Valley News Dispatch category, Page 606
Rahmael Holt officially sent to death row for killing New Kensington Officer Brian Shaw
Rahmael Holt simply said “no” when asked Wednesday whether he had anything to say before his death sentence was formally imposed. Holt, 31, of Harrison, Allegheny County, officially became the 133rd person on Pennsylvania’s death row when he was condemned to death by lethal injection for shooting and killing New...
Rare painted bunting captivates birdwatchers in O’HaraVideo
One of North America’s most gorgeous birds, aglow in the outrageous color combination of red, blue and yellow-green, has showed up at a bird feeder in O’Hara Township — a rarity for Pennsylvania. About 400 bird-watchers have stopped by the O’Hara neighborhood to see the rare visitor the size of...
Arnold approves ordinance allowing backyard fires — with a permit, under certain rules
Arnold Council has approved an ordinance allowing and regulating burning in the city. Under the ordinance, fires at residences must be in a container no more than 3 feet in diameter and at least 2 feet tall. Containers for fires must be at least 15 feet from structures. Open fires...
The Stroller, Feb. 12, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
The Stroller is your go-to place for local 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. Great Backyard Bird Count...
Highlands appealing Heights Plaza assessment reduction
Highlands School District is appealing an assessment reduction that slashed nearly $11 million from the value of Heights Plaza in Harrison. If it stands, the change in value of four parcels making up the plaza, from $17.3 million to $6.6 million, would cost the school district $260,000 in revenue each...
PennDOT plans traffic restrictions in West Deer
Lanes restrictions will be in place along a portion of Route 910 in West Deer on Wednesday and Thursday, according to PennDOT. Traffic will be restricted to a single alternating lane from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day between Middle Road and Middle Road Extension. Flaggers will direct motorists....
Allegheny Township approves cell tower near Blair Farm
A communications tower soon will be raised in Allegheny Township. Supervisors voted unanimously Monday night to allow Verizon Wireless to install a communications tower on property owned by Edwin and Jill Morrison, also known as the Blair Farm. The township held a public hearing on Jan. 13 to take testimony...
Lower Burrell cleans up rocks spread with road salt
Lower Burrell brought out its road sweeper recently to clean up small rocks inadvertently spread across many of the city’s streets during last week’s snowfall. “It was mixed in with the salt and when the salt crews loaded their vehicles, they could not see the rocks in the mix,” said...
Scholarship enables Highlands students to learn from artists around the world
Teresa Emeloff’s classroom at Highlands High School is a factory of creativity. Her art room is adorned from floor to ceiling in the work of her students, including graduates who have left their mark — some quite literally, as handprints on the wall. “I’m super passionate about the arts,” said...
The Stroller, Feb. 11, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
The Stroller is your go-to place for local 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. River City Brass Band...
Highlands ‘reflection room’ showing early success, administrators report
An experiment to turn discipline into a learning opportunity is having some early success in the Highlands School District, according to administrators. Samantha Perlik, principal of Highlands Early Childhood Center and former elementary school principal, and middle school Principal Kimberly Price gave a presentation to the school board Monday on...
More than 300 West Penn customers in A-K Valley lose power after truck takes down poles
More than 300 West Penn Power customers were left in the dark Monday morning after a dump truck took out multiple utility poles in Harmar, officials said. West Penn Power spokesman Todd Meyers said the incident happened shortly after 6:20 a.m. in the 1200 block of Russellton Road. Meyers said...
Cellar Works Brewing plans 2nd location at Winfield’s Cooper Station RestaurantVideo
A new business is brewing in Winfield Township. A large digital sign outside of Cooper Station Restaurant, which closed abruptly and without notice to the public in 2019, hints “Something is brewing” to passing motorists along Route 356. Cellar Works Brewing Co. owners confirmed plans are underway to open a...
A-K Valley SWAT team operational after delays last year
A new special response team made up of officers from several police departments in the Alle-Kiski Valley is up and running and has been deployed twice this year. The team’s first dispatch was a high-risk search warrant in New Kensington in early January, said Thomas Seefeld, chief of the Murrysville...
Arnold boy’s November shooting death was accident, medical examiner rules
A 15-year-boy died after accidentally shooting himself at a Harrison residence in November, according to a ruling issued Monday by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. Machi Douthett was pronounced dead at 8:50 p.m. Nov. 10 at a house on Spruce Street, the medical examiner’s office said. An obituary for...
Harrison girl raises $3,300 for New Kensington police dog
Elementary-schooler Kaley Bastine is celebrating her latest successful event to raise money for police dogs in the Alle-Kiski Valley. On Saturday night, the Harrison girl hosted a candy fundraiser at Bird Dogs Sports Bar & Grill in Harrison and raised more than $3,300, according to her mom, Jamie Bastine. The...
Upper Burrell to repave 3 roads in Lincoln Beach, Whitten Hollow, Turkey Ridge
Upper Burrell officials are paving the way to do three street projects this spring and summer. The township will ask for contract bids for paving Whitten Hollow and Turkey Ridge roads and for some streets in the township’s Lincoln Beach section, primarily Lincoln Beach Boulevard. Township engineer Dave Kerchner of...
East Deer plans to tear down 7 blighted houses this year — most ever undertaken at once
East Deer plans to tear down more blighted buildings this year than it has in any year before. Township officials expect to tear down seven deteriorating properties this spring or summer after getting a financial boost from the state. Commissioners Chairman Tony Taliani announced Thursday that East Deer has received...
Get your Goth on for Valentine’s Day in KittanningVideo
Valentine’s Day is going Gothic with a vampire-themed ball in Kittanning on Feb. 15. Hosted by Radioactive Events Center, the family-friendly, all-ages ball aims to be an alternative to the traditional chocolates/flowers/dinner Valentine’s trappings. Event creator and Radioactive President Mark Gibson, a North Vandergrift native with a musical background, says...
The Stroller, Feb. 10, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
The Stroller is your go-to place for local 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. Library quilt show to...
Remember When: Feb. 10
100 years ago Free ‘Y’ gas service to be lost Phillips Gas and Oil Co. notified Tarentum council that the local YMCA will lose the privilege of receiving free gas. Phillips had given Tarentum a certain amount of free natural gas in return for courtesies extended when the gas lines...
Vandergrift’s Dave Dawson keeping the ‘last stronghold of American barbershops’Video
Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series that features Alle-Kiski Valley residents and the notable things they do. Dave Dawson knows that the hair-cutting business is not what it once was. The world is more fast-paced — customers like to call ahead, make appointments, get in and out...
Tredway Trail placards to chronicle lives of Native Americans, pioneers such as Massey Harbison
It’s a tough balancing act to celebrate the Alle-Kiski Valley’s rich Native American history while also paying homage to a local pioneer woman who was violently abducted by a group of Delaware and other American Indians. Ren Steele said he feels uniquely qualified to contribute to efforts to do both...
Former Tarentum bar to become banquet hall, event space
John Supik had the name and the building; William Norrick had the vision and the drive. Norrick, 37, of Brackenridge saw banners for The Gathering Place outside the shuttered Ziggy’s Lounge on East Sixth Avenue in Tarentum. Supik, who ran the bar and owns the building, home to the 13-room...
Lower Burrell councilman peeved over door-to-door solicitors on Sundays
Given the increase of food trucks and people soliciting in the city, Lower Burrell council is in the process of updating its solicitation permit ordinance. The permits will be used for food trucks and people soliciting door-to-door. But a sticky question with city council is when door-to-door solicitations are allowed....
