Valley News Dispatch category, Page 688
Ford City, Cadogan residents face cocaine charges
Two Armstrong County residents are accused of selling cocaine. Dennis John Johnson Jr., 38, of Ford City, and Shana Lee Warcholak, 33, of Cadogan each are facing 11 drug-related charges. Johnson was arrested Thursday by the Armstrong County Narcotics Enforcement Team (ARMNET). He was arraigned and sent to the Armstrong...
People being scammed out of ‘thousands of dollars,’ West Deer police chief saysVideo
West Deer Police Chief Jon Lape has seen phone scams pop up pretty much everywhere, including his community. In the last year, Lape said his department has received roughly a dozen calls from residents reporting phone scams. “They seem like around March, April and now there’s a lot of them...
DeStefano Florist is closing after 35 years in business in Arnold
And then there was one. For years, Arnold Flower Shop and DeStefano Florist have been a few doors from each other on Fifth Avenue in Arnold. That’s changing this month, as DeStefano’s is closing. “It’s time,” said Lynda Demharter, who has owned DeStefano’s for 17 years. She bought it from...
Upper Burrell temporarily shelves fire-tax proposal
Upper Burrell Supervisors will temporarily shelve a proposal for a 2-mill fire tax as they further study the finances of the township’s volunteer fire company, according to Supervisors Chairman Ross Walker. In April, the board directed its solicitor to draw up a resolution for a 2-mill fire tax to pay...
Springdale flushing hydrants this month
Springdale residents may experience changes in water color and pressure while the borough flushes hydrants this month. Crews will flush the hydrants the week of May 19 to May 24. Residents should test the water before washing clothes or using large amounts of water. If problems persist, residents can contact...
Freeport Area looking at tax hikes for proposed $33.5M budget
Freeport Area school directors will vote Wednesday on a proposed budget that would raise real estate taxes an average of $20 per year in Armstrong County and $80 per year in Butler County. The $33.5 million budget for the next school year is a 2.4% increase over the current school...
West Deer schedules family fishing event
The West Deer Parks & Recreation Board and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will hold their annual family fishing event this month. Families can come out and fish from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. May 31 at Deer Lakes Park. Children will learn basic fishing skills such as baiting a...
Washington Township burglary suspect remains in jail
A Washington Township man accused of a string of burglaries last year in the township was arrested this week. David Andrew Cavitt, 35, was arrested Wednesday in Beaver County. He was being held in Westmoreland County Prison on Friday after failing to post $100,000 bond. A preliminary hearing before District...
Brackenridge man posts bond on charges of using slur, chasing man with bat
A Brackenridge man who police said yelled racial slurs at another man, chased him with a baseball bat and mooned him last week is free on bond. Eric Todd Clark, 47, was arrested Wednesday and released from the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh on Thursday after posting $10,000 bond, according...
Alle-Kiski Valley first target for ‘reimagining’ Westmoreland County
An initial step in Westmoreland County’s new comprehensive plan will be getting under way in the communities of the Alle-Kiski Valley. County commissioners on Thursday approved a $22,500 yearlong agreement with Susan Hockenberry Coaching and Consulting to begin the process of developing a sub-county regional plan in conjunction with “Reimagining...
Harmar sheet metal union gets $500K for training, renovations
The Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 12 in Harmar plans to make building improvements and buy new training equipment with a $500,000 state grant. “We’re very excited. We’ve been really hoping this would go through,” said Greg Blose, Local 12’s business manager. The Harmar location includes the Local 12 union...
Faithful observe National Day of Prayer in New KensingtonVideo
Nine people joined together in prayer at noon Thursday by the flag pole at the New Kensington municipal building during a National Day of Prayer service. They sang and took turns lifting the nation and region up in prayer, asking for a resurgence in faith in the country and a...
Pittsburgh appraiser to attend ‘What’s It Worth’ fair in Tarentum
If you have something around the house and wonder what it’s worth, appraiser Kurt Shaw will let you know. Shaw, a former art critic at the Tribune-Review for 16 years, will be at the Allegheny-Kiski Valley Heritage Museum’s “What’s It Worth” Appraisal Fair from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Shaw...
New Kensington, Arnold police investigating separate suspicious incidents involving children
New Kensington police are investigating the report of a suspicious incident involving a child Thursday — the morning after a child luring attempt was reported in Arnold. An 8-year-old Roy A. Hunt Elementary student told administrators and police that an unknown man made contact with him at a bus stop...
Harmar ordinance would set rules for cell towers, antennas
The Harmar supervisors plan to vote this month on a proposed ordinance that would establish rules for installing wireless antennas and towers for 5G cellular service in township rights of way. Supervisors will hold a public hearing prior to their regular meeting May 16 to receive resident feedback and questions...
Upper, Lower Burrell police get questioned by preschool students
Staffers at Bethel Nursery School in Lower Burrell didn’t want their students to have the wrong idea about police officers. So they asked if some could come for a visit. On Wednesday, 60 students, ages 4 and 5, had the opportunity to ask Lower Burrell and Upper Burrell police officers...
Rally coming up at Mogie’s for 2 Lower Burrell candidates in hotly contested races
With the hotly contested races for the Democratic nomination for Lower Burrell city council and mayor, two of the candidates will hold a rally on Wednesday at Mogie’s Magill Grill. John Andrejcik, who is running for mayor, and Steve Yakopec, the former city solicitor who is running for council, will...
Race to the Moon 5-K on Roaring Run Trail set
The Roaring Run Watershed Association will hold its third annual Race to the Moon 5-K run/walk on July 13. Race proceeds benefit the association, which maintains the Roaring Run Trail and trail head and other projects. Registration fees range from $20 to $30. To sign up, go to RRWA’s website....
West Deer Dog Shelter to hold rabies clinic
The West Deer Dog Shelter will administer rabies vaccines at a clinic this month. The event will run from 2 to 4 p.m. May 25 at the shelter, located behind the township building at 109 East Union Road. All animals must be leashed or caged and be at least three...
State police arrest wanted East Brady man after pursuit
State police arrested an East Brady man after a vehicle and foot pursuit early Thursday in East Franklin. The man’s name and age were not immediately released. State police said they stopped the man for traffic violations at 12:05 a.m. at Hilltop Plaza. They found he was wanted on three...
Lower Burrell’s Anti-Bullying Awareness Day offers free events, picnic
Lower Burrell is offering free public events and information for Anti-Bullying Awareness Day at City Hall and a picnic at Burrell Lake Park on Saturday. The event will take place from 2 to 6 p.m. Nico Pampena, a third-grader who was bullied, will be Lower Burrell Mayor for the Day....
Report of attempted child luring in Arnold under investigation
New Kensington and Arnold police are investigating a report of a child-luring attempt. Authorities said they are looking for an older, white man with a gray beard and a tan car. He is suspected to have attempted to lure children into his vehicle in Arnold on Wednesday. New Kensington police...
Portion of Coxcomb Hill Road (Route 909) in Plum reopens after wires had fallen
Allegheny County dispatchers said the 100 block of Coxcomb Hill Road in Plum was closed for a time Wednesday night due to a tree that fell and knocked down power lines. The incident took place around 7:50 p.m. Wednesday near Blair Auto Sales. By 9 p.m, an Allegheny County 911...
Dump truck driver hospitalized after crashing into pole in Vandergrift
A dump truck driver was hospitalized after his vehicle struck a pole at Sherman Avenue and Second Street in Vandergrift. The crash happened shortly before 4 p.m. Wednesday. Police said the truck was traveling north on Sherman Avenue when it hit the West Penn Power utility pole near Steeltown Smokehouse....
Not 1 but 2 Harmar eaglets have their day in the sun
With temperatures soaring into the 80s Wednesday, both bald eaglets were active and seen at the Harmar nest above Route 28. Gina Gilmore of Fox Chapel captured the young family in photos posted to Facebook on Wednesday. While only the top of a second eaglet’s head had been spotted in...
