Valley News Dispatch category, Page 110
Plum homeowner accused of trying to blow up his house with natural gas is jailed
A Plum man accused of trying to blow up his own home in a natural gas explosion in November is being held in the Allegheny County Jail. Neil Andrew Yetsko, 39, was arraigned Friday night by Braddock District Judge Scott H. Schricker, according to court records. Plum police charged Yetsko...
Springdale looks to establish shade tree commission
In an effort to spruce up the borough, Springdale could grow a shade tree commission. Addressing borough council earlier this month, resident Deborah Sigmund said a nonprofit, TreeVitalize Pittsburgh, offers an application-based program that provides trees to municipalities. “It makes the business district look nice,” she said. “The trees that...
The Stroller, Dec. 30, 2024: 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. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Household items welcome for...
Global company with Lower Burrell hub aims to give everyone the ability to communicate
A global company boasting its U.S. presence in Lower Burrell hopes to build a world where no one is left without a voice. The founders of Smartbox developed software that enables people who can’t speak to communicate with others, said Michele Rimmel, senior vice president of operations for the company....
Scenes from the Valley: Images captured in the Alle-Kiski Valley from Dec. 19-24, 2024
Here is a weekly look at recent images captured throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley. From major news events to routine gatherings, TribLive’s “Scenes from the Valley” photo package brings to life activities and moments happening in your backyard. To have a photo considered as a “Scenes from the Valley” candidate, please...
Building the Valley: Lojaks Cycle Sales celebrates 50 years of business and its place in off-road racing history
Being in business for 50 years has its perks. For example, Lojaks Cycle Sales has motorcycle parts from the 1970s that can be found at few other retailers. Recently, the shop shipped out a part made in 1972 to a buyer in California. Branded hoodies take up a whole corner...
The Stroller, Dec. 29, 2024: 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. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Christmas tree recycling locations...
Families have fun counting birds at Fox Chapel nature reserve
Stacy Ogutu has the eyes of a red-tailed hawk and the quick note-taking skills of an educated song sparrow. Both of those talents were on display as the McCandless youth marked down every bird she and her other family members saw along the paths of Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve in...
1 injured in crash along Route 28 in Aspinwall
One person was injured in a single-vehicle crash Saturday morning along northbound Route 28 at Exit 7 in Aspinwall. The incident led to temporary closure of the exit as responders cleared the scene. Southern Allegheny Valley Emergency Services fire Chief Mike Daniher said the crash was reported at 6:53 a.m....
Artists hope to expand New Kensington downtown alley art project
Artists hope to get to work on a second block of downtown New Kensington’s Ivy Alley next year. More than $23,000 in grant funding has been obtained to continue the Art in the Alley project between 10th and Ninth streets, said Michelle Thom, president of the New Ken Downtown Partnership....
Councilwoman resigns in Freeport
Freeport Councilwoman Jeannie Mazurowski has resigned from her post. Appointed in January, Mazurowski confirmed her resignation to TribLive on Friday, citing prioritizing her family obligations as the primary reason for her decision to exit public service. “I don’t think I have the time to put into the borough that I...
The Stroller, Dec. 28, 2024: 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. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Free rides available to...
Leechburg man remembered as a pure soul who brought joy to family, friends, neighbors
Nancy Wickham nicknamed her son, Cameron, “the happy child.” “I would often refer to him as the happy child,” said Wickham of Leechburg. “It was like the only state of emotion he was ever in. It was amazing. He loved people.” About 10 years ago, the family moved from Ohio...
Kia, Hyundai vehicles targeted by thieves in New Kensington’s Mount Vernon area
A New Kensington restaurant owner whose car was stolen from in front of her home said she worries about what the theft says not only about her neighborhood but the entire city. Jillian Ludwiczak, who owns Jillian’s Restaurant with her husband, Phillip Call, said her 2014 Kia Optima was taken...
Arnold woman proposing transitional housing program for women
An Arnold woman says she’s following the hand of God, and her sister’s dream, as she works to establish a home for women in need. Amanda Wheeler is seeking approval from the city to open The Battle Life, a transitional housing program, on Fourth Avenue. The home would accommodate up...
The Stroller, Dec. 27, 2024: 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. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Annual sport show and...
Duck hunting alive and well for some in Western Pennsylvania
Fat off stale bread and hip to locations of warm sewage outflows, ducks are plentiful on the Allegheny River. “We saw hundreds of ducks today,” said hunter Tyler Bressler of Irwin as he and his family transferred their gear from a jon boat to a pickup at a Harmar boat...
Taekwondo instructor, federal land specialist considers himself a lifelong student
By day, Jeff Horneman helps protect federal land against encroachment as a member of the Army Corps of Engineers. By night, he helps young people learn to protect themselves as a taekwondo instructor at Trinity United Methodist Church in Brackenridge. “We’re teaching kids discipline and how to grow mentally,” Horneman...
School district telethons raise more than $200K for charities
Telethons at three Pittsburgh-area school districts raised more than $200,000 for charities this Christmas season. Make-A-Wish was the beneficiary of Plum School District’s long-running telethon and a newer one organized by Penn-Trafford. Penn-Trafford raised about $67,400, while Plum collected about $53,700, according to their teacher organizers. Fox Chapel raised $90,228...
Year-in-review: Alle-Kiski Valley residents among victims at Trump rally assassination attempt
As 2024 draws to a close, Alle-Kiski Valley area residents may be looking forward to the uncertainty of the year to come while reflecting on what has passed. And while the region always has its mix of news — big and small, widespread and personal — it found itself thrust,...
The Stroller, Dec. 26, 2024: 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. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Free milkweed seeds available...
The Stroller, Dec. 25, 2024: 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. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Merry Christmas to our...
Kiski Township Sewage Authority to dissolve at year’s end
The Kiski Township Sewage Authority was touted upon its creation in 2021 as a move toward the future, one where more residents would have public sewage service than not. Four years later, it’s circling the drain. The authority will effectively dissolve at the end of the year, handing back to...
Kiski Township plans tax increase but amount undecided
Kiski Township residents can expect to pay more in property taxes next year. Officials did not include a tax increase in their proposed budget but have since said one will be necessary. A 2-mill hike is the most conservative outcome, Supervisor Chairwoman Brittany Hilliard said during a recent meeting. In...
Westmoreland DA doles out drug forfeiture cash for enforcement efforts
Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli announced Friday that her office has allocated $82,700 to bolster education, training and enforcement of drug laws. Those funds were forfeited to the District Attorney’s Office as a result of criminal prosecutions of drug offenses. “By allocating this money back into the hands of...
