Valley News Dispatch category, Page 564
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...
Apollo-Ridge teacher wins state award for teaching real-world applications of geography
A Vandergrift woman who teaches at Apollo-Ridge High School won a state award for teaching how knowledge of geography could be applied to real jobs. Jessica Johns, a social studies teacher, received the 2020 Pennsylvania Geographical Society John J. Katana K-12 Distinguished Teaching Award. “I am very humbled and very...
The Stroller, Sept. 9, 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. Cub Scouts...
Tarentum Council approves changes in water rates
Most Tarentum residents will be seeing a reduction in their water rates, while other customers, including in East Deer, will be getting an increase. Council voted 6-0 Tuesday, with Erika Josefoki absent, to lower the base rate charged to the bulk of borough residents by $2, or 8%, from $25...
Former Freeport man, Mustang aficionado, to be remembered at Frazer car cruise
Dwight L. Hutton was the life of the party. He loved Jimmy Buffett, grilling and classic cars. So it’s fitting that a car cruise would be held in his honor. “Dwight was from Freeport, and he grew up there. He was very proud of being from the Alle-Kiski Valley,” said...
Volunteers needed to help with grounds cleanup at Burtner House in Harrison
The covid-19 pandemic canceled all tours and events at Harrison’s Burtner House this year, but people are being asked to turn out Saturday to help clean up the grounds of the historic property. High winds a couple of months ago blew the cap off a chimney and damaged trees on...
Renovations to Leechburg’s Riverfront Park create ‘jewel’ along Kiski River, mayor says
A riverfront venue in Leechburg is newly spruced up and available for the public to rent. The white gazebo in Riverfront Park was constructed in 2004 but had fallen into a state of deterioration, Mayor Wayne Dobos said. “The park is a community asset that had started to fall by...
The Stroller, Sept. 8, 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 meals...
Covid-19 doesn’t stop picture day at Burrell School District
Covid-19 just can’t stop some traditions: The annual “picture day” at Burrell School District is set for Sept. 28 and 29. The students will be smiling without masks for their class photos, with additional arrangements in the works for class pictures from home, said Gregory Egnor, director of student services...
The Stroller, Sept. 7, 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. Superheroes Believe...
Trio of peacocks are people-pleasers at Allegheny Township farmVideo
Three peacocks rule the roost at Legacy Acres Farm in Allegheny Township. Meet Kevin, Houlahan and Radar — three pet Indian peafowl, commonly referred to as peacocks, owned by Susan Hughan. Hughan, 65, spent her childhood playing with her neighbor’s peacocks while growing up near Leechburg. Her grandmother shared her...
Fire chief: New Kensington house destroyed by fire went up in flames twice before
A New Kensington house that was destroyed by a fire early Saturday morning has caught on fire twice before in recent years, fire Chief Ed Saliba Jr. said. “It was about three years ago … we had a small fire in the bedroom in the third floor,” Saliba said. “Then...
In a time of covid-19, 2 Leechburg area churches among those taking services outdoors
Two Leechburg area churches are offering outdoor worship opportunities in response to covid-19 restrictions. The Revs. Gary and Lisa Lyon, co-pastors at Cross Roads Community Presbyterian Church in Leechburg, added a monthly outdoor service in June. The 40-minute service is open to anyone. Those attending are asked to bring a...
The Stroller, Sept. 6, 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. Follow the Stroller on Twitter @VNDStroller for a daily link to The Stroller. Knead Community Café welcomes donations and sponsorships Knead Community...
Allegheny Ludlum stainless steel cars sell for $950K at auto auction
A trio of stainless steel cars produced by Ford and Allegheny Ludlum sold at auction for $950,000. Billed as “The Historic Stainless Steel Trifecta” and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, the cars were sold Saturday night as a single lot by Worldwide Auctioneers at the 13th annual Auburn Auction. They were offered...
Plum man dies in motorcycle crash
A Plum man died Saturday after crashing his motorcycle late Friday in the borough , according to an Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s report. Ryan Thomas Connelly, 22, crashed in the 3000 block of Leechburg Road at 11:55 p.m., according to the medical examiner. Details about the crash were not readily...
2 firefighters injured in early morning New Kensington house fire
Two firefighters suffered minor injuries battling an early morning residential fire in New Kensington. New Kensington fire Chief Ed Saliba Jr. said New Kensington police patrolling the neighborhood were alerted to a house in flames. Firefighters were dispatched to the home in the 500 block of Constitution Boulevard at 3:36...
Freeport Theatre Festival presents ‘President Arthur’s Inspiration’
The words in these letters spoke volumes. Julia Sand wrote to then-vice president Chester A. Arthur, who would become the 21st president of the United States, offering advice on how to be a better man. Arthur read the correspondence and seemingly took it to heart. You will have to come...
