Valley News Dispatch category, Page 635
Deer Lakes Middle School students win ‘Powering Pittsburgh’ competitionVideo
Four Deer Lakes Middle School students are renewable energy champions. Students Natalie Shaffer, Elizabeth Strang, Jillian Beiber and Lia DeForce-Petersen placed first in the middle school division of Powering Pittsburgh, a competition that encourages students to come up with alternative ways to generate power in the city of Pittsburgh or...
Lower Burrell Republican hopes to challenge incumbent state Sen. Jim Brewster
A New Kensington-based attorney and mother of four wants to challenge state Sen. Jim Brewster, D-McKeesport, for his seat in the 2020 general election. Nicole Ziccarelli, a Republican, announced she is running for Brewster’s seat in the 45th Senatorial District, which includes the Alle-Kiski Valley communities including Plum, Arnold, Lower...
Salvation Army buys New Kensington’s Fort Crawford building for $850K
The Salvation Army of New Kensington closed on a deal Friday to buy the former Fort Crawford Elementary School for $850,000, its captain said. The organization plans to start moving into the Third Street building in December. “The biggest thing we’re excited about is our opportunity to be able to...
New Kensington Bridge inspection to close section of Freeport Road
A section of Freeport Road that goes under the New Kensington Bridge will be closed to northbound motorists from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday because of inspection work. Northbound motorists will be able to use the bridge ramps to exit and get back on Freeport Road. Flaggers will be...
Salvation Army loses week of fundraising to Thanksgiving
With Thanksgiving coming later than usual this year, many Salvation Army centers across Western Pennsylvania are starting their annual Red Kettle campaigns early in order to meet their fundraising goals. The Salvation Army’s Western Pennsylvania Division will place the familiar red kettles at Giant Eagle stores starting Monday, spokeswoman Ava...
Witness in New Kensington cop killer’s case transferred amid safety concerns
A key witness in the trial of convicted New Kensington cop killer Rahmael Holt has been transferred out of the Westmoreland County Prison, the District Attorney’s Office said Friday . Assistant District Attorney Jim Lazar said Tavon Harper is being held in Washington County “for his protection.” Harper, 29, was...
The Stroller, Nov. 22, 2019: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Santa needs help: You can ‘adopt’ senior for Christmas Concordia Lutheran Ministries has again opened its Adopt-A-Resident Program to the community. Individuals, businesses or congregations may call the facility of their choice to “adopt” a resident and give him or her Christmas gifts. Gift suggestions include a sweat suit, door...
Vandergrift holding night markets during holiday season
Vandergrift has launched a new series of night markets and invites local vendors to sell handcrafted goods and connect with the community. The first Holiday Night Market took place Thursday in the town’s former J.C. Penney building on Grant Avenue. The event was sponsored by the Vandergrift Improvement Program, a...
Children’s book about Merlyn the police dog has special connection to Allegheny Valley schoolsVideo
Who wouldn’t love a police dog that pines for French fries? Second-graders at Acmetonia Elementary School in Harmar learned the eating and work habits of Merlyn, the now retired police dog for Springdale Township. Jennifer Callen-Naviglia and her sister, Leslee Green, recently released the children’s book, “K-9 Merlyn Police Dog...
Leechburg talent show to raise money for spring musical
The Leechburg Drama Club is hoping its second annual talent show fundraiser Friday is at least as successful as last year’s inaugural event, which raised $4,000 to help put on a high school musical. Regardless, those attending Friday’s event are going to get a good show, according to Leechburg Area...
Court battle begins in Tarentum billboard case
An Allegheny County judge heard arguments Thursday in a case where a billboard company is fighting for the right to place a sign near the Tarentum Bridge. Staff for Common Pleas Judge Joseph James said he will render a decision in the case within a week. America First Enterprises, doing...
Opening of Harmar’s Jacoby Road delayed until next year
Wintry weather has further postponed the reopening of Harmar’s Jacoby Road, officials said Thursday. The road has been closed since July as part of a $1.1 million bridge replacement project. The section of road between Rosedale Road and Ecker Lane was supposed to reopen sometime this month, but the county’s...
The Stroller, Nov. 21, 2019: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Volunteers needed for free tax service AARP Tax Aide is recruiting volunteers for the upcoming tax preparation season. Tax Aide volunteers assist taxpayers with filing their federal, state and local taxes at no charge. Sites are located at senior centers, libraries, churches and the officers of state representatives in the...
Police on alert for furnace, hot water tank stolen in Brady Township
State police are investigating the theft of a furnace and hot water tank from a Brady Township home. Troopers from the Butler station reported a burglary occurred sometime between Nov. 10-13 in the Brady Hills Mobile Home Park along Bluebell Lane. Someone entered the victims’ residence and stole the items...
Leechburg considers 24% tax hike
Leechburg Council has approved a $1.2 million preliminary budget that includes a 24% increase in property taxes. Under the preliminary plan, the borough’s tax rate would go up 4 mills, to 22.3 from 18. At the proposed rate, someone with a house assessed at $25,000 would pay about $558 in...
Police investigating reported shooting along Route 28 in Harmar
Details of a reported armed robbery along Route 28 in Harmar that left one man wounded remain a mystery, state police said Wednesday. A Pittsburgh man who was treated at Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison for shooting-related injuries told police that he had been robbed and shot near Route 28’s...
New school resource officer among those serving lunch at Kiski Area Upper Elementary
Police officers from Washington Township served lunch Wednesday to students at Kiski Area Upper Elementary School. Officers lined up behind the cafeteria counters and served pizza and sandwiches to fifth- and sixth-graders. The event isn’t new. Officers usually serve lunch at the school once a year. But this was the...
Rain expected for Tarentum-Brackenridge parade, some activities moved inside
Organizers of the joint Tarentum-Brackenridge Christmas parade are hoping for good weather as this year’s event approaches. The parade is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. Saturday, proceeding from the Tarentum Bridge in Tarentum, down Fifth Avenue to Corbet Street, and then up First Avenue to Morgan Street in Brackenridge....
Tarentum awards contract for 23 building demolitions
Tarentum will pay a single contractor almost $171,000 to tear down 23 dilapidated houses in the borough. Council awarded the contract to Allen Demolition of Wilkinsburg. Costs for individual properties range from $5,000 to $10,000. The borough was considering awarding contracts to multiple companies based on cost, but Allen Demolition...
Family holds second annual fundraiser for son’s scleroderma nonprofit
Laurie Churma of Washington Township was joined by friends and family Tuesday as they paid tribute to her son Kody and raised money to fund research into the disease that took his life. In less than two years, Kody Churma went from a healthy young man to one who was...
The Stroller, Nov. 20, 2019: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Vandergrift Police Department collecting donations Vandergrift Police Department is conducting its Feed the Families Project through Friday. Non-perishable food items and monetary contributions will be accepted from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday at the borough building, 109 Grant Ave., in care of Officer Gray. Five Forces collecting personal...
Vandergrift man jailed on drug possession charges
A Vandergrift man who police say attempted to flee from authorities was arrested Tuesday afternoon on charges of having suspected heroin and other narcotics. Jerry Moore, 61, of Custer Avenue was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, driving with a suspended license, two counts of possession of controlled substances and...
Oakmont councilwoman to seek state House seat next year
Carrie DelRosso, an Oakmont councilwoman and public relations consultant, announced she will challenge state Rep. Frank Dermody, D-Oakmont, in next year’s election for the 33rd state House seat. DelRosso hopes to earn the Republican nomination. Dermody has held the seat since 1991. He defeated Republican challenger Joshua Nulph last year....
Police: Oakmont native confessed to killing Bethel Park woman in Nevada
An Oakmont native who confessed to killing a Bethel Park woman in the Nevada desert two months ago will remain in Allegheny County Jail without bail, a judge ruled Tuesday. But John Matthew Chapman, 39, of Oakland, Md., has yet to be charged with the death of Jaime Mae Feden,...
Walgreens closes Lower Burrell store
The Walgreens store on Greensburg Road in Lower Burrell has closed, a spokesman for the pharmacy chain confirmed Tuesday. The store closed on Nov. 13, spokesman Phil Caruso said. Caruso said the store’s closing was part of a previously announced plan to close a number of stores across the country....
