Valley News Dispatch category, Page 690
Bear caught snacking in Kittanning Township backyardVideo
Debbi Reefer of Kittanning Township was busy with the Easter holiday and forgot to bring in her bird suet feeder Sunday night as she usually does. And a bear found it. “It’s another day in the country,” said Reefer, who has had bears on her property before. Reefer jams a...
How many hellbenders live in Western Pa.? Group hopes to learn this summer
The search is on this summer for the Allegheny alligator or the snot otter, better known as the Eastern hellbender, in rivers in Western Pennsylvania. The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy plans July surveys in the Kiski, Allegheny and Youghiogheny rivers for the salamander, a reclusive creature that lives under rocks the...
Harmar man arrested, charged with rape, sexual assault
A Harmar man charged with rape in connection with an incident in January has been arrested, Allegheny County authorities say. James Michael Tessauro, 38, was arrested and arraigned Monday evening, according to Mike Manko, Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office spokesman. Manko said he couldn’t say more about the case. Police...
Police: Fire at Sheldon Park in Harrison caused $500K in damageVideo
Kate Keener has lived in public housing in Harrison for about 10 years, but a fast-moving fire Monday morning forced Keener, her daughter and two pets to get out in a hurry. The two were among at least four people who had to evacuate a four-unit building in the Allegheny...
Oakmont pub crawl raises money to fight multiple sclerosisVideo
Cheers, beers and charitable endeavors are on tap in Oakmont. The 20th annual MS Pub Crawl fundraising event is set for Saturday . A pub crawl is when individuals drink in multiple pubs or bars in a single day, or night, or both. All proceeds benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis...
Trib Total Media earns Best Overall Daily Newspaper award
Trib Total Media has received several top awards from the Keystone State Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, including being named Best Overall Daily Newspaper across all circulation categories. The award was announced as part of the group’s annual “Best in Journalism Contest,” which draws entries from throughout Pennsylvania...
Lower Burrell considering tax break for firefighters
Lower Burrell Council is exploring a local tax incentive for city firefighters to boost their thinning ranks and properly reward their community work. Councilman Joe Grillo is looking at city firefighters forgoing the city’s earned income tax or other possibilities. A course for young firefighters is also under consideration. “It’s...
Buffalo Township amateur astronomer helps Pitt students reach for stars
Amateur astronomer Ed Potosky helps University of Pittsburgh students reach for the stars. The Buffalo Township resident who grew up in North Huntingdon helps aspiring astronomy students at his alma mater learn about the history of the Allegheny Observatory as well as different ways to gaze upon the galaxy. “It’s...
‘Seven Doors’ by Vandergrift author is journey of redemption
Spending months in a hospital on an antibiotic made David Krajci tired most of the time. “So, I was always sleeping,” he says. “And when I would wake up, I would remember my dreams and would tell them to my wife Lori. She would write it all down, and by...
Skydiving Easter Bunny brings joy to hundreds of Alle-Kiski Valley familiesVideo
Thousands of people dropped by Golden Rams Stadium and Highlands Middle School on Saturday to enjoy an Easter celebration dipped in unity, worship and fun. The Easter Bunny dropped by, too. Literally. The bunny skydived onto the football field with a rainbow-colored parachute. “I really feel like there’s just certain...
Searching for answers, hope at Mystical Psychic Fair in New KensingtonVideo
Behold, the mystery of life: Past, present and future explained. Some find answers through religion. Others believe it’s all coincidence. Some feel they are gifted with the power to offer explanations, and they do so using metaphysics and mystical traditions that attract people searching for answers. Those searchers were rewarded...
Bridge inspection will cause delays on New Kensington Bridge, PennDOT says
Inspection activities on the New Kensington Bridge which carries Route 1038 over the Allegheny River in East Deer Township in Allegheny County and New Kensington will cause traffic delays Saturday, according to PennDOT District 11. Single-lane alternating traffic will occur on the bridge until 3 p.m. as crews from The...
2 injured in Allegheny Township head-on collision
Two people were injured when their car was struck Friday afternoon by a pickup head-on along a windy road in Allegheny Township, officials said. According to the initial investigation, a man and his wife were traveling in a silver four-door car along Markle Road near the Markle Fire Hall when...
Anti-drug group asks Allegheny Valley School Board for support
An organization aiming to bring a dose of reality about drug abuse to young people has asked for the Allegheny Valley School Board’s support. Members of the Allegheny Valley HOPE (Helping Our Peers Everyday) Association outlined a program called the Reality Tour to the board on Monday. HOPE President John...
Easter Bunny to skydive into Harrison Easter egg hunt
The Easter Bunny is set to skydive Saturday into an egg hunt at Golden Rams Stadium. Generations House of Worship will host its sixth annual Easter Egg Hunt and Celebration from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the stadium and Highlands Middle School, 1350 Broadview Boulevard in Harrison. The Easter...
No injuries reported in Plum house fire
A family and its three dogs are safe after a fire damaged their Plum home Friday. The fire was called in about 1 p.m. when Brian Churchfield, 44, noticed a fire in his laundry room. “My wife tried to throw a pitcher of water on it,” Churchfield said moments after...
Leechburg man convicted on more than 50 counts of child porn
A Leechburg man was convicted Wednesday of 52 counts related to child pornography, Armstrong County District Attorney Katie Charlton said. Timothy Norris, 40, formerly of Third Street, was accused of having at least 50 images of children engaged in sex acts and then distributing those images on the Internet. He...
Allegheny Valley Hospital plans week-long celebration of 110th anniversary
Allegheny Valley Hospital has a week of events planned to celebrate its 110th anniversary. The events will be held the week of May 6 at the hospital in Harrison. Festivities will include a community night with kids’ activities and a big-band concert, a Stork Club recognition for people who were...
Springdale Township approval finalizes police merger with Cheswick
Springdale Township commissioners have approved merging the township’s police department with Cheswick’s, effectively ensuring the creation of the new Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department. Cheswick Council gave its OK to the proposed merger earlier this month. Township commissioners voted 4-0, with one abstention, to create the new, merged department with...
Summit firefighters reschedule boot drive that funds Tarentum fireworks
Summit Hose has rescheduled Saturday’s “boot drive” fundraiser that helps pay for Tarentum’s Fourth of July fireworks display. The boot drive now will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 4 at the Tarentum end of the Tarentum Bridge. Chief Joshua Fox said the drive was rescheduled because...
2 dogs, 3 cats killed in West Deer house fire
Two people escaped a house fire early Friday along West Deer’s Quigley Road, but five pets died inside, officials said. Homeowner Justin Johoda, 33, was awakened and alerted of the fire shortly after 5 a.m. by a friend who had been sleeping on a couch, according to West Deer police...
Highlands seeking bids for Tarentum clock tower restoration
Highlands School District is seeking bids for the restoration of the clock tower on its elementary school in Tarentum. The district decided to repair the clock tower at Highlands Elementary after learning that removing it would cost more than fixing it, according to district officials. The prospect of removing the...
Leechburg cross walk attracts worshipers, turns heads
About 25 Leechburg-area Christians ignored nonstop rain to observe Good Friday in preparation for Easter Sunday. The umbrella-toting group, led by pastors, hammered 3-foot-tall replica crosses at Veterans Park and key intersections in the borough. The group turned heads everywhere it went. At each stop, Bible readings recalled the fulfillment...
Dumpster Day in Washington Township is almost here
Washington Township will hold its spring cleanup Dumpster Day on May 4 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the township’s maintenance garage, 3788 Route 66. Large household items will be accepted. However, some junk will not be accepted, including liquids, paints, chemicals, hazardous materials, any electronics (including televisions), appliances...
Highlands School District’s closed meetings ignore state transparency laws, expert says
The Highlands School Board is skirting Pennsylvania’s transparency laws and violating the district’s own policies by holding private committee meetings where important matters are discussed behind closed doors, according to a legal expert and a review of district policies and practices. At a public meeting Monday, board member Judy Wisner,...
