Valley News Dispatch category, Page 453
New Kensington police issue warning about leaving cars running after rash of thefts
New Kensington police are warning people not to leave their vehicles running while unoccupied after a number of thefts were reported. City police posted the notice on social media Wednesday morning noting that a specific area of concern is the Sheetz in the 300 block of Freeport Street, where several...
Woman accused of dealing drugs after cop finds half-ounce of suspected meth during traffic stop
Washington Township police accused a woman of selling drugs after finding more than half an ounce of suspected methamphetamine when she was pulled over for speeding. Deborah Jane Babyak, 60, of Carnahan Road in Bell Township was charged with a felony count of manufacture, delivery or possession with the intent...
Freeport couple creates Christmas display with a Halloween twist
A Freeport couple wants to wish everyone a happy haunted Christmas via a new holiday display. James Libengood said this is the first December he and his wife, Melissa, decided to decorate their front yard and home for the holidays. However, it does not feature the traditional reindeer and snowmen....
Freeport’s Small Town Christmas parade draws a crowdVideo
Sleigh bells rang throughout Freeport as hundreds of people packed the main street sidewalks for a chance to see Santa and other groups marching in the Small Town Christmas parade. At least 20 groups marched in the celebration Saturday including various Freeport Area High School athletic teams, the marching band,...
Crossing-guard shortage in Vandergrift forces police officers into duty
A shortage of school crossing guards in Vandergrift has forced more borough police officers to step off their beats to cover the shifts. The schedule became tighter last month with the resignation of full-time crossing guard JoAnn Hazlett. The borough now has four full-time and one part-time crossing guards. Previously,...
Damage in St. Vladimir fire valued at $4 million, police say cause undetermined
A devastating fire at an Arnold church over the weekend caused $4 million in damage, according to a state police fire marshal. Trooper Keith Sobecki said the cause of the blaze at St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church is undetermined, pending further investigation. The fire at the 74-year-old Kenneth Avenue church,...
Kindermusik to offer classes at Starlight Dance Academy in Emmerling Plaza in JanuaryVideo
Kindermusik educator and program owner Christa Beck will be starting the new year with an additional location — her fourth — of the children’s music program. Opening Jan. 4, the new spot in Indiana Township will be inside Starlight Dance Academy in Emmerling Plaza on Route 910. “I am so...
The Stroller, Dec. 8, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
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. Stuff A Trailer event to benefit Allegheny Family Network Protectors of the Phoenix will host a Stuff A Trailer event from...
Arnold resident turns hobby into passion project, donates proceeds to local animal rescues
After spending much of her time working at an animal rescue, an Arnold woman found a way to turn her longtime hobby into a gratifying venture. Stacy Berkoben’s love for sewing proved handy as she began crafting handmade pet toys and beds, accessories, purses, handbags and more. Her inventory of...
Burrell loosens covid-19 quarantine requirements for asymptomatic students
Students and staff members who have been exposed to covid-19 but don’t have symptoms won’t need to quarantine under a revised health and safety plan Burrell School Board approved Tuesday. Effective Wednesday, any students who were exposed to covid-19 but have no symptoms can return to school immediately. Parents will...
Freeport Councilwoman Mary Bowlin resigns, citing clashes with mayor
Freeport Councilwoman Mary Bowlin has resigned. Her former colleagues were expected to accept her resignation at Monday night’s council meeting but the meeting was canceled due to a lack of a quorum. One council member was in quarantine because of covid. One was on vacation, and another was working. The...
2 men accused of breaking into Digital Foundry construction site in New Kensington to steal tools
New Kensington police have accused two men of breaking into the construction site of Penn State’s new innovation and manufacturing lab along Fifth Avenue to steal tools. Randy Dean McGuire Jr., 31, of Pipers Road in West Leechburg, and Kevin Paul Pierce, 32, of First Avenue in Hyde Park were...
Highlands votes to keep mask policy in place
Highlands students will continue to wear masks through at least mid-January, regardless of an impending state Supreme Court ruling that could scrap the state mandate by Gov. Tom Wolf. The school board on Monday voted to keep masking policies in place for students, teachers and visitors on all district campuses...
Highlands to offer covid-19 vaccine clinic; reviewing survey results on mask policy
Highlands School District will host a covid-19 vaccine clinic Dec. 14. The event is a partnership with UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. All three vaccines — Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson — will be offered. “We are providing increased access to the vaccines that will enable our students to...
New Kensington-Arnold seats new school board members, fills vacant seat
The New Kensington-Arnold School Board seated four new members Monday night. Nicholas DiCarolis, Jane Graham and Sarah Yurga, all elected in November, were sworn into office by Westmoreland County Judge Anthony Marsili as part of the school board’s reorganization meeting. A former board member also was sworn in to fill...
Vandergrift Council appoints new member to fill vacancy
Vandergrift Council on Monday appointed Daisha Clayton to the seat left vacant by the resignation of Karen McClarnon last month. Clayton said she wanted to join council because she has a vested interest in the borough. “I reside here. I work here. My children go to school here. I love...
The Stroller, Dec. 7, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
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. Christmas concert fundraiser planned in Freeport A Christmas concert to benefit Fostering Music will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at...
Building the Valley: Bargain-priced clothes, housewares help people at Agape Thrift Store in Harrison
Since at least the mid-1980s, the Agape Thrift Store in Harrison has been helping people boost their wardrobes and their self-esteem. The secondhand store nestled in the basement of the Grace United Methodist Church, at 1333 Freeport Road, opens its doors from 1 to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays. In just three...
Women’s Board of Pittsburgh benefits children across Alle-Kiski Valley with annual fundraiser
What began 30 years ago with a few friends hoping to improve the lives of local children has blossomed into an annual fundraiser that pulls in sometimes more than $100,000 to make tangible change. The Women’s Board of Pittsburgh now comprises 70 members who work year-round to help children from...
Tarentum saves $30,000 by rebuilding street light fixtures
A project to replace Tarentum’s street lights will save taxpayers more than $30,000, officials said. The savings won’t come through lower energy consumption, Manager Michael Nestico said, rather the lower cost of the light mechanism. “The street lights were already LED,” Nestico said. Borough leaders chose to rebuild the fittings...
Monday night’s Freeport council meeting canceled due to lack of quorum
A Freeport council meeting scheduled for Monday night was canceled due to lack of a quorum, with at least one member on vacation, another at work, another in quarantine due to covid and a recently elected member resigning. The meeting was scheduled for 7 p.m. Items on the agenda included...
East Deer man admits to killing father in Harmar, gets 10 to 20 years in prison
An East Deer man will serve at least 10 years in state prison after pleading guilty Monday to killing his father last year. Shane Howard, 25, pleaded guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter in the Feb. 26, 2020, shooting of David Howard, 47, of Harmar. A criminal complaint filed...
No injuries in Fox Chapel fire
There were no injuries when fire tore through a Fox Chapel home Monday afternoon. Fox Chapel police Chief Michael Stevens confirmed everyone escaped the home safely. Fire crews from several surrounding communities responded to the fire shortly after 1 p.m. along Hunt Road, with more than a dozen emergency vehicles...
Allegheny Health Network opens new outpatient center in New Kensington
Residents in New Kensington and surrounding communities will once again be able to get laboratory, X-ray and cardiology services without having to travel to a hospital. Allegheny Health Network officials on Monday cut the ribbon on a new outpatient center located at 1B Kensington Square on Eighth Street, across from...
Vandergrift Council passes 2022 budget with no property tax increase
Vandergrift residents will not see a property tax increase next year. Council passed a final $2.4 million budget Monday. The real estate tax rate will remain at 28 mills. The borough’s budget projects revenue of about $2.2 million and expenses totaling $2.4 million. The difference will be made up from...
