Valley News Dispatch category, Page 322
Proposed budget shows no tax increase in West Deer
West Deer officials have not proposed a tax increase in their roughly $9.2 million budget, said township Manager Daniel Mator. “It is just a product of a board of supervisors and a municipal staff understanding the finances of the township, being able to project future expenditures and to plan accordingly,”...
Plum’s Beninati twins achieve ‘commended’ status in National Merit Scholarship competition
Amy and Jim Beninati raised their twins, Carly and Nathaniel, to value education. “We always thought it was important to do museums and science centers,” Amy Beninati said. “Play activities revolved around learning experiences in a fun way. They always enjoyed it, too. They seemed to have an affinity for...
The Stroller, Nov. 16, 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. Tarentum-Brackenridge Christmas parade scheduled Saturday The Tarentum-Brackenridge Christmas parade will begin...
Remember When: Major cleanup effort tranformed Kiski River from eyesore into destination spot
In 1971, the Kiskiminetas River was declared the most polluted river in the United States. Orange and yellow seepage from abandoned coal mines dotted the riverside where tributaries met the river. Various forms of wastewater also were predominant. A 1980 study done by the state Department of Environmental Protection’s predecessor...
Part of Route 356 reopens in Allegheny Township
Portions of Route 356 reopened to motorists Tuesday evening in Allegheny Township. Allegheny Township Supervisor Jamie Morabito confirmed the reopening about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. The road is open in both directions. He said the road will remain open until PennDOT resumes construction in the spring. It’s estimated the road will...
Route 28 ramp closure in Frazer planned for Wednesday
A ramp closure on northbound Route 28 in Frazer Township is planned for Wednesday, weather permitting. PennDOT officials said it is scheduled for 3 a.m. to 3 p.m. for concrete patching on the Pittsburgh Mills Boulevard on-ramp (Exit 12A). Ramp traffic will be detoured. The detour is as follows: •...
Fire causes heavy damage to house in Buffalo Township, no injuries reported
A house in Buffalo Township sustained significant damage after a fire broke out on Tuesday morning. Multiple departments responded to the fire in the 500 block of Fleming Road at about 8:15 a.m., according to an Armstrong County 911 operator. There were no injuries reported, according to authorities. First responders...
Leechburg appoints Doreen Smeal as new councilwoman after resignation of Ruth Bender
A Leechburg native is the newest face serving on Leechburg Council. Doreen Smeal was unanimously appointed to council Oct. 18 after the resignation of former Councilwoman Ruth Bender. Bender of Leechburg served almost three years and cited a hectic schedule for the reason for her departure from council. “Personally and...
Demand for Murphy Building in Tarentum shows renewed interest in business district
Demand for office suites at the near-century-old Murphy Building in Tarentum is outpacing available space. The large corner building that sat vacant for eight years is breathing new life into the borough’s business district, with offices on the first floor rented at capacity. Owner Dave Rankin has kicked off a...
Handgun among items stolen from vehicles in Harrison; police seek help to identify suspect
Harrison police are seeking information on a person caught on camera entering and stealing from unlocked vehicles in the township. A handgun was among the items stolen, according to police. The suspect was captured by residential security cameras early Sunday ransacking cars along Saxonburg Road, High Street and Jefferson Avenue....
Building the Valley: Vandergrift native’s jewelry business success set in stone
Vandergrift native Bobbie Morda opened her dream jewelry store 34 years ago with a handful of necklaces and six engagement rings. Her store, Bobbie’s Jewelers, occupies a former barbershop at 173 Columbia Ave. in Vandergrift’s historic business district. “This comes from blood, sweat and tears. This was not turnkey,” Morda...
Delayed $16 million senior housing project resumes in East Vandergrift
After a nine-month setback, development plans for a new senior citizen residential complex have resumed in East Vandergrift, Westmoreland County. The Morning Sun Senior Lofts project was awarded a $1.2 million grant this month from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) and $1.3 million in low-income tax credits. The low-income...
The Stroller, Nov. 15, 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. Basket bingo event to benefit Penn State THON Students at Penn...
Missing 70-year-old Springdale Township man found
A Springdale Township man who has been missing since Sunday was found Monday night, police said. Gerald Zilka, 70, was found near the Fox Chapel exit of Route 28, according to Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department chief Mike Naviglia. Zilka’s wife and daughter reported him missing after Zilka told his...
New Kensington to hold line on property taxes despite rising costs
Despite rising costs, New Kensington is expecting to hold the line on property taxes next year. City Council preliminary approved a $9.2 million budget for 2023 that keeps the city’s property tax rate unchanged at 32.03 mills. The city would spend almost 9% more than its $8.5 million budget for...
Gilpin officials urge residents to provide input on zoning ordinance
Gilpin officials are seeking additional public participation at an upcoming zoning ordinance update meeting. An in-person zoning meeting is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Gilpin Township Volunteer Fire Department, 113 Fire Hall Road. Gilpin Supervisor Charles Stull said the informal meeting is open-house style, and...
Faces of the Valley: Coach takes pause from retirement to help inspire latest crop of Highlands cross-country runners
Rich Bogaty wasn’t thinking about getting back into coaching when a little boredom started nipping at his heels a couple of years after retiring as a biology teacher. So when the Plum native was recruited to fill a vacancy as Highland’s head cross country coach in 2019, he had to...
The Stroller, Nov. 14, 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. Saxonburg woman’s club to place wreaths on vets’ headstones GFWC Saxonburg...
Local schools share in $190 million from state to boost security and mental health programs
By spring, Highlands students will have roving access to health and hygiene supplies, clothes and classroom items to help increase their chances of success in school. The Mobile Support Station will be paid for through a $270,000 state grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency School Safety and...
Winter Ready Rams brings in 200 coats to keep Highlands students warm
Nearly 200 Highlands students will be extra toasty this winter thanks to a warm-clothes collection hosted by the school district community. Parent Christina Faltot spearheaded the Winter Ready Rams drive for the third consecutive year, bringing in coats, hats, scarves and gloves to help students in need. Faltot of Harrison...
Leechburg Area officials interview firms that collect delinquent property taxes, now at $900K
The Leechburg Area School Board is getting serious about real estate tax scofflaws. Officials say Leechburg Area is due $900,000 from unpaid taxes. On Wednesday night, the board heard from representatives of three firms that go after property owners who owe back taxes. • Jared McClay of Municipal Revenue Services...
Site work expected to begin at Harrison’s mixed-use business park
A mixed-use development off Route 28 in Harrison is expected to move forward in the spring after several years sitting dormant. Brian Clark, consultant for R&Z Harrison Properties, said site work and infrastructure are scheduled to begin on Harrison Point, a 162-acre development near the Tarentum interchange of the expressway...
Man killed in early morning rollover crash in North Apollo identified
The Armstrong County Coroner identified the man killed in a crash in North Apollo early Sunday as Brady Bollinger, 27, of Blairville. According to the coroner, the crash happened about 2:15 a.m. on Hickory Nut Road in an area between North Apollo and Kiski Township. A statement from the coroner...
Thanksgiving turkeys say no to inflation, but everything else up
National headlines predict doom and gloom at the Thanksgiving dinner table this year. “Inflation is so bad you may be better off dining at a restaurant for Thanksgiving this year,” Fortune magazine prognosticated, while the Eating Well website proclaimed, “Your Thanksgiving Turkey Might Be Twice as Expensive This Year.” Wells...
Leechburg’s Twisted Thistle has new ownership, new name
A well-known restaurant in Leechburg is under new ownership and has a new name. Twisted Thistle was sold this month by Linda Alworth of Gilpin to three new owners: friends Bobby Elliott, Sean Watson and Corey Pistininzi. They’ve renamed it National Public House. Alworth, 68, recently sold Lingrow Farm, a...
