Valley News Dispatch category, Page 542
Crews battle ‘progressing’ brush fire in Indiana Township
Crews continued Monday night to battle a large brush fire that burned for more than 15 hours in Indiana Township, initial reports indicate. The fire continued to spread and was an active scene as of shortly before 8 p.m., an Allegheny County 911 dispatcher said. There were not any immediate...
Washington Township nursing home sees outbreak of covid-19
A surge in covid-19 cases at a Washington Township nursing home prompted the state’s Regional Response Health Collaborative program to visit the facility over the weekend. Quality Life Services, formerly known as West Haven Manor, recorded about 30 infections involving residents and 10 involving staffers in the past three days,...
School districts mull options as Westmoreland coronavirus rates inch down
State data show Westmoreland County’s coronavirus transmission risk dropped a bit, which means school districts once again may face difficult decisions about how to educate students in the weeks and months to come. The county’s latest reported seven-day coronavirus incidence rate was 99.8. That means about 0.998% of county residents...
Kiski Area High School reports another coronavirus case
A student at Kiski Area High School tested positive for coronavirus, the school district said Friday. The high school will remain open. According to a letter to district families, the Department of Health was contacted and is identifying close contacts of the student. Kiski Area reported at least seven infections...
At Glen’s Frozen Custard, sales of frozen novelties have been sweetVideo
With only weeks left before the seasonal closure of Glen’s Frozen Custard, this longtime purveyor of frozen desserts in Springdale and Lower Burrell has experienced sweet sales during the pandemic and a sunny summer. The ice cream business category is on fire now, according to the Dairy Foods website. Sales...
Missing New Ken man, Slippery Rock student, found safe in California, state police say
A New Kensington man who was reported missing in Butler County more than two weeks ago has been found safe in San Diego, Calif., officials said. Trooper Jim Long with the Butler barracks said Gregory Jones, 21, was found by officers with the San Diego Community College District Police Department...
Lower Valley residents celebrate Biden’s victory with a spontaneous party in Fox Chapel’s McCahill Park
There was dancing and flag-waving in Fox Chapel’s McCahill Park on Nov. 7 as dozens of residents gathered to celebrate Democrat Joe Biden’s victory to become the 46th U.S. President. It was one of countless spontaneous block parties that broke out across the region, from Squirrel Hill to the South...
Niche ranks Shady Side Academy in Fox Chapel as Best Private School in area
Shady Side Academy in Fox Chapel tops the list of Best Private Schools in the Pittsburgh area, according to the latest ranking by Niche.com. The Pittsburgh-based search site calculates its rankings based on data from the U.S. Department of Education along with reviews by students and parents, and factors such...
The Stroller, Nov. 9, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Is your church or organization going to host a community holiday event? Send information to The Stroller as soon as possible to vndnews@tribweb.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Let us know about your holiday happenings The 2020 holiday season will be like no other we have ever seen. Non-profit...
After 80 years, Leechburg Cemetery gets new sign thanks to Rotary Club’s efforts
The Leechburg Cemetery has a new entry sign that pays homage to its original. The sign at the cemetery was scrapped for metal in the 1940s during World War II and it hadn’t been replaced. The cemetery was founded in 1864. Longtime cemetery volunteer Larry Boehm, 47, installed the sign...
Corps of Engineers has update on $500 million cleanup of Parks nuke waste dump
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold a virtual meeting Nov. 12 to update the public on its $500 million cleanup of the nuclear waste dump along Route 66 in Parks Township. The 44-acre dump, officially known as the Shallow Land Disposal Area, is owned by BWX Technologies (also...
West Deer appoints new Parks and Rec board member
West Deer’s Parks and Recreation Board has a new member. Supervisors unanimously appointed April Gentile to fill the seat previously occupied by Tracy Harrington, who resigned. The appointment was made during the supervisors October meeting. Gentile was the only person who applied. “This would be a great position to hold...
Deer Lakes middle schoolers participating in KidScience Program at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
Wesley Reagle wants to learn as much as he can about animals to help better protect them. That’s one of the reasons why the Deer Lakes seventh grader applied for the KidScience Program at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. “I was very excited to get a chance to go...
Petition circulated to stop construction of Dollar General in Upper Burrell
Although they know their efforts might be futile, residents who live near the site of a planned Dollar General store along Route 780 near Dewey Drive, Upper Burrell, are signing a petition to stop the construction of the discount store. “It’s going to change the country feeling of the neighborhood...
West Deer police launching annual toy collection drive for needy families
West Deer police have seen the bad in people, but they’ve also seen the good. Especially during the holiday season. They’re hoping residents will continue to bring Christmas cheer and joy to those less fortunate by donating to the police department’s annual toy collection drive. Now in its 24th year,...
No one injured in Harrison fire that started in laundry room, cause under investigation
A Harrison woman who left her house to attend church and run some errands Sunday morning came back to find her laundry room on fire, a fire chief said. No one was injured in the blaze at 127 Elbrook Drive, but the cause remained a mystery late Sunday afternoon. “It...
The Stroller, Nov. 8, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Is your church or organization going to host a community holiday event? Send information to The Stroller as soon as possible to vndnews@tribweb.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Annual Christmas for Vets event planned Dec. 5 Five Forces will host its fifth annual Christmas for Veterans event Dec. 5...
Tarentum eyeing more demolitions as work on 23 properties wraps up
Tarentum officials are eyeing another batch of dilapidated houses to tear down, after work on one group has been completed. All 23 houses under a $171,000 contract awarded about a year ago have been demolished, borough code enforcement Officer Anthony Bruni said. The work started in December 2019. Bruni said...
No property tax hike in Upper Burrell for 2021
The Upper Burrell supervisors will not raise property taxes for its preliminary budget of $1.2 million for 2021. The tax rate will hold at 10.5 mills. “There’s nothing special, either an increase or a decrease, in the 2021 budget,” said Ross Walker, chairman of the board of supervisors. He said...
Allison Park Church, Network of Hope open food bank in West Deer
A Hampton-based nonprofit and church have opened a food bank in West Deer to help low-income families. Network of Hope Food Bank-Deer Lakes is run by Allison Park Church and Network of Hope, a nonprofit organization founded by church members. It opened over the summer at 810 Little Deer Creek...
Veterans honored in Leechburg, Gilpin with more than 200 banners hung through the areaVideo
More than 200 banners are being erected on utility poles throughout Leechburg and Gilpin as part of a new “Hometown Heroes” push to honor veterans. Mayor Wayne Dobos said the goal is to have all of the banners hung by Veterans Day. Main and Market streets were the first areas...
The Stroller, Nov. 7, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Is your church or organization going to host a community holiday event? Send information to The Stroller as soon as possible to vndnews@tribweb.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Leechburg church to offer two grief seminars First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Leechburg, will offer two free GriefShare support seminars in the...
Covid-19 testing site opens in Lower Burrell due to rapid increase in cases
Officials are working to contain a rapid increase of coronavirus cases in Westmoreland County by opening a testing clinic in Lower Burrell. The drive-thru and indoor testing clinic will open Saturday in the parking lot of the Hillcrest Shopping Center. Testing will be available daily from 7 a.m. to 6...
O’Hara woman sells balloon arches to cheer spirits, gives all proceeds to Kidney Foundation
Meredith Levy of O’Hara was searching for a colorful and creative surprise for her twin daughters’ birthday during the covid-19 quarantine. She found it close to home. “I found these balloon arches offered by a lady online in a Fox Chapel Facebook group,” Levy said. “I ordered a Foxes-themed one...
Frazer’s proposed budget calls for 76% real estate tax increase
After not raising property taxes for at least 25 years, Frazer supervisors are proposing to raise the township’s tax rate by 76%. Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously passed a $1.3 million preliminary budget for 2021 that includes a 1.08-mill real estate tax increase. The increase could generate an additional $133,000 next...
