Valley News Dispatch category, Page 369
Building the Valley: Salon marks 1st anniversary of bringing beauty to Tarentum’s revitalization
Decades of working as a hairdresser for national chain salons taught Traci Zinn a valuable lesson: If she ever had the chance to open her own shop, it wouldn’t be like any of the places she had worked. That opportunity came last year when Zinn, 55, decided to use money...
Vandergrift man accused by police of using juveniles, high school friends to cash fraudulent checks faces 15 felony charges
A Vandergrift man faces more than 30 charges, including 15 felonies, after investigators accused him of running a check-cashing scheme in Allegheny Township, Vandergrift and New Kensington. Robert Freeman III, 18, of the 200 block of Linden Street faces four counts each of felony forgery, access device counterfeiting and criminal...
Police: Obstructed stop sign contributes to Fawn crash that injures 1
An obstructed stop sign contributed to a two-vehicle crash in Fawn on Monday, according to township police Chief Tim Mayberry. The crash at Route 908 and Lardintown Road was reported about 3:45 p.m., according to Allegheny County 911. Mayberry said a pickup traveling north on Lardintown toward Route 908 collided...
Arnold eyes community grant money for fire engine, street paving
Street paving and a new fire engine are two uses of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds approved by Arnold Council. Council held its first required hearing to gather citizen input on uses for a federal allocation of $305,473, which, after subtracting $54,985 for redevelopment salaries and administration and $25,000...
State police say Tarentum woman turned over more than an ounce of crack cocaine during traffic stop
A Tarentum woman faces drug charges after a state trooper said she had more than an ounce of crack cocaine in her pocket during a traffic stop. Brittney Teyonia Ellibe, 31, of the 200 block of Allegheny Street was charged with a felony count of possession of drugs with the...
State police say Parks man tried to sell camping trailer he didn’t own
State police charged a Parks Township man with theft after, they say, he tried to sell a camping trailer that he didn’t own. Brandon John Krawczyk, 38, of the 1100 block of Laurel Point Lane faces two felony counts of theft by unlawful taking along with drug possession. Krawczyk is...
Kiski Township police say man choked woman, tried to cut her with steak knife
Kiski Township police said they arrested a man suspected of assault Sunday night on Florida Avenue. Police were called to a residence shortly after 8:30 p.m. for a report of a domestic assault. Officers said Shawn Haidze, 49, had attempted to choke a female victim and later tried to cut...
14th annual Ride Now for Autism motorcycle run set for July
Wicked Witches Bar & Grille in Harmar is gearing up for its 14th annual Ride Now for Autism motorcycle run in July. The charity ride attracts hundreds from across the country on a 100-mile ride to raise funds for the Autism Society of Pittsburgh. There are two to three stops,...
Arnold food truck event returning for 1st full year
A food truck event held once in Arnold late last year is coming back this month, with monthly dates scheduled through October. The first of five Arnold community events will be held from 3 to 9 p.m. June 26 in a lot at 1701 Fifth Ave. Future dates — all...
The Stroller, June 20, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
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. HOPE Center accepting donations for its SAF-T pet kennel The Alle-Kiski HOPE...
Faces of the Valley: Married firefighters share a passion for public service
Tamara and Bryan Baum are united in their love for firefighting — and for each other. The married couple from Washington Township are volunteer firefighters with Vandergrift Volunteer Fire Department No. 1. The Baums have served with the department for about 15 years, responding to the same fire calls when...
Corpus Christi festival in Tarentum brings back sawdust carpets
The Corpus Christi Celebration has been a Tarentum tradition since 1943, and the festival with colorful sawdust carpets returned Sunday after the pandemic caused a brief hiatus over the last two years. This year, hundreds participated in creating 17 religious artworks made out of dyed sawdust and laid out on...
Cheswick Volunteer Fire Company awaits state approval for merger
The Cheswick Volunteer Fire Company is coming close to finalizing its merger with the Allegheny Valley Fire Company. Once the state approves the merger, Cheswick will officially consolidate with Allegheny Valley, said Nino Pollino, president of the Cheswick department. The state requested documentation from the borough expressing its support of...
50 years ago, Hurricane Agnes left indelible mark
Floods came with living in Freeport. “You just knew it was inevitable,” said Jim Scott, who grew up in a house on First Street with Buffalo Creek at one end and the Allegheny River at the other. “If you lived there, you took the chance of having to deal with...
Lower Burrell residents urged to take survey on city parks
As part of a comprehensive plan for Lower Burrell’s parks, the city is asking residents to take an online survey on what facilities and activities they want to see in the city’s five parks. City parks include Braeview Fireman’s Park, Burrell Lake Park, Kotecki Memorial Park, Kinloch Fireman’s Park and...
New Kensington native’s new doughnut shop gives customers chance to customize treats
One’s imagination is the menu at a new doughnut shop in New Kensington. Customers of Lasko’s Little O’s can pick a glaze, choose toppings and select a drizzle to create a doughnut that maybe even Homer Simpson couldn’t dream up. “We’re like a Subway for doughnuts,” owner Mikey Lasko Sr....
The Stroller, June 19, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
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. West Deer parish to host revival A free all-day tent revival will...
Proposed Burrell budget calls for 2.9% real estate tax increase
The Burrell School Board is proposing a $34.7 million budget with a 2.9% real estate tax increase for the 2022-23 school year. The owner of a home with an average assessed value of $22,900 will see a tax increase of $68; under the Homestead Act exclusion, the same owner would...
Duquesne professor helps educators understand how to help children with trauma
Blanket punishments and cookie cutter programs aren’t appropriate responses when children have experienced trauma, according to Duquesne University professor Tammy Hughes. Hughes discussed the psychology and needs of such children at the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit’s 2022 School Safety and Security Symposium at Westmoreland County Community College. “This isn’t about breaking...
Harrison man accused of sharing child porn online charged with 28 felony counts
A Harrison man faces more than two dozen felony counts after state agents accused him of having child pornography videos on his cellphone, including some involving kids as young as 2. Gregory Paul Rosato, 58, of the 1400 block of Pennsylvania Avenue was charged by the state Attorney General’s Office...
Cheswick Councilman Frank Meledandri receives award for 40 years of service
A surprise was in store for a Cheswick councilman during a meeting Tuesday evening. Councilman Frank Meledandri was awarded the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs President’s Award for his 40 years serving the borough. The award recognizes individuals who have served in a position for a decade or more. Meledandri’s...
Father figures: These coaches teach more than skills; they serve as role models for their players
Fathering comes in all forms. For many dads, it means getting involved with their children’s sports activities. But for fathers who go even further and become coaches, they are impacting more than their children’s lives. They are serving as father figures, as role models, for groups of kids. Meet local...
The Stroller, June 18, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
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. Lower Burrell church offers free reading workshop Redemption Church Reading Outreach Tutoring...
HazMat Safety Train gives Western Pa. first responders training on dealing with dangerous derailments
The first emergency responders arriving on the scene where 17 cars of a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed in Harmar in late May had only their training to rely on when making split-second decisions amid the chaos. Nine of the cars, including tankers, landed in Guys Run, a tributary feeding...
Firefighters quickly put out fire at abandoned house in New Kensington
New Kensington firefighters quickly put out a fire Friday afternoon at a what was reported to be an abandoned house. The fire in the 300 block of Industrial Boulevard was reported around 4:30 p.m. It took responding firefighters about 15 minutes to put out the fire, a Westmoreland County Department...
