Valley News Dispatch category, Page 516
Gilpin seeks donations for care of township’s police dog
Gilpin’s police dog now has a fund designated for his expenses. Township supervisors Monday approved a Gilpin Township K-9 Fund, an account specifically for donations that go toward the dog’s needs. Rudy is a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois certified police dog that specializes in detecting drugs such as heroin, cocaine, marijuana...
The Stroller, Feb. 13, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s meetings, fundraisers and community events in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Annual Shamrock Shuffle event planned in West Leechburg The 2021 St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock Shuffle 5K and one-mile Family Fun Walk will begin...
2 Leechburg sisters spread kindness, love to strangers for Valentine’s DayVideo
Two Leechburg sisters are making Cupid proud. Sisters Madison and Olivia Chiusano, aka The Kindness Girls, delivered Valentine’s Day-themed treats to the public Friday. Madison is 5, and Olivia is 3. Dressed in coordinated red outfits and bouncing up and down — a lot — the duo doled out what...
Indoor training facility for baseball, softball opens in New Kensington’s Pittsburgh Ice Arena
Don’t worry about the snow and frigid temperatures — conditions for baseball and softball are perfect at a new indoor training facility in New Kensington’s Pittsburgh Ice Arena. BB Sports Baseball & Softball opened Monday with several 50-minute training sessions for groups of local players. An open house at the...
West Leechburg mourns the loss of longtime borough Secretary Pat Grantz
The community of West Leechburg is mourning the loss of a longtime, steadfast borough employee. Patricia Ann Grantz of West Leechburg died Feb. 7. She was 82. Grantz served as borough secretary and treasurer for 43 years. “She was the rock that kept everything together,” West Leechburg Mayor Jim Gallucci...
Plans for Route 228 project in Buffalo, Clinton townships to be made available online
People will be able to go online starting Tuesday to review PennDOT’s plans for an $8.3 million project along Route 228 in Buffalo and Clinton townships. The project on Route 228, also known as Ekastown Road, includes improvements such as resurfacing and widening the road from a roundabout at Saxonburg...
Grove City College receives largest unrestricted gift in its 145-year history
From his birth in a Brackenridge garage, to growing up in Harrison, to becoming a business owner in Southern California, Richard Staley says the success he’s found in life has been part luck, part hard work. “At so many points along the way, things could have turned ugly very quickly,”...
Freeport Area approves remote learning program to possibly nix snow days
Snow days may be a thing of the past for Freeport Area School District students. The district was approved by the state for the Flexible Instructional Day Program, which allows schools to engage in remote learning rather than canceling and rescheduling school days because of factors like hazardous weather, damage...
Route 356 reopens after crash took out pole, closed road
A stretch of Route 356 between Route 56 and Freeport has reopened after a crash that brought down a pole and wires Friday morning, a Westmoreland County emergency dispatcher said. The one-vehicle crash happened shortly after 5:30 a.m. when the driver of a pickup was pulling into his own driveway,...
Fish fries during Lent in the Alle-Kiski Valley
To have your non-profit organization’s Fish Fry added to this list send information to The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084 or email vndnews@triblive.com. Fish fries are scheduled Fridays during Lent throughout the Valley, including: Allegheny Township Markle and Vandergrift No. 1 volunteer fire departments, 470...
The Stroller, Feb. 12, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
The Stroller is compiling a list of fish fries taking place Ash Wednesday and/or Fridays during Lent. To your non-profit’s fish fry listed in the paper and online, send complete information in writing to Carol Pinto-Smith, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum, PA 15084 or email cpinto-smith@triblive.com. Grants available...
Lower Burrell passes hazard plan to receive money for federal disasters
Lower Burrell Council recently agreed to participate in the Westmoreland County Hazard Mitigation Plan, which helps the city prepare for disasters. It also sets up Lower Burrell to respond and receive money to pay for expenses for disasters like floods and hurricanes. Since 1955, Presidential Disaster and Emergency Declarations have...
Bishop Larry Kulick ordained to lead Diocese of Greensburg
The Diocese of Greensburg welcomed its new bishop Thursday with worship, prayer and pageantry — but without the crowds of parishioners usually present to celebrate such an event. “Like so many things we have done differently during the pandemic, this liturgy is no exception,” said Monsignor Raymond Riffle, rector of...
Kiski Area looks to data quantifying ‘learning loss’ during pandemic
After nearly a year of adjusting class schedules and learning models because of the covid-19 pandemic, school districts are grappling with how to quantify and assess learning loss. “It’s not entirely accurate to say that online learning is a complete failure,” said Kiski Area High School Principal Chad Roland. “It’s...
Shawn Kuhn leaves legacy of joy, service in Allegheny Township
Family members described Shawn Kuhn as “larger than life, a friend to all.” Kuhn was director of public works for Allegheny Township — but his involvement in the community reached far beyond his municipal duties. He was former president of the Allegheny Township Athletic Association and the Kiski Valley Baseball...
Deer Lakes closes middle school, East Union Intermediate after 5 test positive for covid
Five Deer Lakes School District employees and students have tested positive for covid-19 in the past week, the district reported Thursday. Those infected include two staff members and one student at East Union Intermediate Center and two students at Deer Lakes Middle School, the district said. Deer Lakes has recorded...
Passengers recount experience of plane sliding off taxiway at Pittsburgh airportVideo
A Lower Burrell native was among the 77 people on board a Boeing 717 that slid off a taxiway before takeoff Wednesday evening at Pittsburgh International Airport. Kristen Singleton, 46, had a window seat on Delta Air Lines Flight 2231. Sitting in the midsection of the plane, she was looking...
Tarentum awards 3rd contract for building demolitions, making 23 set to be razed
Tarentum Council has awarded a third contract for razing dilapidated buildings in the borough. Including two contracts council awarded in January, a total of 23 blighted and abandoned buildings are slated to be torn down, at a total cost of $185,300. Minniefield Demolition Services of West Mifflin bid $69,000 to...
No injuries reported at O’Hara house fire
No injuries were reported in a house fire early Thursday morning in O’Hara, according to an Allegheny County emergency dispatcher. The fire on Saxonburg Boulevard was reported shortly before 1 a.m. According to an alert on the fire, it went to two alarms, with heavy fire in the two-story dwelling...
The Stroller, Feb. 11, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
The Stroller is compiling a list of fish fries taking place Ash Wednesday and/or Fridays during Lent. To your non-profit’s fish fry listed in the paper and online, send complete information in writing to Carol Pinto-Smith, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum, PA 15084 or email cpinto-smith@triblive.com. Free violence...
Want to hike 35 miles on longest day of the year? Rachel Carson Challenge is on
While the pandemic caused a flurry of event cancellations last year, some outdoor outings are a “go” this summer, including the 24th Rachel Carson Trail Challenge. The 35-mile trek though rugged, hilly terrain only adds to the challenge of the event, which will start in Harrison Hills Park in Harrison...
BBQ, pizza business grows from West Leechburg man’s passion
Call Joe and Brenda Sperski a smoking-hot couple, and they won’t be offended. The West Leechburg couple opened Smokey Joe’s House of Q in 2018, offering takeout barbecue and pizza from a mobile trailer at various locations in the Alle-Kiski Valley. Joe Sperski smokes the meats and does all the...
Procedures change for Leechburg food distribution following last weekend’s intense demand
An overwhelming response to a free food giveaway in Leechburg last Saturday has prompted the church that sponsored it to change how this coming Saturday’s distribution will be handled. People lined up in their cars hours before the event’s noon start time last Saturday, and all of the food boxes...
The Stroller, Feb. 10, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
The Stroller is compiling a list of fish fries taking place Ash Wednesday and/or Fridays during Lent. To your non-profit’s fish fry listed in the paper and online, send complete information in writing to Carol Pinto-Smith, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum, PA 15084 or email cpinto-smith@triblive.com. Lower Valley...
Crews respond to house fire in Vandergrift
Fire crews responded to a house fire in Vandergrift on Tuesday evening. Vandergrift Fire Company No. 1 confirmed they sent crews to battle a blaze at 309 Elm Street just before 9 p.m. At approximately 9:30 p.m., a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher said the “fire is knocked down” and crews...
