Valley News Dispatch category, Page 722
Candidates sought to fill Tarentum Council vacancy
Tarentum Council is looking to fill an empty seat. In an email Tuesday afternoon, Councilwoman Rhonda Dzugan informed the borough she would be resigning from the seven-member council because she is unable to fulfill her duties. Council will vote to accept her resignation during its meeting starting at 6 p.m....
Tarentum man faces drug, gun charges in connection with police chase
A Tarentum man is accused of leading police on a chase through Arnold and New Kensington last year before crashing his SUV into another vehicle and injuring three people. Jaquay Karohn Primus, 22, was arraigned Tuesday on felony charges of aggravated assault, drug possession, receiving stolen property and illegally possessing...
Acmetonia school welcomes former Colfax studentsVideo
The seats are filled, the lockers labeled and the bulletin boards decorated in the new wing of Acmetonia Elementary School. The students in fourth through sixth grades from Colfax Elementary School transitioned into Acmetonia this week after more than a year of renovations at the school. Acmetonia now houses all...
In ‘long overdue’ change, New Kensington’s Gunny’s Lounge goes smoke-freeVideo
Patrons of Gunny’s Lounge in New Kensington will notice major changes this year, notably a lack of cigarette smoke in the air. After decades of allowing smoking inside, owners of the longstanding restaurant and bar said they decided to ban smoking in an effort to make the establishment more family...
New Kensington Kmart closes after nearly 55 years
Lisa Wilson made an impassioned farewell speech to customers at New Kensington’s Kmart store as it ended operations Sunday after more than a half-century. “The time now is 6 p.m., and the night has come that’s bittersweet,” Wilson said over the store’s loudspeaker in a video that was posted to...
Harrison commissioners approve new contract with public works employees
Harrison commissioners on Monday unanimously approved a new contract with the union representing the township’s public works employees. The three-year agreement is retroactive to Jan. 1 and runs through Dec. 31, 2021. Commissioners voted at a special meeting held Monday afternoon. About 10 employees are represented by Local 238 of...
Police: South Butler student posted shooting video captioned ‘training for prom walk’
A Butler County judge has increased the bond for a teen accused of allegedly making an online threat to shoot students in the South Butler County School District. Jason Bowen, 18, of Middlesex Township, is charged with terroristic threats, causing catastrophe, possession of drug paraphernalia and a weapons offense. District...
Longtime Habitat volunteer from Lower Burrell does more than build houses
Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series that features Alle-Kiski Valley people and the notable things that they do. Longtime Habitat for Humanity Allegheny Valley volunteer Glenn Nordmark is much more than a builder. “He’s first to come and last to leave on build sites,” said Habitat Executive...
Antique fishing, hunting gear up for grabs at Tri-County show
Yes, there are $1,000 antique fishing reels to be had as well as vintage lures, the largest selection of hunting and fishing books and more for the first major sportsman show of the year. The Tri-County Trout Club Sport Show & Flea Market will be held Saturday from 9 a.m....
Tarentum working to fix garbage collection problems
Tarentum officials say they are working to fix problems with garbage collection in the borough. On its Facebook page, the borough on Monday said it knows there have been a number of missed pick-ups in recent weeks. “The holiday collection schedule, in conjunction with staffing changes at Waste Management have...
Paczki offer a sweet way to ring in the new yearVideo
It’s the polish pastry that causes a confectionery commotion. January 6 is always a sweet day at Oakmont Bakery — it’s Paczki Day for the iconic family owned and operated bakery. Customers can’t get enough of paczki (pronounced pohnch-kee), the popular filled crispy fried treat that is richer than a...
For Orthodox Christians, Christmas Day is a solemn, religious observance
For Homer Kline, there’s a meaningful advantage to observing Christmas on Jan. 7 instead of Dec. 25. “The 7th is strictly religion,” said Kline, 85, of Murrysville, a member of Holy Virgin Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Arnold since he was married there in 1954. “It’s easier to concentrate on the birth of...
1 hospitalized after ATV accident near Fawn, Harrison border
One man was taken to Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison on Sunday afternoon after an ATV accident. The accident was reported to Allegheny County 911 shortly after 1:30 p.m., a dispatcher said. It happened near the southbound Route 28 exit at Natrona Heights (Exit 15), near the border of Fawn...
Springdale Township could face state fines for not properly testing water, failing to document
Springdale Township officials worry they could be facing hefty fines for failing to properly test and report their water quality to the state Department of Environmental Protection. Commissioners President Tony Rozzano said Thursday that the DEP will be fining the township for not submitting the documentation from 2011-17. “We’re in...
Leechburg Area biology students raising brook trout — from eggs to spring release
A new project at Leechburg Area High School is making a splash with students. There are 17 juniors and seniors enrolled in Ann Fischer’s Biology 2 “college in high school” course. It’s being offered at Leechburg through Westmoreland County Community College. And they’re getting up close and personal with Pennsylvania’s...
UniFirst buys New Kensington property, proceeds to aid new city playground
A New Kensington business recently bought property next to city hall to give itself some additional space, and some proceeds from the sale will go toward building a new playground nearby. UniFirst Corp. in November purchased the small park and basketball court at 301 11th St. from the Redevelopment Authority...
Startups reinvent the sheet-buying experience
NEW YORK — A new year calls for sparkly new sheets. But shoppers looking for high-quality linens without hurting their budget may want to skip the so-called white sales at mass retailers. A new cast of startups, including Parachute, Brooklinen and Boll & Branch, are cutting out middlemen and selling...
Police say UPS driver with alcohol, pot caused multi-vehicle Route 28 crash
A UPS truck driver is accused of having an open container of alcohol as well as marijuana Friday night when his truck hit three vehicles traveling southbound on Route 28 near the RIDC Park in O’Hara, state police at Kittanning said. Passengers in the vehicles hit by the UPS truck...
Vandergrift man credited with starting movement that saved historic Casino Theater
“Things like that should not be lost.” That’s what Gene Iagnemma said nearly a decade ago, referring to the historic Owens family cemetery near his Vandergrift home. Driven by an interest in history, Iagnemma worked to preserve not only the cemetery, but also, and most notably, the Casino Theater, which...
Police say UPS driver caused multi-vehicle crash
A UPS truck driver is accused of having an open container of alcohol as well as marijuana Friday night when his truck hit three vehicles traveling southbound on Route 28 near the RIDC Park in O’Hara, state police at Kittanning said. Passengers in the vehicles hit by the UPS truck...
Assault charge dismissed against woman accused of pointing gun at man walking his dog in New Kensington
A 70-year-old New Kensington woman accused of pointing a gun at a man who was walking his dog near her home pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. In addition to pleading guilty Thursday to the summary offense, Sharon Shirley was required to pay a $25 fine. District Judge Frank J. Pallone...
Manor Township woman to serve at least 20 years for hatchet attack that killed husband
A Manor Township woman will spend at least 20 years in prison for attacking her husband with a hatchet in 2017. Melanie Sue Snyder, 43, pleaded guilty Friday in Armstrong County Court to a single charge of third-degree murder for the July 27, 2017, attack in which, police say, she...
Leechburg fire Thursday night contained to couch
Everything appeared to work out Thursday night in Leechburg. When Hannah Bauer smelled smoke in the River Avenue house she shares with Zane Walter, she called 911. Walter said he bought the house at a tax sale last June and was still working on it. Luna, the border collie, smelled...
Beny, the drug-sniffing dog, hitting the road with state police trooper to fight drugs
Beny has a nose for drugs. The 1-year-old Belgian Malinois dog from the Czech Republic — hence only one “n” in his name — and handler Trooper Jason Young are newly assigned to the Kittanning state police station. The state bought the dog for about $8,500 and paid for his...
Valve replacements could cause short water outages in Tarentum
Tarentum businesses and residents may experience brief water outages over the next two weeks as crews install new water valves throughout the borough. The project of close to $70,000 is being done by Tarentum Public Works crews in conjunction with Meyer Excavating, Inc. According to the borough’s website, installation of...
