Valley News Dispatch category, Page 587
How Natrona Heights photographer John Filo captured the horror of Kent State killings
John Filo couldn’t get out of Ohio fast enough. It was early afternoon on May 4, 1970, and he was driving with rolls of film he had hidden in his red Volkswagen Beetle. The film contained photos Filo had just taken — images of the killings of unarmed students protesting...
The Stroller, May 2, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Did your neighbor call and check on you, or bring a face mask or groceries? The Stroller wants to recognize those around us who are performing small acts of kindness for others during this stressful time. Send a short, one-paragraph note highlighting someone and how they helped you, your family...
The Stroller, May 1, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Did your neighbor call and check on you, or bring a face mask or groceries? The Stroller wants to recognize those around us who are performing small acts of kindness for others during this stressful time. Send a short, one-paragraph note highlighting someone and how they helped you, your family...
West Penn Power equipment problem knocks out power to Alle-Kiski Valley customers, power now back on
Power has been restored to about 4,700 West Penn Power customers in the Alle-Kiski Valley who were without power Thursday, a spokesman said. The affected customers were in Arnold, New Kensington and Lower Burrell. The outage was reported shortly before 1:45 p.m. Power was back on for all affected communities...
Construction of West Deer sports complex continues despite coronavirus pandemic
Construction of a roughly $30 million sports complex in West Deer is continuing despite the coronavirus pandemic. Chase Development, the company in charge of the project, was granted a waiver from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to be able to continue construction, according to Charlie Vrabel, founder...
St. Margaret Foundation thanks employees with gift cards
Nearly 2,000 UPMC St. Margaret employees got a thank-you in the form of a $25 gift card this week for fighting on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic. “Not all heroes wear capes,” St. Margaret Foundation President Mary Lee Gannon said. “The real heroes wear scrubs.” The Giant Eagle gift...
The Stroller, April 30, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Did your neighbor call and check on you, or bring a face mask or groceries? The Stroller wants to recognize those around us who are performing small acts of kindness for others during this stressful time. Send a short, one-paragraph note highlighting someone and how they helped you, your family...
Allegheny Township extends property tax deadlines amid covid-19 crisis
Allegheny Township property owners will have longer to pay this year’s local real estate tax without a penalty. Following suit with extensions granted by the Westmoreland County Commissioners, the township supervisors this week pushed back the deadline for paying the township property tax in full, without incurring a late penalty,...
Armstrong commissioners want county to be among first to gradually reopen for business
Armstrong County officials don’t want to be lumped in with their larger neighbor Allegheny County when the state considers which counties can begin to lift some coronavirus-related restrictions. “Their numbers are a lot different than ours,” said Armstrong County Commissioners Chairman Don Myers. The state reported Wednesday that Armstrong County...
Lower Burrell park trails to reopen Friday, other amenities to remain closed
Lower Burrell officials plan to reopen a portion of their parks Friday. Walking/running trails will be open and fishing will be permitted, according to a Facebook post by city officials Wednesday. However, playgrounds, any workout areas and basketball courts as well as public restrooms will remain closed. Organized sports are...
Tarentum jeweler, its customers, borough employees donate $12,630 to food bank
The Allegheny Valley Association of Churches’ food bank will be able to help more families during the covid-19 pandemic thanks to contributions from Tarentum workers and a borough jewelry store. Seita Jewelers was able to raise $11,500, and borough workers chipped in about $1,130 for a total donation of $12,630....
Part of police memorial inspired by slain officer Shaw taken in New Kensington
A large part of a New Kensington memorial honoring police officers that has been vandalized before is now missing entirely. Donna Pater said she and her husband, Steve, put up the concrete statue of a police officer with a dog near their home in the Mount Vernon neighborhood about two...
Swimming pools across Western Pa. looking to dive in when allowed
While some pools across the region have already decided to remain closed, including at least one in the Alle-Kiski Valley, others remain in a holding pattern in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Springdale Township’s Bouquet Park Pool will not open this year — and could possibly close for good,...
Personnel cuts possible as New Kensington-Arnold struggles with budget deficit
New Kensington-Arnold School District is considering personnel moves such as offering teachers an early-retirement incentive as administrators and school board members grapple with a projected budget deficit. Business Manager Jeff McVey told the board Tuesday that personnel is the only area in the budget where significant savings can still be...
New Kensington-Arnold awards contract for Hunt Elementary roof work
The New Kensington-Arnold School Board has awarded a contract to replace part of the roof at one of the district’s elementary schools, while holding off on work at other buildings until it has the money to pay for it. The district will pay Design-Build Solutions, a subsidiary of Garland Industries,...
No injuries reported in Arnold fire
No one was injured in a fire Wednesday morning along Arnold’s Victoria Avenue. Arnold Volunteer Engine Co. No. 2 Fire Chief Keith Dziobak said no one was home when crews responded to the fire in the 1500 block of Victoria Avenue at about 7 a.m. The fire appeared to start...
The Stroller, April 29, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Here is today’s dose of Small Acts of Kindness: Jessica Meyer would like to recognize Dee Shaffer of Lower Burrell for making face masks and offering them at no cost. Initially, bags with masks were clipped to the mailbox of her home for those who had requested them and now...
Fox Chapel Area School District’s new superintendent to come from Franklin Regional
Fox Chapel Area School District has a new superintendent. Mary Catherine Reljac was unanimously hired Tuesday night to replace Gene Freeman as Fox Chapel Area’s top administrator. The district agreed to a four-year contract with a starting salary of $200,000. The contract is expected to be posted on the district’s...
How cool has Pittsburgh been in April? January had a warmer day
Everything about April 2020 has been unusual, including the temperature. It’s been cold out there. So far, no day in Pittsburgh has risen above 70 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. If the pattern holds, it would be the first time in weather service annual records the highest recorded...
Allegheny Township police investigating assault near Tredway Trail
Allegheny Township police are looking for a man who allegedly assaulted a woman in the township earlier this month. Police Chief Duane Fisher on Tuesday said the assault happened in the early evening hours of April 11 in the parking area by the Braeburn docks, close to the end of...
Kiski Township woman accused of burning 1-year-old’s arm with cigarette
A Kiski Township woman is accused of burning a 1-year-old girl’s arm with a cigarette, according to Kiski Township police. Police on Tuesday charged Lisa Marie Culp, 46, with aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children and simple assault. She was released on a $15,000 unsecured bond. Police say the...
The Stroller, April 28, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Here is today’s dose of Small Acts of Kindness: Virginia Szoss would like to thank Virginia Hartz of Springdale for her many hours of hard work making masks for the community. “She is a caring person who loves to help others. She has been an excellent seamstress for many years.”...
Leechburg grad asks people to support high school seniors by ‘adopting’ them
Bailey Pallus’ fond memories of her senior week at Leechburg High School inspired her to do something special for this year’s seniors who won’t be able to make similar memories because of the coronavirus pandemic. Pallus, a 2016 Leechburg grad, created the Facebook page “Adopt a Leechburg High School 2020...
Highlands teachers dressed as dinosaurs encourage drivers to honk in support of students
Third-grade teachers from Highlands Elementary School in Tarentum dressed in dinosaur costumes on Monday to support students who are studying at home. The teachers — Lauralee Milberger, Rachel Chester, Jennifer Koprivnikar, Courtney Udanis and Kimberly Chalmers — displayed signs encouraging drivers to honk as a sign of appreciation of students...
Judge rules former Leechburg police chief Diebold must remain in jail during pandemic
Michael Diebold, the former Leechburg police chief, will remain in jail as he awaits a hearing to determine if he violated parole terms for a sex offense, a Westmoreland County judge ruled. Diebold contended ongoing serious health problems put him at risk should he contract coronavirus and sought an early...
