Valley News Dispatch category, Page 672
Furniture, crafts, gifts come full circle at Vandergrift store
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 Czebiniak at mczebiniak@tribweb.com. At Full Circle Furniture & Gifts in Vandergrift, wood...
Search for body of missing Plum man continues in Lake Erie
Authorities on Monday started to examine the boat that capsized and caused the disappearance of a Plum man in Lake Erie. Raymond Burns, 58, went missing nine days earlier, on Aug. 17. The 21-foot recreational fishing boat was hit by a squall and swamped by massive waves just before 10...
New Ken-Arnold extends contracts for superintendent, athletic director, business manager
New Kensington-Arnold School District extended its contracts with Superintendent John Pallone and two other administrators. The extensions for Pallone and athletic Director William Colosimo come two years ahead of the end of their current contracts. The extension for Jeff McVey, director of administrative services, is one year early. The three-year...
New Kensington man takes guilty plea to lesser charges in fatal drug overdose case
A New Kensington man originally charged as the person who supplied drugs in two fatal overdoses two years ago on Monday pleaded guilty to lesser charges. Theodore Brown, 25, was facing two counts of drug delivery resulting in death in connection with the Nov. 5, 2017 overdoses of Malachai E....
Mosquito tests positive for West Nile Virus in New Kensington
A mosquito sample from New Kensington tested positive for West Nile virus, the state West Nile Control Program announced Monday. It came from a trap set by the Westmoreland County Conservation District, according to state Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman Lauren Fraley. “Additional trapping will be conducted to gather more...
West Deer OKs hanging banners honoring military veterans on utility poles
West Deer officials have approved a program to honor veterans with banners hung from utility poles. The military banners program was approved in a 5-1 vote, with Supervisor Gerry Vaerewyck opposing it. Under the program, residents can honor a family member who served in the Armed Forces by buying a...
Charges withdrawn against New Kensington man accused of rape
Criminal charges have been withdrawn against a New Kensington man who police accused of raping a woman earlier this year. The Allegheny County District Attorney’s office withdrew seven charges, including rape, that were filed against James Michael Tessauro, 38, in connection with an incident in January. The charges were withdrawn...
Retiring Plum Food Pantry director served others his whole lifeVideo
Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series that features Alle-Kiski Valley residents and the notable things they do. Joe Utterback looks forward to evenings in a recliner with a good book after decades of serving Plum families in need. “It’s hard to describe the feeling,” said Utterback, Plum...
Aspinwall’s Farmer x Baker gives different meaning to ‘food from a box’Video
A unique waterside dining option is open inside Aspinwall Riverfront Park. Farmer x Baker, a repurposed shipping container-turned-café nestled along the Allegheny River in the scenic 10-acre park, is the first of its kind in Pittsburgh. All 160 square feet of it. The eco-friendly creation of owner Jennifer Urich, Farmer...
Buffalo Township Family Day brings community, first responders together
From turning on the sirens to climbing on the trucks, kids of all ages got to interact with local first responders up close and personal Sunday at the inaugural Buffalo Township Family Day. The free event was hosted by the Buffalo Township parks and recreation committee and the Friends of...
What you need to know about start of school year in the Alle-Kiski Valley
While several school districts in the Alle-Kiski Valley have already started classes, this marks the first full week of school for many of the districts. Here’s what you need to know about the year ahead. Allegheny Valley First day: Monday for first-12th grade; Tuesday for kindergarten Last day: Friday, June...
‘BEEP for B’man’ a great reason to lay on your hornVideo
Motorists have a great excuse to lay on their horns in O’Hara. Fourteen-year-old Bill Carney, also known as B’man, sits at the corner of Fox Chapel and Freeport roads in Fox Chapel Plaza several evenings a week. His mission? Soliciting honks, beeps and waves from the driving public. A large...
Kids enjoy sun, horses, helicopter at East Deer community celebration
Sandy Galie had her hands full Saturday keeping track of five grandkids — including two sets of twins — at the East Deer Township Summer Celebration in the Park. Galie, of East Deer, was helping four of them enjoy the seesaws at the township’s Memorial Park in Creighton. “They’re loving...
New Ken-Arnold School Board approves personnel actions
The New Kensington-Arnold School Board approved a number of personnel changes ahead of the start of the new school year. The board accepted five resignations: Kathleen Perkoski, elementary teacher; Anna Rogers, licensed clinical nurse; Tammie Bayne, Roy A. Hunt cafeteria monitor; Sheldon Simmons, middle school head football coach; and Bobbie...
Burrell chooses grass over artificial turf for stadium makeover
Burrell School District and its architects will soon seek bids for a new, natural grass playing surface ringed by a new track at the high school stadium. Drainage problems have long plagued the stadium. The track replacement is estimated to cost about $757,000, while the stadium improvement with natural grass...
4 more gas wells planned for Midas well pad in Plum
There are plans to drill four additional unconventional natural gas wells on a pad along Coxcomb Hill Road in Plum, and surrounding landowners have been asked to help. A letter was sent in July to all landowners whose property sits within 1,000 feet of a proposed vertical and horizontal well...
Football field, track surfaces to be replaced at Valley High School
New Kensington-Arnold School District plans to spend more than a half-million dollars to replace the track and football field surfaces at Valley High School. Work on the football field’s artificial surface will be done after this fall’s season, school board President Bob Pallone said. It could be done immediately after...
Former Kiski Area trainer receives probation for corruption of minors, harassment
A Plum man who worked with athletes at Kiski Area High School will serve two years on probation after pleading guilty Friday to misdemeanor charges of corruption of minors and harassment. Westmoreland County prosecutors agreed to dismiss one felony count that accused Ryan O’Toole of having sex with a student....
Tarentum church plans memorial for man found in Bull Creek
A Tarentum pastor said the man whose body was found Wednesday in Bull Creek became active at BridgePoint Church several months ago and had just been baptized less than two weeks ago. The Rev. Val Schubert of BridgePoint Church said the parish plans to hold a memorial service Sunday for...
Legendary players, moments defined Alle-Kiski Valley’s greatest teams
The Alle-Kiski Valley has been blessed with some great high school football teams since the sport was first introduced in 1898 when the original Apollo High School first fielded a team. As the A-K Valley starts another season, here’s a look back at the Top 5: 1943 Aspinwall Cavaliers The...
Apollo mayor appoints new acting officer in charge
Apollo Mayor Cindee Virostek appointed borough police Officer Dave Romagnoli this week as acting officer in charge. Apollo police Chief Jarred Kier submitted his resignation last month effective Aug. 15 to take a full-time patrolman’s job in Washington Township. Apollo is in need of more police officers. There are only...
Highlands approves contract for custodians, maintenance workers
Custodians and maintenance workers in Highlands School District have an early-retirement offer along with a new contract. The new three-year agreement between the district and workers with Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ is retroactive to June 30 and runs until June 30, 2022. The contract covers about 30 employees....
5 things to do in Westmoreland this weekend: Aug. 23-25Video
TGIF! After a steamy start to the week, it’s time for a cool and comfortable weekend. Sweet celebration In addition to football, Arnold Palmer and Mr. Rogers, Latrobe has another claim to fame — the banana split. The Great American Banana Split Celebration is set Aug. 23-25 is all about...
New Kensington-Arnold OKs teachers contract just in time for start of school
After more than two years of negotiations, teachers in the New Kensington-Arnold School District have a new contract. The contract runs through June 30, 2021, and is retroactive to Sept. 1, 2017. Teachers will report for Monday as scheduled; students return Wednesday. Under the terms of the contract: • The...
Construction rolls on at Logans Ferry Road bridge at Lower Burrell-Plum borderVideo
A construction crew will soon be pouring concrete for the deck for the Logans Ferry Road bridge on the side heading toward New Kensington. Soon after, a crew from Plum Contracting will prepare to build the lanes in the other direction. That will happen starting next month, according to Plum...
