Valley News Dispatch category, Page 664
State awards $719K in tax credits for Harrison senior housing project
A $10 million senior housing project in Harrison is getting financial help from the state. The development, in the former Highlands School District administration building on 11th Avenue, is among 39 multifamily housing developments getting part of $41.6 million in low-income housing tax credits, Gov. Tom Wolf announced. The Harrison...
Large tree blocks Riddle Run Road in Springdale Township
A large tree fell across both lanes of Riddle Run in Springdale Township on Thursday night, and the road remained closed to motorists Friday morning. PennDOT was called to handle removing the tree. “Usually firefighters handle it, but this one is too large,” said Allegheny Valley Regional Police Patrolman Craig...
Leechburg man killed in Route 66 motorcycle crash
The Armstrong County coroner said a Leechburg man was killed Friday morning when he lost control of his motorcycle along Route 66 in Gilpin. Coroner Brian K. Myers identified the victim as 55-year-old Ronald M. Mego. Myers said Mego was traveling north toward Leechburg just before 6:30 a.m.when he lost...
Arnold Council seeks ideas for spending $300K in federal money
Arnold Council is considering using a portion of its 2019 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for improvements to Roosevelt Park. Council approved Tuesday a CDBG proposal that provides about $16,300 for improvements to the park, located at the intersection of Constitution Boulevard and Drey Street. That amounts to about 5.5%...
Plum’s farmers market to now happen every Monday
A new farmers market program in Plum may have found its roots. The borough had its first Monday Market at Plum Creek Park along New Texas Road on July 8. At least 100 people stopped by from 3 to 7 p.m. to check out the event’s inaugural vendors, including Pappy’s...
Leechburg begins work on borough roadways
Leechburg Borough officials have announced streets that will be repaved or repaired this summer. Mayor Wayne Dobos said improvements will be done on parts of Main, First, Second, Pitt streets. This summer’s projects also include Kiski, Siberian Washington, Logan, Madison and Lincoln avenues. Crews have started some of the work,...
Tarentum Council meeting canceled
The Tarentum Council meeting scheduled for tonight has been canceled, the borough announced. The meeting was called off because not enough council members would be present to conduct business. At least four of the council’s seven members are required. Council next will meet for an agenda meeting on Aug. 6...
Accused Arnold killer already was on the run from police
The man accused in a fatal Arnold shooting last month already was on the run from police before he became a murder suspect. Court records show Allen Duwayne Herring, 32, of Braddock was wanted for failing to appear in Westmoreland County Court in February to face drug possession charges filed...
FBI, police looking for man who robbed Brackenridge credit union
Federal agents and local police are asking for help identifying a man they say robbed a Brackenridge bank Wednesday afternoon at gunpoint. The robbery occurred around 2 p.m. at the Allegheny Ludlum Brackenridge Credit Union at 1131 Brackenridge Ave. According to the FBI in Pittsburgh, the robber displayed a gun,...
Torrential rain leads to widespread flooding across Western Pa.
Traffic on several roads remained affected in Allegheny County Friday morning after heavy rains pounded Western Pennsylvania Thursday, causing widespread flooding and hazards that shut down major thoroughfares throughout the region. PennDOT spokesman Steve Cowan said those roads spanned from Frazer Township to Crescent Township: • A bridge on Kittanning...
Landslide, $45,000 fine didn’t stop Upper Burrell gas well drilling
Wells were drilled despite a state-imposed $45,000 fine against Huntley & Huntley for a landslide on a private road for the Zeus unconventional natural gas well pad in Upper Burrell along Guyer Road. The slide near the fracking well pad added to regulatory and legal challenges at the site but...
Walnut Street in Springdale reopens
Walnut Street in Springdale reopened Wednesday afternoon after being closed since Sunday. A portion of Walnut Street at the intersection with Porter Street was damaged after heavy rains Saturday caused water to get into a seam and lift and crack some of the asphalt. Borough crews had to dig up...
Hoboken church in Blawnox marks 140 years with ‘big party’
When Hoboken Presbyterian Church first opened its doors in 1879 — 140 years ago — parishioners turned out to worship in a small school building near the Allegheny County Work House. The congregation grew and moved to the cavernous red brick building on the corner of North Avenue, just off...
Kiski Township couple invites everyone to share fruits of their labor
The biggest, juiciest red raspberry of the season can barely contain itself, ripened to perfection but still hanging on the cane at a small farm along Kiski Township’s Old State Road. The perfection is by design as Martin Krezolek, 42, researched and planted what he believes are the best kinds...
Highlands hires new assistant superintendent from Wilkinsburg
Highlands School District has a new assistant superintendent. The school board hired Cathleen Cubelic, who has been an assistant superintendent in the Wilkinsburg School District since May 2017. She was hired with a starting salary of $126,000 under a three-year agreement. When she will start at Highlands is not yet...
2 fined, face license revocations for illegal fishing in Armstrong County
Two men accused of keeping illegal fish from the Allegheny River in Armstrong County could lose their fishing licenses for two years and be forced to pay thousands of dollars in fines. A state Fish & Boat Commission officer said another fisherman called the commission May 7 to report that...
Gilpin bicyclist injured in Route 66 mishap
A 71-year-old bicycle rider was injured Tuesday when his bike hit the side of an SUV in Gilpin, township police said. Sam Iusi of Gilpin was riding a bike on Route 66 north toward Bethel Township near Jack Road at about 10 a.m. when his bicycle collided with the side...
Verona joins Allegheny County’s Live Well Allegheny initiative to promote healthy living
Verona officials are pushing for ways residents can live healthier through Allegheny County’s Live Well Allegheny campaign. The nearly half square mile town recently joined the more than 60 communities, 51 restaurants, 32 workplaces and 18 school districts already in the program designed to promote physical health, mental wellness, personal...
Allegheny Township gets $71K for keeping insurance claims to a minimum
Allegheny Township received $71,000 in dividends for keeping its insurance and workers compensation claims to a minimum last year. It was no accident, according to township manager Greg Primm. Primm said the township’s department leaders are constantly “preaching the gospel of safety” when training employees and they always look for...
Residential development tentatively approved near Beechwood Farms
Indiana Township supervisors on Tuesday night tentatively approved The Waters, a planned residential development (PRD) less than a half-mile west of Fairview Elementary School on Dorseyville Road. By a 3-2 vote, the board gave first-round approval of The Waters Senior Living Holdings, with the stipulation that additional traffic/parking studies can...
Billboard company calls Tarentum zoning ‘unconstitutional’
Tarentum’s zoning ordinance is unconstitutional because it does not allow billboards anywhere in the borough, a company argued in appealing the borough’s denial of its proposal to put one up beside the Tarentum Bridge. America First Enterprises, doing business as Oliver Outdoor, is asking an Allegheny County judge to vacate...
Tarentum considering 16% increase in part-time police pay
Tarentum is considering a 16% increase in the hourly rate it pays part-time police officers. It would increase the pay from $15.50 per hour to $18, according to borough manager Michael Nestico. Nestico said the borough needs to increase what it pays part-time officers because other municipalities are paying more,...
Gas drilling windfall will help repair roads in Fawn
An unexpected windfall from the state’s Act 13 program will enable Fawn to handle emergency repairs on two township roads. Fawn received $104,000 this year in Act 13 money derived from natural gas drilling royalties. That’s $21,000 more than last year. The extra money will enable Fawn to repair Sun...
Armstrong Community Theater’s ‘Mamma Mia’ is a family affair
This performance of the musical “Mamma Mia,” definitely has a mamma’s influence. Three mothers who introduced their daughters to the theater will be part of the production of the Armstrong Community Theater July 12-14 at the Casino Theatre in Vandergrift. “It’s a family affair,” says Hannah Younkins of Worthington, where...
Amateur Astronomers Association throws more free star parties in Washington Township
The Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh will throw two more free public star gazing parties this summer at Kunkle Park in Washington Township on July 27 and Aug. 3. If conditions are right, brightly colored double stars will be visible as will be the beautiful star clusters of the Milky...
