Valley News Dispatch category, Page 10
2 Pagans motorcycle gang members held in jail on bail after preliminary hearing
Two Lower Burrell men who police say are members of the Pagans motorcycle gang are being held in the Westmoreland County jail on $300,000 bond following a January assault at Mogie’s Irish Pub. Robert Browne, 27, and Devin Colucci, 25, face charges of assault, robbery, theft, harassment, disorderly conduct and...
New Kensington man pleads guilty for baseball bat assault
A New Kensington man was ordered to serve at least four years in prison for the assault of a house guest with a baseball bat. Brian Mikesell, 51, pleaded guilty to one felony count of aggravated assault in connection with an incident at his home on March 12, 2025 that...
Former Freeport Council president accused of assaulting man after traffic collision
Former Freeport Council President — and current tax collector — Richard Fennell is facing an assault charge after, police say, he punched a man during a traffic incident. Fennell, 57, had served on council since 2024 before resigning in January to take up the borough’s vacant tax collector position. On...
Oakmont’s Riverside Park playground to close for accessibility upgrades
May won’t just be bringing flowers in Oakmont this year. It will also bring a refurbished children’s playground in Riverside Park. The park’s playground closed last week to undergo significant refurbishment, according to a post from borough officials. “Anticipated to reopen by the end of May, the new design will...
Las Hachas in New Kensington to close, but maybe not for long
New Kensington axe throwing spot Las Hachas will close this weekend, but the venue’s future could still include targets and blades. The storefront owners, Brian Mangone and Brian Heidenreich, along with building owner Olde Towne Overhaul, are looking for a new tenant who wants to keep it an entertainment destination....
State police accuse Massachusetts man of sexually assaulting 2 girls in Manor Township
A Massachusetts man is facing a dozen felony charges after being accused of repeatedly forcing two girls to perform sex acts in Manor Township. Kole Anthony Glaister, 23, of Blackstone, Mass., is charged by state police with indecent deviate sexual intercourse of a person less than 16 years old, sexual...
Flag-raising ceremony at Harrison hospital part of AHN’s salute to organ donors
Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison will host a flag-raising ceremony next week to raise awareness about organ donations. The initiative takes place each April as part of National Donate Life Month and is observed across Allegheny Health Network sites. It started Wednesday at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh’s North Side...
The Stroller, April 1, 2026: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Gift card donations help...
Abode Kitchen & Bar opens in Oakmont
A new dining destination is big on brunch in Oakmont. Abode Kitchen & Bar is the latest Oakmont dining option from restaurateur and entrepreneur John Keefe’s portfolio of borough eateries and bars. His others are Carnivores, The Pub at 333, Vinnie’s Tavern, Hoffstot’s Cafe Monaco, Michael A’s Italian and The...
Fox Chapel Area School District, community partners prepare for 5th annual health and wellness event
A community event launched by Fox Chapel Area School District is about to hit a milestone. The fifth annual free Community Safety, Health & Wellness Event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 18 in the Aspinwall municipal parking lot. The event will feature vendor booths, a touch-a-truck...
On a small Greek island, a former Pittsburgh attorney discovers a new chapter worth writing about
Emails to cheer up a sick friend have been parlayed into a collection of essays by former Pittsburgh attorney and Fox Chapel resident Laura Aristidou Candris. Her literary debut, “Greek by Osmosis: My Life on a Small Greek Island (With Mama Kiki’s Recipes),” reached Amazon’s bestseller status in the Cyclades...
Sharpsburg Councilman Corey Ochai resigns; opportunity available
Sharpsburg Council has a vacancy. Councilman Corey Ochai has stepped down from his elected post to refocus on family and art. He tendered his resignation at a council meeting March 26. Ochai was in the first year of his second term. In his letter, Ochai thanked the community for its...
Westmoreland County Housing Authority to implement new ‘house rules’ for visitors
Visitors to Westmoreland County Housing Authority properties will soon face new “house rules” as officials look to crack down on bad behavior and improve safety. The agency’s board on Tuesday authorized Executive Director Michael Washowich and management to draft and implement standardized guidelines for guests. The move will codify what...
Penn State adds course to support students at closing branch campuses
Penn State has launched a new course to help guide students at its seven commonwealth campuses that will close in a year. The Degree Completion and Transition Support course will automatically appear on eligible students’ online dashboards, Penn State officials announced this week. According to Penn State, the course will...
Last call for doughnuts as New Kensington franchise closes doors
It was mostly business as usual for New Kensington’s Donut Connection on its last day of service. About noon Tuesday, the drive-thru saw a steady stream of cars and a few mingling eat-in customers. Dozen-sized boxes were filled with frosted and glazed doughnuts. Franchise owner Gayatri Patel said the shop’s...
A-K Valley schools get part of $3 million from state for free hygiene products
Alle-Kiski Valley school districts will get money from the state to keep bathrooms stocked with hygiene products. About $3 million allocated in the state budget is being distributed to districts across the state. Locally, the breakdown includes about $7,600 for Fox Chapel Area; $5,800 for Kiski Area; $3,600 for Highlands;...
New turf coming to Highlands Golden Rams Stadium
New turf will be installed this summer at Golden Rams Stadium in the Highlands School District, but leaders said the project is about more than football. “It is about maximizing a shared space that creates Rams pride,” Athletic Director Katie Jo Stobert said. “It will continue to build a stronger...
2 New Kensington families healing and accepting community aid after house fire
A day after a Sunday morning fire tore through half of a duplex in New Kensington, residents are recovering from injuries and accepting community donations. Firefighters were alerted just before 8 a.m. Sunday. When crews arrived, flames, which gutted the McCargo Street side of the house, extended into the attic...
The Stroller, March 31, 2026: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Peoples Library to host...
Leechburg natives, locals work to find town’s modern identity
Lou Phillips was born and raised in Leechburg. He attended Leechburg Area High School, where he played baseball, basketball and football. He sang in the chorus, dabbled as a thespian in the school’s theater program and participated in countless clubs the school had to offer. “You get to try everything...
Donut Connection in New Kensington to close
Donut Connection along Tarentum Bridge Road in New Kensington will close its doors Tuesday, according to the owner of the franchise. Rakesh Patel said he is looking for a location in the Alle-Kiski Valley to open a new franchise. He said he’s eyeing New Kensington or Lower Burrell. Patel purchased...
Fisher House at O’Hara VA’s Heinz campus will be 2nd in area to offer free lodging for military families
When Linda Pezzino’s husband, Joe, was treated for lung cancer at the VA Pittsburgh Health Care System in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood, she found comfort in staying at a “home-away-from-home” on the shared hospital campus. The Fisher House, a short-term accommodation for military families, provided Pezzino with a quiet environment, a...
Plum teen’s flawless NCAA bracket journey concludes after 48 correct picks
The last remaining perfect March Madness bracket is no more. Otto Schellhammer’s predictions held until the first game of the NCAA Women’s Sweet 16 on Friday, when Notre Dame defeated Vanderbilt, 67-64. “I’m not too sad about it,” Otto said Tuesday. “It would have been cool to have gone further.”...
Pivik Elementary students — with help from donation — raise more than $27K for heart association
Plum’s Pivik Elementary School sat high on a leaderboard of state schools after students helped to raise more than $27,000 for an annual drive benefiting the American Heart Association. The school ranked fifth in Pennsylvania and the highest in the region by far for the association’s Kids Heart Challenge Fundraiser....
Area students reflect on good citizenship for annual Daughters of the American Revolution essay contest
Elin Bash was among the first cohort of girls to start at The Kiski School in 2024. She remembers how big of a change it was, as she transferred at the start of her junior year. At times, she said, she had to fight for her space in student-run clubs....
