Valley News Dispatch category, Page 633
Kiski Area High School’s Breakfast with Santa expected to attract 300 people
Sarah Gracey, an advisor and business teacher at Kiski Area High School, thinks there are several reasons why the school’s sixth annual Breakfast with Santa resonates with the community. “It’s like a wholesome, family event,” she said. “It’s for the community, by the community.” Breakfast with Santa will take place...
The Stroller, Dec. 13, 2019: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Volunteers needed to tutor students at Peoples Library Peoples Library in New Kensington is seeking adult volunteers to tutor elementary students in its afterschool program. Adult tutors work one-on-one with at-risk students from the New Kensington-Arnold School District from 4 to 5:20 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at the New Kensington...
Boyce Park ski slopes to open this weekend
Skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts can rejoice, because the Boyce Park slopes open up for the season on Saturday. Allegheny County Parks Department officials said the beginner slope and main slope will be ready around 9:30 a.m. with a base of 18 to 24 inches of snow. Other slopes, trails and...
Apollo Borough office closed for move to new location
The Apollo municipal office closed this week and will remain closed until Dec. 20 when it reopens at a new location at 809 N. Warren Avenue. The move was prompted by the expiration of the borough’s lease at the end of the year at 616 First St., the former Apollo...
Cousin accused of aiding convicted cop killer Rahmael Holt ordered to stand trialVideo
New Kensington District Judge Frank Pallone refused to lower Lisa Harrington’s $100,000 bond Thursday after holding her for trial on charges of getting rid of the gun her cousin used to kill city police Officer Brian Shaw two years ago. Harrington, 33, is a cousin of Rahmael Holt, who a...
New Kensington-Arnold preliminary budget spikes taxes, exhausts reserves
Even with a property tax increase more than double its state limit, the New Kensington-Arnold School District will empty its reserves by the end of the 2020-21 school year and go into the red, the district’s business manager projects. A 7-mill property tax increase is included in the $38.96 million...
Missing New Kensington youth found
A missing New Kensington youth has been found, police said. Police and the family of Da’ Montae Brooks, 13, had been looking for him since 10 p.m. last Thursday. Detective Sgt. Paul Manke said Monday he has been found. No other details are available....
$10K donation from ‘Secret Santa’ will buy gifts for Leech Elementary students
An unexpected letter delivered this week to David Leech Elementary Principal David Keibler brought him to tears. The two-page, handwritten note from a man wishing to remain anonymous included a check for $10,000 with instructions that the money be used to provide every Leechburg Area student in pre-kindergarten through fifth...
Arnold ordinance would allow backyard fires
Arnold residents would be able to have contained fires in their backyards under a new ordinance city council is considering. Fires at residences would have to be burned in a container no more than 36 inches in diameter and at least two feet high, according to the proposed ordinance. The...
General manager of Harrison McDonald’s receives company’s top awardVideo
For Laurie Naugle, just to be nominated for the prestigious Ray Kroc Award was an honor. But to win it was astonishing. “It’s just mind-blowing,” Naugle, general manager of the McDonald’s in Harrison, said Thursday when she was honored with one of the corporation’s most prestigious awards. The McDonald’s Corporation’s...
New Kensington’s Peoples Library to stage play written by city residents, petting zoo
Free events planned Saturday at New Kensington’s Peoples Library include an original Christmas play written by two city residents and an indoor petting zoo. “We’re glad to have a double bill for the day,” library Director David Hrivnak said. Members of the Valley High School Drama Club will perform the...
Armstrong County Jail receives $150,000 to fight drug addiction
Armstrong County received a $150,000 grant to expand the county jail’s Medication Assistance Treatment (MAT) program, the office of Rep. Joseph Petrarca announced Wednesday. The program provides drug treatment services and cognitive behavioral therapy to offenders with drug addiction. The grant was provided by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and...
The Stroller, Dec. 12, 2019: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Santa to visit several Valley communities Santa Claus is planning to ride through several Alle-Kiski Valley communities over the weekend. • North Apollo: Santa will begin his trip with the borough firemen at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Leonard Avenue, and visit the following streets: 4:45 p.m., Wemple; 5 p.m., Center;...
Lyft driver from Harrison accused of exposing himself, groping passenger
A Harrison man accused of exposing himself to a woman and groping her last month while driving for the ride-sharing service Lyft was ordered Wednesday to stand trial. Indiana Township police said Douglas Timothy Moore, 53, picked up a woman who requested a ride to West Deer and then drove...
Harrison police holding drug take-back event
Harrison police will hold a drug take-back event Thursday for township residents. “Medicine that languishes in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse or abuse and flushing them or throwing them away present potential safety and health hazards,” said Harrison police Chief Mike Klein. Unwanted or out-of-date prescriptions and...
Ohio River, Buffalo Creek among nominees for Pennsylvania’s River of the Year
The five nominees for Pennsylvania’s River of the Year include the Ohio River and an obscure but environmentally unique waterway, Buffalo Creek in Armstrong and Butler counties. The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the nonprofit Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers annually pick nominees for the honor....
Arnold adopts budget with no tax increase, seeks funding for sewer projects
Arnold Council on Tuesday adopted a $4.4 million budget for 2020 that does not change the property tax rate and increases spending just $10,000 over this year. The tax rate remains 43.5 mills, with 25 mills going toward general city services and 18.5 mills toward debt service. At that rate,...
Bailey the therapy dog helps Deer Lakes 3rd graders readVideo
As Kayla Paschel read to Bailey, a 14-year old Yorkshire terrier Maltese mix, she felt like the dog could understand her. “I could feel him listening to me,” said Kayla, 9, of West Deer, who read one of her favorite books, “Michelle the Winter Wonderland Fairy.” “It was really fun...
The Stroller, Dec. 11, 2019: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Train display to benefit food bank The Model Train Association at Bull Creek United Presbyterian Church, 224 Tarentum-Culmerville Road, is hosting its annual holiday model train display from 6 to 8 p.m. Fridays, 2 to 8 p.m. Saturdays, and 2 to 6 p.m. Sundays in December at the church in...
Candidates sought to fill vacant Arnold council seat
A vacancy on Arnold city council will need to be filled in January. The city is accepting letters of interest for the vacant seat until the close of business on Jan. 10. That seat is now held by Joe Bia II, who defeated Karen Peconi for mayor in the Democratic...
Pivik students pitch in to make presents for Children’s Institute students
Pivik Elementary students and a Habitat for Humanity Allegheny Valley volunteer have partnered to provide special hand-made toys for the Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh. Tom Hughes, a Korean War veteran and one of the original Habitat helpers, made multiple hand-carved wooden reindeer for the nonprofit. He continued that effort this...
Actor Trevor Donovan visits Deer Lakes Middle School for anti-bullying assemblyVideo
Years ago, actor Trevor Donovan was an introverted, quiet kid who didn’t like to speak up. He was on a ski race team, but he wasn’t very good. He was always holding the other skiers up. Once, when the group was out skiing, he needed to use the bathroom. He...
Contractor offers discount for work on Lower Burrell veterans’ monument
An Oakmont contractor knocked $1,000 off the final bill to restore a veterans’ monument in front of Lower Burrell’s Stewart Elementary School. The monument for residents who served in World War II toppled over earlier this year. The office of state Rep. Bob Brooks, R-Murrysville, headed up the monument restoration...
Tarentum branch of Community Library of Allegheny Valley to close
The Tarentum branch of the Community Library of Allegheny Valley is set to close, according to the library’s board of directors. All operations will be run out of the Harrison branch, a few miles away. “After much consideration and discussion, the Community Library of Allegheny Valley Board of Directors voted...
Allegheny Township adopts 2020 budget with no tax increase
Allegheny Township Supervisors on Monday night adopted a budget for 2020 that will keep the property tax rate at 16.5 mills. It’s the 10th consecutive year that township officials have held the line on property taxes. Of the 16.5 mills, 13.35 will go toward a $4.1 million general fund. A...
