub, wandering across their lawns on Monday. “If it’s just a...
The Stroller, May 19, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Read The Stroller daily for announcements of how everyone can ease the pressure and stress of others, even while maintaining social distancing. Information for The Stroller should be emailed to vndnews@tribweb.com. Vandergrift church to sponsor dollar dinner Vandergrift First United Methodist Church will serve a dollar dinner from 4 to...
Highlands School Board appoints new solicitor as collector of overdue property taxes
Former Highlands School District Solicitor Ira Weiss said his firm wasn’t given a chance to defend its record collecting delinquent property taxes for the district before being ousted from the job. The school board voted 7-1 on Monday to appoint Andrews & Price as delinquent property tax collector, effective Tuesday....
Leechburg Area considers $15.3M budget with tax increase for West Leechburg residents
Leechburg Area School Board approved a $15.3 million preliminary budget for next fiscal year that would increase property taxes by 6.7% for West Leechburg residents, even though the proposed spending plan is $80,000 smaller than this year. The school district is made up of students from Armstrong County’s Leechburg and...
New Kensington seeking bids to resurface Carl Avenue, 3 other streets
New Kensington plans to resurface parts of four city streets this year. The city will mill and resurface the following streets: • Carl Avenue, from Route 366 to Craigdell Road. • Freeport Road, from 7th Street to Short Street. • Short Street, from Freeport Road to Ridge Avenue. • Locust...
Leechburg Area School District to hold graduation at Riverside Drive-In
Leechburg Area School District is giving its high school seniors the movie-star treatment this year. The coronavirus pandemic shut down Pennsylvania’s public schools in March, forcing districts to offer education online and abandon traditional graduation plans. Leechburg Area will honor its 73 graduates at Riverside Drive-In in Parks, which has...
West Deer woman to appear on ‘The Price Is Right’
Mary Kay Giarrusso is hard of hearing, so she didn’t know at first that she should come on down. But her husband, and everyone around her in the studio audience, recognized the signature call. “When I heard, ‘Mary Kay Giarrusso, come on down. You are the next contestant on ‘The...
The Stroller, May 18, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Read The Stroller daily for announcements of how everyone can ease the pressure and stress of others, even while maintaining social distancing. Information for The Stroller should be emailed to vndnews@tribweb.com. Free grab and go lunches offered at Allegheny Valley Church of God Allegheny Valley Church of God, 216 Catalpa...
Water main break reported in Blawnox
A water main break Sunday evening in Blawnox left some of the borough’s customers without service. The break happened shortly before 8 p.m. near the intersection of Maple Way and Cable Avenue, according to a tweet from Allegheny County. The county tweeted that officials were requesting a water buffalo to...
