Valley News Dispatch category, Page 672
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...
Juvenile peregrine falcons spotted around region after leaving nests
It’s a long road to become the fastest flier on earth with speeds approaching 200 mph in a dive. But local juvenile peregrine falcons, which are designated as state-threatened, are on their way as two were spotted in the region this week after leaving their nests weeks ago. That is...
Tarentum needs plan for Riverview Memorial Park, manager says
Choosing the color of shade-providing sails at Tarentum’s spray park seems like a minor issue. But Borough Manager Michael Nestico said the problem is indicative of a larger one at Tarentum’s Riverview Memorial Park: there is no overall plan to guide decisions at the park along the Allegheny River. The...
Tarentum to check for asbestos in buildings eyed for demolition
Tarentum plans to hire a contractor to test more than two dozen buildings for asbestos. The 28 buildings are among the 33 now on the borough’s demolition list. Three companies submitted bids for the work. The lowest bid of $11,175 came from Corwin Inspections, borough Manager Michael Nestico said. Having...
Highlands to sell former Fawn elementary school
Highlands School District is looking to sell its former elementary school in Fawn. The school board approved soliciting sealed bids for the Highlands Support Center property at 5591 Ridge Road. The district set $500,000 as the lowest acceptable bid, which was based on an appraisal of the property, according to...
Delayed asphalt order pushes back reopening of Springdale’s Walnut Street
Walnut Street in Springdale is expected to remain closed through Wednesday afternoon while crews continue work to repair the street. Carmen Canonico, head of Springdale’s roads department, said the borough wasn’t able to get the asphalt needed to finish the work on Tuesday. It expected to get the asphalt needed...
Police arrest Braddock man accused of fatal Arnold shooting last month
A 32-year-old Braddock man accused of fatally shooting a man in an Arnold alley June 28 was arrested Monday night following a search involving police, bloodhounds and a helicopter. Police charged Allen Duwayne Herring with killing Gregory Ray Wynkoop, 35, of East Franklin during a robbery. Westmoreland County District Attorney...
Portion of Jacoby Road in Harmar to close for 4 months
Motorists who travel through Harmar near the Indiana Township line should expect delays the next four months while a portion of Jacoby Road is closed for bridge work. Specifically, Little Deer Creek Bridge No. 5 was scheduled to close at 6 a.m. July 17 for reconstruction, the Allegheny County Department...
Gilpin delays vote on ordinance that would allow ATVs on township roads
It will be at least another month until Gilpin supervisors decide whether all-terrain vehicles can be driven on some township roads. Supervisors Monday night delayed a final vote on the proposed ordinance since some language was added to the original proposal and there is a mandated review time for residents....
Taxes and snow cones part of the job for Gilpin accountant
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 reporter Madasyn Czebiniak at mczebiniak@tribweb.com. The most stressful time of the year for Jean...
Man crashes car into utility pole in Arnold, nearby homes lose power
A man was injured Monday night when he crashed his car head-on into a utility pole along Constitution Boulevard in Arnold, igniting sparks and prompting nearby properties to briefly lose power, officials and residents said. Police and volunteer firefighters responded to the report of the crash in the 1500 block...
Allegheny CleanWays removes 11,300 pounds of trash from Allegheny River
Volunteers collected 11,300 pounds of trash from the Allegheny River and its shorelines during 16 cleanups held in June from Millvale to Freeport, according to the nonprofit Allegheny CleanWays. “We’re so pleased with it,” Hannah Samuels, volunteer and outreach coordinator with Allegheny CleanWays, said. “It was so high quality.” Samuels...
