Valley News Dispatch category, Page 692

The Kiski Area School District is outsourcing management of its food services department for the first time. The school board awarded a contract to Nutrition Inc. to manage the district’s food services. The contract, which Business Manager Peggy Gillespie said must also be approved by the state Department of Education,...

Another costly change order for Springdale’s water system renovation project prompted two councilmen to put the heat on the project’s engineer — again. Councilmen Frank Forbes and Mike Ziencik questioned project engineer Kevin Szakelyhidi, of Bankson Engineers, this week about a change order of more than $24,000 council was being...

A two-vehicle crash in Armstrong County sent two people to the hospital late Wednesday afternoon, officials said. Emergency dispatchers received a report of the crash near Stitts Run and Dime roads in Parks Township shortly after 5:30 p.m., an Armstrong County 911 shift commander said. As of 6 p.m., a...

Closing arguments are scheduled Thursday morning in Allegheny County Court for a Frazer woman accused of killing her husband two years ago after they argued about money and her having burned a casserole. Teresa Drum, 40, is charged with the Feb. 27, 2017, homicide of her husband, Dennis Drum Sr.,...

It turns out, an Arnold woman likely wasn’t on the lam when she failed to appear in court for a hearing earlier this week. She just didn’t know when she was supposed to be in court. Lisa Harrington, 33, told a judge she believed her hearing on Monday had been...

A police chief is only as good as the community that stands behind him. That’s what Leechburg’s new highest ranking officer says. “People that are willing to report things and talk to the police … I think that’s a really good thing for the community,” police Chief Jason Schaeffer said...

Leechburg’s seven police officers will be receiving new patches for their uniforms. “Ever since I can remember, the patch and the uniforms have stayed the same here,” said newly appointed police Chief Jason Schaeffer. “Everybody wanted a change.” The words “Police” and “Leechburg” stretch across the top of the patch....

Harrison will be seeking new members for its recreation board and planning commission after the heads of both submitted their resignations. Jason Paulovich is resigning from the planning commission, while Joshua Nulph is stepping down from the township’s recreation board. Paulovich, 43, said he is leaving the five-member planning commission...

The Highlands School District is going to find out how much its former elementary school in Fawn is worth. The school board has hired Integra Realty Resources to prepare an appraisal of the Highlands Support Center, formerly Fawn Primary Center. The district will pay the Pittsburgh firm $2,400 for its...

The first winner of the Trib’s Bonus Strip program has been selected, and the lucky reader will walk away with a 50-inch TV. The person with the winning number — A06631 — should call 800-724-8746 to claim the prize. The Bonus Strip kicked off last week to provide readers of...

A Frazer woman accused of the 2017 homicide of her husband was confronted Tuesday by angry words from Allegheny County detectives. The accusations and terse words were on a videotape shown on the second day of Teresa Drum’s trial on charges of murdering her husband. Prosecutors said the tapes show...

Oakmont police and Riverview School District officials said new turning restrictions along Hulton Road by the high school are making a positive impact on traffic. “It’s been much better,” police Chief Michael Ford said Tuesday. “The school is happy with all enforcement efforts.” Westbound motorists on Hulton Road who are...

Residents of McMurtry Towers in Vandergrift sent a petition to the Westmoreland County Housing Authority demanding that it do a better job of cleaning up a sewage-line break last month that reportedly formed “sewage-cicles” on the building’s front porch. The sewage break in a second-floor apartment Feb. 8 caused raw...

In the run-up to the opening of trout season next month, Allegheny Angler in Tarentum will hold its grand reopening Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The longtime bait-and-tackle shop at 200 Ross St., rallied back after a fire closed it for more than four months. Although the business...

The Deer Lakes School Board meeting scheduled for Tuesday night has been postponed. The meeting will now be held 7 p.m. March 26 in the high school library, 163 East Union Road in West Deer....

Harrison is planning to resurface 18 roads this year. The township is seeking bids for the work. Bids are due to the township’s engineer, NIRA Consulting Engineers, by 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 26. The township is expecting the work to cost about $350,000, according to the bid advertisement. Roads included...

John Greco Jr. sees the Highlands Elementary School clock tower every day as he drives across the Tarentum Bridge on his way to work. The prospect of the prominent landmark not being there moved him to act. Greco and his wife, Sally Greco, of Lower Burrell are giving $25,000 to...

Students in the Highlands School District will start the 2019-20 school year on Thursday, Aug. 29. The school board on Monday approved the calendar for next school year. The Thanksgiving break will start with a half-day for students on Wednesday, Nov. 27, with no school on Nov. 28 and 29....

It would be foolish for those who owe back property taxes in the Highlands School District not to pay up or start making payments by April 1. The school board Monday approved publishing the names of property owners who are delinquent in their real estate taxes beginning on April 1....

The Highlands School District will have a full-time, permanent superintendent as of April 1. The school board Monday unanimously approved a five-year contract for Monique Mawhinney that will pay her $150,000 in the first year. She will be eligible for 3 percent raises each year, based on her performance review....

After rescinding a contract with a security firm over what Highlands School District officials called “disturbing” social media posts, the school board Monday approved a two-year agreement for guard services with a Texas firm. The agreement with Champion National Security started Monday. The company, based in Richardson, Texas, will provide...

One of the first police officers to arrive at the scene of a 2017 fatal shooting in Frazer testified in an Allegheny County court Monday that he found the dead man clutching a loaded pistol in his right hand. The testimony came during the first day of the non- jury...

Several Alle-Kiski Valley Area fire departments and ambulance companies are getting money from the Pennsylvania Fire Company and Ambulance Service grant program. The money comes from state gaming proceeds. It can be used to build, repair or renovate a fire company or ambulance service’s primary structure; buy or fix firefighting,...

Freeport Area High School students will have an opportunity to take an advanced manufacturing elective with Oberg Industries, where graduates could snag a job starting in the low $40,000 range after graduation, according to company officials. The Freeport Area School Board approved an apprenticeship and career exploration program earlier this...