Valley News Dispatch category, Page 575

Former Leechburg police Chief Michael Diebold will stand trial on charges that he didn’t comply with registration requirements for convicted sex offenders, a district judge confirmed Wednesday. Diebold, 42, was charged by state police in Armstrong County with two felony counts of failing to provide accurate registration information. The case...

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is looking for more volunteers to help stock trout next month in Bull Creek and Deer Creek. “I am one person, and when I have two truckloads of fish, it’s hard to get them all into the water myself,” said Sgt. Mike Walsh of...

The Richard King Mellon Foundation has awarded $5.5 million for a new digital innovation lab in New Kensington. The lab is expected to be located in New Kensington’s Corridor of Innovation, a five-block stretch along Fifth Avenue between Penn State New Kensington’s innovation hub, The Corner entrepreneur center, and Westmoreland...

Kiski Area School District administrators are concerned about the unintended consequences of Pennsylvania’s anonymous reporting app, Safe2Say Something, after a noncredible threat prompted a lockdown this week. The incident raises concern among administrators, who fear the anonymous nature of Safe2Say leads to more hoax claims and pranks. Kiski Area Superintendent...

An East Deer man admitted he shot and killed his father early Wednesday after his dad badmouthed his girlfriend and their baby, police said. Shane Howard, 23, also told police that he hit his father in the face and head with a fire extinguisher before he shot him with a...

Springdale Township plans to use a $35,000 state grant to demolish three blighted houses this year. The demolitions haven’t been scheduled. The township is waiting for results from asbestos testing of the three houses to determine where asbestos removal will be necessary, according to Robert Roach, a project manager with...

The Stroller is your go-to place for local meeting notices, charitable events and volunteer opportunities. Information for The Stroller may be dropped off or mailed at least a week in advance to: The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084, email vndnews@tribweb.com or fax 724-226-4677. Today is...

Police are investigating what caused a Harrison man to crash his car into a guardrail, then strike multiple objects in a neighbor’s yard before getting stuck along a short hillside, alarming nearby residents. Emergency dispatchers received a report shortly before 8 p.m. Tuesday of the crash on North Canal Street....

A $1.2 million landslide repair project has closed a portion of Millerstown Road in Fawn. The closure between Callen Lane and Bull Creek Road began Monday and is expected to last through mid-April, according to PennDOT. The slide occurred June 26, 2018. Signs will be posted to direct motorists around...

Police officers will step up their presence at Kiski Area High School on Wednesday because of a non-credible threat received Tuesday, the district announced. Police and police dogs searched the school Tuesday in response to an “anonymous, non-specific threat,” according to the district. Officers did not find any danger, but...

Herb Hughes of New Kensington sees the positives of working on the Pioneer Apartments project in New Kensington. It’s close to Hughes’ home, and the project by Wesley Family Services aims to inject life into the city’s business district. The $18.2 million apartment building is being built on the site...

Leechburg is looking to hire a third full-time police officer. Council gave the Civil Service Commission permission to advertise for the position, which would help the borough come closer to having 24/7 police coverage, officials said. “It’s going to make it so we have better coverage,” Mayor Wayne Dobos said....

A West Deer man involved in a crash along Route 8 in Hampton in early December has been charged with causing the death of his passenger, Allegheny County Police said Tuesday. Investigators said Carl John Keating, 32, was traveling north at a high rate of speed on Dec. 11 when...

The man sentenced to death this month for murdering New Kensington police Officer Brian Shaw on Tuesday contended Westmoreland County jurors reached a faulty verdict because of his “Muslim-sounding name” and because they were intimidated by a heavy law enforcement turnout during trial. Defense attorneys Tim Dawson and James Robinson...

Harrison officials want to plant more than three dozen trees in the township, including a spruce that would serve as the community’s Christmas tree. Commissioners are applying for another round of trees through the TreeVitalize program, which has helped the township plant about 150 trees in recent years, according to...

At least one person was hurt in a single-vehicle crash in Allegheny Township early Tuesday, according to township police and Westmoreland County 911. The crash happened shortly before 2 a.m. in the 4000 block of Garvers Ferry Road, authorities said. At least one person was taken to a hospital by...

The Stroller is your go-to place for local meeting notices, charitable events and volunteer opportunities. Information for The Stroller may be dropped off or mailed at least a week in advance to: The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084, email vndnews@tribweb.com or fax 724-226-4677. Ukrainian egg...

Highlands School District officials said classes and activities will resume as normal Tuesday following the repair of a water main break. High school activities were canceled and students were sent home early Monday after water service was disrupted. Harrison Township Water Authority officials said the district would be responsible for...

Chessie isn’t going anywhere. Some people have been curious about the fate of the iconic purple elephant at Cheswick Pools and Patios as the pool display area outside the Pittsburgh Street business has been torn up. Owners Justin and Debbie Rushin said renovations at the business will continue through the...

The main message from Leechburg Area Pool officials at an emergency meeting Sunday night in Gilpin: We need help. “That’s what we’re here for, is to ask for help,” board member Dave Safranyos told a crowd of about 25 people who attended the meeting at the Gilpin municipal building. “We...

Lackey’s Dairy Queen in North Apollo is leaping into its season this year. Celebrating its 65th year in business, the popular seasonal ice cream destination usually opens in early March. But with 2020 being a leap year, it’s opening Saturday, Feb. 29, instead, said Matthew Spires of Washington Township, Lackey’s...

Highlands High School dismissed students early Monday because of a waterline break outside the school. The high school closed at 11 a.m., according to a recorded phone call the district sent out to parents. School and district officials could not be reached for comment and did not respond to requests...