Valley News Dispatch category, Page 422
New Kensington photographer featured in ‘Pittsburgh Off the Wall’ photo exhibit
When Don Henderson of New Kensington has a lunch break from his job as a graphic artist or time to kill, he reaches for one of his 400 cameras and takes to the streets. Henderson is one of six area photographers featured in “Pittsburgh Off the Wall,” an exhibition running...
Arnold Council reorganizes, continues with interim solicitor in place
Arnold will keep its interim solicitor through 2022, and two council members have swapped committee assignments. City council reorganized Tuesday following November’s municipal election. Two members — Democrat Deborah Vernon and Republican Adam Zweig — ran unopposed for reelection. Mayor Joe Bia swore them back into office. Vernon, who previously...
Harmar candy store gets innovative while figuring out how to stay afloat
A year ago, Oh How Sweet It Is owner Robert Wyant was unsure of his candy store’s future in Harmar. Wyant had to close the store for two months in March 2020 during the beginning of the pandemic. While the store was closed, Wyant missed out on his busiest holidays,...
The Stroller, Jan. 6, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Start the new year off right! Publicize your 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. Spaghetti dinner to benefit New Ken fireman A spaghetti dinner to benefit lung cancer patient Chris...
Kiski Area bus driver shortage could force district into remote learning
A shortage of school bus drivers continues to wreak havoc on transportation routes in the Kiski Area School District. In a post Wednesday to the district’s Facebook page, officials described the problem as “extreme.” The driver deficit has resulted in frequent morning and afternoon bus route pickup cancellations and delays....
Employee airlifted from ATI Vandergrift after suffering burns
An ATI employee was flown by medical helicopter from the company’s Vandergrift facility Wednesday after suffering burns, officials confirmed. According to spokeswoman Natalie Gillespie, the employee was performing operational maintenance when the person was burned. “Out of an abundance of caution, the employee was ‘life-flighted’ for treatment, receiving the care...
Kiski Township supervisors fire treasurer who became newest supervisor
The Kiski Township supervisors fired township Treasurer Sherry Tamski during their reorganization meeting this week. Like other municipalities across the Alle-Kiski Valley, Kiski Township held its reorganization meeting Monday night to swear in newly elected officials and appoint township professionals such as the solicitor, treasurer, township manager and others. Tamski,...
Corey Pistininzi takes seat as New Kensington Council reorganizes
New Kensington Council welcomed a new member as it reorganized Monday following last November’s municipal election. Corey Pistininzi took the seat previously held by Doug Aftanas. Both Democrats, Aftanas did not seek reelection in 2021. A resident of New Kensington for eight years, Pistininzi owns Modfinish in downtown New Kensington,...
New Kensington Council gives final approval for new Popeyes restaurant
A new Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is expected to be up and running in New Kensington by the end of this year. City council has unanimously approved a conditional use for the development in front of Giant Eagle on Tarentum Bridge Road. That approval was needed because of the project’s expected...
Butler County man arrested after Buffalo Township woman tells clinic staff he beat, strangled her
A Butler County man was charged with multiple felonies after a Buffalo Township woman went to a clinic for face and head injuries and told medical staff that he punched and strangled her. Bradley Borg, 32, of Bessemer Avenue in Butler Township was charged with two felony counts of strangulation...
Freeport post office to be renamed for longtime employee
Freeport council hopes to make a final move to have the Freeport post office renamed after longtime resident and employee Joseph Rodney Chapman. Chapman, nearing age 100, was a World War II prisoner of war who worked 35 years at the post office. Mayor James Swartz Jr. said he was...
The Stroller, Jan. 5, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Start the new year off right! Publicize your 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. Volunteers needed at Highlands Meals on Wheels Highlands Meals On Wheels is seeking volunteers to deliver...
Burrell grad helps develop game at Duquesne University teaching about vaccines
Brinley Kantorski remembers playing “The Oregon Trail” educational video game when she was a student in the Burrell School District. While many of the game’s players will remember the line, “You have died of dysentery,” Kantorski said her games always ended in drowning as she tried to get her wagon...
Deer Lakes alum heads Pittsburgh chapter of national Women Interactive Network group
Dawn Pomaybo blazed a trail for herself using her expertise and skills in networking to help women reach their highest potential. The Deer Lakes School Distinct alum, who resides in East Deer, runs her own business and is executive director of the Pittsburgh chapter of the national organization Women Interactive...
Meals on wheels: Yak Diner makes journey to new North Apollo home as Dolly’s DinerVideo
Local history was made in only 10 minutes Tuesday morning when a semitractor-trailer picked up the former Yak Diner in North Apollo and plunked it down one-third of a mile along River Road. The classic 1955 stainless steel dining car will begin a new life, after some renovation, as Dolly’s...
Freeport council names leaders while seeking new members before next meeting
With four vacant seats and one member out sick, the Freeport Borough Council meeting Monday was about as long as a commercial break in Monday night’s Steelers game. With the lack of a quorum preventing an official meeting to be held, the only business conducted was appointing a president and...
Police say 15-year-old charged with felony for Snapchat threat that locked down Leechburg Area schools
Police charged a 15-year-old boy in connection with a threat made on social media Monday that resulted in all Leechburg Area School District buildings being placed on lockdown for a portion of the day. Parents were notified about the lockdown by an automated voicemail message sent out by Superintendent Tiffany...
Lernerville Speedway’s 2022 schedule announced
It looks to be another busy season ahead on the dirt track at Lernerville Speedway. The 2022 schedule will include more Fab4 Revved Up and Marburger Farm Dairy events in addition to national and regional sanctioned events — the 16th annual Big River Steel Firecracker 100, the Don Martin Memorial...
Kiski Township woman accused of shooting man she thought stole pistol from her SUV
Kiski Township police accused a woman of kicking a man out of her vehicle and shooting him because she thought he stole one of her handguns. Patricia Marie Kettering-Pierce, 55, of Clarks Hollow Road, Kiski Township was charged with two counts of felony aggravated assault, which includes a count of...
GoFundMe set up for Tarentum hit-and-run victims
A Tarentum woman is fighting for her life after being left in critical condition from a Dec. 30 hit-and-run crash, according to her family. Lyric Manley Jackson and her 9-year-old daughter Symia Jackson were struck by a vehicle while walking along East Seventh Avenue, near the Tarentum Bridge. The driver...
The Stroller, Jan. 4, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Start the new year off right! Publicize your 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 blood drive planned in Gilpin A Red Cross community blood drive will be from noon...
District Association’s Follies raises money for projects from Harmar to Aspinwall and beyond
Fresh off the success of the Follies fundraiser, filled with jokes and jabs, the District Association of the Fox Chapel Area is eyeing ways it can use proceeds from the event to enhance life across the Lower Valley. The Follies, a light-hearted, self-deprecating musical, raised more than $85,000. “For a...
New Kensington man to serve 5-10 year prison term for meth lab in parents’ basement
A New Kensington man will serve up to 10 years in prison in connection with a methamphetamine laboratory found in his parents’ basement. Sean Christopher Smith, 36, was convicted in October by a Westmoreland County jury of multiple charges of possession of drugs used to make methamphetamines and two additional...
Leechburg schools placed on lockdown after threat made on social media
All Leechburg Area School District buildings were placed on lockdown for a portion of the day Monday after school officials learned about a threat that was made on social media, according to the superintendent. Superintendent Tiffany Nix notified parents about the lockdown in a voicemail. “We are in a lockdown...
Fox Chapel Area schools break fundraising record for charity
The Fox Chapel Area School District has set an all-time annual fundraising record for a local charity. Students helped raise more than $107,000 during a monthlong districtwide campaign that culminated in a livestreamed telethon Dec. 23. Over the past 32 years, the district has raised more than $1 million for...
