Valley News Dispatch category, Page 386
Allegheny Township man’s ‘reign of terror’ ends with rape, sexual assault convictions
Jurors on Friday found an Allegheny Township man guilty of four rapes and the sexual assaults of two other woman in crimes prosecutors said dated back to the early 2000s. Eric Wright, 50, could receive up to 100 years in prison for the rape offenses, according to Westmoreland County District...
Police seek tips from public about 2 runaway teenage girls from New Kensington
The New Kensington Police Department is seeking the public’s help locating two runaway teenage girls. The cases are not related. • Police are searching for Sarah Chessario, 14, who is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs about 125 pounds. No clothing description for Chessario was available from investigators. Police...
ATI Vandergrift expansion on schedule; more jobs expectedVideo
Construction on the multimillion-dollar expansion project at ATI’s Vandergrift mill is on schedule. Last year, ATI announced plans to invest more than $65 million to shift operations from standard stainless steel to produce specialty steel for a global market, primarily for energy, defense and aerospace. A new bright anneal external...
Springdale VFD’s annual Jubilee comes to an end after 9 decades
The Springdale Volunteer Fire Department’s annual Jubilee carnival has been canceled, with no plans of returning. Zach Wilhem, secretary for the Springdale Volunteer Fire Department, said decreased attendance in the last 10 years and costly overhead expenses led to the decision to stop holding the event. “This announcement is made...
Riverview Senior Living apartment building set to open its doors in Harrison
A nearly 100-year-old former elementary school in a residential Harrison neighborhood is expected to open its doors as senior citizen rental apartments in June. “We’re doing ‘punch out’ work now,” developer Andy Haines said. “There’s lots of cosmetic work and cleaning up. The last month is always challenging to get...
The Stroller, April 22, 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. Motorcycle run helps to fund Camp Cadet The Pennsylvania State Police will sponsor a motorcycle run May 22 to benefit Armstrong...
Arnold awards contract for demolition of 10 buildings, hires code officer
Arnold Council has awarded a contract for the demolition of 10 buildings in the city. AP Wise Excavating’s bid of $75,840 was the lowest of seven the city received. The highest bid, of nearly $141,000 , was submitted by Davis Demolition and Excavation. Six other companies picked up information on...
Fathers for Literacy event in Harrison offers books, bean bags and bonding
When George Fleming first began a career in social work, he immediately noticed a lack of interest in reading by children. A supervisor for Allegheny Family Network, which has offices in Harrison and Oakland, Fleming was startled to learn that nearly two-thirds of low-income families have no books at home...
Arnold, Buffalo Township getting share of $47.8M in state transportation funding
Projects in two Alle-Kiski Valley communities are among 56 highway, bridge, transit, bike and pedestrian projects in 28 counties selected for $47.8 million in state funding, Gov. Tom Wolf’s office announced Thursday. • Arnold is getting $53,000 for improvements to Rankin Street from Woodmont Avenue to Freeport Road. The improvements...
Student-run ‘Cavalier Closet’ at Kiski Area High School offers free clothing and more
A charitable closet inside Kiski Area High School offers more than just clothes. Staffed by 10 students from the high school’s Life Skills Program, the Cavalier Closet is a free student store offering donated clothing, accessories, shoes and toiletries to any student in need. The closet concept was created in...
Attorney: Prescription drugs, marijuana led Vandergrift woman to kill cousin
The lawyer for a Vandergrift woman told a Westmoreland County jury Thursday that marijuana, combined with medications she takes for ongoing mental health issues, left her unable to form an intent to kill her cousin nearly four years ago. “She was suffering from an altered state of consciousnesses,” defense attorney...
Closing arguments expected in retrial of Allegheny Township man accused of 6 rapes
The Allegheny Township man who prosecutors say raped and sexually assaulted six women dating back to the early 2000s told a Westmoreland County jury Thursday he is not guilty of the allegations. Eric Wright, 50, testified during the third day of his trial . He denied having any improper sexual...
Successful growth of baby mussels in Kiski River indicates continued health of waterways
Several years ago, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy biologists documented the first freshwater mussels — eight species in all — found in the Kiski River in over a century. Then, last summer, the biologists implanted some baby mussels in concrete silos in the Kiski, as well as a dozen other waterways, to...
Highlands educational equity policy gets initial approval; another vote needed to finalize
The Highlands School Board on Tuesday gave its initial approval to a controversial educational equity measure. The educational equity measure, opposed by most of the residents who commented on the proposal, is recommended by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association. The measure now requires a second reading that, under school district...
The Stroller, April 21, 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. Free paper shredding event planned at Clearview Federal Credit Union A free paper shredding event and electronics collection will be hosted...
Trial for Vandergrift woman accused in killing of Greensburg cousin to begin Thursday
Testimony in the murder trial of a Vandergrift woman accused in the 2018 shooting death of her cousin is expected to begin Thursday morning. A jury was seated Wednesday in Westmoreland County to hear evidence in the case against Ashley Croft. Prosecutors claim Croft, 38, shot and killed her 31-year-old...
Taqueria El Pastorcito opening with authentic Mexican food in New Kensington
A mariachi band will perform Sunday in downtown New Kensington as part of the opening of the city’s newest restaurant. Taqueria El Pastorcito will be open from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday, with the band playing for a couple of hours in the mid-afternoon, owner and chef Jose Tecuanhuehue said....
Sinkhole on Saxonburg Boulevard reduces stretch in West Deer to single lane
Part of Saxonburg Boulevard in West Deer is reduced to a single lane after a large sinkhole opened between Russellton-Dorseyville Road and McClure Road. West Deer police posted on Facebook Monday morning cautioning motorists to be careful driving on Saxonburg Boulevard in that area. The sinkhole is in the northbound...
Former Citizens Bank building in downtown New Kensington sold at auction
The largest office building in downtown New Kensington was successfully sold through an online auction. The winning bidder for the building at 901 Fifth Ave., which until November housed a Citizens Bank branch, is from California, said James Kelly, a managing member of KeWe New Kensington, which has owned the...
Surveillance leads to Arnold man’s arrest; heroin, cocaine seized
Police arrested an Arnold man they had under surveillance because of multiple reports of drug dealing at his apartment and confiscated nearly 6 ounces of cocaine and an ounce of heroin. Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli announced this week that agents from her office, the state Attorney General’s Office...
West Leechburg halts consideration of merger with Allegheny Township
West Leechburg officials have decided not to pursue a merger with Allegheny Township. The decision comes after council reviewed the study conducted by the state Department of Economic and Community Development. The study looked at the impact of consolidation. “It was very nonspecific, and it didn’t show it would be...
The Stroller, April 20, 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. Spring bird hike planned at Harrison Hills Park Friends of Harrison Hills Park will sponsor a spring Bird Hike from 8:30...
Herb Society returns to Beechwood Farms in Fox Chapel with spring sale after pandemic-related break
Members of the Western PA Unit of the Herb Society of America will be back in action for their annual spring plant sale after a two-year covid-related break. “After two years with no sale, it will be great to see and talk with friends and gardeners once again,” club member...
Remember When: Verona inventor was ahead of the curve on land, sea and air in early 1900s
The Alle-Kiski Valley has been blessed with great inventors over the years. Among them is Natrona’s Samuel Kier, inventor of the oil-based lamps that illuminated homes and businesses before the incandescent light bulb came along. Another was New Kensington’s Stephanie Kwolek, a chemist at DuPont who invented Kevlar, the material...
Fox Chapel to spend more than $1 million to rebuild 10 roads this year
Ten Fox Chapel roads are expected to be rebuilt this year as part of the borough’s road paving program. Council unanimously voted April 18 to award a $1.369 million contract to Wampum-based Youngblood Paving. Borough Manager Gary Koehler said the company was the lowest of four bidders and has done...
