Valley News Dispatch category, Page 736
Mister Rogers subject of Tarentum library’s ‘Who Knew?’ program
Mister Rogers will the subject of upcoming “Who Knew?” programs at the Community Library of Allegheny Valley in Tarentum in February. A session on Fred Rogers is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 19 and will be repeated on Wednesday, Feb. 20. Both will start at 6 p.m. at the library at...
Highlands stalls on releasing name of employee placed on unpaid leave
The Highlands School District is not identifying an employee recently placed on unpaid leave. The school board approved that action, and a statement of charges, against the unidentified employee at its Jan. 21 meeting. The employee was referred to only as “employee #7121,” and no information on the charges was...
Yes, ‘frost quakes’ are actually a thing, but nothing to worry about
The polar air and rapid freeze of the Northeast and Midwest has prompted reports of “frost quakes” or “ice quakes.” Typically, the uncommon geological phenomenon characterized by a booming sound and caused by the sudden cracking of frozen soil or rock is reported in places like Alaska — not Dillsburg,...
Woman who helped Lower Burrell cop killer gets parole
A Lower Burrell woman convicted of helping a fugitive evade police in the days before he shot and killed a police officer was released from jail Thursday. Westmoreland County Judge Christopher Feliciani granted parole to Amanda Walters, who had been behind bars since last summer following an arrest for possession...
Heating problem closes Vandergrift Public Library
Vandergrift Public Library was forced to closed for the day Thursday due to a heating malfunction. The first floor heating system is not working so it is too cold to open to the public, according to a library Facebook post. Friday and Saturday hours may vary. To check the hours,...
New Vandergrift Dollar General grand opening set for Feb. 16
The new Dollar General, replacing the former Sprankle’s market at 523 Franklin Ave. in Vandergrift will hold a grand opening Feb. 16. The grand opening celebration will begin at 8 a.m. with free gift cards and giveaways, according to Angela Petkovic, spokeswoman for Dollar General. Store hours will be 8...
Lower Burrell police warn of speaker scam
Lower Burrell police are asking people to be on the look out for a man allegedly approaching people in parking lots, trying to sell speakers that are actually rocks. “Apparently there’s a white male (who) is approaching people in parking lots … telling him that he has speakers for sale,”...
4 express interest in empty Tarentum Council seat
Four people have expressed interest in claiming a vacant seat on Tarentum Council, Borough Manager Michael Nestico said Thursday. They will be in contention for replacing Rhonda Dzugan, who had represented the borough’s 3rd Ward and resigned from council in January. Letters of interest to be considered for the seat...
Allegheny River steams while nearly frozenVideo
Ice was flowing down the Allegheny River past Tarentum Thursday morning, when the region set a new low temperature record. The temperature bottomed out at 5 below zero, besting the previous record of 3 below for the day that had stood since 1971, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Jason...
Brackenridge woman loved fashion, travel but family was ‘her whole life’
Agnes Monti was the leader of her own life. Whether she was sneaking out as a teenager, going to work at the Allegheny Ludlum steel mill during World War II or hosting Sunday dinners as the family matriarch, she always stayed busy. “She was kind of an independent woman,” said...
After a month of darkness, the lights are back on at the Apollo Bridge
After the lights went dim on the Apollo Bridge in the last month, Oklahoma Borough officials reported that all of the bridge lights were back on this week. The lights went out sporadically for a couple of months, then in the last month, went completely dim, according to Larry Lizik,...
Highlands facing $3.7M budget deficit
Highlands School District’s preliminary budget for next school year has a $3.7 million hole in it. That’s the preliminary budget gap between the district’s proposed spending of about $46 million and its estimated revenue of about $42.3 million. The district released its preliminary budget Tuesday. The school board is expected...
‘Severely neglected’ farm animals rescued from Butler County home
A New Kensington cat shelter rescued 30 severely neglected farm animals including donkeys, goats, sheep and rabbits at a residence in Harmony, Butler County. The animals were emaciated when they were rescued on Saturday, according to Dr. Becky Morrow, founder and veterinarian with Frankie’s Friends Cat Rescue in New Kensington....
One lane of Route 356 in Allegheny Township reopens after morning closure
Traffic is flowing again on a portion of Route 356 in Allegheny Township that was closed Wednesday morning, a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher said. The road was closed between Route 56 and the Freeport Bridge as officials waited for the road to be salted. One lane remained closed as crews...
Arnold, Pittsburgh churches team up to boost pierogi powerVideo
It’s a pierogi-making partnership to best foodie rivals. Teaming up are two Ukrainian Catholic churches: St. Vladimir in Arnold and St. John the Baptist in Pittsburgh’s South Side, whose iconic Byzantine domes often are photographed against the city’s skyline. The union of these two ethnic food powerhouses is for good...
Tarentum man accused in jitney robbery deemed ‘danger to society’
A Tarentum man accused of robbing and threatening to shoot a jitney driver over the weekend remained in Allegheny County Jail without bond Tuesday. A judge deemed him a danger to society, according to court records. Vern Alexander Connor Jr., 36, was arraigned early Tuesday by District Judge Regis Charles...
Harrison moving toward retirement plan for police Chief Klein
Longtime Harrison police Chief Mike Klein still doesn’t have a contract with the township or an approved retirement package, but he might be one step closer to getting one. Commissioners met Monday before a packed house of Klein supporters and voted to advertise an amendment to township ordinances that would...
2 Leechburg residents accused of trying to pick lock at Armstrong methadone clinic
Two Leechburg residents are behind bars after, state police say, they tried to break into a Parks Township methadone clinic Saturday morning. Richard Samuel Thomas, 37, and Natalie Nicole Milanak, 36, face felony charges of burglary and attempted burglary, and misdemeanor charges of trespassing and criminal mischief. They remained at...
Extreme cold calls for precautions indoors and out
The arctic blast predicted for this week, with wind chills well below zero, will not be fit for man nor beast — nor exterior wall plumbing. Emergency room doctors and veterinarians alike are urging residents to stay indoors with their pets and limit time outside to no more than 15...
State Sen. Jim Brewster opens office in Lower Burrell
State Sen. Jim Brewster, D-Allegheny/Westmoreland, added new permanent satellite offices, including one in Lower Burrell, throughout the 45th senatorial district, which spans communities from Forward Township in Allegheny County to Allegheny Township in Westmoreland County. Brewster’s office will be staffed at Lower Burrell City Hall, 2800 Bethel St., on the...
New Kensington tax business reopens after devastating fireVideo
Troy Owen vowed to reopen the tax business he lost in a devastating fire that tore through the heart of New Kensington’s downtown business district in September. On Monday, he did officially – just in time for tax season when Liberty Tax Service has traditionally seen anywhere from 1,000 to...
4 generations of Fawn family celebrate milestone at Allegheny Valley Hospital
As Allegheny Valley Hospital marked the 110th anniversary of accepting its first patients Monday, a Fawn family reflected on four generations of their own history at the hospital. The legacy started with Barb Kutchko’s mother, Monie Hanford, who was a switchboard operator there until the late 1970s or early 1980s....
Armstrong County Jail inmate faces more charges for throwing feces
An inmate at the Armstrong County Jail is accused of throwing feces on his cellmate and threatening correctional officers. Edward Daniel Wilson Jr., 18, of Kittanning is facing a felony charge of aggravated harassment by a prisoner as well as two misdemeanor counts of harassment, said Trooper Michael Dunlap of...
Allegheny Township looks to borrow money for $1.6M building project
Allegheny Township is seeking proposals for bank loans to help it pay for an anticipated $1.6 million in improvements to its community Building. The proposals are due by Feb. 6. Township supervisors are expected to pick one of the proposals in the next few months, and construction could start as...
Lower Burrell police identify man asking for gas money
Lower Burrell police have identified a man accused of going around the city and asking residents for gas money. The man is not suspected to have committed any crime other than Lower Burrell solicitation ordinance violations, police said. “Lower Burrell Detectives positively identified and contacted this person. He is not...
