Valley News Dispatch category, Page 684

Armstrong County is offering grants for repairs to owner-occupied homes with residents who meet income guidelines and are in need of health and safety related improvements. Repairs could include electrical upgrades, flooring, windows and doors. Applications are due at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 18. Residents can get applications from...

The lawyer for a Tarentum man whose 2 1/2-year-old daughter was found unresponsive in a home swimming pool last month described the situation as a “very bad accident” and said his client did everything he could to try to help her. “I don’t see this rising to the level of...

A Pittsburgh man suspected of rifling through unlocked cars early Monday was arrested as he drove from the scene, Buffalo Township police said Wednesday. At about 3:15 a.m. Monday, Patrolman John Gillette said spotted a figure in dark clothes going through items in a black Nissan sedan that was parked...

An Indiana County man accused of having drugs in a car that police said they pulled over in North Apollo because it had a burned-out license plate light is headed to trial. Jacob Shane Penrose, 31, of Clune, appeared for a preliminary hearing Wednesday before District Judge James Andring in...

Harmar’s zoning hearing board will meet Thursday to decide whether to allow Feeding the Flock Ministries to move into in a former church to open a food pantry and worship site. The nonprofit organization hopes to move into a former Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses building at 490 Nixon Road....

Springdale Township officials are expected to decide next week if they will move forward with creating a regional police department with Cheswick. Officials will vote on the measure at the supervisors meeting at 7 p.m. April 18 at the township building, 100 Plate Drive. Residents can view the proposed ordinance...

A planned closure of Jacoby Road in Harmar has been postponed until later this summer. The road originally was expected to close Monday for repairs to the bridge that carries it over Little Deer Creek, but the contractor decided to wait until July 15 to accommodate trout season. State law...

Those who rely on Leechburg’s food bank are benefiting from two large donations this month. For at least the third time, the Leechburg Elks lodge donated 1,000 pounds of groceries valued at $2,000. The groceries were purchased locally and, to the delight of food bank volunteers, delivered. An anonymous Alle-Kiski...

A Westmoreland County judge rejected a proposed plea bargain for an Arnold woman accused of strangling her 6-year-old autistic son. Police charged Elena Lovorn, 28, with strangulation, child endangerment, reckless endangerment and simple assault in connection with an incident in early January. Authorities said Lovorn took her son into a...

A Fawn man will go to trial on attempted kidnapping and assault charges in connection with allegations that he brutally attacked his former girlfriend in New Kensington last summer. Westmoreland County Judge Rita Hathaway denied defense motions that sought to dismiss the two most serious charges filed against Jeremy Chambers...

Pittsburgh drone racers will get to know part of the Alle-Kiski Valley. On May 17, the Pittsburgh Drone Masters will hold the first of four drone races at River Forest Country Club in Allegheny Township, club officer Dan Calig said. The drones must be flown through gates or flags and...

The Plum School District and its teachers’ union approved a new, six-year contract. A tentative agreement was reached earlier this year. The teachers union ratified it April 4 and the board approved it via 7-1 vote at a special meeting Tuesday night. School Director Rich Zucco dissented. Jim Rogers was...

School districts in Allegheny, Armstrong and Westmoreland Counties are among the 623 districts nationwide to be recognized as top communities for music education by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation. The designation for “Best Communities for Music Education” is awarded to districts that not only have high participation in...

Buffalo Township’s supervisors will hold a hearing Wednesday about a request to rezone more than 2 acres on North Pike Road for business use. The property at 339 North Pike Road is currently zoned for agricultural use, but the property behind it is zoned for business use. The surrounding area...

State police said an Armstrong County man was drunk when fell asleep at a Buffalo Township car wash — with a trooper waiting in line behind him. A criminal complaint filed against Larry Wayne Hill, 53, of Cowanshannock, said he pulled into the Get-Go along Route 356 around 3 p.m....

Work on the next leg of the Wynn and Clara Tredway Trail could begin by the end of April. Allegheny Township officials plan to meet soon with PennDOT District 12 officials in Uniontown for a pre-construction meeting. The goal is to have the project done by late August. The 10-foot-wide...

The Cycle Diner in Tarentum is seeking a new family to take over daily operations. The restaurant was temporarily closed Tuesday but was expected to be back up and running Wednesday, according to general manager Tommy Scanga. Scanga referred to a Sunday Facebook post when questioned about the potential change...

A Pittsburgh man is accused of trying to hide a golf ball-sized rock of crack cocaine and several bricks of heroin in his shoe. Harrison police said they found the drugs on Andre Blair, 25, after an officer pulled over a car he was in on Freeport Road near Highlands...

Harrison residents can learn more about a rain garden being built soon at Highlands Middle School and plans for a future, larger project on Burtner Road at a public meeting next week. The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and Merritt Chase, a landscape architecture firm, will display plans and designs for the...

Plum residents and business owners can help borough medics and save money on emergency transports through a subscription drive. Registration for the annual Plum EMS fundraising effort is underway. EMS Operations Director Brian Maloney said the department usually receives about 4,200 subscribers, which is 30 to 35 percent of all...

Highlands School District, previously chastised by state officials for not seeking bids for busing, is weighing two proposals for transportation services. The district has proposals from its current and longtime provider, WL Roenigk, and ABC Transit, district business Manager Lori Byron said. Byron would not provide costs put forward in...

Deer Lakes High School drama students are preparing to transport the audience to Greece with their performance of “Mamma Mia.” The musical takes place in Greece and tells the story of Sophie and Donna. Sophie is getting married and wants her dad to walk her down the aisle, but has...

A 41-year-old Plum woman registered as a sex offender under Megan’s Law is accused of assaulting two Vandergrift police officers on Sunday. Candy Yockey of Ivory Avenue is accused of punching one officer and kicking another when they responded to a report of a woman bleeding from her mouth along...