Valley News Dispatch category, Page 696
Police arrest Pittsburgh man in fatal Arnold shooting
A Pittsburgh man faces charges in an early Friday shooting that left a 27-year-old Arnold man dead, according to detectives. Shawden L. Ross, 32, of Pittsburgh is charged with homicide and other charges in the shooting death of Lamont Simmons, 27, investigators said. At about 4 a.m. Friday, police responded...
Cheswick approves police merger with Springdale Township
The proposed Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department took another step toward reality Thursday night. Cheswick Council voted unanimously to approve a merger of police services with neighboring Springdale Township. Soon, Springdale Township will take a similar vote that, if it passes, would make the merger happen. The combined force could...
Firefighter saves woman in New Kensington fire, 2nd woman jumps from window
Several New Kensington residents were left homeless, a woman was hurt and a dog died when fire broke out Thursday afternoon at an apartment house along Seventh Street. One of the residents credits a firefighter who, by chance, was driving by with saving her life. The fire broke out in...
New Kensington Bridge to be inspected next week, lane restriction to occur
An inspection of the New Kensington Bridge will create a traffic restriction next Tuesday, April 9, through Friday, April 12. PennDOT announced the inspection will result in single-lane, alternating traffic each day on the bridge from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., April 12 The bridge carries Ninth Street over the...
Missing New Kensington girl returns home safe
A 13-year-old New Kensington girl missing since Monday is back at home. “She is safe and sound,” Detective Sgt. Dino DiGiacobbe said Thursday afternoon. Patience Johnson, 13, was last seen Monday morning in the city wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black and white pants, brown knee-high boots and silver hoop...
Vandergrift man charged in wreck that seriously injured a Leechburg woman
Allegheny Township police are accusing a Vandergrift man of causing a wreck that seriously injured a Leechburg woman. Brett William Mego, 23, of Sherman Avenue is charged with aggravated assault by vehicle and 13 related offenses in connection with a March 22 wreck along South Leechburg Hill Road in which,...
Jacoby Road in Harmar to close for bridge repairs
Jacoby Road in Harmar will close this month while Allegheny County replaces part of the bridge that carries the road over Little Deer Creek. The closure will begin April 15 and is expected to last through the end of July. Drivers will have to use a posted detour utilizing Nixon...
Springdale Township seeks volunteers for clean-up day
Springdale Township is looking for volunteers to help with its Community Clean-Up Day. The clean-up will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 27 beginning at the township building, 100 Plate Dr. The event is held to clean-up litter from the streets and parks. Safety vests, gloves and...
Freeport Area Education Foundation offers tax credits for business donations
Businesses within Freeport Area School District can get a tax break for donating to the district’s foundation. The Freeport Area Education Foundation recently received state approval for an Education Investment Tax credit. That means a business can get a credit against business taxes. Businesses can claim 75% on any donation...
Apollo to mark 50th anniversary of moon landing with scaled-down celebration
Apollo has scrapped its traditional weeklong celebration of the Apollo 11 moon landing, but it is planning several public events and has invited NASA to town to commemorate the landing’s 50th anniversary on July 20. “We didn’t want it to slip by unnoticed after all the years we’ve done it,”...
‘Heroin took him away’: Freeport grad’s opioid death featured in addiction film
Spreading awareness of opioid addiction, encouraging family support and hope for recovery are ways Dan and Jeannie Sundo keep the memory of their son Kyle alive. “We’re trying to educate people, trying to get the message out there,” Jeannie Sundo said. Kyle Sundo, 21, was a 2012 Freeport Area High...
No injuries in early morning Buffalo Township fire
No one was injured when fire broke out in the attic of a Buffalo Township house early Wednesday, Sarver Volunteer Fire Company Chief Mike George said. The fire broke out just before 4:30 a.m. in a newer home on Ashton Court in the Woodberry neighborhood behind the movie theaters, George...
New Kensington police ask for information on missing teenager
New Kensington police are seeking the public’s help in locating a missing teen. Officers said Patience Johnson, 13, was last seen Monday morning in the city wearing a black hoodie, black and white pants, brown knee-high boots and silver hoop earrings. She’s described as a black female with shoulder length...
Arconic to cut health care benefits to retirees
Arconic, the Alcoa spinoff with roots in the Alle-Kiski Valley, told retirees in recent letters it is making drastic cuts to their health care benefits and eliminating life insurance it had provided. Arconic told retirees about the move in letters dated March 29. Arconic has about 300 employees in a...
Cheswick to vote on police merger with Springdale Township
Cheswick Council is expected to vote Thursday on the creation of a regional police department with Springdale Township. After more than a year of discussion and studying the options, both municipalities in March began advertising an ordinance that would make the consolidation official and rename the departments as the Allegheny...
General to present Distinguished Service Cross to family of fallen Kiski soldier
Two generals and other current and retired soldiers are among the U.S. Army contingent in Pittsburgh today who will honor a Kiski Township man who died saving other soldiers’ lives. The family of Staff Sgt. Stevon Booker, who was killed in Iraq 16 years ago today, is being presented the...
Last chance to ask questions about Cheswick’s proposed police merger
Cheswick officials will hold a final question and answer session Wednesday on the proposed police merger with Springdale Township. The session will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the borough building, 220 South Atlantic Ave. Councilman Michael Girardi said council sent out a five-page letter to all...
Trib appeals Highlands’ refusal to identify high school teacher placed on unpaid leave
Highlands School District is refusing to identify a teacher placed on unpaid leave in February or disclose the charges approved against the employee. The Tribune-Review filed a Right to Know request for the employee’s name, job title or position, length of employment and salary with Lori Byron, the school district’s...
Goat herd recommended at Hartwood Acres to eat invasive plants
An ecological assessment of Hartwood Acres recommends methods to combat invasive plant species in the park — including the use of goats. The Allegheny Parks Foundation released the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s ecological assessment of Hartwood Acres, a county park straddling Indiana and Hampton townships. Seems that pesky Japanese stiltgrass, a...
New Kensington approves liquor license for planned bed and breakfast
The transfer of a liquor license to a planned New Kensington bed and breakfast/events center has been approved by city council. Unanimous approval of the transfer of a liquor license located in Loyalhanna Township and currently owned by Marchitelli Enterprises Inc. to Bloser Mansion LLC, 479 Sixth Ave., came despite...
Apollo man sentenced in Vandergrift burglary
An Apollo man will serve up to four years in prison for burglarizing a Vandergrift home. Matthew Carl Hubert, 23, pleaded guilty to charges of burglary, theft and receiving property in connection with a heist last summer. According to court records, Hubert was detained Aug. 5 by a Vandergrift homeowner...
New Kensington gets 3-year contract with public works, clerical employees
New Kensington officials have approved a three-year contract with the city’s union employees that gives them 2.5 % pay raises in each year of the contract. City Clerk Dennis Scarpiniti said it’s the first contract negotiation and agreement that combines both the public works employees and the mostly clerical workers...
Tarentum bar, ‘Barley,’ celebrating 5th anniversary Saturday
Cheryl Stover says her Tarentum bar, Barley, is kind of like the fictional Boston bar in the sitcom “Cheers.” “It’s just great. Everybody is so nice,” she said Wednesday. “I know everybody that walks in there.” Stover is celebrating the fifth anniversary of her bar at 319 E. 6th Ave....
Arnold sets spring cleanup day
Arnold’s spring cleanup day will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 4 next to the police station at 601 Drey St. City residents can bring items they want to dispose of free of charge. No paint, propane, hazardous materials, building materials or shingles, oils, chemicals, batteries or...
Harmar plans free furniture, appliance haul-aways during May
Harmar residents who want to get rid of old furniture or appliances can have them hauled away for free next month during the township’s annual spring trash collection. Morrow Refuse will be traveling to different parts of the township each Friday in May to collect large items. The township will...
