Valley News Dispatch category, Page 289

Take a plunge with St. Nick and pose for an underwater holiday photo Wednesday, Dec. 14 at the Richard G. Snyder YMCA in Kittanning. All proceeds benefit the YMCA’s annual campaign. The new fundraiser is in partnership with Scott’s Scuba Service in Freeport. “We’re so excited to be helping the...

Freeport Area’s three remedial high school renovation projects are underway. The building, opened in 1961, is getting a new boiler and electrical system with new generator panels. A third facet of the overall project is updating the three-classroom science wing. Brick replacement, to match the original brick color, is being...

A New Kensington man was shot and killed Friday night on 11th Street in the city. Police were called to a shooting scene in the 400 block in a parking lot near the Kensington Arms Apartments shortly after 10:30 p.m., according to Westmoreland County 911. Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole...

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the mission for the TryLife Center in Lower Burrell has changed from primarily encouraging young pregnant women to give birth to assisting more single dads and working with co-parenting arrangements. The nonprofit offers educational services, covering pregnancy, abortion, adoption and parenting. “We get abortion-determined women and...

After a Kiski Township man recently sued former township police Sgt. Thomas Dessell for $12,000, the township has not responded to requests to defend him. Township Solicitor Tim Miller said the township supervisors had no plans to defend Dessell, at least so far. Dessell’s attorney said he has sent letters...

Cheswick residents shouldn’t expect any tax increases next year if the 2023 proposed budget is passed next week. The $2.4 million proposed budget marks about a 10% increase over this year’s $2.2 million budget, with most of the increases coming from infrastructure projects, said Lorraine Zebrine, borough secretary. However, no...

People are flocking to a new trail in Harrison that took barely a few weeks to construct in a park that sat vacant for decades. There wasn’t an official grand opening, but the walking trail is the first step in the commissioners’ plan to resurrect Silverlake Park, sandwiched at the...

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. Christmas sing-along set in Saxonburg The Musical Theater Guild of Butler...

Bull Creek Model Railroad Association President Billy Atkinson and Vice President Rick Holsing look over a layout at the group’s display the Bull Creek United Presbyterian Church on Friday, Dec 9, 2022. The display has three layouts with different size trains. It’s capable of running 21 trains. The Holiday Train...

Lower Burrell police accused a man of dealing crystal meth and having illegal guns after police raided a home in New Kensington. Daniel Allen Laws, 54, of the 1100 block of Constitution Boulevard was charged with two counts of illegal possession of a firearm and a count of possession of...

For Alison Bresnahan, there isn’t a better time to be a science teacher. From NASA’s Artemis 1 moon mission to the James Webb Space Telescope to the Mars Perseverance rover to even the covid-19 pandemic, significant real-world events are inspiring the next generation of scientists — even if they don’t...

The New Kensington-Arnold School Board has approved several projects that will see improvements, upgrades and fixes touching on all of the district’s schools. At the high school, the board approved negotiating a contract with Pittsburgh Stage to renovate the auditorium stage’s rigging and tracks, electrical and lighting systems. Business Manager...

Some Leechburg Area High School art students are on a melt mission, helping first graders create homemade candles for the holidays. Almost two dozen students at David Leech Elementary School participated in a Creation Candles workshop at the high school, hosted by the art marketing, design and technology class taught...

The Allegheny Township Police Department is doing away with its “bring your own gun to work” routine with help from the Westmore­land County District Attorney’s Office. The department used $9,300 it received from District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli to buy 15 department-­issued 9 mm handguns and holsters for all of its...

A new eatery is opening in an old dining spot familiar to many Leechburg residents. Frankie’s on 2nd will have a soft opening starting at 7 a.m. Saturday, serving breakfast in what was formerly Pappy’s restaurant and, before that, Bonello’s. It is located at 81-83 Second St. New owner Frank...

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. Train display to benefit food bank Bull Creek United Presbyterian Church,...

An argument near Saxonburg led to a blow delivered with a Christmas tree, according to state police. Michael Bandi, 35, of Saxonburg, is charged with harassment and simple assault in the altercation reported at 10:15 p.m. Tuesday on Oak Leaf Drive in Jefferson Township. Police say Bandi had an argument...

A missing Armstrong County teenager was found “safe and sound” Friday morning, Manor police Chief Chris Robbins said. The teen, 13, of East Franklin was at a friend’s house in West Kittanning and had spent the night there, Robbins said. The teen had last been seen about 4 p.m. Thursday...

A New Kensington man could spend decades in prison after pleading guilty in federal court to distributing child pornography, authorities announced. Robert Pacek, 51, pleaded guilty Tuesday, Dec. 6, to seven counts of distributing images of children being sexually abused using a website on the Tor network, according to a...

A Plum detective has been named the police department’s first public information officer. Joseph Little took the weeklong FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association class in Pleasant Hills to take on the role. “I provide the community with the most accurate, up-to-date information,” he said. “As you would imagine, during...

Vandergrift police accused a man of repeatedly slapping a toddler in the face so hard that it left a handprint and a bruised and swollen welt. Timothy John Turner, 47, of Franklin Avenue in Vandergrift, was charged with a felony count of aggravated assault of a child under the age...

Gilpin residents won’t see a township property tax increase next year. The tax rate is expected to remain at 11 mills. Township supervisors recently approved their preliminary 2023 budget, which includes $810,300 in projected revenues. “Far too long has the Public Works Department and its equipment been put on the...

Trotting through the halls at Highlands Middle School in Harrison, an 8-month-old Labrador retriever is the district’s newest tool to help improve student success. The puppy, Charlie, will be tasked with more than looking cute. “He will increase the overall well-being for students,” said the dog’s owner, Principal Becky Bragan....

The New Kensington-Arnold School Board fired a security guard who had been accused of assaulting a 5-year-old elementary school student last year. Lori Ann Waltonbaugh, 59, of Greensburg entered a negotiated guilty plea Sept. 29 to a charge of recklessly endangering another person, according to court records. She was sentenced...

Santa Claus and his helpers will be visiting many locations in the Alle-Kiski Valley. Here is a list for you to check twice: Allegheny Township Photos with Santa will be from 10 a.m. to noon at Taco Bell, Route 56. The first 150 children 10 and younger will receive a...