Valley News Dispatch category, Page 610
Walls of Kiski Area High School covered in student-painted, historical muralsVideo
Students at Kiski Area High School don’t just hang their artwork on the walls. They paint the walls. As part of a mural project called “A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words,” students have painted murals modeled on iconic artwork or images from history. The project started in 2011. “At...
The Stroller, Jan. 28, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Cat food donations needed at Frankie’s Friends Rescue Frankie’s Friends Cat Rescue, New Kensington, is in need of donations of Purina Cat Chow Complete in the blue bag. Items can be dropped off from 9 to 10 a.m. or 5 to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays or shipped to the...
Plum Borough School District classes to resume after threat to high school
Plum Borough School District classes are expected to resume Tuesday as borough police continue to investigate a threat against the high school. Schools were closed Monday after someone threatened to shoot up the high school. District officials announced that evening they would be returning to a normal schedule following a...
Leechburg Area Pool in Gilpin needs help from public to stay afloat
The future of the Leechburg Area Pool could be in jeopardy if it can’t recruit new board members, officials said Monday. The six-decade-old pool in Gilpin could potentially dissolve, which is akin to a form of bankruptcy, the pool’s board told members in a letter posted to Facebook. “We need...
Brackenridge, Harrison and Tarentum continue joint planning effort
An effort to develop a joint comprehensive plan for Brackenridge, Harrison and Tarentum is scheduled to take another step forward with a public meeting next month. “We want everybody to come,” said Elaine Kramer, a designer and planner with the Pittsburgh-based consulting firm Pashek+MTR, which has been working with a...
Longtime Lower Burrell bartender mixes up a variety of drinks, flavors
Editor’s note: Building the Valley tells stories of businesses big and small and the employees who make them special. If you know of any standout employees, bosses or companies with a great story to tell, contact Senior News Editor Tom Fontaine at tfontaine@tribweb.com. Amber Adda can’t remember how she landed...
Owner of Allegheny Lumber and Supply remembered as businessman with big heart
William Schrecongost, who owned the Allegheny Lumber and Supply Co. in Tarentum, was known in the industry for his knowledge and hard work. What many did not know about him was that he was a music major at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the late 1950s. “He was an excellent...
The Stroller, Jan. 27, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Deer Lakes HS to present, “Beehive: School Edition” The Deer Lakes High School Drama Department will present, “Beehive: School Edition,” at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday in the high school auditorium, West Deer. The show celebrates the powerful female voices of the 60s and includes hits...
A woman’s touch makes Aspinwall’s business district shine bright
Stroll, sip and shop your way around Aspinwall, a tiny historic borough that’s big on supporting its thriving small business district, which encompasses several blocks on two main avenues: Brilliant and Commercial. Aspinwall Chamber of Commerce President Giuseppe Francioni says the “ ‘Wall” is more than just a neighborhood. “We’re...
Alle-Kiski Valley churches hold 52nd annual Martin Luther King memorial serviceVideo
The Rev. Dr. Deborah Harris described standing in the doorway of room 306 in the Lorrain Motel in Memphis and trying to wrap her mind around the tragedy that happened there. The room is where the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed April 4, 1968. The...
Bowling fundraiser raises $9K for St. Joseph student battling Ewing’s sarcomaVideo
Bowling is one team that St. Joseph High School senior Eli Swierczewski doesn’t play on. But that didn’t stop the 18-year-old from getting a strike at least once Sunday during a bowling fundraiser to help raise money for his cancer treatment at Wildlife Lanes in Lower Burrell. “I’m having a...
Fire heavily damages house under construction on Bagdad Road, Allegheny Township
Fire caused extensive damage to a house under construction in Allegheny Township on Sunday afternoon. The fire at 1241 Bagdad Road was reported shortly after 1 p.m., a Westmoreland County emergency dispatcher said. Volunteer firefighters from seven or eight departments from the Alle-Kiski Valley responded. No one was in the...
The Stroller, Jan. 26, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Bowl-A-Thon to raise money for Burrell foundation The annual Bowl-A-Thon, sponsored by Burrell Education Foundation, will be 1 to 4 p.m. Feb. 9 at Wildlife Lanes, 1000 Wildlife Lodge Road, Lower Burrell. Cost is $20 per bowler; and includes bowling and shoe rental. There will be prizes and raffles and...
Oakmont Tiger Scouts learn about literacy and helping others through book donationsVideo
Oakmont Tiger Scout Pack 137 members have learned a lesson in philanthropy and literacy while donating to a local charity. Pack leader Melissa Havran and her Scouts collected about 30 books for Literacy Pittsburgh, a charity devoted to creating better lives through learning. They made the donation Friday at Mystery...
Fat Cats Subs starts benefit for Cheswick fire familyVideo
A Cheswick sub shop is starting a benefit to help a Cheswick family of four whose home and belongings were destroyed in a fire last Jan. 17. Kayla Fischerkeller and Ryan Brittingham and their two children, ages 3 and 5, were not at home when fire destroyed their modular home...
St. Joseph High School mom recounts March for Life experience in Washington
Nearly three dozen people from the Alle-Kiski Valley took a whirlwind trip to Washington, D.C., on Friday to attend the yearly March for Life on the National Mall. The locals, which included students from St. Joseph High School in Natrona Heights, Harrison, were among the tens of thousands that attended...
The Stroller, Jan. 25, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Valentine’s Day luncheon planned at American Legion The Tarentum Recreation Board will sponsor a Valentine’s Day luncheon at 1 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Brackenridge American Legion, 845 First Ave. Cost is $20 each. The menu includes chicken, stuffed cabbage, penne pasta, potatoes, vegetable, rolls, cake and beverage. Entertainment will...
Leechburg Council has questions for school board about Veterans Stadium work
Leechburg Council would like the Leechburg Area School Board to answer questions it has concerning renovations at Veterans Stadium. Council members Ruth Bender and Lorrie Bazella attended Wednesday’s school board meeting to ask several questions about the planned project, which calls for installing artificial turf and a running track at...
Mediation fails to resolve former Highlands teacher’s federal lawsuit against district
Mediation has so far failed to resolve one former Highlands School District employee’s federal lawsuit against the district, while a related case is set to head into its mediation. A mediation session for teacher Jason Smith’s case was held Thursday, according to court records. Smith, formerly a fourth-grade teacher at...
Schools, churches, non-profits to receive aid for promoting census in Westmoreland County
Schools, churches and local nonprofit organizations interested in promoting the census will have a little help soon from the Westmoreland County Complete Count Committee. Aimed at collecting an accurate countywide count, the committee is offering mini-grants of up to $1,000 to help with necessary resources and training for an organization’s...
The Stroller, Jan. 24, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Fundraiser to aid Humane Society of Westmoreland County The fourth annual Festival of Love Family Dinner will be at 6 p.m. Feb. 14 at Salem Lutheran Church, 301 E Pittsburgh St., Delmont. The menu includes spaghetti, tossed salad and bread. Those attending are asked to bring a dessert to share....
Route 56 in Allegheny Township closed for a time after wreck
A 25-year-old Vandergrift man was driving a van Thursday night along Route 56 in Allegheny Township when he suffered a medical episode, lost control and crashed into a hillside, police said. Allegheny Township police Sgt. Dan Uncapher said the accident occurred at about 9:45 p.m. at 6473 Route 56, near...
Alle-Kiski Arts Consortium shows work of local art teachers
For Teresa Emeroff, the “Practice What We Teach” exhibit was the chance to finish some of her own work and experience the joy of sharing it. An art teacher at Highlands High School, she said she doesn’t get to do that very often. “I start projects all the time at...
Oklahoma Borough man dies 2 days after being accused of indecent assault
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...
Western Pa. pro-life activists excited for Trump appearance at March for Life
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 —...
