Valley News Dispatch category, Page 335
New Kensington-Arnold 2nd graders present $450 donation to Animal Protectors
A donation from students at a New Kensington-Arnold elementary school will help a New Kensington animal shelter in many ways, the president of the shelter’s board of directors said. Second graders at H.D. Berkey Elementary School in Arnold collected $450 through a coin drive the week of Sept. 26, teacher...
Judge dismisses insurance fraud charge from Bell arson case
A Westmoreland County judge has ruled there was not enough evidence to support a criminal charge of insurance fraud against a former Bell woman accused in the torching of her home two years ago. Following a pretrial hearing Tuesday, one felony count was dismissed in the ongoing case against Britny...
Allegheny Township woman tasered in police stop pleads guilty to assault
An Allegheny Township woman was ordered to serve up to 23 months in jail in connection with an incident last year in New Kensington in which she punched and kicked a police officer. Cally Jade Mills, 30, pleaded guilty in four criminal cases, including an incident last Nov. 30 that...
Plum High School buys bikes for physical education classes, cycling club
Plum High School students have new bicycles to ride in physical education classes that will also be used for a new cycling club. The district recently bought 38 Giant Talon 2 mountain bikes from The Bike Lab, a bicycle shop in Plum. The total cost was $20,345, money for which...
Building the Valley: Lower Burrell’s Sharpe Auto Repair back in business after 2021 fire
In July 2021, Arthur “Artie” Grazier vowed to rebuild his Sharpe Auto Repair in Lower Burrell after an overnight fire destroyed his business. Almost a year later, the auto repair shop owner made good on his promise. “The big thing was that nobody was hurt, and, that I will always...
New Kensington eyes restricting use of noisy engine brakes near Valley High School
New Kensington officials are considering a restriction on the use of jake brakes in part of the city. “Jake brakes” are the common term for the Jacobs Engine Brake, which alters the operation of an engine’s exhaust and allows it to function as a power-absorbing air compressor that can slow...
Kiski Area School District spearheads collaborative cyber programVideo
Four of the region’s school districts have collaborated to develop a new virtual instruction program for students in kindergarten through sixth grade. The Alle-Kiski Academy of Excellence offers students, from any district, the opportunity to learn in a synchronous manner from the comfort of their own homes. The four participating...
The Stroller, Oct. 11, 2022: 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 a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Open house planned at Lost Dreams Awakening Lost Dreams Awakening will...
Aspinwall’s Fall in the Wall attracts hundreds
Hundreds of people packed Aspinwall for the Aspinwall Chamber of Commerce’s annual Fall in the Wall celebration Oct. 8. “The turnout’s incredible this year,” said Adam Redling of Aspinwall, whose daughter, Elliana, 7, received a unicorn balloon animal from Quin McLaughlin, known in entertainment circles as “Q the Clone” of...
Apollo woman fills growing need, obtaining household items for elderly and disabled
Phyllis Thomas needed her insulin prescription, and Lou Reich needed laundry detergent and stain remover. Nicole Fye of Apollo fulfilled those requests through her Commodity Shoppers business, which is serving an expanding niche by catering to the needs of senior citizens and those with disabilities. “Groceries seem to be the...
Faces of the Valley: Disabilities don’t deter Apollo man from volunteering
Terry Simmers likes to bring the fun to his volunteer job at St. Vincent de Paul in Apollo. Simmers, 48, began volunteering at the Catholic-based thrift store in 2016. “I enjoy doing what I do because helping others out gives me a great feeling, knowing that I’m important to the...
Burrell junior shares love of hockey with Kenyan kids on mission trip to Africa
John Lukac has a burning passion for hockey and an equal desire to help people. He recently got the chance to incorporate both on a special journey that he will remember for a lifetime. Lukac, a junior at Burrell, volunteered for a 12-day mission to Kenya last month with the...
St. Joe’s student-run Spartan Streaming allows online viewers to catch up with sports, events
Watch out Bob Costas, 16-year-old Nicholas Sarno is coming for your job. A junior at St. Joseph High School in Harrison, Sarno isn’t shy in front of the camera. He has become the voice of the Spartans sports teams, providing play-by-play for basketball, volleyball and other games for online audiences...
The Stroller, Oct. 10, 2022: 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 a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Chicken Marsala and wine on the menu at Peoples Library fundraiser...
Harmar police nab attempted homicide suspects after Route 28 chase
Shortly after Pittsburgh police called off a chase on Route 28 early Sunday afternoon, Harmar police said they apprehended the two men — who are accused of attempted homicide — just past the Fox Chapel exit on the highway. After Harmar officers caught the suspects, Pittsburgh police interviewed and arrested...
Tarentum seeks creative crafters for 14th scarecrow contest
Witches and ghosts, step aside. It’s time for scarecrows to have a moment in the spotlight. The Tarentum Recreation Board launched its 14th annual scarecrow contest Monday, with entries competing for a $100 top prize. “They are so creative every year,” said Carrie Fox, recreation board president. “We appreciate everyone’s...
Kiski Area swim team to host clinic fundraiser
The Kiski Area High School varsity swim team is making a splash with a new fundraiser. Team organizers hope to boost swim safety awareness in the community and showcase the program during the Oct. 29 clinic. A Halloween swim theme will welcome registered participants during the one-hour swim session from...
Polish-style beer, vendors draw crowds to fall markets in Lower Burrell, New Kensington
On a Saturday featuring harvest festivals across the region, Lower Burrell and New Kensington attracted hundreds of patrons shopping for craft beer, soy candles, and coconut and curry butternut squash soup. For Lower Burrell’s final farmers market, organizers held a harvest festival, adding guest vendors offering autumn-themed products. The traditional...
Civil War re-enactors and local honey enliven Burtner House festival
The Burtner House’s Fall Harvest Festival keeps the history of the 201-year-old homestead alive. True to the character of the home, more than 35 volunteers dressed in Civil War-era costumes wandered the grounds and staffed food booths and other stations Saturday for the outdoor festival. The fall harvest and the...
The Stroller, Oct. 9, 2022: 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 a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Historical films of Leechburg to be screened Leechburg Area Museum and...
Drive-through food distribution open to Alle-Kiski Valley residents
Tarentum resident Rayann Urbanski plucked large bundles of kale from boxes outside Pittsburgh Mills in Frazer and placed them in more than 300 vehicles waiting in line at a recent drive-through food distribution. “Everyone seems to really appreciate the help,” said Urbanski, a Highlands and Pitt grad who now works...
New Kensington’s Knead Community Cafe set to debut fall, winter menus
Some “heavier” items are featured on Knead Community Café’s fall and winter lunch menu, which the New Kensington restaurant will roll out Tuesday. The new seasonal breakfast menu will debut Oct. 29. Knead serves breakfast only on Saturdays; it is open for lunch Tuesdays through Fridays. The menus will be...
$172,000 donation to fund overhaul of outdated fitness facility at Kiski Area High School
Kiski Area High School freshman wrestler Abrahm Taylor works out almost daily in the weight room on campus. But using outdated, old and broken equipment isn’t optimal, he said. “Everything is so old,” Taylor said Thursday during a lunchtime weightlifting session. A new weight and cardio facility renovation project is...
The Stroller, Oct. 8, 2022: 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 a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Tarentum museum displays works of Rudy Tutka The current exhibit at...
New Kensington police accuse Arnold man of sexually assaulting teen in 2020; felony charges filed
New Kensington police charged a man after he was accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old twice in the fall of 2020. Alexander James Moss, 24, of the 1600 block of Kenneth Avenue in Arnold was charged with felony counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault...
