Valley News Dispatch category, Page 365
14th PA Hero Walk for veterans in need ends statewide trek in Lower Burrell
Spending two weeks walking across the state for the 14th annual PA Hero Walk gives you plenty of time to think, said Travis Reesman after he and five other military veterans were met by an honor guard at the Lower Burrell VFW on Saturday. But the 28-year-old from Kittanning said...
The Stroller, June 25, 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. Saxonburg Fireman’s Carnival opens Tuesday The Saxonburg Volunteer Fireman’s Carnival will be...
Single-lane restrictions set through end of July on Route 910 at northbound Route 28 Harmar interchange
PennDOThas announced single-lane restrictions will begin Mondayon Route 910 at the northbound Route 28 interchange in Harmar. The restrictions will occur on northbound Route 910 at the Harmar (Exit 11) interchange between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. until the end of July. Crews from Swank Construction Co. will perform concrete...
Search for new Tarentum manager moving along quickly
The search for a new Tarentum manager is moving at a good clip, according to borough leaders. “We’ve already started to get applicants, and they’re quality people,” council President Scott Dadowski said. “I can’t share too much, but my fingers are crossed that things will be happening in the next...
State officials, Highlands administrators recognize achievements of Sheldon Park students in Harrison
Rising Highlands fourth grader Genisus Prager said the best hack she has learned for getting good grades is to ask questions. “You have to listen and help others, but you also have to know when to ask for help yourself,” said Genisus, 9. Her method appears to have worked. Genisus...
Guardian Angels Parish expected to close 5 of 7 churches
Meager finances and dwindling attendance will force Guardian Angels Parish in Harrison to reduce its seven churches into two campuses later this year. “Decisions to recommend the closing of churches are never easy and never taken lightly,” said the Rev. John Lendvai in a letter to parishioners. “This is a...
$332,000 Olmsted Commons park planned for Vandergrift’s historic district
Vandergrift is working with the Westmoreland County Land Bank on plans for Olmsted Commons, a $332,000 half-acre park in the borough’s historic district. The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources awarded $151,000 for the project. The borough will provide in-kind services to match the grant award. The site is...
Freeport Area School Board passes tax increase after close vote
In a 5-4 vote, the Freeport Area School Board narrowly passed its 2022-23 budget calling for a real estate tax increase of 6.7% for Butler County residents and a 1.68% increase for Armstrong County residents. Three of the four board members who voted against the budget said they didn’t want...
West Leechburg to see tax increase under new school district budget
A portion of the Leechburg Area School District will see a real estate tax increase for the next school year. School directors adopted a $15.5 million budget that will hike real estate taxes in West Leechburg by 6.85 mills — an almost 6% increase. Real estate taxes will remain the...
The Stroller, June 24, 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. Free concert planned at Concordia Lutheran Ministries Concordia at Cabot Haven Apartments...
Fire displaces Allegheny Township woman
A woman was taken to a hospital as a precaution after her Allegheny Township home went up in flames Thursday night. Crews from multiple departments responded about 8:40 p.m. to a two-alarm fire at the two-story house in the 100 block of River Forest Drive. Township Fire Chief Mike Nickels...
Hyde Park man guilty of third-degree murder in wife’s 2017 death
Jeffrey Mark Fondrk told a jury Thursday that as his wife lay unconscious on the floor of their Hyde Park home, he extracted a gate from under her body and stepped over her to pour a glass of Pepsi and did so again to sit on a sofa and watch...
New Derek Kotecki-Brian Shaw T-shirt for Back the Blue on sale in Lower Burrell Saturday
Live music and a new T-shirt commemorating police Officers Derek Kotecki and Brian Shaw will highlight Back the Blue III Saturday at Mogie’s Irish Pub and Magill’s Grill in Lower Burrell. About 400 to 500 people are expected for the fundraiser from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. that benefits police...
Deer Lakes School District holds the line on real estate taxes for 2022-23 school year
There will be no increase in real estate taxes in the Deer Lakes School District for the coming academic year. The school board gave final approval Tuesday night to a $41.2 million budget that will hold the line on the real estate tax rate at 22.69 mills. The budget for...
Residents continue cleanup after storms; some still without power
At 95, Gerry Mohney of Lower Burrell does just fine living by herself. But the spry woman needed a little help Wednesday evening when a powerful storm blew down trees that blocked the front and back doors of her Russell Drive home. The storm knocked out her telephone service, so...
Christian camp Fun and Freedom continues to grow with faith, sports
A vision that grew from a love for God and sports is continuing to grow each year. Fun and Freedom, a Christian-based nonprofit, held its annual four-day camp, which wraps up Friday in Springdale. . In its first year in 2009, the camp had 54 campers. This year, the count...
Work to begin soon to improve Low Grade Road
Everything is in place for work to begin in a month or two to improve Low Grade Road in Cheswick, Springdale Township and Harmar. Matt Pitsch of Senate Engineering, who oversees engineering for the municipalities, said final paperwork and approvals have been sent to the Allegheny Valley North Council of...
PPG’s Springdale plant to celebrate 75th anniversary
PPG Industries’ Springdale plant is marking a big milestone: 75 years. To celebrate the occasion, the plant hosted an event for employees and their families to tour the facility Saturday. The plant, built in 1947, specializes in manufacturing coatings used on a variety of items, including commercial vehicles, buildings, kitchenware,...
Plum man accused of stealing 2 loaded handguns in Washington Township
A Plum man is accused by police of stealing two loaded handguns in Washington Township after officers came in contact with him twice in less than seven hours, according to court papers. Brandon M. Wise, 39, is being held without bail at the Westmoreland County jail on charges of drug...
Free seminar in New Kensington to cover firearm safety, responsible gun ownership
The basics of firearm safety and shooting fundamentals will be covered in a free seminar Sunday in New Kensington. “We want to make sure the people that are interested in protecting themselves, their family and their loved ones have the opportunity to have good training under their belts,” said Aaron...
The Stroller, June 23, 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. Fundraiser to benefit local first responders Back the Blue Alle-Kiski Valley will...
No injuries in early-morning fire at Tarentum high-rise
Residents at Golden Towers in Tarentum returned to their apartments shortly before 6 a.m., following a three-alarm fire reported early Thursday. Residents were partially evacuated following the fire, which was reported shortly before 4 a.m. at the apartment complex on the 200 block of Allegheny Street. “It took about 40...
Severe thunderstorm downs trees, wires in Southwestern Pennsylvania
A storm blew through Southwestern Pennsylvania early Wednesday evening and toppled numerous trees, knocking out electricity and damaging homes. West Penn Power reported it had about 12,500 customers without electricity in Southwestern Pennsylvania, primarily in Westmoreland, Washington, Indiana, Butler and Fayette counties, as of 5:52 a.m. Thursday morning. Outside of...
Wecht testifies Hyde Park woman’s injuries not caused by accidental fall
Head wounds and multiple bruises on the body of Patricia Fondrk after her death were not caused by an accidental fall, forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht testified Wednesday in the murder trial of her husband, Jeffrey Mark Fondrk. The prosecution rested its case against the 59-year-old Hyde Park man, who...
Portion of Argonne Drive in Harrison to close for 2 months
A portion of a heavily traveled Harrison road will close in early July for up to two months. Argonne Drive, which runs from Freeport Road near Highlands Middle School to the railroad tracks in Natrona, is scheduled to shut down at 9 a.m. on July 5. Work is part of...
