Valley News Dispatch category, Page 378
Washington Township tabs 34 streets for sealing this summer; culvert replacement on hold
It’s looking like it will be a busy summer of paving for Washington Township, as 34 streets will be part of the seal coat project. Supervisors on May 12 awarded a nearly $396,000 contract to Russell Standard Corp. for the seal coating work. The only other bidder was Youngblood Paving,...
Lori Mizgorski defeats Jake Roberts in GOP primary in state Senate 38th District race
Unofficial election results from Tuesday’s primary election show Lori Mizgorski has won the Republican nomination in the state 38th Senatorial District race. With 97.2% of the votes counted at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Mizgorski, 55, of Shaler had 15,673 votes and Jake Roberts, 31, of Ross had 7,375 votes. Mizgorski will...
Mandy Steele defeats Tristan McClelland for Democratic nod in 33rd District House race
Mandy Steele of Fox Chapel has won the Democratic nomination for the 33rd District state House seat. She defeated Tristan McClelland of O’Hara to represent the district, which stretches from Sharpsburg to Fawn. Unofficial results from the Allegheny County Elections Department showed Steele won with 5,313 votes to McClelland’s 2,954...
Leechburg Area School District needs to fill board vacancy following resignation
The Leechburg Area School Board needs a new member to fill a vacancy. Superintendent Tiffany Nix said board member Roxanne Thompson resigned from the board for personal reasons. The school board will make an interim appointment of a Leechburg-area resident to fill the open seat. The person will serve out...
1 person taken to hospital from scene of 3-vehicle Harrison crash
A man was taken by ambulance to Allegheny Valley Hospital from the scene of a three-vehicle crash in Harrison on Tuesday morning. The crash on Burtner Road at the Route 28 interchange was reported around 6:50 a.m., an Allegheny County 911 dispatcher said. The crash involved a minivan that police...
Arnold officials consider joining Westmoreland land bank to fight blight
Joining the Westmoreland County Land Bank holds appeal for Arnold officials who see it as a boost to its battle against blight. However, as is the case for its sister city, New Kensington, whether Arnold joins depends on the New Kensington-Arnold School District joining it, too. Representatives from the land...
More than $75,000 worth of drugs, gun, cash found at Lower Burrell home; 2 arrested
Police arrested two Lower Burrell residents after they raided two Lower Burrell homes where they found more than $75,000 worth of drugs, drug paraphernalia, a loaded shotgun and $38,000. Police on May 13 arrested Dalton Smith, 25, and Tessa Myers, 23, both of Lower Burrell, after searching their home on...
The Stroller, May 17, 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. Please include a daytime telephone number. Resume workshop for veterans and military planned South Butler Community Library will offer a resume workshop that focuses on the needs...
Harrison family advocacy group expands services
A Harrison-based family advocacy group is relaunching several of its services to reach more people in need. Allegheny Family Network, which also has offices in Oakland, has expanded and renamed some programs in an effort to broaden efforts, said Misty Chybrzynski Woody, chief development officer. Some of the newly titled...
Building the Valley: Creating a ‘Buzz,’ Tarentum smoothie, juice bar lives up to its name
A smoothie and juice bar in Tarentum is living up to its name, creating a stir in the borough’s business corridor. The Buzz, at 312 East Sixth Ave., touts itself as a healthy hangout offering energy tea, protein coffee and good vibes. There are specialties offered, such as the Cinnamon...
Beekeeper from Fawn shares passion for helping pollinators
A hive of bees has to travel a combined 55,000 miles and visit 2 million flowers to produce 1 pound of honey. According to beekeeper Bill Kopar of Fawn, the insects enjoy the work — a weighty prospect that requires them to pack wet pollen into the hair of their...
Family of slain Apollo woman remembers her as one who ‘cared for others’
Following the death of Kelly Steele on Saturday, family members are remembering the Apollo resident as a kind-hearted person and devoted mother and grandmother. “She was loved by many. So many,” said Ean Steele, 23, her son and oldest child. “All she did was love back. I loved her so...
Washington Township man sentenced to 12-24 years in prison in hatchet attack incident
A man from Washington Township was sentenced to 12 to 24 years in state prison after pleading no contest to accusations that he hit his ex-fiancee with a hatchet, which was still sticking out of her head when emergency responders arrived at her home in Butler County. Dean Jay Law,...
The Stroller, May 16, 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. Please include a daytime telephone number. Dynamo soccer reunion accepting registrations Dynamo Education Foundation will sponsor soccer reunion June 25 at the high school athletic fields, Butler...
Faces of the Valley: Lower Burrell woman advocates to inform public on brittle bone disease
Sandwiched between the road paving report and a Memorial Day parade update, Nikki Watson took out her cellphone to record Lower Burrell Mayor John Andrejcik reading a proclamation for Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) Week during a recent council meeting. Also known as brittle bone disease, OI is a rare gene mutation...
South Buffalo Elementary gym teacher raising money for youth bicycles for classes
A physical education teacher is raising $5,000 to buy bikes and helmets for a proposed bicycling class for kindergarten and first grade students at South Buffalo Elementary School in the Freeport Area School District. The money will pay for a fleet of 24 Strider balance bikes, helmets, pedal conversion kits,...
Pittsburgh Buddhist Center celebrates Vesak, a holiday celebrating the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha
The Pittsburgh Buddhist Center in West Deer on Sunday celebrated Vesak, a holiday that commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha. “The belief is that all of these events happened on a full moon in May,” said Bhante Pemaratana, chief abbot at the temple, explaining Sunday is May’s...
Tarentum fights blight, designates 9 homes for condemnation
Tarentum Council is carrying its fight against blight into 2022 by eyeing nine structures to be demolished by year’s end. Council on Tuesday authorized the homes — four on the east side of town and five on the west — to be designated for condemnation. They are: • 520 E....
Students’ tech savvy on display Tuesday at Highlands
Using Bee Bots, Puzzlets and Snap Circuits, Highlands students of all ages will be showing off their science savvy during a free event Tuesday. The Technology Showcase highlights innovative lessons that students experience each day in the classroom through technology, engineering and computer science, said organizer Andrew Lynch, a teacher...
Lower Burrell police: Apollo man fatally shot wife at U-Haul facility after accusing her of cheating
An Apollo man is charged with fatally shooting his wife at a Lower Burrell U-Haul storage facility after accusing her of cheating on him, authorities said. Alfred Keith Steele, 42, had blood on his shoes and pants when he turned himself in to state police at the Kiski Valley barracks...
New Kensington woman accuses man of forcing his way into home, trying to suffocate her
New Kensington police arrested a man after a woman accused him of forcing his way into her apartment and trying to suffocate her with a blanket when she began screaming. Lee Williams, 19, of Linden Avenue in McKees Rocks was charged with a felony count of burglary along with strangulation...
The Stroller, May 15, 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. Please include a daytime telephone number. Vaccine, microchip clinic planned Saturday in New Kensington Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley will host a vaccine and microchip clinic from...
Arnold man charged with 15 felonies after girl tells police he began assaulting her when she was 12
Police have charged an Arnold man with 15 felonies after a teenage girl reported that he sexually assaulted her multiple times starting when she was 12 years old. Scott Ellis Selinger, 36, of the 1500 block of Victoria Avenue, faces a preliminary hearing before District Judge Carolyn Bengel on May...
Woman’s body found at Lower Burrell storage facility, man charged with homicide
A man is charged with homicide after an Apollo woman was found dead Saturday morning at the U-Haul storage facility in Lower Burrell. The Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Kelly R. Steele, 41, of North Ninth Street. Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli identified the suspect as...
Upper Burrell police arrest man after girlfriend tells them beating required removal of spleen
Upper Burrell police filed felony charges against a man after his girlfriend told them she needed surgery to remove her spleen after he stomped on her during an argument. Marcus Lamont Obey, 41, of the 400 block of 11th Street in New Kensington, was charged with felony counts of aggravated...
