Valley News Dispatch category, Page 718
Mike Diebold’s pending release from jail irks some Leechburg residents
Former Leechburg police Chief Mike Diebold’s plan to move into his mother’s Siberian Avenue home after his expected release from prison on Sunday is irking some residents, who say the convicted sex offender shouldn’t be allowed to live there because it’s too close to three schools. But there’s nothing they...
Upper Burrell asks court to order voting redistricting
Upper Burrell officials on Friday filed a lawsuit asking a judge to order Westmoreland County to redraw the township’s two voting districts. Township supervisors filed the court action, along with a petition from 20 registered voters, contending that 75 percent of the town’s residents are forced to vote in one...
New Kensington-Arnold teachers show up en masse to remind board a contract isn’t done
With at least 70 teachers watching Thursday, the New Kensington-Arnold School Board approved a 2019-20 preliminary budget with the same teachers’ payroll number as this school year. Whether that number increases when the final budget is approved in June remains to be seen as negotiations between the district and the...
Union Avenue, Sycamore Street eyed for new trees in Harrison
More trees could be coming to Harrison. Part of Union Avenue in the Natrona Heights neighborhood and Sycamore Street in Natrona are being considered for planting, said Tom Cajka, chairman of the township’s tree committee. A total of 50 trees are being considered. Of those, 30 would be planted along...
Trial for Arnold woman accused of helping accused police killer is delayed until April, at least
An Arnold woman’s trial on charges she helped a friend avoid apprehension after the fatal shooting of a police officer was delayed until at least April. The case against Lisa Harrington, 33, was postponed Thursday to allow for a new defense attorney to represent her. She faces charges that she...
Public can see preliminary Highlands school budget beginning Tuesday
Highlands School District residents can get a look at the district’s preliminary $46 million budget for the 2019-20 school year beginning Tuesday, according to a legal notice from the district. The district will seek approval from the state Department of Education to increase property taxes by more than its state-imposed...
Bogus AT&T rep tried to scam Allegheny Township resident
Allegheny Township Police are warning residents of unsolicited phone calls from someone falsely claiming residents are eligible for a phone service upgrade. Police say someone claiming to be a representative of AT&T called a township resident recently and tried to scam them into releasing credit card information. The bogus caller...
Leechburg Area students thriving at Lenape Tech
Leechburg Area students continue to thrive at Lenape Technical School. That’s the word from Wesley Kuchta, administrative director at the vocational technical school in Manor Township. “In 2018, 12 of the 13 seniors from Leechburg achieved advanced or proficient on national exams,” Kuchta said. “Our students average just below 90...
Armstrong County drug task force arrests 3, uncovers stolen handgun, in Ford City
The Armstrong County drug task force arrested three individuals in Ford City on drug-related charges Tuesday. Laval Bruce, 23, of Pittsburgh, Ericka Jean Golden, 23, of Braddock and Melissa Jane Kladny, 47, of Ford City, will face various charges regarding possession of and intent to deliver controlled substances, as well...
Vandergrift proposes more handicap parking spaces for residents
Vandergrift council will vote on an amendment to expand the number of handicap parking spaces in town during their regular meeting on Feb. 4, at the borough building, 109 Grant Ave. “The intent of council is to expand the handicap parking opportunities in our town,” said Larry Loperfito, borough solicitor....
Tarentum police searching for 2 people involved in hardware store theft
Tarentum Police are trying to identify two men accused of stealing a shovel from the Tarentum Hardware store on First Avenue around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Chief Bill Vakulick said. Security camera footage posted to the department’s Facebook page shows two men — one wearing a bright green, hooded sweatshirt and...
Anglers to get back Tarentum bait and tackle shop, along with its knowledge
After an October blaze shut down the only local bait and tackle store between Harmar and Kittanning, Allegheny Angler in Tarentum will soon be back in business. The owners, who will be in their 31st year of selling minnows, shiners, worms and rods and reels of all kinds — as...
East Deer bridge near Sheetz finished, open to traffic
Work to replace the bridge over Crawford Run on Freeport Road in East Deer is finished and the new bridge is open to traffic, the contractor announced Wednesday. Work on the bridge, near Sheetz, started in July. It was scheduled to be finished in December, but was delayed into January...
Youth basketball tournament to remember Highlands coach, support Callender family
The shock of the loss of a beloved Highlands coach is subsiding, but the need to help his family and keep his memory alive remains. The second annual Coach Tom Callender Memorial Basketball Tournament will bring people together to celebrate his life and help his family, said Kate Bielak of...
Lower Burrell police warn of man asking for gas money in the city
Lower Burrell police are warning residents about a suspicious man allegedly going around the city, asking residents for gas money. Police shared information about the situation on Facebook on Wednesday, asking residents to call 911 if they are approached by the man. “There is a local Facebook post circulating about...
Upper Burrell police warn of phone scam
Scammers pretending to be Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) representatives are calling people and asking them for donations, Upper Burrell police warn. Police shared information about the scam on Facebook Tuesday, warning people not to provide the scammers with any financial or personal information. “DO NOT give out any financial...
‘Hamilton’ brings history to life for Pittsburgh-area studentsVideo
“Hamilton” is more than a hit musical for more than 2,700 students in the region who’ve earned a spot to be in the room where it happens — the Benedum Center — on Friday. They include 55 students at Valley High School in New Kensington who have been studying the...
Former Brackenridge man pleads guilty to 2012 double murder in Arnold
An Allegheny County man was sentenced Tuesday to serve up to 30 years in prison for the fatal beating of an Arnold woman and her adult son more than six years ago. Robert Briestensky, 45, formerly of Brackenridge, pleaded guilty to two lesser counts of third-degree murder in connection with...
Apollo ready to fill secretary, solicitor vacancies
Apollo soon could have a borough secretary and a solicitor again. The borough’s personnel committee has candidates to fill the vacancies, which council is expected to vote on during its regular meeting on Thursday. Borough council will meet at 7 p.m., Thursday, at the borough building, 616 First St. Late...
Cheswick to again be without a secretary
Cheswick has lost its second borough secretary in little more than a year. Joseph Puet, 60, of Arnold resigned Tuesday, only two months into his yearlong contract. The borough’s previous secretary, Ian Fitzgerald, was hired in November 2017 and left in October 2018 to take a job with a jump...
Highlands School District hopes pay boost will attract nurses, union says
Highlands School District is hoping to attract health room nurses by increasing pay, a union representative said Tuesday. In an agreement with the Highlands Educational Support Professionals Association, the district has increased the pay for health room licensed practical nurses to $15 per hour. The hourly rate had been as...
Armstrong County residents invited to try new voting machines
Armstrong County residents will be able to try out new voting machines at an expo next week. The new voting system expo will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30, at the Kittanning Township Volunteer Fire Department, 13126 Route 422. The Pennsylvania Department of State directed...
Harmar wants to buy fire substation to house public works equipment
Harmar supervisors are making a bid to buy an Allegheny Valley Volunteer Fire Department substation that is not being used. The board wants to use the No. 2 substation building at 1000 Freeport Road as the headquarters for the township’s public works department. “Knowing they (fire department) don’t use that...
Former Brackenridge man pleads guilty to 2012 double murder in Arnold
An Allegheny County man was sentenced Tuesday to serve up to 30 years in prison for the fatal beating of an Arnold woman and her adult son more than six years ago. Robert Briestensky, 45, formerly of Brackenridge, pleaded guilty to two lesser counts of third-degree murder in connection with...
Kiski Area School Board votes against renewing contract for girls soccer coach
In a 5-4 vote Monday night, Kiski Area School District board members voted not to renew the contract of girls soccer coach Melisa O’Toole. At least one parent said she was not comfortable with O’Toole coaching her daughter given the charges and the alleged behavior of her husband, Ryan O’Toole,...
