Valley News Dispatch category, Page 502
2 families displaced by Brackenridge fireVideo
Two families were displaced by a Tuesday evening fire that left a Brackenridge residence heavily damaged. Fire crews were called to the intersection of Stieren Avenue and Hathaway Lane around 6 p.m. Pioneer Hose Company Assistant Chief Corey Jones said the rear of the building was already engulfed by the...
Fire damages West Deer funeral home
Authorities are investigating what caused a fire Tuesday afternoon at Siemianowski Funeral Home in West Deer. The fire was reported around 12:50 p.m. Volunteer fire departments including ones from West Deer and Rural Ridge responded. “We’re not sure how it started or where the origin of ignition is,” said West...
Ellwood City man dies in 2-vehicle crash in West Deer
An Ellwood City man died in a two-vehicle crash in West Deer on Monday morning. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the man on Tuesday as Mark Tedrow, 35. The crash happened shortly after 10 a.m. in the 300 block of Deer Creek Valley Road. According to West Deer...
Greensburg bishop announces restoration of New Kensington church damaged by tornadoVideo
Restoration of a New Kensington church hit by a tornado nearly a year ago is about to begin, the Diocese of Greensburg announced Tuesday. St. Mary of Czestochowa sustained about $2.6 million in damage when an EF-1 tornado with winds of up to 100 mph traveled about 4 miles, from...
Aspinwall seeking volunteers to make borough greener, cleaner
Greener and cleaner is the aim of Aspinwall’s spring litter collection, scheduled from April 23 to 25 to celebrate Earth Day. “Green Streets” is a decade-long effort that relies on volunteers to make the trash pickup a success. “This is a family-friendly volunteer opportunity that allows Aspinwall residents to take...
United Steelworkers begin strike at Allegheny Technologies, Inc.; reject’s ATI’s last-minute counter offerVideo
The United Steelworkers began a strike against Allegheny Technologies Inc. on Tuesday, marking the first such action against the company in nearly three decades. Some workers have been with the company long enough to remember the last strike 27 years ago, but Harrison’s Jeff Allenberg, 41, was hired at ATI’s...
United Steelworkers set strike date at ATI facilities
The United Steelworkers union announced Friday it will start a strike at Allegheny Technologies Inc. next week. The union said it informed ATI it will strike over what it calls unfair labor practices beginning at 7 a.m. Tuesday. “We have provided the notice to ATI to ensure an orderly and...
Rising lumber prices a pain in the pocketbook, push new house prices up $24,000
In 40 years of building homes in Westmoreland, Allegheny and southern Butler counties, Ray Snoznik, owner of R.A. Snoznik Construction Inc. of Murrysville, never has seen such a jump in lumber prices in one year. “It’s up 188% from last year. We’re trying to adjust (to the price hike), but...
Relief on soaring lumber prices unlikely until at least fall
The demand for lumber is outstripping supply, pushing lumber prices up and, in turn, raising the the price of a typical new home by $24,000. This “perfect storm” of factors will not let up in the short term, according to a chief economist for a national building association. “Lumber prices...
The Stroller, March 30, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your club meetings, events and fundraisers in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Lower Burrell to host Easter Bunny drive-thru An Easter Bunny Drive-Thru for children in prekindergarten through third grade will be by appointment from 10...
Harrison World War II veteran Howard Traenkner dies at 100
Howard Traenkner of Harrison was born at the end of one pandemic and died in the midst of another one. A World War II Navy veteran, he was born as the Spanish flu pandemic was trailing off. He died Saturday, at 100, of natural causes, his family said. “I think...
Man who police said fled Harmar traffic stop remains at large
It’s been over a month now and state police said they still have seen no sign of Anthony Dwayne Smith Jr. Smith, 28, from the Pittsburgh area, fled from state troopers after they pulled him over on Route 28 in Harmar on Feb. 26. They said they haven’t seen him...
Cooper-Siegel, Sharpsburg Community Library, reopening Thursday
Cooper-Siegel Community Library in Fox Chapel – as well as its Sharpsburg branch – will reopen to the public on Thursday. No appointment is necessary but visits will be limited to one hour each. “When we reopened for a limited time back in October, people were so thrilled to be...
The Stroller, March 29, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your club meetings, events and fundraisers in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Applications available for Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarships Applications are being accepted for the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship program. Students must have financial...
Hope Squad to offer support for Deer Lakes students
A peer-based suicide prevention program is being brought to Deer Lakes School District. Hope Squad, founded in Utah over 15 years ago, has a mission to prevent suicide through public awareness and education, reduce stigma, and serve as a resource to those touched by suicide. In March 2019, Deer Lakes...
Ecostudent Challenge teaches Acmetonia 4th graders to protect the environment
Scientists and environmentalists agree that if you want people to protect the planet, it helps to teach them to value nature while they’re young. That’s what’s happening at Acmetonia Elementary in Harmar where 4th grade students in Elizabeth Newill’s science class are participating in the Ecostudent Challenge. By participating in...
The Stroller, March 28, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s meetings, events and fundraisers in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Donations welcome for Easter meals, treats Allegheny Valley Association of Churches Food Bank is accepting donations that will be used to create specially prepared...
Ashley’s Kitchen bringing stuffed breads to New KensingtonVideo
Ashley Bodycombe’s hashtag is “Gather, Eat, Laugh.” That’s what she’s hoping people from New Kensington and beyond will do at her new eatery, Ashley’s Kitchen, opening in late April in downtown New Kensington. The new business was born at home, in her kitchen. “I like cooking. It’s my passion,” said...
Oakmont’s ‘Comeback Crawl’ promotes local businesses on rebound from covid slowdown
Beverly Vopicka had a surprisingly lovely Saturday in Oakmont’s business district. The newly vaccinated 76-year-old resident of The Rivers Edge apartments — who, like many people, hasn’t been out and about much during the pandemic — happily strolled along Allegheny River Boulevard on the 70-degree afternoon with her grandson and...
2021 Valley News Dispatch wrestling all-stars
Cooper Hornack Burrell, fr., 106 pounds 2020-21 record: 29-3 In his first season of varsity wrestling, Hornack captured a WPIAL title and also took second at states. He had 14 pins and two of his three losses came via decision. Antonino Walker Plum, fr., 106 pounds 2020-21 record: 22-4 In...
Burrell students collect and bag pandemic safety kits for 260 Knead Café patrons
Patrons received more than grab-and-go free community boxed meals Thursday at the Knead Community Café in New Kensington. They got a dose of pandemic protection with 260 safety kits stuffed with hand sanitizer, gloves and masks, courtesy of Burrell students. Before the pandemic hit, Burrell students were volunteering at the...
Semi-permanent food truck serves up fresh food in Freeport
Jackie Gaughan is just a girl with a mobile deli. Her new food truck, aptly called Just a Girl with a Mobile Deli, opened in Freeport this week. “We have a fully customized, innovative commercial kitchen, but it’s just mobile,” Gaughan said. “It’s the same thing you’d see in a...
Olympus Energy pays $1.2M to extend waterlines near Marcellus well sites in Upper Burrell, Allegheny Township
Olympus Energy is paying $1.2 million to the Municipal Authority of the City of New Kensington to extend about 3 miles of waterlines near three Marcellus well sites in Upper Burrell and Allegheny Township. The energy company is buying water from the municipal authority and paying to pipe the water...
Southwest Behavioral Care seeks New Kensington’s OK for move to new office building
A nonprofit that provides outpatient mental health and substance abuse services to children and adults is looking to move to larger quarters in New Kensington. Southwest Behavioral Care, an affiliate of Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services (SPHS), is at capacity at its offices at 408 Eighth St., said Cheryld Emala, chief...
Season passes are back Vandergrift Pool; officials look to a more normal swim season
Vandergrift Pool memberships are back. The popular pool, which is in Allegheny Township but owned by the borough, is officially named the Joseph A. Petrarca Memorial Pool and Veterans Memorial Park, for the late state legislator. Vandergrift Council voted to not sell season passes last summer because of covid-19-related restrictions...
