Valley News Dispatch category, Page 695
Father of accused New Ken cop killer headed to court on intimidation charges
The father of a Harrison man accused of killing a New Kensington police officer in 2017 admitted he sent messages to a witness in his son’s case, a Westmoreland County detective testified Thursday. Gregory P. Baucum Jr., 48, of Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood is charged with felony witness intimidation and retaliation...
Kiski Area might provide free after-school meals for students
The Kiski Area School District wants to add dinner to the meals it serves students. The school board is expected within the next two months to approve applying for a federal program that pays for dinners or snacks for students who stay for after-school activities, according to Superintendent Tim Scott....
Anytime Fitness pledges donations to Roaring Run Trail, Rachel Carson Park
An Alle-Kiski Valley business owner is hoping to give back to help maintain outdoor recreation areas in two communities. Matt McCool, owner of Anytime Fitness gyms in Cheswick and Allegheny Township, plans to give $25 for each person who joins by May 15 to the Roaring Run Watershed Association and...
Gilpin woman injured in Allegheny Township bicycle wreck
A 41-year-old Gilpin woman was taken to a Pittsburgh hospital Thursday after her bicycle and a car collided near the Kiski Car Wash in Allegheny Township. The mid-morning wreck at Route 56 and the Route 56 Bypass briefly snarled traffic. Police Sgt. Dan Uncapher said Melissa Kunkle of Hungry Hollow...
Leechburg Area fundraiser invites public to nosh on some art
It’s a fundraiser you can sink your teeth into. Leechburg Area High School’s art club will present its annual “Eat Your Art Out” event Saturday, April 13. Now in its 16th year, the competition among students in grades 6-12 will showcase creations made entirely out of food. Anything edible is...
‘The Lego Movie 2’ and others announced for Tarentum’s free ‘Movies By the River’
Tarentum borough will offer free movie screenings at Riverview Memorial Park from May 23 until Aug. 21. This year’s lineup for “Movies By the River” includes: “The Lego Movie 2” on May 23; “Ralph Breaks The Internet” on June 20; “Avengers: Endgame” on July 19, and “The Incredibles 2” on...
Community cleanups planned in Brackenridge, Harrison, Tarentum
Residents in Brackenridge, Harrison and Tarentum will be taking to their communities’ streets in coming weeks to clean up trash. Earth Day events are planned for Saturday, April 27, in Brackenridge and Harrison, and on the following weekend, Saturday, May 4, in Tarentum. All three are registered with the Great...
Armstrong County offers grants for repairs to owner-occupied homes
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...
Tarentum man charged with child endangerment in swimming pool incident headed to court
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...
Police: Pittsburgh man caught stealing items from unlocked cars in Buffalo Township
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...
Burned-out bulb led to drug charges in North Apollo, police say
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 to decide on group’s application to open food pantry, worship site
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 set to vote on regional police force
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...
Harmar bridge work put off until July
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...
Leechburg food bank thankful for large donations
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...
Plea deal rejected for Arnold woman accused of assaulting autistic son
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...
Judge denies plea bargain for Fawn man accused of trying to kidnap New Kensington woman
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...
Drone races scheduled at River Forest Country Club in Allegheny Township
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...
Plum School District and teachers union formally approve new 6-year contract
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...
Allegheny, Armstrong and Westmoreland school districts recognized for music education
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 property owner wants to rezone land for business use
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...
Trooper says he watched drunken Armstrong County man fall asleep in car wash
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....
Eli Bussotti’s parents meet Freeport man who received the teen’s organsVideo
Eli Bussotti’s parents never imagined their son’s organs would go to someone who lives barely 5 miles away. Joy Krumenacker and David Bussotti lost Eli, 17, in October following a car crash. The still-grieving parents from Brackenridge and Tarentum on Tuesday met Chad Ravotti of Freeport, who received one of...
Next leg of Allegheny Township trail due for completion this summer
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...
Work begins on new home for Animal Protectors in New KensingtonVideo
A New Kensington-based animal shelter has just more than half of the money necessary to pay for all the renovations needed at its future home. Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley raised about $700,000 of its $1.3 million fundraising goal for the project. Now located on Linden Avenue, the shelter bought...
