Valley News Dispatch category, Page 606
Sharing a meal: St. Joseph High School plans fundraiser for student battling cancer
Sitting down to eat this dinner will be about more than food for the body. It’s about feeding the spirit. The St. Joseph High School athletic association is hosting a fundraising dinner to support Eli Swierczewski, a senior three-sport athlete. The Harrison resident has been diagnosed with a recurrence of...
The Stroller, Feb. 15, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
The Stroller is your go-to place for local charitable events and volunteer opportunities. Information for The Stroller may be dropped off or mailed at least a week in advance to: The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084, email vndnews@tribweb.com or fax 724-226-4677. Bouquet Pool conducting membership...
West Deer police officer sues utility after witnessing electrocution
A West Deer police officer who witnessed a man being electrocuted by a live wire is suing West Penn Power and Asplundh Tree Experts LLC, contending their negligence left him traumatized. Edward Newman, a K-9 officer and volunteer with the West Deer Fire Department, watched as Terry Colton was electrocuted...
Construction delays push opening of Allusion Brewing in Vandergrift to spring
Cold weather and a lack of electricity and heat delayed construction of the Allusion Brewing Co. in Vandergrift by several weeks. But work is back on track, and the owners plan to open the microbrewery and tap room in the spring. Co-owners Robert Buchanan and John Bieranoski, both Western Pennsylvania...
Last call for candidates for open seat on Cheswick Council
No one has applied for the open board position on Cheswick Council after almost a month. A former councilman who chose not to seek reelection is willing to fill in if council doesn’t have an interested candidate by 5 p.m. Monday. The two-year seat opened up last month when incumbent...
The Stroller, Feb. 14, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
The Stroller is your go-to place for local meeting notices, charitable events and volunteer opportunities. Information for The Stroller may be dropped off or mailed at least a week in advance to: The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084, email vndnews@tribweb.com or fax 724-226-4677. Clothing drive...
Married in secret during WWII, this New Ken couple will celebrate 75th wedding anniversary on Valentine’s DayVideo
This Valentine’s Day, take a bit of advice from a New Kensington couple who will celebrate their 75th year together as husband and wife. Rich and Shirley Rosenberger met in high school and married in secret at their church while Rich was on leave during WWII. Their love story endures....
Lower Burrell mayor names permanent police chief
Lower Burrell’s mayor has named acting chief John Marhefka the city’s police chief. “John brings a wealth of knowledge and experience,” Mayor John Andrejcik said Thursday. “He was everyone’s best choice that I talked to including city police, employees and others.” Marhefka is Andrejcik’s brother-in-law. The State Ethics Commission has...
Pucker up: Leechburg teachers kiss pig as part of PTA fundraiserVideo
Wherever Sully waddled, squeals of delight weren’t far behind. Sully, a 6-month-old, black-and-white Kunekune pig from Gilpin, was the guest of honor Thursday at David Leech Elementary School. “I love the pig!” one student shouted as Sully trotted by. Sully’s visit was in honor of Pig Wars, a fundraiser sponsored...
Long before JLo, A-Rod or FloJo, New Kensington had NoJo
Editor’s note: The original online version of this story inadvertently used a photo of a different Ken-Hi player. Long before athletes and celebrities were known by the first few letters of their names — J-Lo, A-Rod, FloJo — New Kensington had NoJo. Nolan “NoJo” Jones Jr., star of the 1957...
Armstrong County 911 centers back in service
Armstrong County 911 call centers are back online, after being down for about two hours Thursday. The call centers were not available to take any calls from around noon to 2 p.m., a county dispatcher said. A dispatcher wasn’t able to identify the cause of the problem, but said it...
Arnold man pleads guilty to fentanyl distribution, overdose death, faces lengthy federal sentence
An Arnold man pleaded guilty in federal court this week to distributing the fentanyl that caused the death of a Westmoreland County man, according to court filings. Jarrel Williams, 32, accepted responsibility during a Tuesday plea hearing for the Jan. 17, 2017, death of a 33-year-old man who federal prosecutors...
The Stroller, Feb. 13, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
The Stroller is your go-to place for local charitable events and volunteer opportunities. Information for The Stroller may be dropped off or mailed at least a week in advance to: The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084, email vndnews@tribweb.com or fax 724-226-4677. Building Block of Natrona...
Police: Car picked up at Lower Burrell garage catches fire in Tarentum
A man’s car caught fire Wednesday night in Tarentum less than a half hour after he picked it up from a Lower Burrell repair shop, Tarentum police said. Officers responded to a car fire at Nick Chevrolet along West Seventh Avenue around 6:50 p.m. The man had pulled into the...
Arnold mayor asks public to cooperate with unsolved homicide investigation
Arnold police Chief Eric Doutt said Wednesday that he had no updates on the investigation into the death of a Brackenridge man in an Arnold apartment last month. Michael Coover Jr., 33, of Brackenridge was found shot to death in a 17th Street apartment Jan. 16. Police identified Mario Matthew...
Arnold City Council lays off public works employee with an email vote
Arnold City Council this week ratified a vote to lay off a public works employee and approve seeking another. There was nothing unusual about the action council took Tuesday except, perhaps, for the voting method. It was done by email. The email vote was initiated by Councilman Adam Zweig on...
Missing kayaker identified as former Armstrong County woman
A woman who went missing while kayaking in West Virginia on Sunday was identified by authorities Wednesday, but crews said they have been unable to recover her body because of water conditions. West Virginia Natural Resources Police identified the woman as Jamie Gray, 41, of Hacker Valley, W.Va. Gray’s personal...
Arnold clerk Bellavia named city administrator
Arnold has a new city administrator, but not a new employee. Mario Bellavia, who was hired as city clerk in 2018 — the same year council eliminated the administrator’s position — has been appointed city administrator. Council on Tuesday unanimously approved establishing the authority, powers, duties and responsibilities of the...
Rahmael Holt officially sent to death row for killing New Kensington Officer Brian Shaw
Rahmael Holt simply said “no” when asked Wednesday whether he had anything to say before his death sentence was formally imposed. Holt, 31, of Harrison, Allegheny County, officially became the 133rd person on Pennsylvania’s death row when he was condemned to death by lethal injection for shooting and killing New...
Rare painted bunting captivates birdwatchers in O’HaraVideo
One of North America’s most gorgeous birds, aglow in the outrageous color combination of red, blue and yellow-green, has showed up at a bird feeder in O’Hara Township — a rarity for Pennsylvania. About 400 bird-watchers have stopped by the O’Hara neighborhood to see the rare visitor the size of...
Arnold approves ordinance allowing backyard fires — with a permit, under certain rules
Arnold Council has approved an ordinance allowing and regulating burning in the city. Under the ordinance, fires at residences must be in a container no more than 3 feet in diameter and at least 2 feet tall. Containers for fires must be at least 15 feet from structures. Open fires...
The Stroller, Feb. 12, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
The Stroller is your go-to place for local charitable events and volunteer opportunities. Information for The Stroller may be dropped off or mailed at least a week in advance to: The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084, email vndnews@tribweb.com or fax 724-226-4677. Great Backyard Bird Count...
Highlands appealing Heights Plaza assessment reduction
Highlands School District is appealing an assessment reduction that slashed nearly $11 million from the value of Heights Plaza in Harrison. If it stands, the change in value of four parcels making up the plaza, from $17.3 million to $6.6 million, would cost the school district $260,000 in revenue each...
PennDOT plans traffic restrictions in West Deer
Lanes restrictions will be in place along a portion of Route 910 in West Deer on Wednesday and Thursday, according to PennDOT. Traffic will be restricted to a single alternating lane from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day between Middle Road and Middle Road Extension. Flaggers will direct motorists....
Allegheny Township approves cell tower near Blair Farm
A communications tower soon will be raised in Allegheny Township. Supervisors voted unanimously Monday night to allow Verizon Wireless to install a communications tower on property owned by Edwin and Jill Morrison, also known as the Blair Farm. The township held a public hearing on Jan. 13 to take testimony...
