Valley News Dispatch category, Page 624
Contractor offers discount for work on Lower Burrell veterans’ monument
An Oakmont contractor knocked $1,000 off the final bill to restore a veterans’ monument in front of Lower Burrell’s Stewart Elementary School. The monument for residents who served in World War II toppled over earlier this year. The office of state Rep. Bob Brooks, R-Murrysville, headed up the monument restoration...
Tarentum branch of Community Library of Allegheny Valley to close
The Tarentum branch of the Community Library of Allegheny Valley is set to close, according to the library’s board of directors. All operations will be run out of the Harrison branch, a few miles away. “After much consideration and discussion, the Community Library of Allegheny Valley Board of Directors voted...
Allegheny Township adopts 2020 budget with no tax increase
Allegheny Township Supervisors on Monday night adopted a budget for 2020 that will keep the property tax rate at 16.5 mills. It’s the 10th consecutive year that township officials have held the line on property taxes. Of the 16.5 mills, 13.35 will go toward a $4.1 million general fund. A...
Western Pa. Christmas Bird Count has 10th most volunteers, Audubon says
Pittsburgh isn’t exactly the bird capital of world, but its volunteers who count birds for the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count are ranked as the 10th largest group of counters in more than 2,600 count areas. Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count is the largest citizen survey in the country that measures...
The Stroller, Dec. 10, 2019: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Springdale High School Drama Club to present two plays The Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School Drama Club will perform two shows in one, “The Charge Is Murder,” and “Our Place,” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the high school auditorium. Tickets are $8; $5 for students and senior citizens; Gold...
Former Leechburg police Chief Mike Diebold to remain in jail on parole violation
Former Leechburg police Chief Michael Diebold will remain in jail for an indefinite period pending a hearing to determine whether his parole will be revoked. Diebold, 42, a convicted sex offender, was jailed late last week after he was accused of accessing a social media site that specializes in sadomasochism....
Harrison tree service company emphasizes safety as they reach new heightsVideo
Editor’s note: Building the Valley tells stories of businesses big and small and the employees who make them special. If you know of any standout employees, bosses or companies with a great story to tell, contact reporter Madasyn Lee at mlee@tribweb.com B.J. Schaltenbrand recalls the time BeaverJack Tree Service received...
Former Leechburg police chief jailed again, accused of accessing porn website
A former Leechburg police chief — who was fired and prosecuted for seeking sex from what he thought was an underage girl — used his cellphone while meeting with a probation officer to access a website devoted to fetishes, bondage and sadomasochism, state investigators said in court. In doing so,...
Tarentum hires firm to update zoning ordinance, map
Tarentum could pay nearly $35,000 to update its zoning ordinance and map. The review comes as a billboard company arguing to place a sign at the Tarentum Bridge has pointed to errors and omissions in the borough’s zoning ordinance, which the company said unlawfully excludes billboards from any location in...
Frazer votes to allow horses on certain residential properties
A couple who wants to put horses on a 24-acre property in Frazer is now one step closer to getting their wish. Supervisors last week unanimously voted to pass an ordinance that allows agricultural operations on properties larger than 15 acres as a conditional use in residential moderate density, or...
New Kensington police say runaway girl returned home
A girl missing since Friday has returned home, New Kensington police said Tuesday. Police said Monae Matthews is safe and was not injured when she returned home. In a post on the department’s Facebook page, police said Monae was a runaway who was last seen on Friday....
The Stroller, Dec. 9, 2019: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Festival of Trees raffle supports hospital projects Allegheny Valley Hospital Auxiliary is hosting its annual Festival of Trees raffle to benefit projects supporting the hospital. Each hospital department decorates a tree to be raffled off and they are on display in the lobby. Tickets are 10 for $5 or 25...
Marigold the potbellied pig found wandering in Indiana TownshipVideo
A pig found wandering along Dorseyville Road last week in Indiana Township remains unclaimed. The female adult mini-sized potbellied pig was found without any identifying tags on Dec. 5, reported to Indiana Township Police and later transported by volunteers to a pig rescue facility. The pig remains under the care...
Donations sought for ‘Small Town Christmas’ at Sheldon Park
Donations are needed for the second annual Small Town Christmas event in Harrison’s Sheldon Park neighborhood. The event was first held last year to help bring together and heal the community in the wake of two shootings. It ended up filling the void left when the township’s own parade and...
Community rallies around St. Joseph High School senior Eli Swierczewski as he battles Ewing’s sarcoma
It’s easy to see why St. Joseph High School is rallying around Eli Swierczewski and his second battle with cancer. Classmates, teachers and friends describe the senior with a broad infectious smile as a great person. He’s an A-student who plays soccer, basketball and his favorite, baseball, and is also...
Twisted Thistle eatery in Leechburg staying put with new menuVideo
The Twisted Thistle in Leechburg is here to stay. The historic eatery on Market Street is no longer on the market after being listed for $1.5 million in 2018. “Linda (Alworth, the owner) was interested in selling last year due to her desire to focus on other projects such as...
Unique model train displays showcased in West Deer for holiday seasonVideo
Joe Puet is just as excited about model trains now as he was as a little boy. On Sunday, he enthusiastically showed his 1-year-old grandson Daniel Kline an O Scale model train display that had been set up at the Bull Creek United Presbyterian Church Model Railroad Association Holiday Train...
Welcome to Cluckingham Palace, a posh chicken coop in Kittanning TownshipVideo
It’s a chicken coop worth crowing about. Buttercup, Harper and Wren are coddled chickens residing in a custom-built henhouse on two acres in rural Armstrong County. Homeowners Debbi and Dave Reefer decided in 2016 to raise chickens on their property in Kittanning Township. “I always thought chickens were cool, and...
Taxes remain flat but water, trash rates increase in Brackenridge
Real estate tax rates will be staying the same in Brackenridge, but residents will see hikes in trash collection and water rates. Council on Thursday gave final approval of a $1.16 million budget that will keep the tax rate at 6.25 mills. A new, three-year contract with Richard S. Adamik...
The Stroller, Dec. 8, 2019: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Highlands students to present winter concert The Highlands High School Choirs will present their winter concert, “Christmas Classics” at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the high school auditorium, Natrona Heights. Performances will be by the Concert Choir, Honors Choir and Variations Show Choir. Donations will be accepted to benefit the spring...
Last known local surviving Pearl Harbor vet honored at Brackenridge ceremonyVideo
It’s hard to explain the chaos and confusion that broke out in the moments following the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, said George Pann, who at the time was a 19-year-old Army private assigned to the 55th Coast Artillery in Oahu. Pann, now 97, and other area retired...
Online map could soon help paddlers explore Kiski, Conemaugh rivers
An online map could soon help the growing number of paddlers in the Kiski and Conemaugh rivers and outdoor enthusiasts discovers where to stop for a beer and to take in a small town attraction. A $230,000 state grant to the nonprofit Allegheny Ridge Corporation will pay for an updated,...
New Kensington ushers in the holidays with annual parade
New Kensington held its annual Christmas parade Saturday. The parade wound through downtown and featured floats and bands. It was followed by a touch-a-truck event on Fourth Avenue in front of the fire station....
Oakmont food truck looks to small loans for big expansion
An Oakmont food truck seeking to make the leap to a full restaurant and bar isn’t going about raising money for the jump in the traditional fashion. Ken Shields, a full-time IT worker and grilling hobbyist who founded the Oakmont Barbeque Company food truck, could go to a bank or...
Highlands School Board accepts limit on property tax increase
Property taxes in the Highlands School District will not increase by more than 3.7% in the 2020-21 school year. The school board voted unanimously Tuesday not to exceed its state-imposed inflation limit. Under the state’s Taxpayer Relief Act, also known as Act 1, the board is required to make that...
