Valley News Dispatch category, Page 469
Masking plans draw ire at Fox Chapel Area School Board meeting
Fox Chapel Area students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade could be required to wear masks when they return to school Aug. 24. The school board Monday night was bombarded with pleas from parents who alternately demanded mask-wearing for students and those seeking mask choice. Superintendent Mary Catherine Reljac said, under...
Harrison parent, injured W.Va. player describe harrowing escape from Lancaster sports facility
A 16-year-old boy from West Virginia required several stitches in his arm after getting hurt during the chaos of a frantic crowd fleeing a Lancaster County youth basketball tournament over the weekend. Rafael Barcinas of Morgantown — whose team included a dozen high-schoolers from the Alle-Kiski Valley, Penn Hills and...
Police accuse Arnold man of choking woman, burning officer, hurting child
An Arnold woman told police she thought a man was going to kill her when he grabbed her by the throat Friday night, according to a criminal complaint. Arnold police said Troyan Joseph Wilkins, 28, also burned an officer’s hand with a cigarette when the officer allowed him to have...
The Stroller, Aug. 2, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
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. National Night Out planned in Northmoreland Park A National Night Out celebration will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at...
Emergency crews rescue kayaker stuck in Kiski River in Bell Township
Emergency crews rescued a kayaker who got stuck on rocks in the Kiski River Sunday evening. Emergency units were helping the kayaker, who got stuck in Bell Township, around 6:30 p.m. Sunday, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher. The kayaker was injured. “They located her and they’re helping her...
Vandergrift library to offer self-guided StoryWalk
Walking is about to get more interesting with a new self-guided family program offered by the Vandergrift Public Library. StoryWalk is a self-guided initiative encouraging the public to visit local parks, learn something new and spend time together. The StoryWalk Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vt., and...
Missing Vandergrift ArtFest painting returned to artist
A painting that was feared stolen from Vandergrift’s ArtFest last weekend has been found. ArtFest chairperson Lisa Dormire posted the update to social media Sunday morning. An ocean-themed 16x20 oil painting by Alle-Kiski Valley artist JoAnn Wesolosky disappeared from a pop-up gallery last Sunday and organizers took to social media...
Kittanning man arrested after police say he set fire to home in domestic dispute
State police arrested a Kittanning man Sunday morning for allegedly setting fire to a Buffalo Township home during a domestic dispute. Joseph A. Hawk, 20, was wanted for the incident, which Trooper Timothy Reilly said happened at 12:55 p.m. Saturday in the 700 block of Bunker Hill Road in the...
Longtime assistant to Apollo-Ridge superintendent retires, but work with education foundation continues
Whether it was increasing donations for the Apollo-Ridge Education Foundation to $250,000 or hooking up the school’s jazz-rock club with the top Led Zeppelin cover band, Cris Kostiuk was there. After 20 years with the Apollo-Ridge School District, Kostiuk, 62, of Kiski Township retired this week as the administrative assistant...
The Stroller, Aug. 1, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
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. West Leechburg to host National Night Out event West Leechburg Crime Watch Committee will hold a National Night Out celebration from...
To mask or not: School districts debate health, safety plans for year ahead
A split is forming among local school districts — those requiring masks for students in the coming academic year and those that leave the decision to personal choice — largely because of a lack of mandates from state or national health advisers. The Pennsylvania departments of health and education are...
Benefits of Pittsburgh Blues and Roots Festival goes beyond the musicVideo
The Pittsburgh Roots and Blues Festival is about more than good music — it’s also about supporting those on the autism spectrum. The event, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at the Pittsburgh Shrine Center in Harmar, serves as a fundraiser. The groups benefiting are the Autism Society of Pittsburgh and...
Remote work is here to stay for some Pittsburgh-area companies
Tim Koziarski settled into his Upper Burrell home office a lot more since working partially remote during the pandemic. He had an advantage. Koziarski, 58, is co-owner of Kozi Media Design, a Pittsburgh-based company specializing in smart technologies for the home and office. Business has been brisk installing technology for...
West Deer police Sgt. William Bailey retires after 30 years with department
West Deer Supervisors this month accepted the retirement of police Sgt. William Bailey, effective Friday. Bailey served West Deer for 30 years, including 28 as a full-time officer. “We have great people and a great community,” BaiIey said. “I appreciate the department and the board of supervisors for their support.”...
Old Timers Game continues to be special tradition at Freeport International Baseball Invitational
Nate Good has come full circle with the Freeport International Baseball Invitational. He started out as a player in the event; now he’s playing in the Sonny Westerman Old Timers Game. Good was the winning pitcher and drove in a key run in the second inning Thursday night as Old...
Painting reported missing by organizers of Vandergrift ArtFest, feared stolen
Organizers of Vandergrift ArtFest are seeking help from the public to locate a missing painting they fear was stolen. ArtFest chairperson Lisa Dormire said the ocean landscape painting by Alle-Kiski Valley artist JoAnn Wesolosky was last seen Saturday night in the Decorator’s Workshop, a pop-up gallery and acoustic lounge on...
Pittsburgh Gaelic Athletic Association hosts hurling; Gaelic football Midwest finals this week in Indiana Township
In Gaelic, the motto on the crest of the Pittsburgh Hurling Club reads “Neart agus Misneach.” Or, in English, “Strength and Courage.” If you’ve seen what the sport of hurling looks like at full speed, you understand why that fits. If you haven’t, you can see it on a championship...
Titles on the line as pro wrestling returns to Verona for Battle in the Borough III
Sounds of song and slams are slated to once again echo throughout Verona as a local pro wrestling promotion plans its pending post-pandemic performance. All championship titles in the Lawrenceville-based Keystone State Wrestling Alliance will be up for grabs in Battle in the Borough III. Bell time is 6 p.m....
The Stroller, July 31, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
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. Leechburg VFD carnival to begin Monday Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company will host its annual carnival at 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday...
The Stroller, July 30, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
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. Help available for those grieving loss of their spouse Christ Our Hope Anglican Church will offer a seminar, “Loss of a...
Titles on the line as pro wrestling returns to Verona for Battle in the Borough III
Sounds of song and slams are slated to once again echo throughout Verona as a local pro wrestling promotion plans its pending post-pandemic performance. All championship titles in the Lawrenceville-based Keystone State Wrestling Alliance (KSWA) will be up for grabs in Battle in the Borough III. Bell time is 6...
Market Street Pizza, born out of the pandemic in Leechburg, closes its doors
Downtown Leechburg is losing another restaurant. Market Street Pizza, at 132 Market St., is scheduled to close July 30. Thistle Events president Joe Hesketh announced the news on social media Wednesday, posting the decision to close was decided with “conflicting emotions.” Market Street Pizza is part of a restaurant portfolio...
Leechburg Area makes masks optional for students, staff
Leechburg Area School Board voted to make it optional for students and staff to wear masks or face coverings when classes resume Aug. 25. Superintendent Tiffany Nix presented the proposed change to the district’s health and safety plan to board members on Wednesday. Under it, masks and face coverings also...
Brackenridge man accused of threatening hospital staff, punching officer in throat
A Brackenridge man is accused of punching a police officer in the throat after threatening staff at Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison earlier in July. Deston Tyrone Tanner, 44, was ordered Wednesday by District Judge Carolyn S. Bengel to stand trial on a felony count of aggravated assault and misdemeanor...
Fox Chapel Area parents divided on district’s proposed mask-wearing policy
Fox Chapel Area School District parents have started opposing online petitions regarding the district’s proposed voluntary mask-wearing policy for students and staff. A petition drive on ipetitions .com, started Tuesday by Sarah Stanger, asks the district to require mask-wearing on campus and had gathered more than 375 signatures as of...
