Valley News Dispatch category, Page 174
Burrell students say yes to the dress at free prom event
The first prom dress Violet Gamble picked out from Burrell High School’s Bucco Boutique turned out to be the perfect one. “Whenever I pulled this off the rack, it looked nice,” she said of the white, spring-like floral dress. Gamble, 17 and a senior at Burrell High School, selected the...
1st draft of Burrell School District budget proposes 4% tax increase
Burrell School District’s draft budget for next school year has a 4% real estate tax increase for property owners. The draft budget totals close to $36.7 million, which is a 1.35% increase from this school year’s budget, said Jennifer Callahan, the district’s business manager. There is a deficit of about...
Landslide closes portion of Route 66 in Parks Township
A portion of Route 66 between Vandergrift and Leechburg closed down Wednesday evening due to a landslide, PennDOT officials said. The section of Route 66 between the intersection of Jefferson Street and First Street/Lincoln Street in Parks Township was closed as of 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, with no estimated time to...
Leechburg officials tight-lipped on police regionalization as West Leechburg fields proposal from Southern Armstrong department
West Leechburg is the latest community that might be getting 24/7 police coverage. The Southern Armstrong Regional Police Commission voted unanimously to extend a proposal to West Leechburg Police Department in March. Southern Armstrong Police Chief Chris Fabec said a revised proposal was submitted last week to West Leechburg Council,...
Former TribLive sales manager Gus Naccarato recalled for friendship, loyalty
Longtime TribLive Advertising Sales Manager Gus Naccarato is being recalled as a humble people-person and loyal friend who loved good conversation. Naccarato, 68, of Lower Burrell died Monday after a brief illness. A cause of death was not immediately available. “Working at the Valley News was a great job for...
New Kensington awards contracts for road, sidewalk fixes, will seek bids for street paving
New Kensington Council has awarded two contracts for improvements to roads and sidewalks in the city’s downtown area and is seeking bids for other roadwork in the city. Work is expected to start in May on roads and sidewalks in the area between Barnes Street and Third Avenue, and from...
Flooding, road closures continue along with rain
Road closures continue throughout the region as rain forces creeks and rivers out of their banks, and major flooding was predicted at the Youghiogheny River in Sutersville. A flood warning remains in effect for the region until 3:45 p.m. Wednesday. In Pittsburgh, the 10th Street Bypass is closed between the...
The Stroller, April 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. Volunteers needed for Plum Cleanup Day In observation of Earth Day,...
Frazer officials name acting police chief following the death of Terry Kuhns
Frazer police Sgt. Aaron Scott will be the township’s acting police chief following the death of police Chief Terry Kuhns. The township supervisors made the appointment Tuesday. Kuhns, Frazer’s police chief since 2013, died Monday. He was 67. Scott has been a sergeant in Frazer for about five years, officials...
Wrong-way detectors to be installed at 20 ramps to Route 28
After multiple wrong-way crashes along Route 28 in recent years, PennDOT is set to install large flashing signs to alert drivers who enter a ramp in the wrong direction. Detectors will be placed on 20 ramps, with work starting this summer and ending next year. The signs will be installed...
Duquesne man accused of shooting at New Kensington police takes plea deal
Attempted homicide charges were dismissed Tuesday against an Allegheny County man who was charged with firing shots at three New Kensington police officers. J’Lamar J. Washington, 21, of Duquesne pleaded guilty to lesser counts of aggravated assault in connection with the Feb. 4, 2020, incident on Kenneth Avenue. Authorities said...
Stormwater upgrades at Kennedy Park in Sharpsburg expected to keep flooding at bay
Kennedy Park in Sharpsburg will undergo an overhaul that is expected to keep the popular recreation area from being swampy after a heavy storm. Borough officials said the stormwater management plan will transform the spot along North Canal Street. “This project is a game-changer,” Manager Christine DeRunk said. “It will...
Police: 2 charged with animal cruelty after pets are left behind in a Harmar hotel room
Two people are accused of animal neglect after, police say, they abandoned a dog and a cat in a hotel room in Harmar. Harmar police charged Timothy E. McAtee, 39, and Casandra Lynn Lang, 32, both of Harmar, with two counts of animal cruelty and three counts of animal negligence...
Morning Roundup: House fire along Route 356 in Allegheny Township
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, April 2: House fire along Route 356 in Allegheny Township Traffic is back to normal on Route 356 after a house fire early Tuesday in Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County. No injuries were reported in the 3:17 a.m. blaze,...
The Stroller, April 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. Fundraiser dance to feature music from 50s, 60s and 70s Speed...
‘Incomparable’ loss of knowledge; Frazer police Chief Terry Kuhns mourned
Lee Bartolicius was one of Terry Kuhns’ first hires when Kuhns became Frazer Township’s police chief in July 2013. “After hiring me, Terry did with me like he did with a lot of young officers — he took me under his wing and showed me the job,” said Bartolicius, now...
Leechburg man charged with burglary, trespassing after overnight police chase
A Leechburg man faces numerous criminal charges after a police pursuit early Monday that spanned from Lower Burrell to Leechburg. Lower Burrell police charged Robert James Yakovich Jr., 43, with felony charges of burglary, criminal trespassing, evading arrest and eluding an officer; two misdemeanor DUI charges; and four summary traffic...
Hundreds turn out for Gilpin trail opening, look forward to completion of next leg this year
Avid cyclist Bob Cropp enjoys blazing a trail. And with the addition of 10 miles to Armstrong Trails in Armstrong County, Cropp of Grove City arrived on his bike Monday morning to learn more about the ongoing efforts to expand the trail in the Kiski Junction corridor through Gilpin. “It’s...
Investigators interview man who visited Rustic Ridge home days ahead of fatal explosion
Allegheny County authorities say they identified a man who was seen on the porch of a home in Plum’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood days before it exploded last year. The man was not suspected of any wrongdoing, but investigators believed he could have information that might help in the ongoing investigation,...
Scenes from the Valley: Images captured in the Alle-Kiski Valley from March 21-27, 2024
Here is a weekly look at recent images captured throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley. From major news events to routine gatherings, the Tribune-Review’s “Scenes from the Valley” photo package brings to life activities and moments happening in your backyard. To have a photo considered as a “Scenes from the Valley” candidate,...
Student-led survey sparks collaboration with Leechburg Area’s food service director
Some Leechburg Area elementary students created a foodie survey in hopes of bringing back or keeping their favorite breakfast and lunch items served in the school cafeteria. Thanks to a collaboration among fifth grade student council members from David Leech Elementary School and district food service director Tess Diehl, select...
Burrell Community Connections event aims to strengthen school, city bonds
Burrell High School student involvement is at an all-time high in Lower Burrell, officials say, and an event in April aims to keep that uptick going. The Burrell Community Connections event, scheduled for April 11 at Charles A. Huston Middle School, will bring together organizations, local businesses, city government and...
New $3M barge dock planned along the Allegheny River in Gilpin
A deteriorating steel dock along the Allegheny River in Gilpin is showing its age but has promise to be a boon to the local economy. Located in the township’s Schenley section, at milepost 30.8 on the Allegheny River north of Pittsburgh, it’s the last commercial dock going upriver from the...
The Stroller, April 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. Addiction Recovery Ministry plans dinner theater fundraiser A mystery/comedy dinner fundraiser...
Schools adjust schedules for April 8 eclipse
Editor’s note: This report has been updated as school districts have changed plans. Potential safety concerns with viewing Monday’s solar eclipse have led some school districts to shift schedules, give students the day off or go remote with a flexible instruction day April 8. The eclipse coincides with regular dismissal...
