Valley News Dispatch category, Page 625
The Stroller, Jan. 14, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Memorial service planned to honor fallen Apollo police officer A memorial service in honor of Apollo Police Officer Leonard C. Miller who was killed in the line of duty will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at First Lutheran Church of Apollo, 214 N. Pennsylvania Ave. The Rev. Philip Ramstad will...
Grant-funded programs to benefit Highlands students’ computer learning, vision care
Highlands School District will use one grant to improve computer science education, while another grant-funded program is aimed at improving students’ eyesight. The district has been awarded a $35,000 Smart Grant from the state to improve its elementary and middle school computer science programs, with a focus on increasing participation...
Plum’s 80-year-old Meals on Wheel volunteer will ‘keep going up until I can’t go anymore’
Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series that features Alle-Kiski Valley residents and the notable things they do. Anna Betti plans to start this year the same way she closed out the last one: making meals for fellow Plum residents. “I’m going to keep going up until I...
Turf field would reduce water runoff in Leechburg, officials say
A proposed artificial turf field at Leechburg’s Veterans Memorial Stadium would reduce water runoff to neighboring streets, according to an architect and the company that makes the turf. Drainage from the field was a concern of at least one Veterans Avenue resident, who said runoff from the current grass field...
Philadelphia man gets 6 to 12 years for raping 2 girls in Harrison
A Philadelphia man accused last year of sexually assaulting two girls in Harrison was sentenced to prison after accepting a plea bargain Monday in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court. Willie James Porter III, 46, was sentenced to six to 12 years for rape of a child and five years of...
2 injured in crash on northbound Route 28 near Harrison
Two people were injured in a crash on Route 28 near Harrison during Monday’s afternoon commute, initial reports indicate. Emergency dispatchers received a report of the crash involving multiple vehicles in the highway’s northbound lanes about 2:50 p.m., an Allegheny County 911 shift commander said. Medics and police responded. Two...
Service planned for Apollo cop killed 40 years ago during Kill for Thrill spree
A memorial service will be held Sunday in honor of Apollo Police Officer Leonard C. Miller, who was killed 40 years ago during the Kill for Thrill murder spree. The service will start at 2 p.m. at Apollo First Lutheran Church and be open to the public, police officers and...
Chip Bell is an Arnold attorney, but his adventure novels take you to the tropicsVideo
Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series that features Alle-Kiski Valley residents and the notable things that they do. People who step into Charles “Chip” Bell Jr.’s office in Arnold are transported to the tropics. Images of palm trees, Key West, the Caribbean and even pirates are scattered...
Tarentum’s Perriello Produce shutting down retail business
If customers of his Tarentum produce store were a little short, Paul Perriello would tell them to catch him later. If kids came in hungry, he’d give them hoagies and milk and send them on their way. “That’s what a small businessman does: He takes care of the town,” Perriello...
The Stroller, Jan. 13, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Professionals available to speak to local groups The Concordia Lutheran Ministries Speakers Bureau has senior-care professionals available to speak to organizations and community groups free of charge. Topics available include fall prevention and chronic disease management, senior nutrition, senior living, advance directives, end of life decision making, health and wellness,...
Zottola’s Pub and Eatery in West Deer is a marriage of flavorsVideo
Business consultants and marriage counselors often caution husbands and wives about the perils of also working together. The arrangement, they say, can strain a relationship. Or, it can create something wonderfully tasty and satisfying. Happily, that’s exactly what it’s done at Zottola’s Pub and Eatery in West Deer. Not only...
Allegheny Township considers pump station upgrades
Allegheny Township’s sewage authority plans to start interviewing engineering firms for potential upgrades to the community’s pump stations. Preliminary estimates from the township’s engineering firm, KLH, put the cost of the project around $1.5 million. The Municipal Authority of Allegheny Township met Wednesday to decide whether to move forward on...
The Stroller, Jan. 12, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Feral cat spay and neuter clinic planned for Feb. 1 Homeless Cat Management Team will host a no-charge spay and neuter clinic Feb.1 at the clinic, 207 Allegheny St., Tarentum. No-charge clinics are free for feral cats only and are sponsored by individual donors and fundraising events. The Feb. 1...
Saturday’s 70-degree temperature breaks 130-year-old record
Paul Moylett said he’s fished the Allegheny River plenty of times at a spot under the Tarentum Bridge — but never in January. Moylett, 44, of Tarentum was among scores of Western Pennsylvania residents taking advantage of Saturday’s unseasonably balmy weather as temperatures soared to a record level. “I have...
The Stroller, Jan. 11, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Vandergrift Public Library seeking board secretary Vandergrift Public Library is accepting applications for the position of secretary on the Board of Trustees. This is a volunteer position and applicants must live in Vandergrift or the communities served by the library. Responsibilities include attending the meeting at 6:30 p.m. the third...
3 arrests made in Verona burglary
Police arrested three men Friday in connection with a burglary in Verona. The burglary took place Dec. 17 on East Railroad Avenue. Among the items stolen were two handguns, Allegheny County Police said. During an investigation, county police identified James Caldwell, 26, and Zachary Rogowski, 20, both of Verona, as...
Missing paperwork causes Vandergrift Council to redo reorganization meeting
Vandergrift Council will redo its reorganization meeting after it came to light that five members hadn’t signed paperwork required by state law. The council will hold a special meeting Monday, Jan. 13, to reorganize, despite having already held a meeting for that purpose a week before. At the first meeting...
David John Croyle, Kittanning councilman and former pastor, convicted of sexual assault of boy
A Kittanning businessman, councilman and former church pastor was found guilty Friday of sexually assaulting a boy about four years ago. David John Croyle, 61, was found guilty of statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor and related charges. Armstrong County District Attorney Katie Charlton said the jury deliberated...
Allegheny Township man accused of raping 2 girls over course of 20 years
A 48-year-old man Friday appeared to dispute accusations that he raped two girls in Allegheny Township and Vandergrift. Eric Wright, who had been living in Allegheny Township, shook his head “no” each time a district judge read the 23 charges filed against him during his preliminary arraignment. Wright is accused...
Mild weather impacting flocks of robins in Pittsburgh region
If you’re noticing more American robins lately — flocks of them — so did residents counting birds in the Pittsburgh area for the 120th annual National Audubon Society Bird Count. Volunteers tallied a little more than 28,000 birds among 72 species in the Pittsburgh area count circle during a Dec....
Springdale man accused of DUI said, ‘If I want to drive through the house, I will,’ court docs show
A Springdale man is accused of drunken driving and intentionally crashing through the garage door attached to his North Street house Thursday night. Anthony Hallo, 65, is facing numerous charges, including causing or risking a catastrophe. The 11:50 p.m. collision and fire posed a danger to Hallo’s wife inside the...
Pittsburgh Reptile Show at Cheswick’s Harmar House lets visitors get up close
There aren’t many places you can go to pet a snake, but here you can touch hundreds. The Pittsburgh Reptile Show and Sale is held every month at the Harmar House in Cheswick. It brings together thousands of reptiles — from snakes to lizards to frogs — all in one...
The Stroller, Jan. 10, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Christmas tree recycling offered Allegheny County is offering its annual Christmas tree recycling program from 8 a.m. to dusk through Tuesday at all nine regional parks. Local parks include: • Boyce Park, Plum: soccer fields parking lot • Deer Lakes Park, West Deer: Veterans Shelter parking lot • Harrison Hills...
No bird feeder, no problem: Bluebirds live on feeder webcam in Murrysville
Not everyone can have a bird feeder, let alone one that attracts the pretty, prized birds like Eastern bluebirds. Without so much a kernel of corn or a sunflower seed, residents can take a nature break to watch all the action at a live webcam trained on six feeders and...
Meals on Wheels rolls on in Freeport-Saxonburg areaVideo
Three days a week, Dan Heilman spends about an hour delivering meals to recipients of the Freeport Area Meals on Wheels. He pays for the gas, donates his time and enjoys the weekly project. “My wife, Dawn, died five years ago. It’s me and my cat,” the 80-year-old retired doctor...
