Valley News Dispatch category, Page 5
New Kensington couple homeless after house fire; crews fight flames in sub-zero temps
A New Kensington home is destroyed following a fire early Saturday morning. Crews were dispatched at 12:47 a.m. to the 500 block of Oates Boulevard, New Kensington Fire Chief Ed Saliba Jr. said. “In my lifetime — I’ve been on the books as a firefighter for 40 years — this...
Bocce builds bridges for people of all ages and abilities
Abigail Gerthoffer wasn’t sure what she was getting into when she joined Burrell High School’s unified bocce team during her sophomore year. She just knew the team aligned with her values and personal mission to have a positive effect in the world. With no prior experience playing bocce, Gerthoffer jumped...
Alle-Kiski Senior Citizen News: Jan. 31, 2026
Armstrong County Senior Centers Apollo Wednesday: noon, Site Council meeting. Wednesday and Thursday: 10 a.m., bingo. Hours: 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays. Details: Charlotte at 800-368-1066 or Amy at 724-478-1410. The center is at 707A N. Fifth St., Apollo. Freeport Tuesday: health program about COPD. The center is at...
The Stroller, Jan. 31, 2026: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Bowling fundraiser planned Feb....
Springdale’s agreement with ICE brings fear closer to home for some local immigrants
When Judah Marroquin learned police in Springdale Borough signed an agreement to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in November, she was sick to her stomach. “It’s finally at our doorsteps,” she thought. Born and raised in Shaler, she has lived in neighboring Springdale Township with her husband, Carlos,...
Ben Franklin-signed land grant in Upper Burrell ‘quite the conversation piece’
Alle-Kiski Valley historian Ray Rieser knew time was ticking. With Penn State New Kensington closing next spring, Rieser had something on his mind not too many others knew about — a 1787, Benjamin Franklin-signed land grant Rieser believed was being stored at the Upper Burrell campus. Over the years, Rieser...
ICE operation in Oakmont leads to local father’s arrestVideo
Hariett Flores thought Thursday was going to be like any other day. She and her husband, Jose, were getting ready for work as their 8-year-old daughter, Lily, prepared for school in their Oakmont home. Then, when Jose and Lily left the house on their way to Lily’s school, everything changed....
Faces of the Valley: PR director leaves Allegheny Valley School District after 3 decades
To Jan Zastawniak, it’s a great thing to be a Dynamo. The Springdale alumna and longtime borough resident retired in December from Allegheny Valley School District, where she worked as public relations director for more than 30 years. But Zastawniak was never lacking for other responsibilities at Allegheny Valley. She...
Retired Fox Chapel attorney ranks 3rd in nation for niche sport of stair climbing
Retired Fox Chapel attorney Harrison Lauer is at the top of his game — literally. A long-time runner, Lauer hung up his shoes after a knee injury in 2020 but decided it was a detour, not a full stop. The 68-year-old turned to stair climbing, or tower running, which while...
Brackenridge Salvation Army weekly free lunches to continue
Free hot meals will continue to be distributed at the Brackenridge Salvation Army this year. The site on Brackenridge Avenue hosts a community lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays, with baked fish, turkey breast and sloppy Joe’s on the homemade menu. Up to 100 people are served. Captain...
The Stroller, Jan. 30, 2026: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Alle Kiski Strong Chamber...
Scenes from the Valley: Images captured in the Alle-Kiski Valley from Jan. 22-29, 2026
Here is a weekly look at recent images captured throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley. From major news events to routine gatherings, TribLive’s “Scenes from the Valley” photo package brings to life activities and moments happening in your backyard. To have a photo considered as a “Scenes from the Valley” candidate, please...
Head-on crash in Fawn sends person to the hospital
One person was hospitalized after a crash Friday evening in Fawn. Allegheny County dispatch said officers responded to the 2600 block of Bull Creek Road shortly after 5:30 p.m. Police Chief Timothy Mayberry said the driver of a Nissan Frontier truck traveling toward Bon Way Auto Body failed to navigate...
Back to business: Local shops, restaurants come back to life after snowstorm
Small business owners say they’ve weathered a storm that left 10 or more inches of snow on downtown streets this week. It took a mix of snow shovel handiwork, municipal plow trucks and private contractors with backhoes and tri-axle dump trucks to bring business districts back to life. “This storm...
Funeral fund established for 3-year-old girl who died in Natrona
The extended family of 3-year-old Karma Murray-Sinicki, who died Wednesday in Harrison’s Natrona neighborhood, has established a GoFundMe to assist with the cost of funeral services. “Sweet little Karma passed away unexpectedly at 3 years old,” read the fund created by the child’s aunt, Rachel Kish, of Greensburg. “Mom &...
West Deer house fire kills homeowner and dog as exploding ammunition hampers firefighters
Fire crews attempting to knock down a West Deer blaze Wednesday were hampered by heavy rounds of ammunition exploding in the back of the home, authorities said. “When we got on scene, there was heavy fire — about 60% involved — and a solid half-hour of ammunition going off,” said...
Arnold teen comes into own with starting, leading Valley pep band
The idea to start a pep band at Valley Jr.-Sr. High School had been on Samantha Potts’ mind for years. “I hated that once football season is over, I don’t get to do marching band,” said Potts, a junior at Valley. “I wanted to do more outside of school hours....
Man who led police on hours-long chase up frozen Allegheny River remains jailed
Police say a Pittsburgh man who shouted to them that he wasn’t “going back to jail” as he led officers on a slow, 5-mile foot pursuit on the frozen Allegheny River on Wednesday is, in fact, back in jail. Gary Cawley, 47, is facing felony charges of burglary and criminal...
Public input sought for Parks Township dump cleanup plans
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is conducting a five-year review of the project to clean up the former NUMEC nuclear waste dump off Route 66 and Kiskimere Road, formally known as the Shallow Land Disposal Area. It’s the second such review, designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the cleanup...
The Stroller, Jan. 29, 2026: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Benefit concert to aid...
Communities call in the heavy machinery for snow removalVideo
Some towns are trading in their snowplows for front loaders and dump trucks to deal with the remnants of Sunday’s snowstorm. With bitter cold expected to keep the snow piles around for at least a week, communities have nowhere to push the snow, so they plan to pick it up...
O’Hara resident at the helm of 2 marinas in Allegheny County
Jim Scott of O’Hara doesn’t have a boat. Yet. But as the new owner of two established Allegheny County marinas — Fox Chapel Yacht Club and South Side Marina—Scott’s interest in a boat is ramping up. “I feel like you can’t own a marina without a boat,” said Scott during...
Volunteers face cold, snow to help local food banks
Cory Nulph and Jacob Ritchie didn’t hesitate when they were asked to clear snow from Leechburg’s First Methodist Church parking lot Monday evening. The men had spent most of the day plowing and shoveling their own driveways in Gilpin and those of their neighbors. Monday evening, when borough Mayor Doreen...
Westmoreland County, Allegheny Township sued over 2024 fatal motorcycle crash
The family of a Butler County man killed in a 2024 motorcycle crash filed a lawsuit Wednesday, alleging that poorly marked curves and a history of “roadway departures” at a local intersection led to his death. Roger Davis Jr., 25, died from injuries suffered in a Sept. 15, 2024, crash...
Man trying to flee police walks several miles up the frozen Allegheny River, authorities say
A man is in stable condition and facing criminal charges after a three-hour police chase Wednesday over a frozen Allegheny River — from Highland Park to Harmar. Pittsburgh police say they were dispatched at 1 p.m. to the 7100 block of Highland Drive for a report of a person trespassing...
