Valley News Dispatch category, Page 400

A crumbling fire escape at Vandergrift’s historic Casino Theatre that dates back nearly a century will be replaced with the help of grant money. “It’s rusty, attached only in one location and the steps are not up to code,” said Janice Oberdorf, treasurer of the nonprofit Casino Theatre Restoration Management....

Washington Township police are asking for the public’s help to find a township woman who has been missing since Monday. Amber Rowan, 40, was last seen at her home along Greensburg Road. Rowan may be with David Payton, a 41-year-old white man, police said. The two could be traveling in...

The popular Springdale restaurant Ladles is set to reopen soon, according to a Facebook message from the owner of the eatery. “Since the building has not sold and we haven’t had any interest (from) potential buyers, I have decided to reopen because I do not want to lose my employees...

Air filter manufacturer Filterbuy opened its facility in New Kensington Advanced Manufacturing Park this week with nearly 30 full-time employees, and it plans to hire more workers this month, the company announced Friday. The family-owned and operated company based in Alabama said it aims to have three full production lines...

A woman appears to be in line to become Kiski Area School District’s next superintendent. Kiski Area officials wouldn’t identify the top candidate late this week, but Business Manager Peggy Gillespie said the district’s website would be updated Monday to announce the choice. The school board is expected to vote...

Allegheny Technologies Inc. will move its Pittsburgh headquarters from Downtown to the Strip District next summer, the company and Burns Scalo Real Estate announced. Burns Scalo said the specialty materials manufacturer is the first tenant to sign a lease for “The Vision on 15th,” an eight-story, mixed-use building under construction...

Two people were hurt in a crash in New Kensington on Thursday night. The two-vehicle crash happened at Tarentum Bridge and Leechburg roads around 9:30 p.m., a Westmoreland County emergency dispatcher said. One person was taken by ambulance to Allegheny Valley Hospital; the other was taken by ambulance to Allegheny...

Publicize your club meetings, community events and fundraisers for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Free concert scheduled Sunday at Christ the King Church The Kiski Valley Community Band will perform a free concert at 1:30...

The lawyer for an Allegheny County man contends his client’s confession that he fired shots at three New Kensington police officers last year was illegally obtained because the now 19-year-old didn’t have a parent with him during official questioning. According to court documents filed Friday, defense attorney Emily Smarto said...

A second person wanted in connection with an armed robbery at a Tarentum home in June is in custody. Wilnal Anthony Reddix, 21, of Harrison was arrested Wednesday night during a traffic stop in the township, Tarentum police Chief William Vakulick said Thursday. Vakulick said Reddix was arrested without incident....

Freeport Council has authorized its engineer to apply for grants to finance the estimated $15 million Freeport sewage plant construction project. On Monday, council unanimously gave the green light for project engineer Kevin Creagh of KLH Engineers to start applying for as many grants as possible. Creagh told council he...

A former Fox Chapel cardiologist convicted of health care fraud for falsely billing more than $13 million in specialized treatment his patients didn’t need asked for mercy at his sentencing Thursday. Dr. Samirkumar J. Shah, who failed to show at his original sentencing hearing last month, and for whom the...

All it took was one bite of a fresh maple-cinnamon roll for a patron to know he was in the right place. Periwinkle’s Bakery & Café, a descendant of the iconic Harmar bakery Periwinkle’s, has finally opened the doors at its new location in O’Hara along Route 28, at Exit...

Fox Chapel resident Carolyn Skowron spins a tale of triumph and chips away at the stigma of mental health in her debut novel, “Unbreakable.” A story of acceptance, self-discovery and the value of being “perfectly imperfect,” the book follows Skowron’s struggle with mental health issues and her path to self-improvement....

Editor’s note: Neighbor Spotlight is a monthly feature that aims to let our readers learn more about the people in their communities who are working to make them a better place, who have interesting stories to tell or who the community feels deserve “15 minutes of fame.” If you would...

Publicize your club meetings, community events and fundraisers for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Local marching bands to perform at Kennywood Park Western Pennsylvania has many traditions during the month of August. High school football...

A street sale designed to give Oakmont businesses and other vendors a boost returned to the borough and so did the crowds. More than 1,200 people were estimated to have walked and shopped up and down Allegheny River Boulevard on July 31 in the return of the annual Oakmont Chamber...

Plum High School math teacher Tamar McPherson recently joined an elite group of educators dedicated to the future of technology-based learning. She is one of 38 teachers in the state to become certified in computer science grades 7-12 through the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The professional development opportunity was made...

Long before gymnast Jade Carey won gold with her nearly flawless floor routine Monday at the Tokyo Olympics, the 21-year-old from Arizona nailed a living-room floor routine in the Alle-Kiski Valley during a visit to see relatives. “We had a huge family room, and from the time she walked in...

Tarentum Mayor Eric Carter has resigned from his position. Council President Scott Dadowski read a resignation letter from Carter, whose first term was scheduled to end Dec. 31. In the letter, Carter cited scheduling conflicts. “Over the past several months, my personal and work schedules have caused a dramatic change...

Lower Burrell police are asking for the public’s help in finding a city man wanted for theft. Eric Shank, 35, is wanted for theft and receiving property, said police Chief John Marhefka. Police obtained an arrest warrant after Shank didn’t show up for his preliminary hearing before District Judge Cheryl...

And then there was one. The Citizens Bank branch at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Ninth Street in New Kensington is closing in mid-November, leaving First National Bank along Eighth Street as the only bank branch remaining downtown. “We continue to evaluate, evolve and adjust our branch strategy across...

Vandergrift officials are taking steps to adopt an ordinance on backyard chickens. “The only thing we have in place right now is an old ordinance for nuisance fowl,” borough Solicitor Larry Loperfito said, adding that the decades-old ordinance addresses concerns such as a noisy rooster crowing. A three-person committee created...