Valley News Dispatch category, Page 689
New Kensington man charged with assaulting girlfriend at her Plum home
A New Kensington man is facing charges after police say he assaulted his “on and off again” girlfriend when she refused to answer her front door as he pounded on it one night in March. David E. Saunders IV, 20, of New Kensington was charged with harassment and two counts...
Highlands Elementary students briefly evacuated because of natural gas odor
Students were evacuated from Highlands Elementary School for about a half-hour Friday morning. School officials sent students to the playground across the street after a strong smell of natural gas was detected around 10:15 a.m. Firefighters and gas company crews responded but found no problems at the school, officials said....
Dozens of vacant Tarentum buildings targeted for demolition
Nearly three dozen vacant Tarentum buildings have been marked for demolition. The borough would like to tear down at least a dozen this year. Those buildings either have partially collapsed or are close to a neighboring building, code enforcement officer Anthony Bruni said. How many get taken down this year...
Good weather jump starts multi-million dollar Lower Burrell City Hall project
The sunny skies on Thursday brought out the bulldozers and more to Lower Burrell’s city hall where contractors started work on a new public works building. The work is part of a $3.1 million project including the expansion of the police department, moving the tax office back to city hall...
Former Arnold Treasurer Joseph Puet, city involved in severance dispute
City officials in Arnold were given an $8,491.36 question this week and thus far have only provided an implied answer based on their solicitor’s advice: No. Retired treasurer Joseph Puet wants more than that. “I deserve to receive an answer. There’s been nothing,” Puet, 61, a lifelong resident of Arnold,...
New Kensington-Arnold teachers union reports ‘setback’ in contract talks
New Kensington-Arnold School District and its teachers union failed to reach an agreement on a new contract during a bargaining session Wednesday night. The two sides can’t even agree on who was involved in the latest negotiations. “No school board members attended the scheduled bargaining session,” New Kensington-Arnold Education Association...
Pocketbook issues drive heated contests in school board races
A controversial building project, questions about assessment appeals and a long-stalled teachers’ contract are among the issues driving public engagement in heated school board races in Tuesday’s primary. It’s not unusual for school board ballots to draw few candidates and scarce attention from voters. Given that candidates in such races...
Tarentum child care center launching new pre-school program
A Tarentum child care center is launching a new pre-school program. The new program has been in the works for three years, said Heather Wells, of West Deer, owner and director of The Growing Garden Child Care Center on Lock Street. The summer session starts June 10 and runs until...
Kiski Area School District real estate tax will remain same for next school year
Kiski Area School District’s proposed $62.4 million budget for next school year includes no increase in property taxes. The school district, however, would use $4.2 million in reserves to fill an anticipated budgetary shortfall. Officials unveiled the proposed budget for the 2019-2020 school year this month. The school board is...
Shady Side Academy names director of new $2.7M tech hub
The new $2.7 million computer science facility at Shady Side Academy has its leader. Jesse Robinson, the director of information technology at a school in Westport, Conn., will join the senior school in August as the head of the Glimcher Tech and Design Hub, with his mission to enhance the...
Highlands preK students visit Highland Hose fire hall in TarentumVideo
The tires on the trucks were bigger than them. Students in Highlands School District’s prekindergarten program got out of school on a warm and sunny Thursday to visit the Highland Hose fire hall in Tarentum. Chief Terry Chambon greeted visiting classes in the morning and afternoon. About 34 kids between...
Highlands releases bus proposals from Roenigk, ABC Transit
Highlands School District has released the proposals it received from two companies to bus its students over the next five years. The proposals from W.L. Roenigk, the district’s current and long-time provider, and ABC Transit are available on the district’s website at www.goldenrams.com. Links to the documents can be found...
Sandwiches in tow, 4-year-old gives back to Lower Burrell cops
Arianna Wilson was watching Disney Junior before school Monday when she saw a commercial for National Police Week. An admirer of the police, the 4-year-old told her mom she wanted to bring officers with the Lower Burrell Police Department something to eat. “She said ‘Mommy, it’s police week. Let’s bring...
Vandergrift’s Casino Theatre presents ‘Age of Aquarius 3’
The Casino Theatre in Vandergrift is turning back time to the days of peace and love with its “Age of Aquarius 3” and wants everyone to dress the part. “We dress up for this show, and we invite the audience to do the same,” says one of the performers Linda...
Gilpin may allow ATVs, similar vehicles on 25 roads
Gilpin is considering a proposal to allow all-terrain vehicles on more than two dozen township roads. ATVs would still be banned on state roads such as Route 66, but the proposal would allow them on 25 township roads in the mostly rural township of 14 square miles, according to Supervisor...
Multi-million dollar Lower Burrell City Hall renovation starts next week
Contractors will break ground next week for the $3.1 million Lower Burrell City Hall renovation project. Years in the making, the project entails creating more space for police and the public works department and moving the tax office back into city hall. City services won’t be impacted by the project....
Lower Burrell awards summer paving contract
Lower Burrell Council recently awarded a $110,895 contract to A. Folino Construction for this year’s summer paving projects in the city. City Administrator Amy Rockwell said streets slated for paving include Wachter and Oregon drives and Craigdell Road from Carl Avenue to the rear of Giant Eagle....
Annual Burrell Lake Park Kids’ Fishing Derby planned for June
The annual Burrell Lake Park Kids’ Fishing Derby is scheduled for June 8. The event, which runs from 9 to 11:30 a.m., will feature free fishing, free lunch and a grab bag, and prizes for the biggest fish caught. Registration will be from 7:30 to 9 a.m. All activities are...
No tax increased planned in Allegheny Valley School District
Allegheny Valley School District’s proposed $23 million preliminary budget for next school year includes no increase in property taxes. The school board is expected to vote on the preliminary plan Monday. The budget will then be on review for the public before final approval in June. At the tax rate...
Allegheny Valley looks to start pre-K program next school year
Allegheny Valley School District is hoping to offer a pre-kindergarten program for the first time next school year, but significant details still need to be worked out before it could begin operating. The school board is expected to vote Monday to create the program, but questions remain on the criteria...
ABC Transit begins preparing to bus Highlands students
ABC Transit is preparing to buy property in Highlands School District now that the company has been awarded the district’s transportation contract for the next five years. ABC is “currently looking at a number of properties in the district,” company Vice President Todd O’Shell said Wednesday. The school board voted...
Woman unhurt when train clips SUV in Harrison
No one was injured when a Norfolk Southern train struck the front of an SUV Monday morning in Harrison, according to officials. The crash was reported at 7:45 a.m. at the railroad crossing at Vine Street and Philadelphia Avenue. Harrison Police Chief Michael Klein said a woman was turning right...
No tax increase planned in Apollo-Ridge School District
Apollo-Ridge School District’s $25.5 million preliminary budget for next school year does not include an increase in property taxes, despite a 1% increase in proposed spending over this year, officials said. The preliminary budget unveiled Monday keeps the tax rate at 62.4 mills in the Armstrong County municipalities of Apollo,...
2 flea markets planned in Tarentum area
It’s going to be a good day for flea market lovers and collectible and antique hunters in the Tarentum area Sunday. Two events are planned — the first “Fleatique” of the year at the Tour-Ed Mine grounds in Fawn, and the first “Trash to Treasure” outside of J.G.’s Tarentum Station...
Fox Chapel Area earns $1 million to pay for security upgrades, wireless internet
More than $1 million in grants will pay for sweeping security upgrades and wireless internet services at Fox Chapel Area School District, officials announced. The district is set to receive $908,000 from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to pay for safety improvements implemented this year. The money is...
