Valley News Dispatch category, Page 713
Westmoreland County Democrats host candidates forum in Washington Township
The Westmoreland County Democratic Party will hold a candidates forum for Region 2 on Tuesday at the Washington Township Community Building. Region 2 includes Kiski Valley communities in Westmoreland County. “Our incumbent Westmoreland County commissioners, candidates for court of common pleas and county row offices have all accepted our invitation...
Apollo man accused of assaulting woman headed to court, some charges dismissed
A Leechburg judge dismissed felony assault charges against an Apollo man accused of attacking a woman. James Orlando Oquinn, 29, will head to the Armstrong County Court of Common Pleas on a new felony charge of allegedly strangling the woman, District Judge James Andring ruled Wednesday. The woman told Apollo...
Tarentum homeowner worries about repairing house after fallen tree removed
The extent of the damage caused to a Tarentum home when a tree fell on it Wednesday was more apparent Friday after the tree had been removed. The buckeye tree that fell on Frank Lee’s house at 400 Allegheny St. was removed Thursday afternoon, Lee said. Lee was back in...
Valley Points YMCA offering $1 membership deal on Presidents Day
People looking to join any of the three Valley Points YMCA locations can do so for $1 on Presidents Day. The flash sale on memberships means that people can save as much as $60.60 by joining on Monday. Valley Points YMCA CEO Mike Newell said the deal applies to all...
New Kensington’s Helping Families needs help of its own
A New Kensington nonprofit that aims to help families furnish their home needs a new home of its own. “We lose the building” on Feb. 21, said Leslie McLaughlin, founder and director of Helping Families, One Family at a Time. She started the group about four years ago and it...
Kittanning police searching for missing woman, 27
Kittanning Borough police said as of 3 p.m. Saturday a 27-year-old woman remained missing. But police said they are receiving tips concerning her whereabouts. Katie L. Stoner has been missing since 6:30 p.m. Thursday. “We’ve had some tips and we want others to call,” Officer Ken Bussard said. Police said...
A 1-car crash closes the intersection of Route 819 and 286 in Bell Township
The intersection Route 819 and 286 in Bell Township was shut down Thursday night as a result of a one-vehicle crash. Westmoreland County dispatchers said the incident took place around 9:05 p.m. No injuries were reported. The road is expected to reopen as soon as emergency responders can clean up...
Police: Irwin woman stole $30K from Upper Burrell trucking business, owners
A former employee is charged with stealing more than $30,000 from an Upper Burrell trucking company and its owners while working there in 2017. Westmoreland County detectives allege Mary Jane Mousley, 51, of Irwin, used the money for herself, in one case spending at least $2,000 to pay personal bills....
Public shaming threat moves 1 delinquent Tarentum property owner to pay taxes
The threat of publicly shaming delinquent taxpayers in Tarentum hasn’t produced the desired results as far as the borough is concerned. As of Thursday, just one person had come forward to pay $1,500 in delinquent property taxes. A week before, Tarentum Council approved a proposal to post the names of...
Gilpin certified public accountant makes bid for Armstrong County treasurer
Gilpin resident Jean Stull has thrown her hat into the ring for Armstrong County treasurer. Stull, a Democrat, announced she will run in the primary election on May 21 for the four-year position. Would-be candidates cannot start collecting signatures on their nomination petitions until Tuesday, Feb. 19, according to Jennifer...
Gas, drain line work could delay some Allegheny Township paving this year
Allegheny Township’s paving projects for this summer are temporarily on hold. Shawn Kuhn, public works director, told supervisors that a large drain pipe along Victoria Way, just off Melwood Road, needs to be replaced. After that work is done, remaining budgeted money will determine the direction of summer road projects....
Highlands senior champions ‘feeling good in your own skin’Video
“Let me take a selfie.” That familiar phrase is a daily norm for Highlands High School senior Olivia Grace Fertig. Fertig, 18, of Tarentum has almost 12,000 followers and subscribers on her Instagram and YouTube social media accounts. “I post a lot of make-up, fashion and daily life on there,”...
Their love story began at the Allegheny Valley School of Nursing
More than a thousand young women came of age and had courtships in the building that once housed the Allegheny Valley Hospital School of Nursing in Harrison. Reba Weltner Blackburn was one of them. The women not only studied there, they also lived in the brick building along Carlisle Street....
Allegheny County Democrats sponsor campaign kickoff in Harmar next week
Allegheny County Democrats are holding a petition kickoff next week to gather support in the Alle-Kiski Valley. Allegheny County District Attorney Steve Zappala, Controller Chelsa Wagner, Treasurer John Weinstein, Councilman Nick Futules and county Labor Council President Darrin Kelly are hosting the event, which will be held from 6 p.m....
Highlands senior spreads message of acceptance on Valentine’s Day
Having a brother with autism showed Cameron Babinsack the kinds of issues and troubles faced by those who don’t fit into societal norms. “The world would be a better place if people would accept the differences in others instead of pointing them out,” said Babinsack, 17, a Highlands High School...
House along Route 356 in Allegheny Township destroyed by fire
No one was injured, but a house was destroyed Thursday afternoon in a fire along Route 356 in Allegheny Township. The fire closed a portion of the road for about six hours as multiple fire departments worked to get the blaze under control. Route 356 reopened about 7:30 p.m. The...
Visit by Brinley the pig is a hit with Leechburg students
A potbellied pig ruled the school this week at David Leech Elementary. Brinley, a 3-month-old kunekune mixed-breed pig from Gilpin, visited students in grades K-5 this week to promote PIG WARS, a new fundraiser sponsored by the PTA. The pig was welcomed by teachers in each classroom, receiving much attention...
Reward hits $27,000 for info about elderly man last seen in South Buffalo
The family and personal care home of a missing elderly man have more than doubled a reward, now $27,000, for information leading to his whereabouts. Kenneth “Kenny” Himes, 70, of Pittsburgh, who is autistic and has early-onset dementia, was last seen at his brother’s home along Cadogan-Slate Lick Road in...
Prosecutors dispute racial motivation alleged in charge against Mills mall shop owner
Allegheny County prosecutors are contesting the claim that the owner of a Pittsburgh Mills store was charged with selling counterfeit merchandise because of his race. The District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday said the “police acted appropriately and without racial motivation” in the case against Tommy Wang. “The police, pursuant to...
Police say Harrison man admitted to sexually assaulting child
Police say a Harrison man admitted he sexually assaulted a girl and showed her child pornography when she was as young as 7. Corey Matthew McClain, 20, allegedly told police the assaults occurred when the girl was between the ages of 7 and 9, according to a criminal complaint. The...
Tarentum water, East Deer sewage plants subjects of upcoming public tours
It will start at the beginning and conclude at the end. Tarentum’s water treatment plant and the Upper Allegheny Joint Sanitary Authority’s treatment plant in East Deer, in that order, will be the subject of public tours on Saturday, March 9. There’s no cost, and anyone can go to see...
Volunteers needed at Leechburg recycling center
Leechburg needs help at its recycling center. The center on Logan Avenue Extension separates plastic, glass, cardboard and paper and sends it to compactors, said Mayor Wayne Dobos. “We hope to pick up some volunteers. We have four regulars. Some of the volunteers were older and had to stop,” he...
Lower Burrell creates new position to oversee public works and parks
Lower Burrell is seeking applications for the newly created position of director of public works and parks. Mayor Richard Callender said a consultant recommended the new position after evaluating the city’s public works department. “The recommendation was that the foreman was overloaded with too much responsibility and separate positions should...
Arnold hires former Tarentum police officer
Retirement didn’t last long for Ryan Hanford. Arnold hired Hanford as a police officer less than a week after he retired from Tarentum’s police department. Hanford, 44, has been a police officer for 25 years, 22 of them serving on Tarentum’s force. His retirement was approved by Tarentum Council on...
‘I could’ve been dead,’ Tarentum homeowner says after tree falls onto house
A Tarentum homeowner is feeling lucky to be alive after a large tree fell onto his house Wednesday morning, causing severe damage to the roof and leaving a hole in the ceiling directly over his bed. Fortunately, Frank Lee already was downstairs and watching television when the tree fell onto...
