Valley News Dispatch category, Page 648

A Harrison man was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of possessing child pornography last year, according to federal prosecutors. According to U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady, Jack Ulrich Jr., 41, used computer graphics files to store pornographic photographs and videos of minors, some of whom...

Fox Chapel Area School District Superintendent Gene Freeman has announced his impending retirement after five years with the district. His departure is effective June 12, 2020. Freeman said it has been a great honor to lead the district and he’s proud of the path it has taken. Since he began...

Seita Jewelers in Tarentum has been putting engagement rings on people’s fingers for more than 60 years. Owners Curt and Sandi Marino have plenty of stories about how their customers popped the question, from putting a ring inside a specially made hockey puck to proposing on top of a Las...

Police say a New Stanton man put his knee on a woman’s throat and held a lit cigarette to her chest during an assault in Bell Township. State police said Cody James Barron, 26, of East Street, New Stanton, also is accused of hitting a woman in the face with...

While firefighters use untold gallons of water to fight blazes to save lives, they don’t want to come up short taking care of their own water needs. Keeping first responders hydrated for hours in the heat can become a challenge that impacts their performance and health. Volunteer firefighters, strapped by...

A heavy-equipment operator and father of three from Armstrong County died after being shot in an Arnold alley Friday night, according to investigators. Gregory Ray Wynkoop, 35, of East Franklin died of a single gunshot wound at Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison. The shooting occurred about 6:30 p.m. in the...

The Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department is officially on patrol. Officers started the first shift for the newly formed department, which merged the Cheswick and Springdale Township departments, at 7 a.m. Monday. The department is headquartered in Springdale Township and has a substation in Cheswick. The merger took a year...

Larry Rowe woke shortly after 1:30 a.m. in late May to the piercing sound of back-to-back gunshots on his Arnold block. The 74-year-old retired high school history teacher nudged his wife and headed toward his bedroom window. “I rolled out of my bed, I’m almost to the window, and then...

Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series that features Alle-Kiski Valley residents and the notable things that they do. Barbara Ravenstahl felt a calling to become a preacher when women weren’t allowed behind the pulpit. The Lutheran Church in America ordained its first female minister in November 1970....

A proposed state change local officials said could devastate Westmoreland County’s paratransit system for low income and elderly riders has been delayed. Gov. Tom Wolf late last week signed legislation authorizing a six-month study of the plan approved last year giving oversight of the state’s medical assistance transportation program to...

A boil-water advisory remains in place for residents of Harrison’s Natrona neighborhood at least through Monday. Emergency services officials confirmed late Sunday that the advisory will continue until testing demonstrates that the local water is safe to drink. Residents should boil their water before using for drinking or cooking. Homes...

There was a time, not so long ago, when the congregation of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church had all but disappeared. When the Rev. Frank Yesko arrived in 2011, he didn’t know if they’d end up closing their doors, but he knew he had to try. Now, the church has about...

Police are investigating a fatal shooting Friday night on a residential street in Arnold, officials said. Westmoreland County 911 dispatchers received a report of a shooting about 6:30 p.m. in an alley between Taylor and Woodmont avenues, said Detective John Clark of the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office. Officials found...

They’re cleaning up Tarentum by pulling one weed at a time. A group of volunteers calling themselves the Tarentum Action Committee spent Saturday morning outside seven blighted properties in the borough, pulling weeds and clearing debris to improve their curb appeal, according to the committee’s chairwoman, Lorri Wildi. “This is...

Kaohmi Gold, a Verona girl who turned 4 earlier this month, has set her sights on a new role model. Her name is Kaley Bastine of Harrison, and at 7, she’s not much older than Kaohmi. They both really like dogs and cops — and especially police dogs. Kaohmi has...

People who live in Harrison’s Natrona neighborhood are advised to boil water before drinking it. Harrison Water Authority board member Mark Krumenacker said the advisory was issued because of a large water main break Friday on Springhill Road. The line was repaired Friday, but the advisory will remain in place...

A fast moving thunderstorm rolling through part of the Alle-Kiski Valley at about 2 p.m. Saturday knocked down trees and power lines causing outages to about 250 electric customers, according to 911 dispatch reports. According to West Penn Power, most of the outages were reported in Washington Township with 203...

The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Butler County until 12:45 p.m. Saturday. Winds of up to 60 mph and hail can be expected. The storm was headed toward Evans City and Harmony, the weather service said. Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Meridian PA, Evans City...

State police believe alcohol was a factor in a crash of an all-terrain vehicle that sent two people to area hospitals Friday in Armstrong County. Daniel Beers, 50, and Tawnee Coleman, 49, both of Dayton, were seriously injured when the ATV they were aboard crashed along Country Road in Wayne...

The National Weather Service in Moon Township has issued a severe thunderstorm warning until 7:45 p.m. Friday for northeastern Allegheny County. Locations impacted include Russellton and Curtisville sections of West Deer and McCandless, Hampton and Pine townships. The service reported a severe thunderstorm over Gibsonia at 7:22 p.m. The storm...

The annual Greek Food Festival at the Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church in Oakmont is less about the food and more about fellowship for the volunteers. Around 200 people prepare, serve, cleanup and perform in the three-day celebration along Washington Avenue. It’s running through Sunday. The festival is...

Here’s where you can watch fireworks around Western Pennsylvania this Fourth of July holiday. July 3 • Findlay Township Independence Day Celebration, begins at 7:30 p.m., fireworks at 9:45 p.m., Recreation and Sports Complex, Route 30. No parking permitted on Route 30. • Hampton Township Community Day Celebration, fireworks at...

A New Kensington man who served 12 years for the murder of a Duquesne student now is facing a federal drug charge. A federal grand jury in Pittsburgh this week indicted Thomas Vaugh Kelly Jr., 33, accusing him of selling fentanyl. The indictment was handed down Tuesday. Kelly was released...