Valley News Dispatch category, Page 722
Tarentum working to fix garbage collection problems
Tarentum officials say they are working to fix problems with garbage collection in the borough. On its Facebook page, the borough on Monday said it knows there have been a number of missed pick-ups in recent weeks. “The holiday collection schedule, in conjunction with staffing changes at Waste Management have...
Paczki offer a sweet way to ring in the new yearVideo
It’s the polish pastry that causes a confectionery commotion. January 6 is always a sweet day at Oakmont Bakery — it’s Paczki Day for the iconic family owned and operated bakery. Customers can’t get enough of paczki (pronounced pohnch-kee), the popular filled crispy fried treat that is richer than a...
For Orthodox Christians, Christmas Day is a solemn, religious observance
For Homer Kline, there’s a meaningful advantage to observing Christmas on Jan. 7 instead of Dec. 25. “The 7th is strictly religion,” said Kline, 85, of Murrysville, a member of Holy Virgin Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Arnold since he was married there in 1954. “It’s easier to concentrate on the birth of...
1 hospitalized after ATV accident near Fawn, Harrison border
One man was taken to Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison on Sunday afternoon after an ATV accident. The accident was reported to Allegheny County 911 shortly after 1:30 p.m., a dispatcher said. It happened near the southbound Route 28 exit at Natrona Heights (Exit 15), near the border of Fawn...
Springdale Township could face state fines for not properly testing water, failing to document
Springdale Township officials worry they could be facing hefty fines for failing to properly test and report their water quality to the state Department of Environmental Protection. Commissioners President Tony Rozzano said Thursday that the DEP will be fining the township for not submitting the documentation from 2011-17. “We’re in...
Leechburg Area biology students raising brook trout — from eggs to spring release
A new project at Leechburg Area High School is making a splash with students. There are 17 juniors and seniors enrolled in Ann Fischer’s Biology 2 “college in high school” course. It’s being offered at Leechburg through Westmoreland County Community College. And they’re getting up close and personal with Pennsylvania’s...
UniFirst buys New Kensington property, proceeds to aid new city playground
A New Kensington business recently bought property next to city hall to give itself some additional space, and some proceeds from the sale will go toward building a new playground nearby. UniFirst Corp. in November purchased the small park and basketball court at 301 11th St. from the Redevelopment Authority...
Startups reinvent the sheet-buying experience
NEW YORK — A new year calls for sparkly new sheets. But shoppers looking for high-quality linens without hurting their budget may want to skip the so-called white sales at mass retailers. A new cast of startups, including Parachute, Brooklinen and Boll & Branch, are cutting out middlemen and selling...
Police say UPS driver with alcohol, pot caused multi-vehicle Route 28 crash
A UPS truck driver is accused of having an open container of alcohol as well as marijuana Friday night when his truck hit three vehicles traveling southbound on Route 28 near the RIDC Park in O’Hara, state police at Kittanning said. Passengers in the vehicles hit by the UPS truck...
Vandergrift man credited with starting movement that saved historic Casino Theater
“Things like that should not be lost.” That’s what Gene Iagnemma said nearly a decade ago, referring to the historic Owens family cemetery near his Vandergrift home. Driven by an interest in history, Iagnemma worked to preserve not only the cemetery, but also, and most notably, the Casino Theater, which...
Police say UPS driver caused multi-vehicle crash
A UPS truck driver is accused of having an open container of alcohol as well as marijuana Friday night when his truck hit three vehicles traveling southbound on Route 28 near the RIDC Park in O’Hara, state police at Kittanning said. Passengers in the vehicles hit by the UPS truck...
Assault charge dismissed against woman accused of pointing gun at man walking his dog in New Kensington
A 70-year-old New Kensington woman accused of pointing a gun at a man who was walking his dog near her home pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. In addition to pleading guilty Thursday to the summary offense, Sharon Shirley was required to pay a $25 fine. District Judge Frank J. Pallone...
Manor Township woman to serve at least 20 years for hatchet attack that killed husband
A Manor Township woman will spend at least 20 years in prison for attacking her husband with a hatchet in 2017. Melanie Sue Snyder, 43, pleaded guilty Friday in Armstrong County Court to a single charge of third-degree murder for the July 27, 2017, attack in which, police say, she...
Leechburg fire Thursday night contained to couch
Everything appeared to work out Thursday night in Leechburg. When Hannah Bauer smelled smoke in the River Avenue house she shares with Zane Walter, she called 911. Walter said he bought the house at a tax sale last June and was still working on it. Luna, the border collie, smelled...
Beny, the drug-sniffing dog, hitting the road with state police trooper to fight drugs
Beny has a nose for drugs. The 1-year-old Belgian Malinois dog from the Czech Republic — hence only one “n” in his name — and handler Trooper Jason Young are newly assigned to the Kittanning state police station. The state bought the dog for about $8,500 and paid for his...
Valve replacements could cause short water outages in Tarentum
Tarentum businesses and residents may experience brief water outages over the next two weeks as crews install new water valves throughout the borough. The project of close to $70,000 is being done by Tarentum Public Works crews in conjunction with Meyer Excavating, Inc. According to the borough’s website, installation of...
Citizens School of Nursing continues mixed use trend at Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer
Students who attend Allegheny Health Network’s Citizens School of Nursing are looking forward to the changes as they prepare to start a new year in a new location. “I think the upgrade is going to be really nice,” said senior Ashley Alcorn, of New Kensington. “I think it’s going to...
Landslide restricts traffic along Markle Road in Allegheny Township
A landslide has restricted traffic along a section of Markle Road in Allegheny Township. PennDOT announced Thursday that traffic on Markle Road, between Park Road and Pine Run Road, will be restricted to a single lane controlled by stop signs. PennDOT spokeswoman Valerie Petersen said officials have been monitoring the...
Frazer police arrest 3 with stolen car, merchandise at Pittsburgh Mills Walmart
A Homewood woman is accused of using a stolen car to steal merchandise from the Walmart in the Pittsburgh Mills shopping complex. Frazer police charged Janlynn Marie Jordan, 31, with receiving stolen property, retail theft, criminal conspiracy, and traffic violations in connection with the incident at about 6:40 p.m. Wednesday....
Truck driver in fatal 2017 Route 28 crash charged
The driver of a tractor-trailer truck involved in a fatal crash on Route 28 more than a year ago has been charged. Arther Wells, 70, of Mississippi, is charged with homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, recklessly endangering another person, reckless driving and following too closely. He remains in the Allegheny...
Former Vandergrift church transforming into children’s play, learning center
The former Trinity United Presbyterian Church along Vandergrift’s Franklin Avenue has a new owner who has plans to transform the stately sanctuary into an educational performance programs in the worship area and a children’s indoor play area in the basement. Chloe Kruse, 29, of Vandergrift, bought the building at 262...
Trial slated next week for Manor Township woman in hatchet killing of husband
A 43-year-old Manor Township woman is scheduled to stand trial in Armstrong County Court on Monday, Jan. 7 for the 2017 hatchet attack and, ultimately, death of her husband. Melanie Sue Snyder is accused of the early morning hatchet attack on her husband, Thomas Snyder, in their small Garretts Run...
Homeless couple suspected of making meth lab in Vandergrift house pleads guilty to lesser charges
A homeless couple pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges related to a meth lab police said they found at a Vandergrift house in October. Tia Charmagne Klazon, 32, of Arnold, and Kiel Thomas Freeman, 32, of Vandergrift, were each sentenced to serve six to 23 months in jail and two years...
Vandergrift woman injured in crash with unloaded school bus in Allegheny Township
A Vandergrift woman was seriously injured when the small pickup she was driving crashed into a school bus in Allegheny Township on Wednesday afternoon, township police said. There were no children on the small bus when the accident occurred at 3:45 p.m. collision along Hyde Park Road near the AutoZone...
Woman, 70, accused of pointing gun at man walking his dog in New Kensington
A 70-year-old New Kensington woman has been charged with one count of simple assault after police say she pointed a gun at a man who was walking his dog near her home. Larry Alvino told police he was walking his dog along Earl Avenue toward Valley Street when he heard...
