Valley News Dispatch category, Page 738
Highlands School District hopes pay boost will attract nurses, union says
Highlands School District is hoping to attract health room nurses by increasing pay, a union representative said Tuesday. In an agreement with the Highlands Educational Support Professionals Association, the district has increased the pay for health room licensed practical nurses to $15 per hour. The hourly rate had been as...
Armstrong County residents invited to try new voting machines
Armstrong County residents will be able to try out new voting machines at an expo next week. The new voting system expo will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30, at the Kittanning Township Volunteer Fire Department, 13126 Route 422. The Pennsylvania Department of State directed...
Harmar wants to buy fire substation to house public works equipment
Harmar supervisors are making a bid to buy an Allegheny Valley Volunteer Fire Department substation that is not being used. The board wants to use the No. 2 substation building at 1000 Freeport Road as the headquarters for the township’s public works department. “Knowing they (fire department) don’t use that...
Former Brackenridge man pleads guilty to 2012 double murder in Arnold
An Allegheny County man was sentenced Tuesday to serve up to 30 years in prison for the fatal beating of an Arnold woman and her adult son more than six years ago. Robert Briestensky, 45, formerly of Brackenridge, pleaded guilty to two lesser counts of third-degree murder in connection with...
Kiski Area School Board votes against renewing contract for girls soccer coach
In a 5-4 vote Monday night, Kiski Area School District board members voted not to renew the contract of girls soccer coach Melisa O’Toole. At least one parent said she was not comfortable with O’Toole coaching her daughter given the charges and the alleged behavior of her husband, Ryan O’Toole,...
Highlands to seek exceptions to increase property taxes by more than state limit
Property owners in the Highlands School District could be facing another increase in their school taxes. The school board on Monday approved advertising a preliminary budget, a step toward increasing the property tax beyond the district’s state-imposed limit. The board did not discuss specifics of the budget at the voting...
Highlands School Board sets hearing on closing former Fawn elementary school
The Highlands School Board is considering permanently closing the former Fawn Primary Center. The school was renamed the Highlands Support Center as part of the district’s controversial reconfiguration, which went into effect this school year. The school board voted Monday to schedule a state-required public hearing to consider the permanent...
Felled tree, power lines shuts down section of Harrison road
A section of Karns Road in Harrison was closed Monday because of a downed tree and power lines, according to Citizens Hose Fire-Rescue-EMS. A post on the department’s Facebook page said Karns was closed between Burtner and Springhill roads. The road remained closed as of about 5 p.m., with no...
Apollo-Ridge students learn other lessons while learning how to play the guitar
“You may find a cushy job and I hope that you go far, But if you really want to taste some cool success, You better learn to play guitar.” If John Mellencamp’s “Play Guitar” song is true, Apollo- Ridge students are well on their way as the district’s education foundation bought...
Highlands High School brings back alumni for cabaret show benefiting spring musical
Highlands High School’s musical program puts the “fun” in fundraising. Each year, dozens of Highlands High School alumni team up with current Highlands musical students to perform a cabaret show that provides critical funds for the spring musical. “The average high school musical costs anywhere from $20,000-$30,000 — those are...
Adding hope highlights ministry of new Trinity Lutheran pastor in Freeport
A retired pastor is enjoying an interim assignment helping a Freeport church reach out to the community. Earlier this month, the Rev. Robert Keplinger, 69, started in the pulpit at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church. Restoring hope is the focus of Keplinger’s ministry. “God is not done with my story nor...
Work to bring back lights to the Apollo Bridge likely to require more time
The lights will be out for a while longer on the Apollo Bridge. Apollo officials were trying to get the lights back on but, according to West Penn Power, the ball now is in Oklahoma Borough’s court. Motorists have been in the dark on the bridge since the lights went...
Leechburg’s former Addison House to reopen with new name, new ownersVideo
Leechburg’s Addison House Restaurant and Lounge may soon welcome customers again — with a new name and without alcohol. The popular First Street eatery shut its doors in 2012 in the midst of financial difficulties after the tragic death of co-owner Laura Stettmier in an October 2011 plane crash in...
PPG reaches $7.65 million health-benefit settlement with union retirees
A settlement between PPG and retirees from 13 of its facilities, including those from Springdale, Creighton, Ford City and Greensburg will mean an additional $7.65 million in medical benefits and continued health care coverage. A group of retirees filed suit against PPG in 2005 on behalf of past, current and...
‘Cookies and Cocoa’ promotes acceptance at New Kensington-Arnold schools
New Kensington-Arnold School District students and teachers in grades one to 12, participated in their 2nd annual Cookies and Cocoa social event Friday. With the help of 15 “buddies” from grades seven to 12, about 40 elementary special needs students participated in five stations: cookie decorating and hot chocolate, winter...
Alle-Kiski Valley residents are ready to weather the storm
Frank Smolenak isn’t worried about the impending storm that is expected to dump 6 to 8 inches of snow on the Pittsburgh area over the weekend. But he and his wife, Laura, have taken precautions regardless. The two spent $300 on groceries Thursday and then stopped by Community Supermarket in...
At 110 years old, Allegheny Valley Hospital keeps growing
Allegheny Valley Hospital will be remembering its history and investing in its future in this, its 110th year. That will include saying goodbye to a large piece of its past. The hospital’s administration building, dating from 1928, is slated to be torn down this spring. It’s among many projects recently...
West Deer considers adding more ‘Little Free Libraries’ in the township
West Deer hasn’t had a public library for a while but one supervisor aims to create a bunch of little ones soon. Township Supervisor Arlind Karpuzi has proposed creating a number of “Little Free Libraries” to his fellow supervisors. “Little Free Libraries” are book sharing outlets in which books are...
Expected snow storm cancels some events around Alle-Kiski Valley
The following events are cancelled: Lower Burrell Saturday: The luncheon bingo scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at the Moose, 499 Reimer St. Details 724-335-4131 Tarentum Saturday: The performance by the band The Gruuve from 8 to 11 p.m. at the Elks Lodge, 219 E. Sixth Ave. Vandergrift Saturday: Karaoke at the...
Acmetonia Elementary reopening celebrated in Harmar
Acmetonia Elementary School is bigger, brighter and loaded with high tech enough to take the Allegheny Valley School District’s elementary students into the challenges of the future. At a grand opening Thursday evening, the expanded gym sparkled with the district’s orange and black. The renovated kitchen, cafeteria, and classrooms were...
From sidewalk salt to bread to wine, stores are ready for storm shoppers
Many are doing what they can to prepare for snow, rain and sleet predicted to pelt the region this weekend. “We’re ready to go,” said Steve Cowan, spokesman for PennDOT’s District 11, which covers Allegheny, Beaver, Butler and Lawrence counties. He said crews have pretreated the roads with a brine...
Man gets 15 to 30 years in prison for rape of Lower Burrell girl
A Pittsburgh man was sentenced Thursday to serve up to 30 years in prison from the repeated rape of a 7-year-old girl who he claimed initiated the sex acts. Jeremy Alan Miller, 29, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and other offenses in connection with...
More, deeper wells planned for existing Marcellus site in Washington Township
CNX has applied to the state Department of Environmental Protection for a permit to drill four new wells to tap natural gas from Utica shale at an existing Marcellus shale well pad in Washington Township. The site is known as the Mamont South 1 Pad. It’s located near Evans Road,...
Dad delivers baby in 7-Eleven parking lot in New KensingtonVideo
A child arrived just the other day. He came to the world in an unusual way. In a gas station parking lot. Bobby and Lindsay Elliott of Allegheny Township had been doing what expectant parents do: driving to the hospital to give birth to their son. But Beau Elliott decided...
Local school districts snag $105,000 in STEM education grants
The PAsmart program, targeted to schools with limited or no computer science offerings, awarded grants totaling $105,000 to several local school districts, which were announced Thursday by State Rep. Joe Petrarca, D-Washington Township. The following districts were among those awarded $35,000 each from PAsmart program:Apollo-Ridge School District for the Apollo-Ridge...
