Valley News Dispatch category, Page 596

Authorities withdrew charges against an Oklahoma Borough man accused of sexually assaulting a mentally disabled man because the suspect died two days after being arraigned, court records show. Brian K. Ferguson, 52, was charged Jan. 16 with indecent assault of a person with a mental disability and unlawful restraint in...

Pro-life activists say they feel energized about Friday’s 47th annual March for Life as they await the first-ever appearance by a sitting U.S. president. President Trump announced this week that he plans to make a personal appearance at the annual event, which marks the anniversary of Roe v. Wade —...

Harmar Supervisors appointed Jim Devlin to fill a vacancy on the township board. Devlin, 73, will fill the unexpired term of Supervisors’ Chairman Bob Seibert. Seibert, who had two years left on his six-year term, decided to run for the seat vacated by Patricia Janoski, who retired from the board...

An East Deer man said he was trying to thaw frozen water pipes when his home caught fire Thursday morning. The fire at 931 Bellview St. was reported around 5:45 a.m., according to Allegheny County 911. No injuries were reported. Zachary Shutak, 24, said he was using a heat gun...

Banners to honor veterans in West Deer West Deer Township is accepting orders for banners to honor township residents who served in the Armed Forces. The double-sided banners will be printed by Gray Signs and measure 24 x 30-inches. Cost is $120 plus tax and includes banner, hardware, photo scanning...

State Rep. Joseph Petrarca, D-Washington Township, will hold two free concealed-carry events to ensure 55th District residents are aware of their Second Amendment rights. The informational events will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 30 at Huber Hall in Latrobe and Feb. 6 at the West Leechburg Fire...

A state police fire marshal said he can’t rule out arson as the cause for a fire that destroyed a Freeport home last weekend. The single-story, ranch-style house at 165 Washington St. was being renovated after it was damaged in another fire four months ago. The home caught fire again...

A former Highlands School District principal’s federal lawsuit against the district is going into mediation, according to court records. Attorneys for the school district and Heather Bigney have agreed to evenly share the costs of mediation. Bigney resigned as principal of Highlands Early Childhood Center in October 2019 . She...

Bowling fundraiser to aid St. Joseph HS student The St. Joseph High School Bowling Team is sponsoring a bowling fundraiser from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Wildlife Lanes, Lower Burrell, to support fellow student Eli Swierczewski who is battling Ewing’s sarcoma. Cost is $20 and includes bowling and shoe...

Oakmont police want to make it easier for people to properly dispose of their expired or unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medications. The department can do that via its new drug disposal box provided by KidCents and the Rite Aid Foundation. It was installed earlier this month. Drop-offs can be made...

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is reviewing plans and models designed to fix flooding problems in the Oakmont Commons. There’s no timetable for a response, but officials hope hear from them soon. “They’ll probably give us a recommendation to it and let us know if we’re doing something improper...

Leechburg is joining other Alle-Kiski Valley communities in honoring their veterans and active military service members with banners. A three-person committee that includes Mayor Wayne Dobos has been working on the “Hometown Hero” banner program since last year. The other community members are Doreen Smeal and Debbie Canzano. The banners...

A New Kensington man faces charges after police said he started a fight early Tuesday at a North Apollo bar and then fought with officers who responded. Kiski Township police said they arrived at the R Bar on 16th Street to see Nicholas Jack, 25, throwing punches at people who...

A Vandergrift man accused of hitting his live-in girlfriend in the head with a hammer allegedly told police he only “nicked her.” Police said Thomas Andrew Funkhouser, 34, had fresh blood on his hands when officers arrived at a Grant Street apartment at about 12:30 a.m. last Thursday. His girlfriend,...

More than $850,000 has been slated for 68 local fire and EMS organizations in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, Sen. Jim Brewster announced on Tuesday. The $858,144 was made available through the Office of the State Fire Commissioner’s Fire Company and Emergency Medical Service Grant Program, Brewster said. The funds are...

A 14-year-old Avonmore girl is accused of being high on drugs Monday morning when she took her mother’s car and led Gilpin police on a high-speed chase before crashing, according to police. Gilpin police Chief Chris Fabec did not identify the girl but said she faces juvenile charges including reckless...

Kiski Township’s first township manager has resigned less than two years after taking the job. Donna Piper tendered her resignation for the position and supervisors will hold a special meeting Jan. 29 to accept it. Piper could not be reached for comment. Supervisor Chuck Rodnicki said he is unsure whether...

West Deer residents now have a safe place to drop off unwanted medications. The township recently acquired a Safe Medication Disposal box, which is in the lobby of the municipal building. West Deer police partnered with KidCents and The Rite Aid Foundation to get the box, which was donated by...

Highlands Elementary School has a new principal. Stan Whiteman was hired at an annual salary of $108,000. His start date is not yet known, school board President Misty Chybrzynski said. Whiteman is coming to Highlands from the Duquesne City School District, where he was director of curriculum, instruction, assessment and...

Bouquet Park Pool is appealing a decision by Springdale Township to revoke its occupancy permit amid allegations that pool water drained onto a neighboring property. Township Commissioners President Anthony Rozzano said the pool water entered the neighboring property of the Springdale Veterans Association. “You are not allowed to discharge water...

Authorities are looking for a 22-year-old Verona man who was last seen in December in Penn Hills. Allegheny County police said the Verona Police Department notified them of Christian Moore-Rouse’s disappearance on Jan. 6. The man was last seen Dec. 21 at the Dollar Tree on Rodi Road in Penn...

Pool tournament to aid fire victims A doubles pool tournament fundraiser to benefit Jason and Marissa Femc of Allegheny Township who lost their home Jan. 3 in a fire, will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at Barefoot Bar & Grill, 614 Schenley Road, Gilpin. For details, call Kimberly Grafton at...

Allegheny Valley School Board has agreed to request additional detailed proposals for the demolition of Colfax Elementary School. Canzian-Johnston and Associates, a New Kensington architectural firm, previously supplied the board with a demolition plan for the school in Springdale. Actual cost of demolition totaled around $676,000 in that plan, according...