Valley News Dispatch category, Page 467
Judges orders jail sentence for New Kensington man in girlfriend’s death
Andrew Brown told a judge on Thursday he hadn’t spoken to his mother for more than a year before she was killed by her boyfriend during an altercation four years ago in a Lower Burrell parking lot. “I still loved her, and now I will never have another chance to...
New Kensington Wine & Beer Fest returns with new beer tent, full glasses
There’s going to be more beer than wine at the third annual New Kensington Wine and Beer Festival this Saturday, but the alcohol isn’t the only attraction. Returning after being canceled in 2020 because of the covid pandemic, the Alle Kiski Strong Chamber event will also feature food trucks, vendors,...
Athletes from local communities go against national challengers at Frazer Strongman contestVideo
Monroeville resident Jamie Whitman wants to show the nation how strong she has become. The breast cancer survivor recently got a clean bill of health and will be one of nine women competing in a United States Strongman competition at the Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer. “I’m actually feeling really...
New Kensington-Arnold, teachers union remain apart early in contract talks, school board says
Contract offers by the New Kensington-Arnold School District and its teachers union are about $1.1 million apart in salary and benefits costs, according to information the school board released Tuesday. The last four-year agreement between the district and the New Kensington-Arnold Education Association was approved in August 2019, but it...
The Stroller, Sept. 9, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
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. Parade and ceremony planned Saturday in Leechburg Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company will host a parade to honor first responders and military...
Woman dies in Lower Burrell house fire
A woman was killed in a house fire late Wednesday in Lower Burrell. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the woman Thursday morning as Kimberly George, 50. George had been taken to Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison, where she died shortly after midnight. A neighbor reported the fire about...
Hearing for demoted Highlands principal called off as sides try to settle
A hearing for a Highlands School District principal challenging her demotion to classroom teacher did not continue Wednesday as planned. After a nearly an hour delay, hearing officer Paul Giuffre said the public proceeding for Samantha Perlik was suspended because the sides would be working toward a possible resolution. They...
Dump truck causes 4-vehicle, chain reaction crash on Tarentum Bridge, police say
No one was hurt in a four-vehicle, chain-reaction crash on the New Kensington side of the Tarentum bridge Wednesday morning, said New Kensington police Chief Bob Deringer. The crash was reported shortly after 7:30 a.m. Authorities remained at the scene until about 8:45 a.m. Deringer said the crash happened in...
Voices of Westmoreland, volunteers encourage Reschenthaler to support ‘Build Back Better’ agendaVideo
Soaring income inequality. A lack of home care workers statewide. Green-industry jobs that can keep young families in the area. Those were just a few of the reasons a group of about a dozen people, including representatives from nonprofit Voice of Westmoreland, held a protest outside U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler’s...
O’Hara resident threatened with fines implores township to reconsider chicken ordinance
One O’Hara man is calling foul on a township ordinance that bans chickens. Dan Meinert, an O’Hara resident of 61 years, said he has had chickens in his yard for a decade. They’re like pets, and popular with his neighbors, with whom he shares fresh eggs, Meinert said. “We have...
Dying brother-in-law donates kidney to former Lower Burrell Mayor Rich Callender
Ken Hulst wanted to give one of his kidneys to his brother-in-law, former Lower Burrell Mayor Rich Callender, who needed a kidney for long-term survival. Hulst, a former Lower Burrell resident, died of complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — ALS — on Aug. 28. Within 24 hours, Callender received one...
The Stroller, Sept. 8, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
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. Wine and beer festival set Saturday in New Kensington The New Kensington Wine and Beer Festival will be from 5 to...
Police: Chase from Gilpin to Bethel Township results in arrest, officer injured
A Kittanning man is in the Armstrong County Jail and a Gilpin police officer is on medical leave following a pursuit that started in Gilpin and ended in a fight in Bethel Township. Kristopher Kirkwood, 36, is charged with three counts of aggravated assault, two counts each of simple assault...
Body found in Allegheny River in Plum ID’d as Washington Township man
The man who was pulled from the Allegheny River in Plum on Sept. 1 has been identified. Shawn Ferraccio, 46, of Washington Township, was found dead in the river shortly before 10:30 a.m. along the 100 block of Coxcomb Hill Road. Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified Ferraccio on Tuesday....
Parent: Son denied lunch due to not wearing mask
An Armstrong Central High School parent said her son was denied lunch for refusing to wear a mask on the first day in which they were required. Mandi Stewart said the district withheld food as punishment for her son, 10th grader Colton Stewart, for not complying with the state mandate...
New Kensington-Arnold addressing fights after football game with Highlands
Discipline will be “administered and enforced swiftly and justly” after two separate fights involving New Kensington-Arnold students broke out after a football game Friday at Valley’s Memorial Stadium, the district announced Tuesday. One fight involved two girls, while another was between two cousins, Superintendent Chris Sefcheck said. Valley had played...
The Stroller, Sept. 7, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
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. Community Library of Allegheny Valley announces new hours Community Library of Allegheny Valley, 1522 Broadview Blvd., Natrona Heights, Harrison, has announced...
Highlands Middle School to move to remote learning this week because of covid
Highlands Middle School students will be learning remotely for at least Tuesday through Friday because of a “high number of covid cases,” according to correspondence from the school district to middle school families. “During this time, our buildings and grounds staff will be cleaning classrooms, sanitizing and preparing to welcome...
Labor United Celebration draws thousands for sun-drenched second dayVideo
Blue skies and the smell of cheesy fries and other festival food staples greeted thousands of people who flocked to the second day of this year’s Labor United Celebration at Northmoreland Park in Allegheny Township. The two-day festival, celebrating the tradition of organized labor in Western Pennsylvania, was canceled last...
Burtner House marks 200th anniversary with free community celebration
Philip Burtner laid the cornerstone for his family homestead in 1818. James Monroe was president. It would be at least two decades before indoor plumbing was invented, and decades more would pass before homes had electricity. The three-story Burtner House in Harrison was completed in 1821 and life continued there...
The Stroller, Sept. 6, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
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 planned Sunday at Concordia Lutheran Ministries Concordia Lutheran Ministries will present a free concert by the Murphy’s 56 East...
After covid hiatus in 2020, Labor United returns to Northmoreland ParkVideo
The skies were gray and the ground was a bit muddy on Sunday, but the Labor United Celebration is back. After being canceled in 2020 because of the pandemic, the two-day Labor Day festival got underway Sunday at Northmoreland Park in Allegheny Township. It concludes today. The festival features food,...
Allegheny Valley School District seeking to fill school director position
Applications from those interested in filling a vacancy on the Allegheny Valley School Board are due by Wednesday. The district is looking for a resident to replace board member James Gaschler Jr., who resigned effective Monday. The board approved his resignation Aug. 17. Gaschler resigned because he moved or is...
Blind woman, 90, from Fawn receives Communion wearing the white dress she never had as a child
As Margaret “Peggy” Muriel Drinkwater Clink tried on the dress, she asked her daughter what color it was. “It’s white,” said Kim Griffith. “We want you to wear the white Communion dress you never had.” Clink inquired about the hue because she is blind. “My daughter said, ‘Mom, try this...
Brackenridge Council feels growing pains in complying with new Sunshine Law, hears report on community development
In the first week of a state law intended to make government action more transparent, Brackenridge Council had to delay action on two items until next month. Council had hoped to put a police car that soon will be put out of service for sale last week, and the board...
