Valley News Dispatch category, Page 688
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...
Hoffman Kennels, not volunteer group, hired as Arnold’s dog catcher
Arnold Council has opted to have Hoffman Kennels handle its animal control function instead of Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley. That decision came Tuesday after Gary Hoffman, the kennel owner, addressed council and answered questions about his operation. One thing Hoffman tried to dispel is the notion that he euthanizes...
Leechburg founder David Leech gets state historical marker
An official state marker now stands at River Avenue in Leechburg close to where founder David Leech established a canal and other businesses starting in the 1820s. “He founded the borough, and he made contributions to the state and the nation,” said Larry Boehm, vice president of the Leechburg Area...
Touch-A-Truck event in Harrison brings excitement to the little ones
Children didn’t just touch a truck Saturday in Harrison. The louder the horn, the wider the grin that appeared on the faces of preschool and elementary-age children at the second annual Touch-A-Truck sponsored by the Harrison Recreation Board. Most beeped and honked the horns for fire engine and delivery trucks...
Embattled Arnold mayor faces a primary contest from a councilman
A Democratic councilman in Arnold is attempting to knock off the city’s mayor in Tuesday’s primary election. Joe Bia II, 45, is at the midpoint of his first term council term but decided to make a run against Mayor Karen Peconi Biricocchi because, he said, “we can’t financially support the...
9 companies respond to Upper Burrell house fire
No one was reported injured when a house caught fire Saturday afternoon in Upper Burrell. The fire broke out at a house at 205 Rocky Lane just before 6 p.m, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. The fire was under control within about 25 minutes, according to the dispatcher. Firefighters...
Dearth of council candidates will plague Cheswick primary election
Cheswick voters might be surprised at the number of candidates for council when they enter the voting booth on Tuesday. Only two people — Republican incumbents Michael Girardi and Brad Yaksich — are running for four open seats. Three four-year seats and one two-year seat are up for election. Councilman...
Low voter turnout expected in Tuesday’s primary despite key local races
Between 75% and 80% of the region’s registered voters aren’t expected to cast a ballot in Tuesday’s primary, according to elections officials. The primary features county, municipal and school board races for Republican and Democratic party nominations to run in November’s general election. Local taxes are traditionally one of the...
Car with 4 occupants goes into creek in Plum
Four people were injured when a car went into a creek in Plum Borough Friday night. A Plum police spokesman said the occupants were “injured but stable.” The accident was reported near the intersection of Kerr Road and Dinwiddie Drive at 7:07 p.m., an Allegheny County Department of Public Safety...
Highlands rallying community to save Tarentum family center
The Allegheny Intermediate Unit would be forced to close most of its centers serving vulnerable Allegheny County families because of a more than $1 million reduction in state funding. The Highlands School District has put out a “call to action” for support for the center in Tarentum, and the county’s...
Police investigating Harrison home invasion charge occupant with drug offenses
Authorities called to a Harrison house to investigate a reported home invasion this month ended up charging a man living there after he told them there was marijuana inside, according to police. Chase Taylor Young, 19, told Allegheny County Police he had marijuana in an upstairs safe and gave police...
Couple accused of stealing merchandise from Habitat ReStore in New Kensington
A man and woman are accused of stealing merchandise from a New Kensington nonprofit earlier this week. Habitat for Humanity Allegheny Valley said the alleged theft happened Wednesday at Habitat’s ReStore, which resells donated goods. “Today at the ReStore, a man and woman (we have them on camera) stole 3...
