Valley News Dispatch category, Page 329
Court hearing held for all 7 suspects in July shooting in New Kensington
A Westmoreland County judge said he will consider early next year requests to transfer to juvenile court four criminal homicide prosecutions in connection with the July fatal shooting of a man in New Kensington. All seven suspects accused in last summer’s alleged murder of 39-year-old Jason Raiford appeared in court...
Lower Valley Ambulance Service pleads for help to avert ‘financial crisis’
The Lower Valley Ambulance Service is pleading with local officials for financial aid so it can stay afloat — as fingers are being pointed about how much help they actually are receiving from an outside entity. With what he said are a lack of payments from patients being serviced and...
Trib honors employees on 25th anniversary of purchase from Gannett
Trib Total Media on Thursday marked the 25th anniversary of its acquisition of three newspapers from Gannett Publishing Co., including the Valley News Dispatch. The Trib took over ownership of the publications on Dec. 1, 1997. In addition to the Valley News Dispatch in Tarentum, Tribune-Review Publishing Co. acquired the...
Oakmont Walgreens on the market for more than $7.2 million
Wanna buy a drugstore? A Walgreens at 324 Hulton Road in Oakmont is on the market for more than $7.2 million. The commercially zoned property, built in 2006, is offered as a triple net lease (NNN) in a commercial listing on Loopnet.com by Deerfield Partners. Janet Czekalski, co-owner and sales...
Dog owners will have to wait a few more months for Harrison Hills off-leash space
Carmie Lynch and her dog, Pete, regularly hit the trails in Harrison Hills Park. When they do, they peek longingly at the newly built 1.3-acre off-leash dog space in the upper section of the Allegheny County-owned park off Freeport Road. “We are out at there at least once a week...
Lower Burrell city manager takes township manager’s position in Harrison
Harrison’s gain is Lower Burrell’s loss as Amy Rockwell, Lower Burrell’s city manager, has been hired as the new township manager for Harrison. Rockwell, a Lower Burrell resident, has been Lower Burrell’s city manager and administrator since 2018. She will start her job as Harrison’s manager in early 2023 at...
Leechburg High School enters PennDOT ‘Paint the Plow’ competition opening soon for public voting
The blade of a snowplow was quite a different canvas for Leechburg High School senior Jasa Oliver to work on. “I usually do traditional paper and pencil or digital art on my computer,” said Oliver, 18, of Gilpin. “It was very different, especially the proportion, the size and the curve...
Plum hosts Santa, ‘Christmas at Plum Creek’ at new municipal center
Two-year-old Olivia Sikina calls Santa “Ho-Ho,” but her father wasn’t sure how she was going to react to seeing him. “We’ll see if she screams or cries. She seemed very excited at the house,” said Rick Sikina of Plum. “Last year, it didn’t go very well. I think she’s starting...
Allegheny Valley Habitat for Humanity Christmas raffle to benefit Ukrainian orphans
Alle-Kiski Valley residents interested in winning a decorated Christmas tree, wreath or menorah have a chance to do that while also helping the youngest victims of Russia’s war on Ukraine. Two Christmas trees, a wreath and a menorah are up for raffle at Allegheny Valley Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore in...
The Stroller, Dec. 2, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Christopher’s Light children’s charity seeking toy donations A toy drive to...
Driver hospitalized after crashing car into Vandergrift building
A man was hospitalized after crashing his car into a Vandergrift business Thursday night. Westmoreland County Public Safety said the one-car crash occurred around 7:45 p.m. at 140 Washington Ave. Vandergrift Fire Chief Randy Dunmire said his crew was able to free the driver from the wrecked car . The...
East Vandergrift set to ‘Welcome’ the holidays with community gathering
Officials and volunteers from East Vandergrift are ringing in the holidays with a new event. East Vandergrift’s inaugural “Welcome to the Holidays” community gathering will combine Christmas-themed activities with socializing. Sponsored by the Holiday Mothers, borough council and the East Vandergrift Community Foundation, the event is free. It kicks off...
Springdale students disciplined over walkout
Springdale High School students who participated in a walkout last week over an alleged teacher shortage apparently will be punished. Last week, dozens of Springdale High School students staged a walkout to protest what they claim is a severe teacher shortage, which the Allegheny Valley School District denies. “I can’t...
The Stroller, Dec. 1, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Events set to kickoff holiday season There are many holiday happenings...
Nostalgic 3-day festival offers holiday fun in Vandergrift
When people call Denise Lewandowski “Crazy Christmas Lady,” she considers it a compliment. Lewandowski, of Vandergrift, proudly embraces her holiday moniker. She wore a sweatshirt with that phrase on it while preparing Wednesday for a big holiday event this weekend in Vandergrift. She talked about her passion for all things...
New Kensington getting into Christmas spirit with tree lighting, dinner, parade
The Christmas season starts this weekend in New Kensington. Festivities begin Friday evening with the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree, followed by Mayor Tom Guzzo’s annual free dinner. The city’s Christmas parade will be held downtown Saturday morning, followed by free horse and carriage rides on Fifth Avenue. “This...
Gift shop opens at Pittsburgh Brewing Co. site in East Deer
Barry Wagner of Brackenridge was hoping to score a case of fresh-brewed beer when he visited the newly opened Pittsburgh Brewing Co. gift shop. “I’ve been drinking Iron City since 1972,” Wagner said while perusing the T-shirts and tin signs at the site off Freeport Road in East Deer. “I...
The Stroller, Nov. 30, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Christmas tree lighting ceremony, dinner set in New Kensington The New...
Car found abandoned, wrecked in New Kensington was stolen Thanksgiving night
A car found abandoned after being wrecked in New Kensington on Friday morning had been stolen from its owner’s driveway the night before, police Chief Bob Deringer said this week. Deringer said the car, a Dodge Charger, was stolen in New Kensington sometime after 7 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. It...
Kiski Area marching band takes bronze medal at national competition
The Kiski Area High School marching band capped its 2022 performance season with a national award. The band earned the 2022 Bands of America Class AA National Bronze Medal at the Bands of America Grand National Championships held recently in Indianapolis. The competition featured more than 100 high school bands...
Kiski Township man sues former police sergeant for injuries, legal expenses, defamation
A Kiski Township man filed a civil complaint and is suing former Kiski Township police Sgt. Thomas Dessell for $12,000, alleging physical injuries, legal expenses and defamed character. Dessell resigned from the department in July, along with three other Kiski Township officers and a dispatcher who claimed they were harassed...
The Stroller, Nov. 29, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Holiday weekend planned in Vandergrift The Vandergrift Back When Holiday Extravaganza...
1 of 2 Tarentum brothers arrested, charged in Harrison shootout
One of two brothers charged in a suspected mid-October shootout in Harrison was arrested Monday morning. Arrested was Troy Vickers, 30, of Tarentum. A felony arrest warrant is still active for his brother, 19-year-old Brian Vickers, also of Tarentum. Troy Vickers was arrested by the U.S. Marshal Western Pennsylvania Fugitive...
Penn Hills man arrested in Tarentum, charged in Verona shooting
A Penn Hills man faces charges after, police say, he was responsible for a Nov. 10 shooting in Verona and fled from police afterward. Shuron B. Porter, 43, of Penn Hills was taken into custody early Monday in the 300 block of West Eighth Avenue in Tarentum, according to Allegheny...
6th annual ‘Christmas at Plum Creek’ moves to new borough building
Plum’s annual “Christmas at Plum Creek” is moving this year, but Santa will know where to find it and all the boys and girls eager to tell him what’s on their lists. The event, in its sixth year, will be the first to be held at the borough’s new building...
