Valley News Dispatch category, Page 599
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...
Elderly woman rams Cadillac into Plum dental office
No one was hurt when an elderly woman ran her car backwards into a Plum dental office Tuesday. The impact caused significant damage to the house-turned-office that’s home to Scott Family Dental at 7619 Saltsburg Road at Crestview Drive. It’s the second time the building has been hit and seriously...
Plum man charged with DUI in Washington Township crash that seriously injured 1
A Plum man is accused by Washington Township police of driving drunk during a Nov. 22 crash that seriously injured another person. Benjamin Joseph Rodgers, 29, was charged last week with aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence and related offenses. Police and paramedics were called to Route...
The Stroller, June 2, 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. Apollo Memorial Library reopened for porch side pickup Apollo Memorial Library has reopened today for porch side pickup....
Allegheny Family Network shuttle to help residents get to primary polling locations in Highlands area
A community shuttle service with added stops at primary election polling locations will be available between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tuesday, Allegheny Family Network North announced Monday. The shuttle provides free transportation looping from Tarentum to Natrona Heights in Harrison. On Tuesday, there will be added stops to polling...
Apollo swears in 2 new council members following resignations
Two people have been sworn in to fill Apollo Council seats vacated by members who resigned over differences with council’s leadership. Councilwomen Ashley Stiffy and Nancy Walker resigned in April over a number of issues, including the removal of Stiffy from the public safety committee over hiring procedures for part-time...
Flags stolen from veterans’ graves in Leechburg, mayor offers reward for information
Leechburg Mayor Wayne Dobos wants to know who stole dozens of flags from veterans’ graves at Leechburg Cemetery. Dobos, a Vietnam veteran, is offering a $100 reward for information leading to the prosecution of the person who did it. And other people have offered to contribute to the reward fund....
Vandergrift councilwoman sues fellow borough officials
A Vandergrift councilwoman is suing the borough in federal court, accusing five council members, the mayor and two police officers of a long list of infractions. Councilwoman Karen McClarnon filed the civil lawsuit Friday morning through attorney William Lafferty. In addition to the borough, defendants listed in the suit include...
Deer Lakes’ preliminary budget includes no tax increase
Deer Lakes School District has approved a $38.9 million preliminary budget for the 2020-2021 school year that includes no increase in property taxes. The tax rate remains 21.953 mills in the preliminary budget. A homeowner with a property assessed at $107,493 would continue to owe $2,359 in taxes. “The school...
The Stroller, June 1, 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 Library announces summer reading program The free summer reading program at Vandergrift Public Library will run July...
Kayaking the Kiski is surging in popularity in the age of covid-19
Hundreds of kayaks have taken to the Kiski and Youghiogheny rivers over recent weekends while a Pittsburgh store specializing in kayaks reports a surge in sales. “You can’t get more naturally social distanced than you can in a kayak,” said Chris Kaminski, co-owner of 3 Rivers Outdoors Co. in the...
The Stroller, May 31, 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. Motorcycle run to benefit Toys for Tots The fourth annual motorcycle run to benefit Toys for Tots will...
The Stroller, May 30, 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. Community parade planned to honor Springdale graduates A reverse community parade to honor the Springdale High School Class...
Kiski Area to continue remote learning in the fall but devising hybrid plan for some in-person instruction
When it comes to in-person schooling amid a pandemic, Kiski Area Superintendent Tim Scott said there are many factors to consider — the seating arrangements, the mask requirements, how students will be bused and dropped off, how athletics will function, how students will operate in lunchrooms. He thought of the...
Roads and alleys in Harrison that will be paved this year
Harrison will spend about $423,000 on paving and resurfacing roads and alleys in the township this year. Township commissioners awarded two contracts for the work Tuesday, at their first in-person meeting at the township building since covid-19 restrictions took effect. The two contracts combined cover nearly two dozen roads and...
Teen pleads guilty, loses hunting license for 15 years in Jefferson County deer abuse case
An 18-year-old seen on video torturing a wounded white-tailed deer in November will serve two years of probation and have his hunting license revoked for 15 years as part of a plea deal, the state Game Commission announced Friday. Alexander Brock Smith of Brookville pleaded guilty May 6 in Jefferson County...
The Stroller, May 29, 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. Musicians to perform on streets of Arnold The Wandering Musicians of Arnold, a group of local volunteer musicians,...
New Kensington mother waives hearing on charges in death of son, 3
A New Kensington woman charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of her 3-year-old son waived her right to a preliminary hearing Thursday. Teresa Fetterman, 23, also is charged with child endangerment and aggravated assault in the death of her son, Mikel Fetterman, and drug offenses. Mikel Fetterman was taken...
Bear sightings on the rise in Western Pennsylvania
Young black bears are on the move in Western Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Game Commission reports that bear sightings are up this year, thanks in part to cooler-than-usual temperatures in May that brought more bears out during the daytime and also because more people have been staying home because of the...
Fox Chapel Area School District residents could see slightly higher taxes
Fox Chapel Area residents could pay slightly higher property taxes next year after the school board approved the district’s tentative $102 million budget. Members approved the plan on Wednesday, calling for a 1.5% tax rate increase to 19.8 mills. The owner of a home assessed at $200,000 would pay $3,960...
