Valley News Dispatch category, Page 267
No one injured after early riser alerts Harmar neighbors to laundromat fire; 6 apartments evacuated
Donna Bendel was already done showering and feeding her dog, Jet, before heading out for work about 3:45 a.m. Thursday when a fire broke out in the laundromat in the same building as her apartment and five others. “I heard the front security door bang shut, but didn’t think anything...
‘The Center Shines On’ 40 years later; O’Hara facility serves 10,000 people a month
Inside the kitchen of a home in the Falconhurst neighborhood in the early 1980s, friends Sue Golier and Gretchen Montgomery plotted the beginning of something magnificent. They just didn’t know it yet. The pair discussed the need for a community center in the Fox Chapel Area, and at the same...
New playground, pickleball courts included in Lower Burrell parks improvements
Enhancements are coming to Lower Burrell’s parks and playgrounds. The city is working through two grants to improve its parks, Councilman Chris Fabry said. The impact of the first grant can be seen at Veterans Park for two new playgrounds — one of which was installed a couple weeks ago....
New Kensington-Arnold approves hiring, personnel moves ahead of new school year
The New Kensington-Arnold School District hired several teachers and other personnel ahead of the start of the 2023-24 school year. Nicholas DeFrancesco was hired as a DECA teacher at Valley Junior-Senior High School, with a starting salary of $53,368. DECA, short for Distributive Education Clubs of America, prepares students for...
Plum homeowner said to be making progress on fixing home borough sought to demolish
A Plum resident has been making “good progress” toward repairing his home that borough officials previously declared dangerous and sought to tear down, according to the borough manager. Council is scheduled to hold a follow-up hearing on the property at 247 Francis Road at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 14 at the...
Lady Mustangs lead Plum soccer camp
They may be knee-high to the proverbial grasshopper, but they know how to shoot and score. And they’re learning how to get better. Girls as young as kindergarten, 56 strong, signed up for a soccer camp conducted by members of the Plum High School Lady Mustangs, perennial participants in the...
The Stroller, Aug. 3, 2023: 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. Mt. St. Peter Parish to celebrate 42nd Festa Italiana The 42nd...
Lower Burrell angler catches American eel in Allegheny River
Shirley Cooper was hoping the fishing would be good while on her friend’s boat in the Allegheny River on Monday night. But she caught something she’d never seen in the river before — and neither have most people. At 9:50 p.m. near the Cheswick Marina, Cooper, who has fished her...
Plea deal drops 9 felony counts against O’Hara skills coach accused of sexually assaulting teen student
A former standout high school and college basketball player who was accused of sexually assaulting a teenage student at a skills school he operated in Ford City has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor indecent assault after prosecutors agreed to drop nine felony counts. Last October, South Buffalo police charged Mark Anthony...
Tour de Sharpsburg bike run rescheduled
A community bike run designed to showcase Sharpburg has been rescheduled. The inaugural Tour de Sharpsburg was moved from July 29 to Sept. 16. It’s organized by the Sharpsburg Community Library. The run starts at 11 a.m. at the library, 1212 Main St. The route will likely be set the...
Blawnox’s National Night Out celebration draws a crowd from neighboring towns
Blawnox families and folks from surrounding neighborhoods gathered in the borough’s community park to celebrate first responders. About 150 people participated in Blawnox’s fourth annual National Night Out celebration Aug. 1. It was presented by the nonprofit Best of Blawnox (BoB). Children learned about fire safety, explored police vehicles and...
Summer youth basketball program enlivens New Kensington
There have been shoot-arounds and pickup games on the new basketball courts at the Barnes Street Playground for a couple of months since they officially opened in the spring. Ian Benson said he believes the current Kings & Queens of the Court summer youth basketball program at the park is...
Ford City insurance agent guilty of working with lapsed license, taking money for bogus policy
An Armstrong County insurance agent pleaded guilty to operating with an expired license and taking money from a customer for a policy that never was issued. Last summer, the state Attorney General’s Officie charged Thomas John Scheeren, 42, of the 100 block of Sherwood Drive in East Franklin with felony...
Tarentum residents will pay $10 monthly fee for extra trash cans
Tarentum residents who require an extra trash can will pay an additional $10 a month for the service. The borough on July 1 changed from unlimited collection to a new “cart service” contract through Waste Management, which allotted each property one 96-gallon can. The $10 monthly fee is a switch...
The Stroller, Aug. 2, 2023: 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. Block party to celebrate back to school in Leechburg The Leechburg...
Lower Burrell firefighters make case for additional funding from city
Volunteer firefighters in Lower Burrell are joining forces to ask city council for more funding. No official action has been taken, but council members heard from Ted Hereda, chief of Lower Burrell Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 in Kinloch, and Brennan Sites, chief of Lower Burrell Volunteer Fire Company No....
Alligator eludes capture in Kiski River, officials seek public’s help
A rogue reptile seen in and around the Kiski River is still on the loose in the Apollo area. Volunteers and Kiski Township officials are continuing their efforts to safely locate, trap and relocate an alligator spotted multiple times over the weekend along the Kiski River. A group of kayakers...
Coroner IDs Kittanning man as victim of Route 422 crash in Summit Township
A 32-year-old man died at the scene of a two vehicle crash Tuesday on Route 422 in Summit Township, Butler County, state police said. According to Butler County Deputy Chief Coroner John Hanovick, the victim was identified as Dominick Recupero of Kittanning, according to Tribune-Review news partner WTAE. The crash...
Accused Upper Burrell bar shooter competent for trial
A Westmoreland County judge ruled Tuesday that a man charged in connection with a fatal shooting in an Upper Burrell bar nearly two years ago is competent to stand trial. Police claim Daniel Moles, 77, of Lower Burrell shot and killed 31-year-old Randy Jenereaux at Woodpeckers Pub & Grub tavern...
Fitness festival returns to New Kensington, pumping up fun and fellowship
Fitness can be fun. That’s the message from a New Kensington business owner promoting a fitness festival for all ages in downtown New Kensington. Cullen Maag, owner of BodyWork412 on Fifth Avenue, is the organizer of the annual NK5K Fitfest. This year, the physically themed event returns from 9 a.m....
Gilpin/Leechburg Park to remain county property
Armstrong County officials apparently intend to retain ownership of Gilpin/Leechburg Park. In January, Armstrong County commissioners sent letters to Gilpin and Leechburg officials to gauge interest in both municipalities taking ownership of the park property. Gilpin officials voted to accept ownership, but the matter never made it to a vote...
The Stroller, Aug. 1, 2023: 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. Help available to replace damaged license plates State Rep. Rob Mercuri...
Newly consolidated Tarentum/Brackenridge police force begins patrols
The Brackenridge Police Department has officially disbanded, but its officers will still be patrolling the borough. A newly minted Tarentum police force, which absorbed the three Brackenridge officers, begins Tuesday. Both councils voted Friday for shared police services for a five-year trial period. Schedules, pensions and administrative issues will be...
West Deer to consider allowing linkup of Leto well pad with eastern interconnect
West Deer supervisors heard more than six hours of testimony last week on a project that, if built, would allow gas to flow from the approved Leto well pad in Bairdford to the eastern interconnect pipeline. Hyperion Midstream, a wholly owned subsidiary of Olympus Energy of Canonsburg, seeks approval for...
Night Out event set at Blawnox Community Park
A celebration of first responders is set to take place in Blawnox. The borough’s fourth annual National Night Out is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in Blawnox Community Park. Police, fire and EMS personnel are expected to mingle with residents and others at the event presented by the...
