Valley News Dispatch category, Page 350
Sheldon Park celebrates ‘excellent’ Community Day
Hours after the 35th annual Sheldon Park Community Day celebration concluded Friday afternoon, Sydney Hayden still had hordes of children running around, laughing and showing off their face paint. “It was an excellent day,” said Hayden, a leader at the Allegheny County public housing complex off Springhill Road in Harrison....
5 parcels transferred to redevelopment authority along 4th Avenue in Arnold
Arnold continues to benefit from a recent zoning change on the 1300 block of Fourth Avenue. Council on Tuesday night approved the transfer of five former residential parcels on that block to the city’s redevelopment authority for business use. Properties at 1339, 1341, 1349 and 1351 likely will be used...
Washington Township man with string of felony convictions denied bond after police file gun, assault, other charges
A Washington Township man who has multiple felony convictions is jailed without bond on gun, assault and theft charges. Harold Michael Franks, 40, of the 300 block of Route 356 was charged with illegal possession of a firearm, two counts of aggravated assault, theft and receiving stolen property, which are...
Gilpin police say woman illegally set up home in vacant property
A woman accused by Gilpin police of moving into a vacant house with her dog after the owner put the property up for sale has been ordered to stand trial. Francesca Gimigliano, 43, who is homeless according to police, was charged with felony counts of criminal trespass and burglary, along...
Washington Township welcomes new supervisor
Washington Township has a new supervisor. Matthew Thornton, 55, was unanimously appointed by the board of supervisors on Monday, Aug.8. There was no comment from the public regarding Thornton’s appointment during the meeting. He replaces former supervisor Scott Held, who resigned last month. Held served for six months before resigning...
Westmoreland land bank buys first properties in New Kensington, Arnold
The Westmoreland County Land Bank bought its first properties in New Kensington and Arnold since the cities and their school district joined the blight-fighting program. Six residential properties in New Kensington and one in Arnold were among a dozen tax-delinquent properties the land bank bought at a judicial sale on...
The Stroller, Aug. 12, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15068. Please include a daytime telephone number. Inclusion games planned for special needs children The Alle-Kiski Inclusion Games will...
Freeport Theatre Festival to stage historical drama ‘Massy Harbison’
Thespians from the Freeport Theatre Festival are channeling their inner pioneer as they present “Massy Harbison.” The play is a historical drama based on local pioneer heroine Massy Harbison, who survived captivity by Native Americans near what is now present-day Freeport. It was written and directed by Rennick Steele. It’s...
Body pulled from Allegheny River near marina in Tarentum
A body was pulled from the Allegheny River on Thursday afternoon near the marina in Tarentum when someone called 911 after seeing it floating in the waterway, according authorities. A Tarentum police officer who arrived shortly after 3 p.m. began the search by being ferried along the river near the...
Case proceeding against Arnold officer accused of lying about damage to patrol vehicle
An Arnold police officer accused of lying about how his patrol vehicle was damaged waived his right to a hearing Thursday. Ryan Matthew Clark, 32, of Buffalo Township is charged by Westmoreland County detectives with making a false report and tampering with evidence, which are both misdemeanor offenses. “We’re going...
Buffalo Township karate studio to host kick-a-thon to raise funds for Muscular Dystrophy Association
C.S. Kim Karate Inc. in Buffalo Township is hosting a kick-a-thon Tuesday to raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Brian Sackett, master and owner of the Buffalo Township location, said the school started working with the association 30 years ago to raise funds. He said that over the...
Crumbling foundation being replaced at Harrison war memorial
Repairs are underway at the Harrison Honor Roll that stands at the center of town along Freeport Road. The 77-year-old monument recognizes the township’s World War II veterans. The black granite memorial is etched with the names of nearly 2,000 servicemen. On Wednesday, crews worked to pour a new concrete...
Brackenridge looks to address complaints about street sports
Anyone putting up basketball hoops, soccer or hockey goals on Brackenridge streets could find it to be a costly move. A proposed ordinance would prohibit items like these from encroaching on public rights of way after multiple residents complained about property damage from errant basketballs and street hockey balls. “The...
That’s no fish! It’s an American eel — in the Kiski River
“What the hell is that?” three anglers asked as an official with the Roaring Run Watershed Association reeled in a creature swirling around in the Kiski River. It turned out to be an American eel. It’s a rare find in the river, said Gary Smith, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat...
Gilpin police officer commended for saving man’s life
Gilpin Patrolman T.J. Bajack received a surprise during the supervisors meeting Tuesday night. Police Chief Christopher Fabec presented Bajack with the department’s first certificate of commendation for an incident Bajack handled that saved a man’s life. “It’s nice to see some good come out of a situation that could’ve ended...
The Stroller, Aug. 11, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15068. Please include a daytime telephone number. Springdale to celebrate Community Day Springdale Community Day will be from 11...
Allegheny Township homeowners plead for help with dilapidated neighboring properties
Several Allegheny Township residents want to know what township officials can do about ongoing problems associated with rundown, neglected and vacant properties next to their homes. Three people attended this week’s supervisors meeting, all voicing their frustrations about living next to what they said are unsightly and unsafe structures and...
Deer Lakes students install buddy benches to promote inclusion, friendship
Four Deer Lakes students earned their Silver Award in Girl Scouts for a project aimed to promote friendship and inclusion at their primary and intermediate schools. Freshmen Natalie Naugle, Tessa Lovich, Melanie Brown and Alexis Hoburg installed a “buddy bench” at the Curtisville and East Union playgrounds. The members of...
Aspinwall Council OK with liquor license transfer for Feast on Brilliant
A specialty food store in Aspinwall that recently expanded with a cafe plans to sell beer, wine and alcoholic beverages and has begun the process to get a restaurant liquor license. Aspinwall Council voted 5-0 on Wednesday to approve the transfer of a restaurant liquor license to Feast on Brilliant....
Tarentum spray park closed for repairs
There won’t be any splashing at the popular spray pad in Tarentum this week. The section of Riverview Memorial Park remains closed while officials work to repair an electrical problem. “Hopefully, we can have it up and running by the weekend,” Council President Scott Dadowski said. The water park was...
New Kensington planners support proposed downtown art project
New Kensington planners recommend approving a proposed project that would decorate a downtown alley and two intersections with artwork. The city’s planning commission voted 3-0 Tuesday in favor of the “Art in the Alley” project for Ivy Alley and the painting of crosswalks on Fifth Avenue at Eighth and 10th...
Frazer man charged with sexual assault of young girl
Allegheny County Police detectives arrested a Frazer man after, they said, a pre-teen girl told investigators he forced her to have sexual contact with him. Zachary Chicko, 37, of New Orchard Road was charged with felony counts of corruption of a minor and unlawful contact with a minor along with...
Remember When: President William McKinley’s assassin spent teenage years living in Harrison
The Alle-Kiski Valley’s legacy has been blessed with brave pioneers and military heroes, prosperous business owners, inventors and successful political leaders, civic leaders and athletes. And then … there’s Leon Czolgosz. Czolgosz, who spent several years as a teenager working in a Natrona glass factory, shot President William McKinley on...
Frazer police accuse woman of using nursing home’s credit card for $42K spending spree
Frazer police arrested a woman they say confessed to using a company credit card to steal more than $42,400 from the nursing home where she worked because, she said, they reneged on a promise to pay her bonuses for recruiting new employees. Jennifer L. Ward, 48, of the 900 block...
Vandergrift mom credits youth football coach with saving her baby’s life
Whatever miracles a Kiski Valley youth football coach might perform in leading his team to victory this season will pale in comparison to the action he performed Monday afternoon just outside the Vandergrift field where his team was practicing. Quick action by Kristian Clayton, 45, of Vandergrift saved the life...
