Valley News Dispatch category, Page 307
The Stroller, Jan. 19, 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. Natrona outreach to distribute free veggies, personal products Building Block of...
Plum planners recommend approval of first phase of 158-home development
Plum’s planning commission has recommended approval of the first 35 houses in a planned 158-home development. Plum Council might vote on approval of the first phase of the three-phase Patriot Estates plan in February, Assistant Borough Manager David Soboslay said. The first 35 single-family homes would be built on a...
West Deer senior center resumes operations at temporary location
The West Deer Senior Citizens Center has reopened at a temporary location after a burst water pipe shuttered its operations last month. The center, which offers low-cost meals and other services to senior citizens, will continue its work indefinitely out of Our Lady of the Lakes Parish’s St. Victor Church...
W.Va. man gets 4 years for stealing millions in mining equipment in Armstrong, Indiana counties
A former Beckley, W.Va. man has been sentenced to four years in prison and three years supervised release for stealing nearly $3 million worth of specialized mining equipment from Armstrong and Indiana counties. David Stanley was sentenced in federal court in Pittsburgh on Tuesday after pleading guilty in November 2019...
Fawn man convicted of sexually assaulting 2 children gets 10-30 years in prison
A Fawn man who was arrested in 2019 was sentenced to 10 to 30 years in prison after being found guilty of repeatedly sexually assaulting two young children. Douglas Charles Simoncic Jr., 32, of Iron Bridge Lane was found guilty Oct. 11 in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court of two...
Valley great Tom Pipkins highlights 2023 WPIAL Hall of Fame class
Tom Pipkins jokes that he might already be retired from working if high school athletes could’ve signed endorsement deals back in his day. That’s how much interest there was around the former Valley basketball star when he broke the WPIAL career scoring record 30 years ago this month. As part...
New Kensington man pleads guilty in fatal 2018 crash in Plum
A New Kensington man pleaded guilty Tuesday to homicide by vehicle for a 2018 crash in Plum that killed a 90-year-old woman. Richard Stutz, 44, will be sentenced by Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Thomas E. Flaherty on April 17. Stutz also pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault...
Freeport starts the year with 15% property tax hike, first in more than a decade
Freeport is starting 2023 with a 15% hike in real estate taxes. The owner of a home assessed at $40,000 will pay $80 more in borough real estate taxes, from $520 in 2022 to $600 in 2023, borough officials said. “Council agreed to raise taxes because revenue has been flat...
People encouraged to ‘Fill the Truck’ to help feed the needy
Without donations from the public, Bread of Life food pantry in Etna would struggle to serve its 140-plus families each month with fresh eggs, milk and produce. “The help is invaluable,” Director Alexis Weber said. “It is our mission to provide and we would never turn anyone away. I don’t...
The Stroller, Jan. 18, 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. Tickets on sale for cash bash Natrona Heights Veterans of Foreign...
O’Hara residents to see changes in trash collection in a few months
Changes are coming to O’Hara trash collection, specifically with new bins and collection days. Township officials recently approved a new trash and recycling contract with Waste Management through the North Hills Council of Governments. It runs 2023-26 with an option year for 2027. Township Manager Julie Jakubec said garbage collection...
Plum man faces federal gun, drug charges
A Plum man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on drug and gun charges. Authorities said convicted felon Taiwan Donje Rodgers, 25, of Unity-Trestle Road possessed firearms and ammunition as well as possessed heroin and fentanyl with the intent to distribute them. The charges stem from...
Former Blawnox Mayor Tom Smith recalled as epitome of small borough
Friends are recalling former longtime Blawnox Mayor Tom Smith as the ultimate figurehead for the small Allegheny River town. He founded the Thomas M. Smith Funeral Home in 1966 and later delved into local politics as a way to spur community revitalization. “My family knew him all our life, and...
New Kensington-Arnold selects vendor for classroom furniture
The New Kensington- Arnold School District hopes to have new classroom furniture in all of its schools by September, Superintendent Chris Sefcheck said. The school board voted last week to buy classroom seating and furniture from P.E.M. Co., an educational furniture dealership in the South Hills that was founded in...
New Kensington business earns first silver ‘sustainable workplace’ honor from Sustainable Pittsburgh
A downtown New Kensington business is among the first three to be designated as “sustainable workplaces” by Sustainable Pittsburgh. Trademark Threads, an embroidery and printing business at 1007 Fifth Ave., earned a silver level designation. The nonprofit Sustainable Pittsburgh says its program recognizes any business, nonprofit or other organization that...
PNC closing 2 more Pittsburgh-area locations, including Vandergrift branch
PNC is closing two more bank branches in the Pittsburgh region. The branches at 100 Grant Ave. in Vandergrift and at Duquesne University are scheduled to close at 3 p.m. March 17. An ATM will remain open at the Vandergrift location but not at Duquesne, according to PNC spokeswoman Olivia...
Tarentum officials challenge people to keep community spirit high
Tarentum Mayor Bob Lang and Council President Scott Dadowski are challenging people to maintain the lofty neighborhood spirit that spiked in the wake of the Jan. 2 death of Brackenridge police Chief Justin McIntire. The pair posted a three-minute video to the borough’s Facebook page Sunday to thank everyone who...
Starbucks and Italian eatery slated for former Kings in Buffalo Township
Buffalo Township officials are keeping mum about ongoing construction at the site of the former Kings Family Restaurant in Buffalo Plaza along Route 356. Township Manager Rich Hill declined to comment Wednesday when asked for details on the project at 400 Buffalo Plaza. But plaza owner Anthony Pompeo confirmed Wednesday...
The Stroller, Jan. 17, 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. Free Breaking Bread dinner set Thursday Knead Community Café, 1011 Barnes...
Kiski Township police locate endangered man missing since Saturday
A man missing since Saturday who was believed to be in danger has been found safe, according to Kiski Township police. Police were searching for Jeff Manchini, who went missing from his home in the West-In-Arms apartments at 403 20th St. in North Apollo. Authorities were concerned because Manchini has...
Route 356 in Washington Township reopened to traffic after vehicle shears gas line
A section of Route 356 in Washington Township has been reopened after traffic was halted when a vehicle struck a gas line, according to authorities. The crash was reported shortly before 2 p.m. in the 100 block of Route 356 near the Moore Bus Co., according to a Westmoreland County...
‘Remembrance is the thing’: Owners of vintage, antique stores report big business
The rapid growth of Yesterday’s RAVE in Greensburg has been a surprise to co-owner Patty Wolfe. The store that specializes in antique and vintage items with 15 vendors in a renovated space at the former Schaller’s Bakery building on Highland Avenue opened in November 2021. As more sections of the...
Westmoreland doubles plans for broadband upgrade projects
As much as $3 million will be spent this year on four projects aimed at improving high-speed internet access in Westmoreland County, commissioners said. These broadband upgrades come as a followup to a study by the county last year that, according to preliminary results, determined as much as 71% of...
The Stroller, Jan. 16, 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. Card party planned Wednesday in Apollo St. James Parish, Apollo, will...
Pedestrian hospitalized after being hit by car on Vandergrift Bridge
A pedestrian was taken to a hospital via helicopter Sunday night after being hit by a car on the Vandergrift bridge, authorities said. Vandergrift police and firefighters responded to the incident on the bridge at 6:21 p.m. Sunday, closing it to traffic as a helicopter was set to land at...
