Valley News Dispatch category, Page 411

Publicize your holiday events, club meetings and fundraisers for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Free Christmas Day dinner planned in Tarentum Abundant Joy Fellowship, Tarentum, will host a free dinner from 1 to 3 p.m....

Where are the fresh-cut Christmas trees? That’s what some Alle-­Kiski Valley businesses are asking as fresh-cut trees are in short supply — or completely sold out. A large vacant lot has been empty for weeks at Kiski Garden Center in Allegheny Township. In previous years, it still would be offering...

Westmoreland County prosecutors on Friday dismissed murder charges against two women implicated in the 2019 robbery and killing of a man in Arnold. Instead, Santyna M. Bennett, 28, of New Kensington and Bailey Ann Hines, 27, of Butler pleaded guilty to lesser charges in return for their cooperation with police...

Kristina Arndt thought somebody suffered a medical emergency when she arrived at her apartment building on Fifth Avenue in Tarentum late Thursday night and saw police cars and ambulances lining the block. It wasn’t long before she learned they were there because her neighbor and friend had been shot to...

Kiski Township police say they found and arrested a convicted rapist Friday who broke parole and was hiding in the bathroom of a township home. Township police and authorities with the Armstrong County parole and probation department arrested Frank Shaner without incident at a home along Isabella Avenue and took...

A Pennsylvania Lottery Cash 5 with Quick Cash ticket that won a $1.65 million jackpot was sold at a Kiski Township gas station. The ticket matched all five balls drawn Thursday — 8, 12, 18, 31 and 35 — to win the prize, less withholding, the Pennsylvania Lottery announced Friday....

Seven-year-old Marco Mangieri of West Deer was treated like a star during a red carpet reveal of his photo included in a 2022 calendar by local nonprofit Superheroes Believe in Miracles. Dressed as Spiderman, Marco is one of 12 children featured in the group’s calendar. The youngster was diagnosed as...

A former police officer who worked for three Alle-Kiski Valley police departments has pleaded guilty to charges filed in connection with his arrest for using police-tracking software to monitor a woman who ended a relationship with him. Michael McSherry, 29, of Harrison pleaded guilty Wednesday, Dec. 15 to two counts,...

A portion of the Pittsburgh Mills mall parking lot in Frazer received a holiday makeover with the newest Christmas drive-thru attraction, Dasher’s Lightshow. The show made its debut Nov. 5 following its announcement in August. Dasher’s Lightshow co-owner Clyde Lindsey, a Leechburg resident, said he wanted to bring another light...

Publicize your holiday events, club meetings and fundraisers for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Live Nativity planned Sunday in Tarentum Abundant Joy Fellowship, 101 Allegheny St., Tarentum, will present an outdoor live Nativity from 6...

Several school districts in the Alle-Kiski Valley increased security Friday in response to a “troubling post” circulating on social media. Kiski Area, Fox Chapel Area, Leechburg Area and New Kensington-Arnold school districts were among those where extra security was placed in school buildings after the post on TikTok referenced a...

Homicide detectives are seeking tips from the public about a fatal shooting in Tarentum late Thursday night. The shooting was reported at about 11:08 p.m. in the 300 block of Main Street. Neighbors reported hearing between five and seven shots fired in rapid succession. The location is near the intersection...

A celebration of light in Fox Chapel will have to wait. Heavy rain predicted for Saturday has postponed the park conservancy’s Winter Solstice Lantern Walk until Saturday, Jan. 8. “For the safety of our guests, we have to push it back,” said Mandy Steele, councilwoman and conservancy co-founder. The lantern...

A social media warning of potential violence at schools across the United States on Friday — largely deemed to be not credible — still had police and districts across Western Pennsylvania on alert. “Greensburg Salem had all of our school police officers on duty, and our local police department was...

A Lower Burrell man was charged with carrying a gun without a license after police say he got drunk and shot himself in the foot while showing off the weapon to a friend. Logan Robert Farr, 19, of Violet Drive was charged by Lower Burrell police with a felony count...

A Harrison man was charged with felony criminal mischief and a dozen other counts accusing him of shooting up a house after getting into an argument with people there watching a Steelers game. In addition to the felony count, Zeya Dixon, 24, of Park Avenue, Sheldon Park, was charged with...

Supervisors approved a location for a second Dollar General store in West Deer but tabled a request for a planned 247-unit residential development at a former golf course. Supervisors felt that with at least two new members coming onto the board in January, the decision would be best left to...

Highlands School District officials say rumors of a threat against the high school that circulated on social media Thursday morning are not credible. In an email message sent to parents, high school co-principal Laura Burns said school police worked with members of the administration to conduct “a thorough investigation of...

Homeowners in Buffalo Township will be paying 9% more in property taxes next year. Township supervisors recently approved the tax hike as part of the township’s $2.8 million budget for 2022. The millage will increase from 5.5 to 6 mills. Township real estate taxes for an average home, assessed at...

Allegheny Township police say they were able to identify a suspect who gave them a fake name when they found a satchel of drugs on him with his Social Security card inside the bag. Antwuan Duane Berry, 25, of Broadway Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Banksville neighborhood was charged with felony flight...

At 94, Tom Phillips’ hands have served him well. The Leechburg native and Allegheny Township resident wakes up early each day and gets to work making custom leather chaps. He’s been at it for 60 years. “It’s my hobby,” he said. “I start at 6 o’clock in the morning and...

Publicize your holiday events, club meetings and fundraisers for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Community invited to Springdale Christmas carol social A community Christmas carol social will be at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Springdale Open...

The New Kensington-Arnold School District and an attorney who says she is representing the victim’s family gave differing reports about the condition of a repairman who fell through Valley High School’s auditorium ceiling Tuesday morning. New Kensington-Arnold Superintendent Chris Sefcheck said he was told Wednesday evening the man was being...

Gilpin officials have begun discussions on how to spend about $250,000 in covid relief funds. Township supervisor chairman Charles Stull said Monday that Gilpin received $125,000 so far with the second disbursement expected in either June or July. Possible uses include $10,000 for bathrooms at the public works garage, money...

Allegheny Township’s real estate tax rate will remain the same for 2022. The township supervisors on Monday night gave final approval to a $5.03 million budget that keeps property taxes at 16.50 mills. The tax rate for the general fund will be 13.35 mills, the fire services tax will be...