Valley News Dispatch category, Page 449

PennEnergy will be installing a well site in Buffalo Township after gaining approval from township officials. Construction at the site, located at 765 Ekastown Road, is slated to begin later this summer, said Amanda Peterson, a stakeholder relations manager with PennEnergy. Some township residents have voiced concerns on social media...

Jeff Barnes wants you to notice him. That’s why the Verona man who works in New Kensington dons a furry, green motorcycle helmet cover with a Muppet-like face when he rides around the Alle-Kiski Valley and beyond. Yes, he enjoys seeing people smile when they get a glimpse of his...

A Greensburg man will serve up to 23 months in jail for the sexual assault of a New Kensington teenager who gave birth to his child. Marcus Franklin Crawford, 25, formerly of Jeannette, pleaded guilty Friday to statutory sexual assault, corruption of a minor and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. Police...

Faced with a bare cupboard when it comes to police applicants, Leechburg Council is looking at boosting pay for officers. At Thursday’s council meeting, borough officials said the Civil Service Commission has received no applications for a full-time job on the borough’s police force despite openings being advertised. Council President...

Stars continue to align for a pilot astronomy program at the VA PHS Heinz campus in O’Hara. James Surman, a Plum resident and one of the founders of the Astronomy for Disabled Veterans project, said they recently acquired a 48-inch pier from High Point Scientific to be the base of...

Publicize your club meetings, community events 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. Annual Artfest slated Sunday in Vandergrift Vandergrift Artfest will be noon to 8 p.m. Sunday on Grant Avenue between Columbia and...

With uncommon grace and ease, a woman in a long, flowing, white satin gown made her way to a rock the size of a pickup truck in the middle of Roaring Run stream. Surrounded by rocks covered in moss, she lifted the hem of the gown to prevent it from...

Springdale Council President James Zurisko has resigned after serving on the council for 12 years. Council members said Zurisko told them he was stepping down because he is moving to Buffalo Township. Council voted Tuesday to accept the resignation. Zurisko did not respond to requests for comment. Council Vice President...

Lower Burrell’s Fire Company No. 3 will have its third food truck rally from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday. The events have turned into successful fundraisers that were much needed after the covid-19 pandemic shut down traditional events to draw the public and funds. Each of the previous rallies has...

The closure of Cheswick Generating Station — Allegheny County’s only coal-fired power plant — has been postponed until spring. Houston-based GenOn Holdings LLC, which owns the plant, said in June that the plant would be permanently retired by Sept. 15. The company last week moved the plant’s retirement date to...

A Harrison man previously accused of stealing two vehicles from two township businesses earlier this month now faces charges in connection with a burglary the same day at a third township business. Harrison police on Wednesday charged Mark A. Bauer, 60, with burglary, trespassing, receiving stolen property and mischief in...

About 11% of nearly $13 million in emergency rental and utility bill funds has been disbursed to Westmoreland County residents who experienced hardship because of the coronavirus pandemic. Dan Carney, executive director of Union Mission of Latrobe, said about $1.5 million was directed to 270 applicants over the past three...

“Americana” is more than a genre for the New Kensington Camera Club — it’s everyday life for area photographers. The works of 17 local photographers are showcased in the new exhibit, “Americana,” at the Pittsburgh Mills mall until Sept. 4. “We decided to do Americana history — rural, patriotic and...

In less than two years, Kody Churma went from a healthy young man to one who was unable to hold a fishing pole, and couldn’t draw because he wasn’t able to hold onto a pencil. Kody died from complications related to scleroderma, an autoimmune disease that attacks skin tissue and...

The Plum Democratic Committee has selected its new mayoral candidate. David Biondo, 38, was unanimously selected July 21 to be the late Shawn Marcelinno’s successor to challenge Republican incumbent Harry Schlegel in the November election. “I’m excited to carry on Shawn’s legacy, although I’m going to run my own campaign,”...

Publicize your club meetings, community events 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. Concordia to host 140th summer festival Sunday The 140th annual Concordia Lutheran Ministries Summer Festival will be from 12:30 to 5:30...

An anonymous donor has offered an undisclosed amount of scholarship funding for students at four Catholic schools in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, including Harrison’s St. Joseph High School. In addition to St. Joseph, the St. John Paul II STAR Student tuition assistance scholarships are available for students at Butler Catholic...

It’s a fundraiser with an emphasis on fun. The Arnold Volunteer Engine Company #2 is offering a party bus package fundraiser, featuring a 26-passenger party bus from Extreme Limousines in Lower Burrell. The unique fundraiser prize is in response to what company volunteer and secretary Chris O’Leath said is a...

Aspinwall Riverfront Park, the recreational gem off Freeport Road with a fishing dock, dog park and garden-lined trail, has expanded by six acres and has changed its name, officials announced. The site will be called Allegheny RiverTrail Park (ARP), largely because of its vital gateway service to the Three Rivers...

Danny Hilliard of Leechburg has loved fishing since he was old enough to clutch a rod. He recently created the Leechburg Angling Club, a new public Facebook group, with a goal of promoting angling on the Kiski River and its associated tributaries. “When I was a kid, the Kiski was...

Publicize your club meetings, community events 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. Used paperback books needed for troops, veterans The Last Word Book Store, Lower Burrell, and Central Presbyterian Church, Tarentum, will participate...

Aspinwall residents are encouraged to attend a public meeting Thursday to help steer the borough’s 10-year comprehensive plan, now in development. Consultants Pashek+MTR will provide information on emerging key issues and hope to hear feedback to help form future strategies. The open house is 6 to 9 p.m. at Aspinwall...