Valley News Dispatch category, Page 618
Oakmont police collecting expired, unwanted medications
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...
Plans to address Oakmont Commons flooding problems under review
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 wants to honor military veterans with banners
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...
Man accused of starting North Apollo bar fight, then fighting with cops
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...
Vandergrift man accused of hitting girlfriend with hammer during argument
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,...
Fire, EMS organizations in Allegheny, Westmoreland counties slated for state grants
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...
Police: 14-year-old Avonmore girl was high when she led police on chase
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 1st manager resigns
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 acquires box for residents to safely dispose of medication
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 hires new principal for elementary school
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...
Cheswick’s MaxMotive to sponsor ‘World of Wheels’ car show in PittsburghVideo
When Buffalo Township’s Bobby Maxwell was growing up in Saltsburg, he and his brother, David, worked at their father’s company Max Construction and learned business values such as being fair with customers. David stayed in the field of construction and runs the company today. Bobby became fascinated with the machinery,...
Springdale Township, pool, veterans try to resolve drainage issues
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...
Police looking for missing Verona man last seen in December
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...
The Stroller, Jan. 20, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
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 eyes proposals for Colfax Elementary demolition
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...
The Stroller, Jan. 20, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Youth football association collecting shoes Allegheny Valley Youth Football Association is collecting gently-used and new shoes from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays through Feb. 15 at Veterans Memorial Field, Lincoln Avenue, Springdale. Shoes will be redistributed through the Funds2Orgs network of small business partners and helps them to create, maintain...
New name can’t change the splendid view from Veltre’s in PlumVideo
It’s a slightly different spelling with the same spectacular view. An iconic venue in Plum affording stunning views of the Allegheny River and surrounding countryside has reopened. Veltre’s Wedding and Event Centre, formerly Veltri’s Restaurant, opened in 2016 after being shuttered for 12 years. Only a vowel separates the surnames...
Blaze destroys Freeport house that was being repaired after a fire 4 months ago
A Freeport home that caught fire in September and was undergoing renovations was destroyed early Sunday when another fire broke out. Firefighters were called to a home at 165 Washington St. shortly after 4 a.m. When they arrived, they found the house fully engulfed. “The fire was already through the...
Sale of ‘Hometown Hero’ banners ending in Vandergrift
This year will be the final year Vandergrift residents can purchase Hometown Hero banners for display in the town. Ashleigh Hannigan, assistant treasurer of the Vandergrift No. 1 Fire Department, facilitates the program and said 2020 will be the last year she will sell banners. Hometown Hero banners are designed...
Lower Valley’s sanitary authority on track for $50 million treatment plant expansion
The Allegheny Valley Joint Sewage Authority’s treatment plant expansion plans are not only on track, they are slightly ahead of schedule. Authority officials said initial permitting has been approved by the state Department of Environmental Protection. The electrical and structural plans are done, and a second round of permitting involving...
Highlands to lose $260K in yearly revenue after Heights Plaza assessment drops
An assessment appeal that slashed nearly $11 million from the value of the Heights Plaza shopping center will cost the Highlands School District $260,000 in revenue each year, according to district Business Manager Lori Byron. The total value of four parcels making up the plaza dropped from $17.3 million to...
The Stroller, Jan. 19, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Volunteer opportunities available HOPE Center The Alle-Kiski Area HOPE Center has many opportunities for volunteers to help the organization in its quest to eliminate domestic violence. Volunteers are needed to work with children, drive to Pittsburgh to courier food to Tarentum, organize events, present programs in schools and assist in...
New Kensington, Arnold police continue to follow leads in killings
Authorities say they continue to follow leads in the cases of two killings within about 24 hours of each other in New Kensington and Arnold. New Kensington police are still searching for whoever fatally shot Anthone Williams, 31, of Arnold early Wednesday evening in a vacant part of the city’s...
Cheswick couple grateful for support after house fire
A Cheswick couple is expressing their gratitude for an outpouring of support after a Friday morning house fire destroyed almost everything they owned and killed their two dogs. Kayla Fischerkeller and Ryan Brittingham, who are engaged to be married this spring, were at work when the fire engulfed their single-story...
Volunteers work to improve Freeport Community ParkVideo
Wednesday’s sunshine encouraged volunteers to move ahead with plans to add electricity to the Freeport Area High School’s girl’s softball and fast-pitch softball field inside the expansive Freeport Community Park. David Zembrzuski, who owns DRZ Excavating in Harrison, donated know-how and operated equipment to dig a trench from the electrical...
