Valley News Dispatch category, Page 643
Tarentum water line break affects several parts of borough
A break in a 12-inch water line Friday afternoon affected service in several parts of Tarentum, borough Manager Michael Nestico said. The break happened around 2 p.m. on Larusse Boulevard, he said. There was no identified cause for the break in the old, high-pressure line. The break was causing homes...
Halloween activities in the Alle-Kiski Valley – Oct. 25, 2019
Because of the inclement weather forecast, some communities have changed the day of trick-or-treat. Trick-or-treat and events open only to residents of the designated community include: • Allegheny Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31 • Avonmore: 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 2. Please note the date change. • Bethel...
Additional spending approved for Valley High School track project
New Kensington-Arnold School District is having to put almost $16,000 more into its track, but is saving about $10,000 on a project at its football field. Work on replacing the track at Valley High School and the artificial turf at the nearby Memorial Stadium are proceeding on schedule, Superintendent John...
Security heightened at Fox Chapel Area High School after bomb threat
Heightened security will be visible when students arrive for class today at Fox Chapel Area High School in the wake of Thursday’s bomb threat that closed the building. A limited number of doors will be open for people to access the building and extra staff will be on hand, Superintendent...
The Stroller, Oct. 25, 2019: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Open mic event planned Sunday in Brackenridge The Autism Society of Pittsburgh and Band Together Pittsburgh will host an Open Mic event from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday in the banquet hall at Trinity United Methodist Church, 847 10th Ave., Brackenridge. Microphones, keyboards, guitars, amps and percussion instruments will be...
3 Kittanning troopers among Top Gun honorees
Three troopers from the same Alle-Kiski Valley station will be among those honored Thursday by the Pennsylvania DUI Association. The association will hold is 40th annual meeting through Friday at the Sheraton Station Square in Pittsburgh. Winners of the Top Gun award for arresting suspected impaired drivers include Cpl. Chris...
New Highlands acting principal is a key figure in lawsuits against district
The newly appointed acting principal at Highlands Early Childhood Center is a key figure in two lawsuits against the Highlands School District. District Superintendent Monique Mawhinney appointed Cathy Russo as acting principal in the wake of the resignation of Principal Heather Bigney. In a federal lawsuit filed Monday, the day...
Pharmacies to police stations, drug take back collection sites open SaturdayVideo
Saturday’s Drug Take Back Day will accept unwanted THC or other vape cartridges but not those with batteries, according to Drug Enforcement Agent Pat Trainor. The 18th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will be held across the country. The service is free. The event is absolutely anonymous. No questions,...
Ford City Junior-Senior High site to become Butler County Community College campus
The site of the old Ford City Junior-Senior High School is being redeveloped as the home of a new Butler County Community College campus in a $5 million project. Increasing enrollment at a BC3 site that opened four years ago in nearby Manor Township is the driving force for the...
Man wounded in midday shooting in New KensingtonVideo
Someone shot a man in the leg late Thursday morning in New Kensington, according to city police. The shooting happened in the 1300 block of Leishman Avenue around 11:30 a.m., according to Detective Sgt. Matt Saxman. Witnesses said a gunman fired multiple shots and struck the victim at least once...
Officials investigating early-morning fire in Plum
Fire officials are investigating a fire Thursday at a home in Plum. The fire in the 500 block of Unity Center Road was put out by Plum firefighters. The fire was reported just before 6 a.m., according to an Allegheny County dispatch supervisor. Plum police Lt. Lanny Conley said no...
Bomb threat closes Fox Chapel Area High School
Fox Chapel Area High School is closed today for a bomb threat, despite a search of the building that turned up clear. School officials late last night were notified on the state-mandated Safe2Say Something tip line about a threat to the high school, Bonnie Berzonski, district coordinator of communications, said....
The Stroller, Oct. 24, 2019: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Tarentum church to celebrate historic landmark designation The building that houses Central Presbyterian Church, Tarentum, has received Historic Landmark status from the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation. The present building was built in 1913 and the founding congregation dates back to April 1888, when a small wood-frame chapel was constructed...
Apollo man pleads to federal marijuana charges
An Apollo man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Pittsburgh to conspiring to sell more than 50 kilograms of marijuana that he had shipped from Colorado, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Wednesday. Prosecutors said Stephen Michael Lerch, 27, received numerous parcels of marijuana and vaping cartridges containing THC from...
Highlands disputes claims made by former principal who sued school district
Highlands School District on Wednesday disputed claims made by former Principal Heather Bigney in a federal lawsuit filed against the district this week, alleging officials retaliated against her for taking unpaid leave and dating a former teacher. “The district and its solicitor … have received and reviewed the complaint Dr....
Vandergrift police make big meth, heroin haul
An Armstrong County man arrested Tuesday in Vandergrift is accused of having more than $11,000 of crystal methamphetamine and almost three “bricks” of heroin. Monty Gene Smith II, 35, of West Lebanon Road, South Bend Township, was arrested without incident in a residence along the 300 block of Emerson Street...
Harmar supervisors say public needs to be prepared for tougher stormwater runoff rules
Harmar supervisors are pondering how to increase community awareness on the demands of the federal Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Program. Supervisor Harry Lenhart discussed the need for such an effort after attending a Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors conference last week about the program, also known as MS4....
Judge: Prosecutors can say suspect in killing of Brian Shaw had gun conviction
A Westmoreland County judge on Wednesday ruled against a defense request to remove gun charges from the upcoming capital murder trial of the man accused in the slaying of New Kensington police officer Brian Shaw. Judge Rita Hathaway said that doing so would limit the prosecution’s effort to present motive...
Road 66 in Oaklahoma Borough to close for railroad work
Route 66 in Oklahoma Borough will be closed near Orr Avenue between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday so Norfolk Southern crews can do maintenance work on a railroad crossing. About 11,000 motorists travel that section of Route 66 daily, according to PennDOT. Signs will be posted to guide motorists...
Police: Men went on $1,500 shoplifting spree at Walmarts in Harrison, Frazer
Two men are accused of stealing more $1,500 worth of electric toothbrushes and razors, teeth whitening strips and food from Walmart stores in Harrison and Frazer. Frazer police said they received a tip Saturday from police in Harrison that the two men had shoplifted at the Walmart in Harrison and...
Highlands’ talent show Thursday to raise money toward spring musical
Highlands High School is staging its annual “Fall Follies” talent show on Thursday, Oct. 24. The student-led evening features 24 acts from 78 students in the Highlands Honors and Variations Show Choirs and musical stage crew. The event is a fundraiser for Highland’s spring musical. “The monies raised will go...
West Deer bridge project completed ahead of schedule
A project to demolish a structurally deficient bridge in West Deer was completed earlier than expected, officials said. Work at the intersection of Lick and Bairdford roads began Sept. 3 and was expected to continue until November, according to officials with the Allegheny County Department of Public Works. Officials announced...
‘Age of Aquarius 4’ show to play at Quality Inn, New Kensington
The four bands from “Age of Aquarius 4” are taking the show on the road. Instead of performing at the Casino Theatre in Vandergrift, The Love Generation, First Light, Heidi & the Hellcats and Sourmash will play for the first time in the ballroom of the Quality Inn in New...
Former Highlands principal sues district, claims retaliation
The former principal of Highlands Early Childhood Center sued the Highlands School District, claiming its superintendent retaliated against her for taking unpaid leave and being in a relationship with a former teacher. Heather Bigney quit her job as principal Monday, the same day she filed the federal lawsuit. The lawsuit...
Deer Lakes students spread kindness with service project
Students at Curtisville Primary Center in West Deer are eager to spread kindness in the community. Members of the school’s Kindness Kids Club last week prepared more than two dozen care packages filled with goodies for first responders in the township. The students, from kindergarten through second grade, made the...
