Valley News Dispatch category, Page 408
Slots for 11th annual Derek Kotecki golf outing filling up quickly
Organizers and supporters of the K9 Officer Derek Kotecki Memorial Scholarship Fund will hold the 11th annual golf outing Aug. 20 at Hill Crest Country Club. The tournament is an 18-hole, four-person scramble with 32 foursomes. Organizers initially planned to cap the golf outings at 10 years — the time...
Allegheny County eyes work on 2 Fawn bridges in poor condition
Two short bridges in Fawn are among those to be replaced by Allegheny County for poor conditions revealed in recent inspections. Both are part of Thompson Road and cross Bull Creek. Designated as Bull Creek bridges No. 7 and No. 8, they carry a combined 550 vehicles a day. Neither...
Kiski Area School District offering additional staff, counseling to help young kids deal with pandemic
In response to students’ growing needs for emotional support, Kiski Area School District has increased its counseling staff. Behavior specialist Autumn Patterson was hired in December to assist students in grades K-6. She joins fellow specialists T.J. Neal and Chelsey Perriello, both hired in August. In the wake of the...
Lower Burrell Marine tells the story of his life while he still can
Hal Shaffer is ready to die. “I’ve had so much pain and suffering in my life, I’m ready to go,” Shaffer, 74, said from the hospital bed in the living room of his Lower Burrell home with his wife, Dee, beside him. A Marine Corps veteran who survived a grenade...
The Stroller, Feb. 19, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
The Stroller is compiling a list of fish fries taking place Ash Wednesday and/or Fridays during Lent. To your non-profit’s fish fry listed in the paper and online, send complete information in writing to Carol Pinto-Smith, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum, PA 15084 or email cpinto-smith@triblive.com. Applications being...
Fox Chapel Area School District police chief to become treasurer of national nonprofit
Joseph Kozarian, Fox Chapel Area School District’s chief of police, will soon add a new title to his resume. The law enforcement veteran takes over as treasurer for the National Association of School Resource Officers in July. “It’s a great honor, great organization and wonderful people,” said Kozarian, 55, of...
Route 356 in Butler County to have lane restrictions Saturday to address flooding
PennDOT officials said lane closures in both directions of Route 356 in Jefferson Township will take place Saturday. The northbound lane will be closed at the intersection of Route 356 and Bonniebrook Road, extending about 2,500 feet from the intersection in both directions, starting at 7 a.m. The southbound lane...
Harmar sees 47% sewage fee hike as cost of new treatment plant soars
The escalating cost of the Allegheny Valley Joint Sewage Authority treatment plant expansion is going to cost Harmar ratepayers to the tune of a 47% hike in sewage fees. Officials said the plant expansion was first pegged at $35 million. Now, the cost has risen to $102.5 million. In response,...
New Kensington man accused of sending email to extort $35K from former employer
A New Kensington man is accused of trying to extort $35,000 from the Butler County company where he worked by threatening to report alleged workplace violations to federal inspectors and union officials. Saxonburg police charged Ramon Presco Livingston, 43, of Fifth Avenue, New Kensington, with two counts of felony attempted...
Appeal denied for mother of man convicted in New Ken cop killing
An appeal was denied Thursday for the mother of a man on death row in the fatal shooting of a New Kensington police officer. The 2020 conviction of Sherry Holt, 51, of Pittsburgh on a hindering apprehension charge was upheld in state Superior Court. She is the mother of Rahmael...
Rains cause minor flooding along Allegheny River; to continue into early Saturday
High water flowing down the Allegheny River had largely receded Friday evening in communities leading into Armstrong County, although areas closer to Pittsburgh could soon feel the impact. According to Rich Redmond, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Moon, flood warnings along the river at Parker, Rimer and...
Police: Tarentum officers responding to domestic call nab man who skipped 2020 drug charge hearing
An Arnold man who failed to show up for a hearing on felony drug charges in 2020 was arrested Tuesday after his girlfriend called police while they were arguing. Police said the suspect ran off when they showed up at the house but dropped a backpack with drugs inside as...
The Stroller, Feb. 18, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
The Stroller is compiling a list of fish fries taking place Ash Wednesday and/or Fridays during Lent. To your non-profit’s fish fry listed in the paper and online, send complete information in writing to Carol Pinto-Smith, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum, PA 15084 or email cpinto-smith@triblive.com. Goodwill offers...
State police accuse Ford City woman of stealing former neighbor’s car
State police accused a Ford City woman of stealing a former neighbor’s car when he went back to the neighborhood to pick up mail. Crissy Dawn Bowser, 42, of the 300 block of 3rd Avenue, was charged with felony counts of theft and receiving stolen property along with criminal mischief....
Health care leaders and Alzheimer’s Association officials celebrate passage of state lawVideo
A new state law promotes Alzheimer’s awareness and, its backers say, will help provide assistance to families impacted by it and other degenerative diseases. Local health care leaders and other officials gathered Thursday at Presbyterian SeniorCare Network’s facility in Oakmont to celebrate the Early Detection and Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or...
Leechburg students present projects on influential figures for Black History Month
To highlight the impact Black people have had in society, Leechburg High School students in Honors American History 2 gave Black History Month presentations Thursday morning. “We wanted to do something that was taught beyond the textbook to recognize individuals who have greatly shaped our history,” social studies teacher Scott...
Northbound Route 28 in Aspinwall to have single-lane restriction during the day starting Monday
Lane restrictions will start Monday on northbound Route 28 in Aspinwall, PennDOT announced. Single-lane and shoulder restrictions are planned between the on-ramp from the Highland Park Bridge to the Delafield Avenue exit starting Monday, weather permitting. Officials said they will continue as needed weekdays from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m....
Cocaine, fentanyl, guns, body armor found when cops raid New Kensington house; 2 people arrested
Investigators say crack cocaine, fentanyl, guns, body armor and other evidence of a drug-dealing operation were discovered Wednesday when they raided a home in New Kensington. Markus Jaquell Bryant, 28, and Khadijah Wright, 27, were taken into custody when officers from the Westmoreland County Drug Task Force and state narcotics...
After pandemic break, Burrell Bowl-a-thon returns this weekend to benefit education
After taking off two years during the pandemic, Burrell Bowl-a-Thon rolls again Sunday at Wildlife Lanes in Lower Burrell. The fundraising event is from 1 to 4 p.m. and is open to Burrell School District families and friends. Prizes and a 50-50 raffle will add to the festivities. Four-person teams...
Allegheny Township renames Community Hall after longtime political watchdog
It’s not often that political figures or municipal officials want to honor someone who kept them on their toes. But Allegheny Township supervisors this week voted 3-0 to rename the municipal building’s Community Hall to the Mable V. Mazza Community Hall in memory of the longtime community activist and historian....
Highlands superintendent makes staff health, wellness a priority
Highlands teachers will be pampered Friday with yoga sessions, gourmet coffee and some love from four-legged friends. A Health and Wellness program spearheaded by Superintendent Monique Mawhinney is meant to uplift spirits and refresh well-being. The program is built into a professional development day. There are no classes for students...
Kiski Area considers dropping quarantines, contact tracing
With coronavirus cases dropping dramatically since September, the Kiski Area School Board is anxious to move on from the two-year pandemic crisis. The school board scheduled a vote for Monday, Feb. 28, to consider ending contact tracing and quarantines. Mask-wearing on buses, however, might have to continue a little longer....
Lower Burrell drafts vacant building regulations — with fines to come
Fed up with unsightly vacant storefronts and other vacant properties, Lower Burrell Council has unanimously agreed to create a vacant property ordinance. Council is expected to approve the ordinance in the next month or so. The ordinance will require owners of vacant properties — residential, industrial and commercial — to...
Valley High School students learn to ski at Boyce Park ahead of Seven Springs trip
Feeling free is what Patty Mallough has found she enjoys most about skiing. “It’s like you have no problems,” said Mallough, 18, of Arnold. A senior at Valley High School in New Kensington, Mallough has been among 30 to 40 students from the New Kensington- Arnold school who have been learning...
Failing storm line near Highlands High School expected to be replaced
The Highlands School Board is expected to move forward with a project to replace a dilapidated stormwater line behind the high school. The board will vote to advertise for contract bids at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22 in the high school library. The meeting also is available on Zoom. Highlands...
