Valley News Dispatch category, Page 123
Willie Thrower Heart Walk aims to bring awareness of heart disease in New Kensington
Melvyn Smith and Willie Thrower grew up together in New Kensington and used to attend Steelers games together. Now, as one of the founders of the Willie Thrower Heart Walk, Smith is honoring the football legend’s life and legacy. “We wanted to enhance awareness of heart health and acknowledge the...
The Stroller, Oct. 3, 2024: 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. New diaper pantry available...
Firefighters begin bringing equipment, gear donations to New Kensington to be driven to North Carolina
When firefighters need help, they turn to what they call “mutual aid” from nearby surrounding communities. The reach of that mutual aid is expanding on a national scale, as fire departments from Western Pennsylvania and beyond are rallying to support their counterparts in flood-ravaged North Carolina. Crews from Kittanning, Buffalo...
Memorial bench for beloved ‘Snakeguy’ installed at James Sharp Landing in Sharpsburg
There was a gentle early afternoon breeze Sept. 28 in Sharpsburg. Lisa Strauss swore she felt the touch of her late brother as she and other friends gathered at James Sharp Landing. The occasion was to dedicate a memorial bench in memory of Robert “Snakeguy” Habegger. “It’s an emotional day,”...
Sharpsburg celebrates unveiling of sculpture James Sharp Landing, new mural
A steel sculpture crafted in appreciation of the riverfront and acknowledgement of the indigenous land in Sharpsburg was recently unveiled at James Sharp Landing. Two canoe ores leaning against one another in the shape of an X were installed near the kayak parklet of James Sharp Landing on Sept. 28....
Fall in the Wall returns to Aspinwall on Oct. 12
Aspinwall resident Giuseppe Francioni believes family togetherness is the greatest thing in the world. It’s one of the reasons he’s so passionate about an upcoming event that he and his team at the Aspinwall Chamber of Commerce put together for borough residents year after year. “There’s nothing better than family,”...
New Kensington man convicted of kidnapping, robbery
A Westmoreland County jury on Wednesday convicted of a New Kensington man of holding an Ohio woman captive at his home following their third in-person date nearly three years ago. Following about two hours of deliberations, the jury found Steven Daniel Best Jr., 41, guilty of felony counts of kidnapping...
New Kensington-Arnold increases police presence at high school, homecoming events
There was an increased police presence planned at Valley High School when students returned Thursday after the New Kensington school was closed following a shooting in the city involving high school-age juveniles. In a letter to families, New Kensington-Arnold Superintendent Chris Sefcheck said he decided to close the high school...
2nd caretaker charged with neglect at Verona facility
For the second time in as as many weeks, Verona police charged a caretaker at the same assisted living facility with neglecting the care of a client. “It’s unnerving,” Officer Thomas Dessell said of the most recent charges. Myesha Pennix, 25, of Pittsburgh, was accused Sept. 26 of ignoring the...
Moondog’s concert to benefit North Hills Community Outreach’s winter utility program
Local bands will light up the stage Friday, Oct. 11, at Moondog’s in Blawnox to help ensure people in need can keep their utilities on this winter. Featured acts during the Got It Covered fundraiser will be three-piece surf-rock band The Turbosonics and plaidtastic rockabilly quartet Polkamaniacs 4. Compassion Fatigue,...
Hampton junior cheerleaders shine in 1st competitionVideo
There’s a first time for everything, and Hampton Junior Football Association cheerleaders made the most of theirs. During CheerFest, held in September at Deer Lakes High School, the Hampton girls scored numerous first-, second- and third-place finishes as determined by a panel of judges. “They had been working so hard,...
The Stroller, Oct. 2, 2024: 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. Annual coat drive to...
Experts say focus on mental, behavioral health paramount in combating school threats
Eli Majocha knows firsthand the strain a school threat can have on students’ mental health. The 2023 Highlands High School graduate remembers how news of threats against his school or a nearby school made him feel. “It’s unpredictable in nature,” he said. “When (it happens), you sit back and put...
Missing Vandergrift woman found
A Vandergrift woman who had been missing since Saturday was found safe, according to Vandergrift police. Victoria “Tori” Tamuschy, 36, was found in Tarentum. She had been reported missing by family members after last being seen on security camera video footage around 5 p.m. Saturday. She was last seen in...
Harrison home damaged by bathroom fire
No one was hurt in a fire that damaged a Harrison home Monday afternoon. The fire in a single family house at 2209 Adams St. was reported shortly before 4:30 p.m. According to Citizens Hose Assistant Fire Chief Sean O’Connor, a woman went to the half bathroom on the first...
‘I felt so stupid:’ Ohio woman testifies during New Kensington man’s kidnapping trial
Angela Gregory told a Westmoreland County jury on Tuesday she wasn’t sure she would ever return to her Ohio home to be with her three children while being held captive in the basement of a New Kensington home in late 2022 by a man she met online only months earlier....
Shots fired incident in New Kensington prompts shutdown of Valley High School
A shots fired incident in New Kensington on Tuesday afternoon has prompted the New Kensington-Arnold School District to close Valley High School on Wednesday. The district announced the cancellation of high school classes only Tuesday night. There was no public discussion and it had not been mentioned at a school...
Cleanup of Springdale’s Pittsburgh Street requires 2nd day; more help sought
Cleaning up Pittsburgh Street in Springdale appears to be a bigger task than anticipated. In response to concerns raised over the upkeep and maintenance of the borough’s main drag, a group of roughly 25 Springdale residents, borough officials and high school football and Key Club members took to the street...
The Stroller, Oct. 1, 2024: 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. Concordia to celebrate Oktoberfest...
Western Pa. firefighters organizing relief effort for counterparts devastated by North Carolina flooding
Firefighters from Western Pennsylvania and beyond are rallying to help their counterparts in flood-ravaged North Carolina. A donated 53-foot trailer is expected to be set up in New Kensington this week to accept donations from fire departments that will go to a staging area outside Asheville, a city in western...
Charges over Allegheny Township toy drive money dropped, but supervisors remain divided over what happened
Summary charges were dropped against an Allegheny Township supervisor, a former supervisor and the former manager of the township stemming from a $10,000 check they signed last year for a Christmas toy drive. The charges, filed in August against Supervisor Michael Korns, former Supervisor John Rennick Steele and former township...
Woman suffers ‘significant’ facial injuries in attack at New Kensington park, police say
A woman suffered significant injuries to her face after another woman hit her with a liquor bottle in a New Kensington park, according to city police. New Kensington police charged Rita Marie Woody, 33, of New Kensington with a single first-degree felony count of aggravated assault for the attack they...
Washington Township district judge to handle Arnold police chief’s hearing
Arnold’s suspended police chief will have to wait another month for a hearing on charges against him stemming from a state sting operation. New Kensington District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. is recusing himself from the case against Josh Stanga, 41, of Arnold, who authorities say failed a test of...
Expensive cigar thefts becoming more common
The theft of $1,500 worth of high-end cigars from a store in Verona may seem odd, but it’s becoming more common, police say. In fact, it was at least the second time Verona News and Cigars fell victim to such a theft since December. At least two other cigar dealers...
Cheswick residents cite fishing, amenities as renovation ideas at Rachel Carson Park
Jacob and Devin Abramson of Springdale think there’s potential to make Rachel Carson Park in Cheswick special. “This area is beautiful,” Devin said. “I never realized how close it is to the river.” “It has good bones,” Jacob said. “If they do some fishing stuff, that would be great, too.”...
