Valley News Dispatch category, Page 600
Gene Freeman out as Fox Chapel Area superintendent on March 31
Fox Chapel Area Superintendent Gene Freeman will leave his post in five days, ending a relationship that has grown increasingly tenuous in recent months. Freeman reached a mutual separation agreement with the school board which allows him to depart nearly three months ahead of his scheduled resignation on June 12....
Allegheny County orders more portable toilets as park visits soar
Parks across Western Pennsylvania have seen a surge in visitors during the coronavirus pandemic, and at several Allegheny County parks that’s been particularly evident. More people in the parks has translated into a greater need for portable toilets. Allegheny County officials asked vendors to provide more of the toilets and...
14-year-old girl dies in West Deer house fireVideo
Authorities who responded Thursday morning to a two-alarm house fire in West Deer were unable to get inside to rescue a teenage girl because the flames were too intense and part of the building had collapsed, officials said. The girl, identified by her father as 14-year-old Dayanna Shaffer, reported the...
Religion Digest: Online worship services in the Alle-Kiski Valley
The following churches are offering online services. Click on the link to go to the stream. • Allegheny Valley Church of God streams services at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sundays at facebook.com/carmen.butler3 and on the Cobutler1 channel on YouTube • Christ Lutheran Church of Millvale will have online sermons...
Lower Burrell police seek help identifying persons of interest in recent thefts
Lower Burrell police seek help identifying persons of interest in a series of thefts from unlocked cars. Police said the thefts occurred late Saturday into Sunday, but did not specify on what streets. Surveillance videos posted on the department’s Facebook page show three people walking around pulling on door handles...
Freeport Area reports high school coronavirus case
A member of the Freeport Area High School community has tested positive for infection with the coronavirus, according to the school district. Superintendent Ian Magness reported the case in a letter to district families and residents posted Wednesday on the district website. Magness said that “the person in question was...
Inquest unlikely for fatal New Kensington shooting
Westmoreland County Coroner Ken Bacha said Wednesday it is unlikely he will convene an inquest into a police-involved shooting this month in New Kensington that left a Lower Burrell man dead. “It looks like it is rather justified at this point,” Bacha said. Marc N. Morgan, 62, was killed March...
Harrison shuts down public works department after employee’s relative tests positive for covid-19
Harrison shut down its public works department and closed its municipal building to the public after a family member of a public works employee tested positive for covid-19, township Manager Rich Hill said Wednesday. The department has a total of 10 employees, consisting of eight workers and two supervisors, Hill...
Highlands delays meeting to fill school board vacancy
Highlands School District has delayed a special meeting to fill a vacancy on the school board. A seat in Region 2 became vacant when Misty Chybrzynski, former board president, resigned upon moving out of the region. Region 2 includes Brackenridge and the Natrona area of Harrison. The board had scheduled...
Cheswick passes resolution allowing public meetings by telephone
Cheswick is taking steps to hold borough council meetings by telephone if necessary during the coronavirus pandemic. Council passed a resolution last week authorizing it and other boards to hold public meetings by telephone. The public would be able to listen in and comment on issues during the meetings. “We...
The Stroller, March 26, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Send cancellations to The Stroller The Stroller will publish news of cancellations and events that will still occur in the upcoming days. If your non-profit has to cancel or change an event or is helping members of the public, please send information to The Stroller at vndnews@tribweb.com. Knead Community Café...
Deer Lakes asks students, teachers to share photos of their home classrooms
The Deer Lakes School District wants its students and staff to feel like they’re together even though they’re apart. On the district’s first day of remote learning due to the coronavirus pandemic, officials asked students, staff and teachers to share pictures of themselves and their temporary classrooms. “While we’re working...
The Stroller, March 25, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Send cancellations to The Stroller The Stroller will publish news of cancellations and events that will still occur in the upcoming days. If your non-profit has to cancel or change an event or is helping members of the public, please send information to The Stroller at vndnews@tribweb.com. New Kensington Salvation...
Leechburg school officials plan pick-up day Thursday for student materials
With Westmoreland and Armstrong counties not yet restricted in terms of travel amid the coronavirus pandemic, Leechburg Area School District officials are asking parents to pick up work packets for students on Thursday. “It is clear that nobody will be returning before April 7,” Superintendent Tiffany Nix wrote in an...
Arnold woman sews masks to help health care workers during coronavirus pandemic
Lisa Wilson of Arnold has a lot of material and time on her hands. So she’s spending both making face masks for health care workers. “I wanted to do something for somebody,” Wilson said. “I wanted to do something that was needed.” Wilson began making face masks last week with...
Coronavirus emergency impacts Waste Management, County Hauling garbage services
Waste Management announced Tuesday it is temporarily suspending some services throughout Western Pennsylvania during the coronavirus emergency. Beginning Wednesday, the company said it is suspending collection of bulk items such as furniture, carpet, mattresses and appliances; spring and bulk cleanups; and collection of yard waste such as grass clippings, brush...
Aspinwall, Blawnox close ballfields, playgrounds to enforce social distancing
Aspinwall and Blawnox officials are taking a hard line on enforcing social distancing by closing down dog parks, playgrounds and ball fields. “People were gathering at the dog park, standing way too close together,” Melissa Lang O’Malley, Aspinwall manager, said. “We don’t want to encourage people to be out there...
Cheswick cancels household, hazardous waste pickup
Cheswick is cancelling its household electronic and hazardous waste pickup on June 12 because of work stoppages to limit the spread of covid-19. The borough’s waste hauler, Vogel Disposal Service, cannot provide the staffing for the special, by-appointment pickup because of the shutdown of nonessential business services, according to Lorraine...
Westmoreland coronavirus cases increase to 11
The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Westmoreland County rose to 11 on Tuesday, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. That’s an increase from eight confirmed cases on Monday that were reported by Westmoreland County officials. The three additional cases come as Pennsylvania recorded 207 new cases in...
Deer Lakes’ support dog-in-training offers tips to combat covid-19
Lancer is an emotional support dog-in-training in Deer Lakes School District. The 8-month-old, floppy-eared doodle made her debut in the new role Sunday by delivering an important message on the district’s Facebook page. With the help of some video-editing magic, the pooch reminded families to wash their hands frequently, practice...
Armstrong County’s ACMH Hospital reports first case of covid-19
ACMH Hospital in Kittanning reported Tuesday that it is treating its first patient with covid-19. The hospital did not release details about the patient or their condition. It said it has notified the state Department of Health about the case, and is working to identify and contact people with whom...
The Stroller, March 24, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Send cancellations to The Stroller The Stroller will publish news of cancellations and events that will still occur in the upcoming days. If your non-profit has to cancel or change an event or is helping members of the public, please send information to: The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood...
Allegheny Technologies Inc., steelworkers union agree to 1-year contract extension
Allegheny Technologies Inc. and the United Steelworkers union have agreed to a one-year extension of their expired contract, the company and union confirmed . The extension through Feb. 28, 2021, is “due to the unprecedented global business and human impacts of the covid-19 virus,” ATI spokeswoman Natalie Gillespie said. “This...
Highlands announces plans for extended closure, start of online learning
Highlands School District will start online learning for students on March 30 before students return to schools on April 14, Superintendent Monique Mawhinney announced in an update on the district’s website Monday. The notice cites Gov. Tom Wolf’s decision to extend the statewide closure of schools for two weeks through...
St. Margaret Foundation turns Demchak Hope Run into Quarantine 5K
St. Margaret Foundation will host an online “Quarantine 5K” in lieu of its traditional spring foot race. The Brian Demchak Hope Run/Walk, originally scheduled for May 17, is converting to a virtual event, Foundation President Mary Lee Gannon said. “Celebrate germ-free,” Gannon said. “Turn cabin fever into purpose by running...
