Valley News Dispatch category, Page 609
Woman accused of hiding gun that killed New Kensington cop says she suffers from PTSD
A woman charged with disposing of the weapon that police say was used to kill New Kensington police Officer Brian Shaw claims she could not have done so because she is afraid to enter basements. In court documents filed Monday, the lawyer for Lisa Danea Harrington, 33, of New Kensington...
Murrysville man accused of swindling $18K from Allegheny Township business
A Murrysville man is accused of taking nearly $18,000 from an Allegheny Township business to install signs promoting the business, but never doing the work. Orbin Swisshelm, 60, took the money from McGuire Family Auto Service, according to a criminal complaint filed by township police. Police said Swisshelm disbanded his...
Fire marshal: Spontaneous combustion caused Allegheny Township fire
A fire that extensively damaged an Allegheny Township house last month was caused by the spontaneous combustion of some oily rags, a fire marshal said Monday. The fire at 1241 Bagdad Road was reported after 1 p.m. Jan. 26. The house was under construction and unoccupied. The homeowners declined to...
The Stroller, Feb. 3, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Free event about Second Amendment rights planned State Rep. Joseph Petrarca will host a free informational event about concealed carry Second Amendment rights from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the West Leechburg Firemen’s Recreation Hall, 1116 Gosser St. Representatives from the county sheriff’s office, state police, local law enforcement...
Peebles in Allegheny Township to take on sister store name Gordmans
Gordmans, a discount department store, will soon replace its sister brand, Peebles, in Hyde Park Plaza, Allegheny Township. Both stores’ owner, Stage Stores, headquartered in Houston, Texas, announced the grand opening for Gordmans for 9 a.m. Feb. 18 at with gifts and other giveaways. Given the demise of big box...
New automatic CPR machines already saving lives at Vandergrift/Oklahoma EMS
New automatic CPR machines in use for about a month on Vandergrift/Oklahoma EMS ambulances have already helped paramedics and EMTs save lives. Vandergrift/Oklahoma Emergency Medical Services recently used a state grant to buy two CPR machines for their ambulances. The device, called LUCAS, is a mechanical chest-compression system. It fits...
She didn’t want to be a nurse. Now she’s director of a Frazer school that teaches nurses
Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series that features Alle-Kiski Valley residents and the notable things they do. Lynne Rugh never thought nursing was for her. But a nudge from a friend’s mother led her to a rewarding career she has been working in for close to five...
Small vape shops scramble for survival as government, Big Tobacco put up ‘one hurdle after another’
Chris McGrath doesn’t plan to give up his dream of helping people quit cigarettes by vaping. But the Harrison vape shop owner is worried the mounting challenges confronting his industry, particularly its smallest players, could push his and hundreds of other small shops and manufacturers out of business. “Small businesses...
Remember When: Feb. 3
100 years ago Parnassus to build memorial to service men A granite shaft, seven feet in height, will be erected by Parnassus borough at the corner of Freeport, Fourth and Main streets. A bronze tablet commemorating the living and dead heroes will be installed by the Mathews Bronze Co. 75...
Chocolate-covered dreams at Speckled HenVideo
Chocolate lovers have a sweet destination in rural Clinton Township. Speckled Hen Chocolate Co. opened in 2013, specializing in unique gourmet hand-dipped chocolates, gift baskets, event favors, chocolate-themed classes and homemade fudge. Sarver native and owner Valerie Cannon, 45, often provided homemade chocolate-covered pretzels for her co-workers. She made the...
Natrona fire leaves 6 people homeless
Four adults and two children escaped a fire Sunday night in Harrison’s Natrona section despite a lack of working smoke detectors in the duplex that burned, according to Hilltop Hose Fire Chief Krzeminski. “This could have been a tragedy,” Krzeminski said. “If this had happened in the middle of the...
Lower Burrell celebrates wrestling team’s 14th straight WPIAL titleVideo
It’s become an annual mid-winter rite in Lower Burrell. Fire trucks with blaring sirens escort the Burrell wrestling team on Leechburg Road to the high school, marking the latest Bucs WPIAL team wrestling title. That was the scene late Saturday afternoon at the corner of Wildlife Lodge and Leechburg roads....
The Stroller, Feb. 2, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
River City Brass Band to perform in Allegheny Township The River City Brass Band will play a concert, “Sounds of the 60s” to benefit the Kiski Area Education Foundation at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14 in the high school auditorium, 240 Hyde Park Road, Allegheny Township. Tickets are $25. For tickets...
State police: Drunken Leechburg woman hit man with car in Vandergrift
State police say an intoxicated Leechburg woman hit a man with her car in Vandergrift last Monday. State police responded to a call at a Leechburg address where it was reported that a man was hit by a car, reportedly driven by a woman who was threatening to “slit her...
The Stroller, Feb. 1, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Sub fundraiser to aid Cheswick couple who lost home to fire Fat Cat’s Subs in Cheswick is conducting a hoagie fundraiser to benefit Kayla Fischerkeller and Ryan Brittingham of Cheswick who lost their home Jan. 17 in a fire. Subs cost $8 and varieties available include Italian, ham and cheese...
Police: Heroin hidden inside can of baby formula in New Ken apartment
New Kensington police and state drug agents say they found heroin packets hidden inside a can of baby formula when they raided a New Kensington apartment. The raid on Constitution Boulevard Thursday turned up about 9.5 grams of uncut, loose heroin, six pieces of crack cocaine, two baggies of marijuana...
Allegheny Valley Hospital president unveils plans for new yearVideo
Coming to Allegheny Valley Hospital as its new president was something of a homecoming for Dr. Vicenta Gaspar-Yoo. “Coming here was almost seamless,” she said Friday from her office at the Harrison hospital, part of Allegheny Health Network. “I trained in Pittsburgh. Everybody knew I was a product of Pittsburgh....
Catholic Schools Week closes with Mass at Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament in HarrisonVideo
The mustard seed starts small but rapidly grows and spreads. That was the theme of a homily given Friday by the Rev. Andrew Fischer from Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Parish in Harrison at the close of Catholic Schools Week. More than 300 students — from Our Lady...
Tarentum man jailed for allegedly chasing, shooting at moving vehicle in New Ken
A Tarentum man who police said fired four gunshots at two people earlier this month was sent to the Westmoreland County Prison on Wednesday without bond pending a preliminary hearing. Sean Marcus Talley, 21, is accused of attempted homicide and related charges. He has has various addresses in the Alle-Kiski...
Lower Valley emergency responders receive state gaming fund grants
Several Lower Valley emergency services will get a portion of $150,887 from the state gaming fund, officials announced this week. Fox Chapel, Parkview and Pleasant Valley volunteer fire departments, and Foxwall and Parkview EMS, each were awarded money through the state Emergency Management Agency and the Office of the State...
The Stroller, Jan. 31, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Lenten fish fries information wanted Today is the last day of January and Lent is just around the corner! The Valley News Dispatch is compiling a list of fish fries taking place Ash Wednesday and/or Fridays during Lent. If you would like to have your organization’s fish fry listed in...
Cheswick man sentenced for stealing stamps to pay drug debt
A former Cheswick resident was sentenced in federal court to 18 months in jail and ordered to pay $37,590 in restitution for a stamp theft scheme to pay a debt he owed to a drug dealer. U.S. District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan imposed the sentence on John Martell, 39. According...
Rahmael Holt’s mother convicted of hindering son’s arrest after he killed Brian Shaw
The mother of Rahmael Sal Holt, who was sentenced to death last year for shooting and killing New Kensington police Officer Brian Shaw, was found guilty Thursday in Allegheny County of helping her son elude police after the 2017 shooting. In a nonjury trial, Judge Kevin G. Sasinoski found Sherry...
Veterans banners being sold to support restoration of Harrison memorial
Banners honoring Harrison’s military veterans are being sold to raise money for the restoration of the township’s World War II Honor Roll memorial. The 75-year-old sandstone memorial at Freeport and Springhill roads was partially restored last year. That work — which included stone repointing and repair, pressure washing, and patching...
Leechburg’s newest council members hope to bring fresh perspective to borough
Ruth Bender and Megan Goedicke love Leechburg. The two women have no prior political experience, but wanted to make a difference in their borough. So they ran for council and were elected. “I wanted to take a more active role in town,” Bender said. Both women ran unopposed in November’s...
