Valley News Dispatch category, Page 326

An old railroad bridge spanning the Kiski River that kids double-dog dared each other to cross is now a critical link to hundreds of miles of hiking and cycling trails — and potential economic development. Armstrong County purchased the bridge, erected in 1899 over the Kiski River, and 14 miles...

Highlands School District will grow its pre-K program by 25% through a new full-day class. “We’re excited to welcome the new opportunity,” said Kristie Gizienski, principal at the district’s Early Childhood Center. She outlined plans during the school board meeting Monday, saying the new class will make room for 17...

Publicize your community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15068. Please include a daytime telephone number. St. Margaret Mary Parish festival planned Friday and Saturday St. Margaret Mary...

The lobby of Central Presbyterian Church in Tarentum is filled with items you don’t expect to see in a sanctuary. Mobility walkers, tub chairs and canes are piled high, waiting to be collected and shipped to needy people near and far. There are at least 100 pieces of equipment. “We’ve...

The timeless visual elements of rain, storms, snow and sunsets are presented by local photographers at the Focus on the Arts Gallery at the Pittsburgh Mills in Frazer. The New Kensington Camera Club is presenting “Weather: Many Expressions of Mother Nature’s Personality” for free until Sept. 3. The 32 entries...

Springdale Council member Brittni Bair couldn’t hide her delight as she watched people make their way down Lincoln Avenue between Center Street and Walters Lane 10 minutes before 11 a.m. on Saturday. “It’s filling up quick. We don’t start until 11,” said Bair, pleased to see that the second edition...

It was a beautiful, sunny August Saturday morning at the Shriners Center in Harmar, minutes away from the start of ShawRide V to benefit the Officer Brian Shaw Memorial Scholarship fund, and New Kensington Police Chief Bob Deringer was nervous. He was about to lead the ride in a marked...

State police charged a man with a felony count of burglary after a Parks Township resident accused him of entering his home without permission, stealing a computer and then returning later the same day to threaten him with a knife. In addition to the burglary charge, Brandan Lee Sacik, 25,...

Publicize your community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15068. Please include a daytime telephone number. Oakmont Scout troop marks 75th anniversary Boy Scout Troop 854 of Oakmont...

The Freeport Area School District continues to grapple with an influx of new families into the area and budgetary concerns. Several parents complained at Thursday’s school board meeting about plans to cut the number of first- and third-grade classes at Buffalo Elementary School from five to four. The school board...

The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office has released the name of the man who was found dead Thursday afternoon in the Allegheny River off the East Deer shore. The medical examiner identified the man as Tirrell Lamont Smith, 40. Inspector Mike Peairs of the Allegheny County Police said Smith is...

Music fans came by foot, bike, car, and even boat to attend the last summer concert held Friday at Riverside Park in Freeport. Sponsored by the Freeport Renaissance Association, the monthly music series wrapped up with the summer’s third free performance from the gazebo in the park. Sommelier, an indie-rock...

Hours after the 35th annual Sheldon Park Community Day celebration concluded Friday afternoon, Sydney Hayden still had hordes of children running around, laughing and showing off their face paint. “It was an excellent day,” said Hayden, a leader at the Allegheny County public housing complex off Springhill Road in Harrison....

Arnold continues to benefit from a recent zoning change on the 1300 block of Fourth Avenue. Council on Tuesday night approved the transfer of five former residential parcels on that block to the city’s redevelopment authority for business use. Properties at 1339, 1341, 1349 and 1351 likely will be used...

A Washington Township man who has multiple felony convictions is jailed without bond on gun, assault and theft charges. Harold Michael Franks, 40, of the 300 block of Route 356 was charged with illegal possession of a firearm, two counts of aggravated assault, theft and receiving stolen property, which are...

A woman accused by Gilpin police of moving into a vacant house with her dog after the owner put the property up for sale has been ordered to stand trial. Francesca Gimigliano, 43, who is homeless according to police, was charged with felony counts of criminal trespass and burglary, along...

Washington Township has a new supervisor. Matthew Thornton, 55, was unanimously appointed by the board of supervisors on Monday, Aug.8. There was no comment from the public regarding Thornton’s appointment during the meeting. He replaces former supervisor Scott Held, who resigned last month. Held served for six months before resigning...

The Westmoreland County Land Bank bought its first properties in New Kensington and Arnold since the cities and their school district joined the blight-fighting program. Six residential properties in New Kensington and one in Arnold were among a dozen tax-delinquent properties the land bank bought at a judicial sale on...

Publicize your community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15068. Please include a daytime telephone number. Inclusion games planned for special needs children The Alle-Kiski Inclusion Games will...

Thespians from the Freeport Theatre Festival are channeling their inner pioneer as they present “Massy Harbison.” The play is a historical drama based on local pioneer heroine Massy Harbison, who survived captivity by Native Americans near what is now present-day Freeport. It was written and directed by Rennick Steele. It’s...

A body was pulled from the Allegheny River on Thursday afternoon near the marina in Tarentum when someone called 911 after seeing it floating in the waterway, according authorities. A Tarentum police officer who arrived shortly after 3 p.m. began the search by being ferried along the river near the...

An Arnold police officer accused of lying about how his patrol vehicle was damaged waived his right to a hearing Thursday. Ryan Matthew Clark, 32, of Buffalo Township is charged by Westmoreland County detectives with making a false report and tampering with evidence, which are both misdemeanor offenses. “We’re going...

C.S. Kim Karate Inc. in Buffalo Township is hosting a kick-a-thon Tuesday to raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Brian Sackett, master and owner of the Buffalo Township location, said the school started working with the association 30 years ago to raise funds. He said that over the...

Repairs are underway at the Harrison Honor Roll that stands at the center of town along Freeport Road. The 77-year-old monument recognizes the township’s World War II veterans. The black granite memorial is etched with the names of nearly 2,000 servicemen. On Wednesday, crews worked to pour a new concrete...

Anyone putting up basketball hoops, soccer or hockey goals on Brackenridge streets could find it to be a costly move. A proposed ordinance would prohibit items like these from encroaching on public rights of way after multiple residents complained about property damage from errant basketballs and street hockey balls. “The...