Valley News Dispatch category, Page 680
Vandergrift man accused of kidnapping baby in Arnold
A Vandergrift man is accused of beating up a woman and kidnapping her baby Saturday in Arnold. Police arrested Jusu Jeovainni Kanneh Jr., 30, of Grant Street at his home after the woman accused him of assaulting her and taking her 4-month-old son from her when she arrived at her...
Highlands special education director resigns
The special education director at Highlands School District is resigning. Debra Lehew’s resignation was among a number of personnel actions the school board approved Monday. Lehew’s resignation is effective June 30. The board approved an agreement along with accepting Lehew’s resignation; the agreement was not immediately released. Lehew could not...
Public’s concerns, suggestions sought to shape future of 3 communities
People who live, work and do business in Tarentum, Brackenridge and Harrison have a chance to tell local officials how they’d like to see the communities improved over the next decade. The two boroughs and township are working together on a new comprehensive plan. Part of the more than yearlong...
Authorities investigating overnight shooting in Arnold
Westmoreland County authorities are investigating an overnight shooting in Arnold that ended with a bullet-riddled SUV in New Kensington. The shooting occurred in the 1600 block of Woodbine Alley in Arnold, according to John W. Clark, a detective with the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office. The office is investigating the...
Highlands School District to appeal ruling requiring release of teacher’s name
The Highlands School District wants a court to decide whether school districts can keep private the names of employees facing disciplinary actions. The school board voted 8-0 Monday to appeal an April 30 decision by the state’s Office of Open Records in a case brought by the Tribune-Review. Board member...
No tax hike in Allegheny Valley School District’s proposed budget
Allegheny Valley School Board approved the district’s proposed $23 million preliminary budget for next school year. The spending plan includes no increase in property taxes. District officials said expenses increased by about 1%, mostly because of pension contributions. The budget will be on review for the public before final approval...
Highlands budget would hike taxes, spend $1.6 million from reserves
The Highlands School District would increase property taxes by the maximum allowed by the state, and spend $1.6 million from its reserves, under the district’s proposed final budget for the 2019-20 school year. Unless it is changed before the final vote in June, property taxes would go up by 3.3%,...
Stolen Fawn race car found, trailer still missing
A race car stolen from Fawn has been found, but police still are looking for the trailer it was on. “It was recovered in West Mifflin,” Fawn police Chief Tim Mayberry said Monday. The customized Dodge Neon was reported stolen from a lot along Lumber Drive, off Bull Creek Road,...
16-year-old faces arson charges in connection with Harrison fire
A 16-year-old is accused of starting an April 22 fire at a Sheldon Park apartment building in Harrison that displaced four people and caused at least $500,000 in damage, according to investigators. Authorities did not identify the suspected fire-starter on Monday, but said the teen lives in Harrison and is...
Kiski Area students looking for vets/families to include on veterans web site
During the festivities this Saturday honoring the late Sgt. Jason M. McClary at the Allegheny Township War Memorial, Kiski Area students will be signing up area veterans and the families of late veterans for inclusion on the Kiski Area Veterans Website. Kiski Area School District students have amassed the histories...
Students spruce up Lower Burrell’s Veterans Central ParkVideo
When a trip to New York City fell through, Burrell High School students decided to donate $1,000 they raised for the outing — along with their free labor — for a much-needed sprucing up of Lower Burrell’s Veterans Central Park on Monday. “When we were younger, we used to play...
Devoted Arnold Furniture employee will be hard to replace
Kevin F. Remaley lived for his daughter Saydi. A longtime employee of Arnold Furniture in Arnold, the Lower Burrell man raised her on his own and even started a disc jockey business for her, his mom said. “Everything he did, he did for her,” his mother, Tammy Remaley Tallerico, said....
Creative, performance arts to shine at Leechburg Area High School on ThursdayVideo
Student talent is set to shine at the 2019 Leechburg Arts Expo on Thursday . Hosted by Leechburg Area School District’s art, music and Creation Nation departments, this collaborative effort offers a free, community-inspired evening showcasing students’ musical talents and artistic creations. The annual expo is free and open to...
What to do with Colfax? That’s the question for Allegheny Valley School Board candidates
What to do with the now-empty Colfax Elementary School is on the minds of the seven candidates vying for five seats on the Allegheny Valley School Board. Candidates include three incumbents — James Gaschler, Steve Puskar and Glenna Renaldi — and four challengers. Challengers Salvatore Conte and Kathleen “Jeanne” Haas...
PA Hero Walk to honor the late Army Sgt. Jason McClary
The PA Hero Walk will hold a memorial ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday for Army Sgt. Jason McClary at 21 Towne Center Drive in Allegheny Township. McClary, 24, a native of the Export area, died in late 2018 at an Army base in Germany from injuries he suffered five days...
Winfield Winery is a hidden gem in CabotVideo
Combining heritage with hobby is the concept behind Winfield Winery in Cabot. Italian winemaker John Ricchuito opened his rural winery on the grounds of his Winfield Township home he shares with wife, Linda, in 2006. “I read a lot, learned things off of the internet and decided I was going...
Highlands student reads between 100 and 200 books a year just for funVideo
Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series that features Alle-Kiski Valley residents and the notable things they do. Lucas Witt sees life mostly in black and white, like the words on a printed page. That’s because the Highlands High School junior can often be found with a book...
Some Washington Township residents could get hit with stormwater fees
Washington Township supervisors expanded the powers of the Municipal Authority of Washington Township to handle stormwater projects. While the authority has jurisdiction over sewage issues, supervisors voted unanimously last week to allow the authority to also deal with stormwater projects. The township is making the change as part of an...
A field of 9 vying for 6 seats on New Kensington-Arnold School Board
A change in the makeup of the New Kensington-Arnold School Board is inevitable next year, as three incumbents are not seeking another term. There’s also a movement afoot where five newcomers are running together on a Change4NKASD ticket that’s promising an overhaul in the way the school board operates. Change4NKASD...
Lower Burrell’s former solicitor challenging 2 city councilmen for seat
Lower Burrell’s former solicitor is going up against two incumbent councilmen for one of their seats on the Democratic ticket in Tuesday’s primary. There was a show of support on Facebook for Lower Burrell resident and longtime city solicitor Stephen Yakopec Jr. when his contract with the city was in...
In Lower Burrell mayor’s race, attracting business is key issue
A newcomer without political experience is challenging the Lower Burrell’s incumbent mayor for the Democratic nomination in Tuesday’s primary. When John Andrejcik, 60, worked as an official court reporter for Allegheny County Court, he was prohibited from seeking public office. He retired in October, so he is running for mayor....
Arrest made in Fox Chapel Yacht Club stabbing
Allegheny County Police have made an arrest in the stabbing of 30-year-old man at the Fox Chapel Yacht Club early Sunday. Police accuse Christopher Schmeider, 28, of committing the stabbing during an argument just after 3 a.m. Sunday. The victim’s wounds were not life-threatening. Schmeider was taken to the Allegheny...
Tarentum police officer saves ducklings trapped in a storm sewer
Tarentum police Officer Kurt Jendrejewski knew what he had to do Sunday morning when it was clear there were ducklings in a storm sewer drain on Corbet Street. After a concerned resident called the police station Jendrejewski showed up to find the mother duck and three of her ducklings frantically...
Saturday fire adds challenges for Upper Burrell family
Chad and Carolyn Clark had replaced the roof and gutters, repainted and remodeled most of their house along scenic Rocky Lane in Upper Burrell. Things were moving ahead until a weekend fire. At about 6 p.m. Saturday, an electrical fire changed plans for the Clark family of five. Everyone got...
Tarentum flea market visitors get bargains, great weatherVideo
Marni Davis got ready early for Tarentum Recreation Board’s first flea market Sunday. “I started setting up at 6:30 a.m.,” said Davis, of East Deer’s Creighton neighborhood. Trash to Treasure was held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot of J.G.’s Tarentum Station Grille. Davis has a...
