Valley News Dispatch category, Page 702
Witness: Gunshot residue ‘inconclusive’ for Frazer woman charged in husband’s death
Closing arguments are scheduled Thursday morning in Allegheny County Court for a Frazer woman accused of killing her husband two years ago after they argued about money and her having burned a casserole. Teresa Drum, 40, is charged with the Feb. 27, 2017, homicide of her husband, Dennis Drum Sr.,...
Arnold woman who missed court date related to New Kensington cop killing turns herself in
It turns out, an Arnold woman likely wasn’t on the lam when she failed to appear in court for a hearing earlier this week. She just didn’t know when she was supposed to be in court. Lisa Harrington, 33, told a judge she believed her hearing on Monday had been...
It’s official: Jason Schaeffer is Leechburg’s new police chief
A police chief is only as good as the community that stands behind him. That’s what Leechburg’s new highest ranking officer says. “People that are willing to report things and talk to the police … I think that’s a really good thing for the community,” police Chief Jason Schaeffer said...
Leechburg police to get new uniform patches
Leechburg’s seven police officers will be receiving new patches for their uniforms. “Ever since I can remember, the patch and the uniforms have stayed the same here,” said newly appointed police Chief Jason Schaeffer. “Everybody wanted a change.” The words “Police” and “Leechburg” stretch across the top of the patch....
Springdale students’ empty dishes raise money for food bankVideo
Springdale Junior-Senior High School students got a chance to give back to their teachers and their community on Wednesday with their annual Empty Dish Luncheon. The event, formerly called the Empty Bowl Luncheon, was expanded this year to include mugs and other dishes. The school’s art class created the mugs....
Harrison loses chairmen of planning, recreation boards
Harrison will be seeking new members for its recreation board and planning commission after the heads of both submitted their resignations. Jason Paulovich is resigning from the planning commission, while Joshua Nulph is stepping down from the township’s recreation board. Paulovich, 43, said he is leaving the five-member planning commission...
Highlands hires appraiser to determine value of Fawn school eyed for closure
The Highlands School District is going to find out how much its former elementary school in Fawn is worth. The school board has hired Integra Realty Resources to prepare an appraisal of the Highlands Support Center, formerly Fawn Primary Center. The district will pay the Pittsburgh firm $2,400 for its...
Trib’s Bonus Strip winner revealed for March 14
The first winner of the Trib’s Bonus Strip program has been selected, and the lucky reader will walk away with a 50-inch TV. The person with the winning number — A06631 — should call 800-724-8746 to claim the prize. The Bonus Strip kicked off last week to provide readers of...
Frazer woman confronted with inconsistencies during second day of murder trial
A Frazer woman accused of the 2017 homicide of her husband was confronted Tuesday by angry words from Allegheny County detectives. The accusations and terse words were on a videotape shown on the second day of Teresa Drum’s trial on charges of murdering her husband. Prosecutors said the tapes show...
New turn restrictions in effect near Riverview High School, Oakmont Bakery
Oakmont police and Riverview School District officials said new turning restrictions along Hulton Road by the high school are making a positive impact on traffic. “It’s been much better,” police Chief Michael Ford said Tuesday. “The school is happy with all enforcement efforts.” Westbound motorists on Hulton Road who are...
Residents of Vandergrift high-rise report ‘sewage-cicles,’ other plumbing problems
Residents of McMurtry Towers in Vandergrift sent a petition to the Westmoreland County Housing Authority demanding that it do a better job of cleaning up a sewage-line break last month that reportedly formed “sewage-cicles” on the building’s front porch. The sewage break in a second-floor apartment Feb. 8 caused raw...
Allegheny Angler in Tarentum to offer discounts, food at grand reopening
In the run-up to the opening of trout season next month, Allegheny Angler in Tarentum will hold its grand reopening Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The longtime bait-and-tackle shop at 200 Ross St., rallied back after a fire closed it for more than four months. Although the business...
Deer Lakes School Board meeting postponed
The Deer Lakes School Board meeting scheduled for Tuesday night has been postponed. The meeting will now be held 7 p.m. March 26 in the high school library, 163 East Union Road in West Deer....
18 Harrison roads on list for township’s 2019 road resurfacing program
Harrison is planning to resurface 18 roads this year. The township is seeking bids for the work. Bids are due to the township’s engineer, NIRA Consulting Engineers, by 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 26. The township is expecting the work to cost about $350,000, according to the bid advertisement. Roads included...
Businessman gives $25K to help preserve Tarentum school clock tower
John Greco Jr. sees the Highlands Elementary School clock tower every day as he drives across the Tarentum Bridge on his way to work. The prospect of the prominent landmark not being there moved him to act. Greco and his wife, Sally Greco, of Lower Burrell are giving $25,000 to...
Highlands sets calendar for 2019-20 school year
Students in the Highlands School District will start the 2019-20 school year on Thursday, Aug. 29. The school board on Monday approved the calendar for next school year. The Thanksgiving break will start with a half-day for students on Wednesday, Nov. 27, with no school on Nov. 28 and 29....
Highlands to publish names of tax delinquents
It would be foolish for those who owe back property taxes in the Highlands School District not to pay up or start making payments by April 1. The school board Monday approved publishing the names of property owners who are delinquent in their real estate taxes beginning on April 1....
Highlands makes superintendent’s job permanent
The Highlands School District will have a full-time, permanent superintendent as of April 1. The school board Monday unanimously approved a five-year contract for Monique Mawhinney that will pay her $150,000 in the first year. She will be eligible for 3 percent raises each year, based on her performance review....
Highlands taps Texas firm for security
After rescinding a contract with a security firm over what Highlands School District officials called “disturbing” social media posts, the school board Monday approved a two-year agreement for guard services with a Texas firm. The agreement with Champion National Security started Monday. The company, based in Richardson, Texas, will provide...
Police say Frazer murder scene, photo didn’t match
One of the first police officers to arrive at the scene of a 2017 fatal shooting in Frazer testified in an Allegheny County court Monday that he found the dead man clutching a loaded pistol in his right hand. The testimony came during the first day of the non- jury...
Alle-Kiski fire, ambulance companies get grants from state gaming proceeds
Several Alle-Kiski Valley Area fire departments and ambulance companies are getting money from the Pennsylvania Fire Company and Ambulance Service grant program. The money comes from state gaming proceeds. It can be used to build, repair or renovate a fire company or ambulance service’s primary structure; buy or fix firefighting,...
New Freeport senior elective could set up students for $40K-plus job at Oberg
Freeport Area High School students will have an opportunity to take an advanced manufacturing elective with Oberg Industries, where graduates could snag a job starting in the low $40,000 range after graduation, according to company officials. The Freeport Area School Board approved an apprenticeship and career exploration program earlier this...
Arnold woman a no-show for hearing related to killing of New Kensington cop
An Arnold woman awaiting trial on charges she helped the man accused of shooting New Kensington police officer Brian Shaw during a traffic stop in late 2017 is on the run. Authorities issued an arrest warrant for Lisa Harrington on Monday after she failed to appear in court for a...
Bouquet Park Pool raising money to open this summer
Bouquet Park Pool in Springdale could remain closed for the summer if its board of directors can’t raise another $3,000 to cover mounting expenses. “We’re trying to raise a total of $20,000 to open up the pool,” said Richard Kern, pool board member. “We’re up to $17,000 now.” The membership-based,...
Harmar to fill vacancy on board of supervisors
Harmar officials are expected to fill a vacant seat on the township’s board of supervisors when they meet Thursday. Township secretary Ian Fitzgerald said two people applied for the position by Thursday’s deadline. The seat was left empty after Patricia Janoski submitted a letter of resignation effective Feb. 12. No...
