Valley News Dispatch category, Page 559
East Deer, Tarentum to seek grant to improve Three Rivers Heritage Trail
Two Alle-Kiski Valley municipalities are hoping to snag a grant that could help them make improvements to the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. If approved, the joint $50,000 Active Allegheny Grant would be used to determine how to best take the 24‑mile urban riverfront trail through East Deer into Tarentum. “I’d...
East Deer adds 2 part-time police officers, including Officer Brian Shaw Scholarship recipient
East Deer now has enough police officers to cover all shifts with the addition of two part-timers, including a recipient of an Officer Brian Shaw Scholarship. Township Commissioners on Wednesday hired Steven Edwards, 24, of Lower Burrell and Olivier Jean-Gilles, 25, of Scott Township as part-time officers. They will make...
Vandergrift’s income decreases due to pandemic
Vandergrift is coping with the loss of borough income due to the covid-19 pandemic. Income from taxes, parking meters and several other revenues are less than what they were at this time last year, calculations from Borough Secretary Steve DelleDonne show. Much of the loss is due to “the covid...
The Stroller, Sept. 12, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Is your non-profit organization going to have a fundraiser? Send information to The Stroller at least a week in advance to vndnews@tribweb.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Free online program about peregrine falcons planned The Outdoor Discovery Center at Crooked Creek will offer a free program, “Peregrine Falcon,...
Leechburg Area amends policy to allow spectators at some sporting events
Leechburg Area School Board amended the district’s athletic safety plan and spectator policy Wednesday to allow spectators at some sporting events. Previously, the district’s policy did not allow any spectators because of state covid-19 guidelines. Now, up to 250 people will be allowed at outdoor events and up to 25...
Freeport school board votes against quicker return to in-person instruction
Freeport Area School Board on Thursday voted against changing the district’s back-to-school plan to allow students back in the classroom sooner. At a meeting Thursday, several parents asked the school board to reconsider having students do remote learning only until at least Sept. 21. The back-to-school plan could allow for...
Gilpin teen achieves goal of becoming Eagle ScoutVideo
Tucker Spiering of Gilpin set his eye from a young age on the ultimate prize in Scouting. He earned his Eagle Scout rank on Sept. 1, 2020. “I always believed he would eventually earn his Eagle rank,” said mom Jaime Spiering. “He set this goal pretty young and was very...
Police: Brackenridge man said he sold heroin to buy things for 2 young children
A 24-year-old man allegedly told police he was dealing heroin from his Brackenridge home so he could buy things for two children. Police charged Marvin Barclay II with two counts of endangering the welfare of children and drug offenses after officers and agents with the state Attorney General Bureau of...
Tarentum train station restaurant owner isn’t sure 50% capacity is enough to reopen
John Greco isn’t sure he can reopen his Tarentum restaurant even with a return to half capacity later this month. “We can’t make it with 25% or 50%,” said Greco, owner of JG’s Tarentum Station Grille. “In order to make it economically feasible, we need the restrictions to be lifted....
Lower Burrell firefighters could soon be eligible for $300 tax credit
Lower Burrell is getting closer to establishing an earned income tax credit of up to $300 for volunteer firefighters that officials hope will help the city’s two fire companies retain volunteers and attract new ones. City Council is working to finalize legal paperwork related to the proposed tax credit, which...
At least 1 injured in crash involving car, tractor-trailer in Buffalo
At least one person was injured Friday afternoon in a crash that involved a tractor-trailer and a car in Buffalo Township. The crash was reported at 1:16 p.m. on Sarver Road, according to a Butler County 911 dispatcher. The person in the car was temporarily trapped in the vehicle. That...
Landmark train caboose moves to new home along Butler-Freeport Community Trail
The caboose that stood outside of the former landmark Cooper Station Restaurant in Winfield moved to a new home along the Butler-Freeport Community Trail on Friday. The caboose had been at the restaurant since 1994, according to Chris Ziegler, president of the Butler-Freeport Community Trail Council. The restaurant closed early...
Shaler woman offers free weekly yoga at Sharpsburg’s Kennedy ParkVideo
Francine Porter twisted her right leg high into the air, balanced on her left and stood still in the center of Sharpsburg’s Kennedy Park, exhaling away the day’s worries. “We want to concentrate on our breathing to wash away everyday stresses and feel relaxed, strong and peaceful,” said the Sharpsburg...
Tarentum planning alternatives to canceled Halloween, Christmas events
Tarentum is planning alternatives for two seasonal events that have been canceled because of the covid-19 pandemic. Tarentum canceled its annual Boo Fest, which would have been held Oct. 17. The borough and Brackenridge also called off their annual joint Christmas parade, which had been scheduled for Nov. 21. The...
Tarentum using covid-19 grant money to pay for system to broadcast borough meetings
While hoping to return to in-person meetings in October, Tarentum will spend nearly $40,000 in grant money on audio and visual equipment that will allow it to continue broadcasting council meetings. Livestreaming council meetings because of the covid-19 pandemic has created a new way for residents to participate in local...
BYOB art studio in West Deer provides entertainment, camaraderieVideo
Michelle Guerrieri comes from a family of small-business owners. So, naturally, she decided to start her own. Last October, Guerrieri opened The Creation Station in West Deer’s Russellton neighborhood. The studio holds instructor-led, DIY workshops that teach people how to make decorative wooden signs for their homes. And if you’re...
The Stroller, Sept. 11, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Is your non-profit organization going to have a fundraiser? Send information to The Stroller at least a week in advance to vndnews@tribweb.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Paws and Claws Festival set for Vandergrift’s Kennedy Park The fifth annual Paws and Claws Festival for pets and their families will...
3 Plum School District administrators get new 5-year contracts early
Plum School District officials approved new five-year deals with three top administrators who each had at least one year left on their contracts. The board voted 6-1 at a special meeting Tuesday to keep Superintendent Brendan Hyland, Deputy Superintendent Rick Walsh and Chief Financial Officer John Zahorchak through June 2025....
Butler woman charged in Arnold homicide last summer denied bail
A Butler woman charged with second-degree murder in connection with an Armstrong County man’s killing last year in Arnold was denied bail Thursday by a Westmoreland County judge. Bailey Ann Hines, 25, has been in jail since her arrest following the June 28, 2019, fatal shooting of Gregory Ray Wynkoop,...
‘Hike for Hope’ to raise awareness for suicide prevention, erase stigma to take place at Deer Lakes Park
A West Deer mother who lost her daughter to suicide is continuing to raise awareness for suicide prevention and fight the stigma that suicide shouldn’t be talked about. Molly Rupprecht and her friends are organizing a “Hike for Hope” suicide awareness event at Deer Lakes Park on Saturday, Sept. 12....
Lernerville Speedway expects 1,000 people for Back-to-School race event
Lernerville Speedway is gearing up to host about 1,000 people at its annual Back-to-School Bus and Kids Bike Races night on Saturday. The facility, which can seat 12,000, has enough space for social distancing with 1,000 people in attendance, said Lernerville owner John Tomson. “We are absolutely, totally covid compliant,”...
Meet Robert Acquaviva, Burrell’s new school resource officer
Robert Acquaviva donned the requisite face mask, held up a “first day of school 2020” sign and took a selfie in front of a Burrell Bucs logo. Then the Lower Burrell patrolman began his tenure as the district’s new school resource officer. “To everyone in the schools, I’m Officer Rob...
Appeals court upholds conviction of former state trooper from Plum
A former Pennsylvania State Police trooper’s appeal of his conviction for assaulting and threatening his wife was denied Thursday. A three-judge panel of the state’s Superior Court upheld the guilty verdicts issued by an Allegheny County judge against Scott Richard Mang, 34, on charges of simple assault and making terroristic...
The Stroller, Sept. 10, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Is your non-profit organization going to have a fundraiser? Send information to The Stroller at least a week in advance to vndnews@tribweb.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. The Stroller will return to the print edition of the Valley News Dispatch Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays beginning Sept. 11. Free milk...
Apollo man charged with sending inappropriate messages via Snapchat to teen girl
An Apollo man has been charged with harassment and corruption of minors for allegedly sending a teen girl inappropriate messages. Kiski Township police filed the charges against 33-year-old Nicolas McMunn on Wednesday, Sgt. Thomas Dessell reported. He said the department received a report Sept. 2 about a man sending harassing...
