Valley News Dispatch category, Page 279
Holiday Park VFD summer camp teaches youth about safety, emergency response skills
Youth from across Allegheny and Westmoreland counties learned a bit about what it takes to be a firefighter as part of a Plum summer camp. Holiday Park Volunteer Fire Department hosted its annual camp June 19-23. Activities included cadets learning from firefighters on how to handle various scenarios at the...
Aspinwall Democrat earns enough write-ins to be on Republican ballot in November
An Aspinwall Democrat who lost his bid for a party nomination for a council seat in November earned enough write-in votes to be on the Republican ticket, according to returns from the Allegheny County Elections Division. Lou Curcio Jr. came in fourth in a five-person race for the Democratic nod...
Medical examiner: Remains found in Sharpsburg might be part of burial ground
Skeletal remains uncovered this week in Sharpsburg are human, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office said Friday. The remains were found by a utility crew earlier in the week while working on private property along Short Canal Street. The Medical Examiner’s Office said it is continuing its investigation of the...
Suspect identified with help of DNA pleads guilty in Lower Burrell robbery
An Allegheny County man was ordered to serve up to five years in prison for the armed robbery of a beer distributor in Lower Burrell. Blair Adam Payne, 29, of Mt. Oliver pleaded guilty to robbery, theft and receiving stolen property in connection with a heist police said was solved...
Pittsburgh Roller Derby hosting tournament in Harmar
When Heather Groll was 12 years old she made sure to do all of her homework after school, especially on Wednesdays. “If my sister and I finished our homework, our dad would take us roller skating,” said Groll, of those times at Roll R Skate in Canonsburg. “We would meet...
Harmar elevates part-time officer, bringing police force to 9 full-timers
Harmar supervisors expanded the township’s police department to nine full-time officers by elevating part-time Officer Erik Brannock to full-time status. Township officials said Brannock has been employed by the township as a part-timer for about seven months. Brannock will earn the starting salary of $57,676. Supervisor Bob Exler said Brannock’s...
Tarentum Bridge restrictions to continue next week
PennDOT announced that single-lane restrictions will continue next week on the Tarentum Bridge. Restrictions will include: Monday: 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., westbound and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. eastbound for concrete patching. Tuesday: 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. westbound for concrete patching. Wednesday and Thursday: 12:01 a.m. Wednesday through...
2 face drug charges after Allegheny Township traffic stop
A New Kensington man and a Harrison woman are facing drug charges after a traffic stop. According to court records, Allegheny Township police charged Michael Luffey, 38, of the 1500 block of Leishman Avenue, with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, misbranding a controlled substance, possessing drugs and...
Police charge man in connection with work not completed at Lower Burrell gas station
Lower Burrell police charged a Findlay Township man with theft of services because the owner of a city gas station said contracted work was not completed. Gregory Alan Scott, 33, of the Clinton section of Findlay Township was charged with two felony counts of deceptive business practices and theft by...
$52 million Highlands budget includes no tax increase for residents
Highlands School Board Vice President Nicole Kocon said the district’s conservative budgeting combined with growing local revenue has helped hold taxes steady for the 2023-24 school year. The board approved the $52 million budget, maintaining the property tax rate of 25.13 mills. The owner of a home assessed at $100,000...
Pittsburgh to Erie Trail Alliance fundraiser on tap at Pittsburgh Brewing Co. in East Deer, a future trailhead
Nearly two decades after the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail Alliance took the initial steps to create regional recreation opportunities, leaders are celebrating 188 miles of trails that have been carved out amid dozens of communities showcased along the path. The goal to connect the two cities and thousands of steps...
Natrona Comes Together offers children one-stop shop for summer reading, art and sports
A crushed soda can and a jar of paint might be enough to inspire the next generation of artists. At the very least, the craft sessions could unleash creativity for the 25 or so children who gather at Natrona Community Park for educational programs all summer long. “Having a weekly...
97th annual Cinderella Ball celebrated on Father’s Day
For a girl, her father is her first love. On Sunday, that bond was evident as dads and male role models reached out for the hand of the young women they’ve embraced their entire lives at the 97th annual Cinderella Ball — fittingly on Father’s Day. Sixteen debutantes were presented...
The Stroller, June 23, 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. Hartwood Acres to host rhythm and blues concert The Allegheny County...
Burrell School District raises taxes with approval of $36.1 million budget
Property owners in Burrell School District will see an almost 4% increase in their real estate taxes next year. Next year’s budget totals just under $36.2 million, a 4.1% increase from this past school year, said Jennifer Callahan, the district’s business manager. The budget raises the millage rate from 107...
Family fun found at annual Fox Chapel Day in McCahill Park
Families throughout the Fox Chapel area flocked to McCahill Park for Fox Chapel’s annual community celebration, Fox Chapel Day, on June 17. Hundreds of folks enjoyed activities under sunshine and blue skies. There were train rides, an Allegheny Health Network LifeFlight helicopter, balloon artists, face painting, a deejay, food trucks,...
Pride on display: Merchandise backlash concerns local LGBTQ community, some retailers
“Love wins” and “Love is love” are among the messages adorning apparel displayed in recognition of Pride Month at Rue 21, a chain clothing store at Westmoreland Mall. Not everyone is taking to heart such messages supporting the LGBTQIA community during June, as evidenced by recent backlash against some major...
West Deer approves Leto well pad; neighbors plan to appeal
West Deer supervisors approved conditional use and land development applications for the proposed Leto well pad, and neighbors say they plan to appeal that decision in court. The well pad, located off Oak Road behind a Dollar General store, was proposed by Olympus Energy of Cecil Township. Olympus plans to...
Aspinwall, Sharpsburg volunteer fire departments merge into new organization
The Sharpsburg and Aspinwall volunteer fire departments are now Southern Allegheny Valley Emergency Services — SAVES. Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Michael E. McCarthy signed the order merging the two departments on June 20. The driving force behind the merger was the need for more volunteers and to boost efficiency....
Allegheny RiverTrail Park officials break ground for expansion project
A 6-acre expansion of Allegheny RiverTrail Park in Aspinwall is officially underway with the park’s multi-use trail to be extended 1.5 miles to 13th Street in Sharpsburg with dreams of a connection to a trail in Millvale. “It really is tremendous, ” said ARP Executive Director Dee Stathis. “There’s not...
Plum Food Pantry, after years of depressed demand, sees rise in clients
The number of families relying on the Plum Food Pantry is nearing pre-pandemic levels, though not in the way you might expect. Food banks across the country reported crushing demand at the height of covid-19, and again as pandemic-era federal benefits expired starting in mid-2021. To the contrary, the Plum...
Property owner: Don’t rezone former Springdale power plant from industrial use
The owner of the former Cheswick Generating Station is repeating its stance on the property: Springdale should not rezone it from industrial use. No action was taken at borough council’s meeting this week — the matter wasn’t even on the agenda — but representatives from Cheswick Plant Environmental Redevelopment Group...
Lower Burrell woman charged after traffic stop turns into drug bust at her home
Police have charged a Lower Burrell woman with drug possession following a May 2 traffic stop where, they said, it appeared she was under the influence of crack cocaine. Alicia Ann Bosman, 33, is charged with two counts of intentionally possessing a controlled substance and a count of use or...
The Stroller, June 22, 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. Allegheny Township to celebrate Community Day Allegheny Township Community Day will...
Healthy Food Center at Allegheny Valley Hospital helps connect people with nutritious food
Allegheny Valley Hospital patients who struggle with access to food will be able to shop at a free pantry at the Harrison facility. The Healthy Food Center, which opened Wednesday, will serve patients with financial or social barriers to nutritious grocery items. “The covid-19 pandemic has shown us just how...
