Valley News Dispatch category, Page 68
The Stroller, May 4, 2025: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Volunteers needed to plant...
When the land runs out, so does much of the money for cemeteries
In September, Jacquelyn Connell asked Oakmont officials for help. Connell, 39, of Glenshaw is the only paid employee of the Verona Cemetery in Oakmont, also known as the Oakmont Verona Cemetery, which is quickly running out of money. If nothing changes, the cemetery will be broke in three years, she...
New Ken veterinarian shocked by ‘callous,’ ‘two-faced’ funeral director accused of mishandling remains
Following the sudden death of her cat, CrackerJack, this year, Dr. Betsy Kennon said what she got back from the funeral home that cremated him was so lovely that she was moved to thank the man responsible in person. “I thought he was warm, he was friendly, he was sympathetic...
Private investigator to offer $100K reward in Cherrie Mahan case
A private investigator plans to offer a $100,000 reward to anyone with information leading to the discovery of Cherrie Mahan, who vanished 40 years ago from a school bus stop in Winfield. Steve Ridge, an Iowa-based private eye, took on Cherrie’s case pro-bono nearly three months ago. Backed by a...
The Stroller, May 3, 2025: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Tickets on sale for...
7 candidates seek party nods to run for 4 seats in Leechburg Area School Board race
The May 20 primary ballot will feature some familiar faces vying for four open seats on the Leechburg Area School Board. Incumbents Darius Lovelace, 73; Candi Stewart, 68; Ashley Coudriet, 45; and Jimmy Feudale, 65, are seeking to keep their seats. They are being challenged by Neill Brady, 76, and...
Aspinwall Democrat Sarah Shaffer drops out of primary race for council
Aspinwall Democrat Sarah Shaffer has withdrawn from seeking a party nod for a council seat, leaving the upcoming primary race uncontested. Shaffer, 43, was one of five in a race for four nominations in the May 20 election. Other candidates include current council President Jeff Harris, Councilwoman Lara Voytko, former...
Class action lawsuit filed against funeral director accused of dumping pet remains
Two of the thousands of pet owners allegedly defrauded by a local funeral director have filed a class action lawsuit in Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. They’re seeking financial damages from Patrick Vereb, who ran funeral homes in Pittsburgh and Harrison until being hit with multiple felony charges earlier...
Detour announced for Hulton Road in Oakmont
PennDOT officials have announced a detour implemented for Hulton Road, which is closed between Allegheny Avenue and Fifth Street in Oakmont. The state road was among many devastated by Tuesday’s storms. Police Chief Michael Ford said he anticipated the main thoroughfare to be closed for at least a few days...
Days after devastating storm, thousands hold on without power
Rico, 71, and Chris Fontana, 68, were left trapped in their powerless Allegheny Township home after Tuesday’s violent storm downed a large pine tree across their driveway and scattered wires, trees and a transformer across the nearby road. Living on well water, the Fontanas were left with dry shower heads...
Alle-Kiski Valley school districts move, postpone proms after storms
Some high schoolers will have to wait a bit longer to don their tuxes and gowns. Due to intermittent power outages after Tuesday’s storms, Freeport Area and Highlands school districts changed their planned prom schedules. Both dances were scheduled for this weekend at the Syria Shriner’s Center in Harmar. According...
Plum School Board primary election packed with incumbents, familiar faces
Of the 11 candidates vying for four open seats on Plum School Board this year, only three have never sought or held office before. Three of those running are incumbents, one was recently appointed, two are previous office holders, and two ran and lost in past elections. Both Democrat and...
Orange flags to support pedestrian safety in Aspinwall
Bright orange flags will be popping up on Aspinwall’s busiest streets. Funded by the advocacy group Aspinwall Neighbors, the initiative will see pedestrian flags in at least two spots along the Brilliant Avenue business corridor. “Pedestrians will be encouraged to carry a flag while crossing the street and deposit it...
Sharpsburg parks and recreation commission adds new member
The Sharpsburg Parks and Recreation Commission has a new member. Resident Barbara Pugliese was sworn in to the volunteer position by Mayor Kayla Portis on April 24. The retired United Steelworkers accounting department employee said she was looking for an opportunity to help her town. “I decided this would be...
2 running for Kiski Area School Board in Region 3
Two candidates are running to represent Region 3 on the Kiski Area School Board. Incumbent Nicole Kamer is cross-filed and will appear on the Democratic and Republican primary ballots May 20. Newcomer the Rev. Trista Lucas of Vandergrift is running only as a Republican. If Lucas were to win the...
The Stroller, May 2, 2025: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Lacrosse tournament to benefit...
New Kensington woman’s self-love journey channels into children’s affirmations book
Obianuju Anyaogu can remember times in her life when she chose to turn obstacles into stepping stones rather than allowing them to become setbacks. When she was in college at Slippery Rock University, she overcame deep depression and suicidal thoughts. She’s raising her son, Nehemiah Chidrebere Anyaogu, 10, as a...
Fox Chapel Area School District closed Friday due to outages; free meals to be served
Fox Chapel Area School District officials announced school is canceled for students Friday due to power outages, multiple road closures, and downed electrical wires. There will also be no online learning from home. The district will offer free meals to all students and their families on Friday. Anyone wishing to...
Around 150,000 remain without power as crews continue restoration work
Though power was restored to more than 300,000 customers in Western Pennsylvania since Tuesday’s severe weather, about 150,000 remained without electricity in the region as of 9:30 p.m. on Thursday. And Duquesne Light and West Penn Power said it will be at least several more days before power is restored...
Freeport Towers residents look back on harrowing 37 hours
Joe Bodick has never loved the smell of hot dogs more than he did Wednesday night. Bodick, president of Freeport Towers tenant association, was one of the more than 80 high-rise residents who went without power for 37 hours after Tuesday’s violent storms. With mostly seniors living in the high-rise,...
Power companies tap out-of-state help to restore power, give target restoration dates
Power company workers from multiple states are helping West Penn Power restore service to thousands of residents without electricity since Tuesday’s storms. The workers set up a base in the parking lot of the Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer. “We have more than 4,000 FirstEnergy crews and external resources, including...
Key witness in police shooting to testify on tape amid concerns of potential flight, overdose
Prosecutors have valid concerns that a key witness against a Clairton man accused in the 2023 shooting of a Monroeville police officer could flee or die before next month’s trial, a Westmoreland County judge ruled. The witness, according to prosecutors, was a passenger with Bruce Alvarado as he fled in...
Whistleblower says ‘excuses,’ lack of documentation led her to alert police to pet cremation scandal
Tiffany Mantzouridis had a hunch that something was off with her employer, Patrick Vereb, owner of Vereb Funeral Home and Eternity Pet Memorials. “He would throw away crematory tags and keep handwritten notes of where which pets should go, but he never could name the crematory he was using for...
ATI posts first quarter revenue of $1.1 billion
ATI leaders on Thursday credited strong revenue growth to a thriving aerospace and defense industry. The specialty metals company released its first-quarter results, with sales of $1.1 billion — up 10% from the same period last year. Growth was driven by a 23% increase in aerospace and defense, officials said....
Pet cremation scandal victims urged to honor pets on May 9
Tina Moore of Greensburg paid to have her cats — Pickle, Daisy and LaLa — cremated. She learned this week they may have been thrown into a landfill instead. “I’ve spent the past three days so angry and bitter,” Moore said. “I need to concentrate my energy on positivity rather...
