Valley News Dispatch category, Page 611
Pittsburgh area’s mild winters creating mountains of salt
Back-to-back mild winters have caused a backlog of road salt for some communities, forcing them to scramble to find space to store incoming shipments for next year. A number of communities have not used as much road salt as they thought they would, said Tom Benecki, executive director of the...
‘Dr. Betsy’ and Scooter, her paraplegic therapy cat, bring happiness to Western Pa. nursing homesVideo
Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series that features Alle-Kiski Valley residents and the notable things that they do. Goodwill doesn’t retire easily when it comes to animals and the vulnerable. For more than more than 11 years, a now-retired veterinarian known as “Dr. Betsy” Kennon of Fawn...
River Road in O’Hara closed at railroad crossing through Wednesday
Motorists who travel along River Road in O’Hara will need to detour through mid-week, according to a post on social media by township officials. The road is closed through Wednesday for repairs to the Norfolk Southern railroad crossing. Work is weather dependent. River Road will be closed at Freeport Road...
The Stroller, Feb. 16, 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. Hoagie fundraiser to benefit...
Freeport Area School Board wants more prices before acting on building work
The Freeport Area School Board is delaying nine capital projects until specific costs can be determined. The school board Thursday was prepared to pass a laundry list of items to be taken care of this summer. The administration submitted a list of estimated costs. They amount to about $520,000 in...
Young autistic boy who wandered from Harrison home rescued from thick brush in woods
A young, nonverbal autistic boy was rescued Saturday night by Citizens Hose firefighters after wandering coatless and alone into the woods in the Birdville section of Harrison. “He didn’t have any injuries; he was just chilly,” Chief Sean Jones said. The child, about 4 or 5 years old, walked away...
Elsa, Captain America, Batman help raise money for Highlands Relay for Life
Two-year-old Genevieve Olszewski of Brackenridge wore her fanciest purple dress Saturday and bundled up to brave the frigid temperatures. It seemed appropriate, given the toddler was on her way to a makeshift Arendelle to dance the day away with the kingdom’s most famous residents, Elsa and Anna. The event, a...
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...
