Valley News Dispatch category, Page 680
Leechburg man accused of shooting woman in face to be released from jail while awaiting trial
A Leechburg man accused of shooting a woman in the face before shooting himself will be released from jail while he awaits trial. Roy Edward Berry Jr., 49, was granted a $10,000 non-monetary bond Tuesday after he waived his preliminary hearing. Berry had been in the Westmoreland County Prison since...
Route 910 reopens after nearly 6 hours closed
Route 910 between Harmar and Indiana Township has reopened after being shut down for nearly six hours Tuesday morning. Motorists who travel nearby Freeport Road tangled with heavy delays from the detoured traffic. The portion of Route 910 was closed after a tractor trailer split and the bottom of the...
2 Harmar juvenile bald eagles test their wings around Route 28
The tree line and rock face along Route 28 in Harmar have become eagle central as two juvenile eagles fresh out of the nest above the busy highway flit about with their parents. The birds officially graduated, flying for the first time on Saturday, according to the Audubon Society of...
Gilpin schedules ATV ordinance for vote
Gilpin Supervisors are advertising a proposed ordinance that would make it legal to drive all-terrain vehicles on township-maintained roads, but not on state roads such as Route 66. If the legislation passes, the township roads would be designated multi-use roads. ATV operators would be required to obtain a permit from...
New Kensington health board eyes 7 more buildings for demolition
The New Kensington Board of Health will meet next week to consider several dilapidated properties for demolition. The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the start of the regular council meeting in the council chambers, 301 11th St. Dennis Scarpiniti, city clerk, said the following properties will...
Allegheny Valley firefighters consider selling former Harmar substation
The Allegheny Valley Volunteer Fire Department is considering selling a former substation along Freeport Road to Harmar. Harmar officials made an offer to buy the building in late January because they want to use it as headquarters for the township’s public works department. Chuck Miller, president of the fire department,...
Holy Martyrs in Tarentum continues tradition of sawdust carpets
Parishioners from Holy Martyrs Church in Tarentum and other area churches have been creating elaborate carpets made of dyed sawdust to celebrate the Christian holy day of Corpus Christi (the body of Christ) for 76 years. This year, the weather cooperated and dozens of volunteers gathered on Sunday, June 23,...
Part of Watt Road in Washington Township set for short-term closure
Part of Watt Road in Washington Township will be closed for about 12 hours Thursday for construction work, according to PennDOT. The closure will begin at 6 a.m. near the road’s intersection with Pine Run Road near Elbert N. Kunkle Park. The road will reopen after work is done, anticipated...
Demolition work underway on bridge over Route 28
Bridge demolition work is underway on Hite Road over Route 28 in Springdale and Harmar townships. Crews from Swank Construction are working around-the-clock through Friday night, PennDOT said. Lane restrictions will be in effect on Route 28 with some exceptions. There will be no restrictions in the highway’s northbound lanes...
Trial begins for man accused of killing 2 in Plum DUI crash
A Saltsburg man accused of killing a Tarentum junior firefighter and his girlfriend’s 43-year-old mother in a drunken-driving crash finally began his trial Monday morning in Allegheny County. The trial for Edward Leonard Cass III, 27, trial had been rescheduled eight times before Monday. Allegheny County Judge David R. Cashman...
Float your cares away with a trip down the Kiski RiverVideo
River recreation is easy to find in the Alle-Kiski Valley. The River’s Edge Canoe & Kayak, located in Gilpin along the Kiski River, offers canoe and kayak sales and a variety of rental water pursuits for all skill levels. Married couple Neill and Evelyn Andritz of Avonmore opened River’s Edge...
Leechburg man dedicated to spreading his mother’s ‘timeless idea’
Loving kindness is an old — but still good — idea, Hank Commodore and like-minded people believe. So good, in fact, that in 2018 the Leechburg Area School District wove it into the fabric of the district’s curriculum. They made it a mission for students when dealing with peers and...
Tarentum barber makes impact on customers, communityVideo
Editor’s note: Building the Valley tells stories of businesses big and small and the employees who make them special. If you know of any standout employees, bosses or companies with a great story to tell, contact reporter Madasyn Czebiniak at mczebiniak@tribweb.com. William Tavarez is more than just a neighborhood barber....
Classic cars line Springdale street for annual fire department car cruise
More than 40 classic cars were on display in Springdale on Sunday as part of the annual Springdale Volunteer Fire Department’s car cruise. The department has been holding the car cruise for four years in conjunction with its annual jubilee fundraiser, which kicks off Monday. Cheswick resident Bob Laczek had...
Springdale High School principal resigns to take job in Chartiers Valley
Springdale High School will start next school year with one fewer principal after the school board Monday accepted the resignation of Principal Michele Welter. Welter’s last day will be July 31. She has worked in the district for about five years. Superintendent Pat Graczyk said Welter is leaving for an...
Springdale questions contractor’s work on paving project
Springdale borough officials and some residents are unhappy with the job Tresco Paving has done on James Street. As a result, Springdale Council voted 7-0 last week to withhold 10% of the payment to Tresco — about $10,200 — until borough officials can meet with the company to iron out...
Check out an experience at Carnegie Library Oakmont, among others
Take more than books with you from the Oakmont Carnegie Library. You can now check out an experience. An experience kit is available at select libraries around Allegheny County, including the Oakmont location. The libraries have partnered with the Senator John Heinz History Center and its “Affiliate Program” to offer...
Couple’s effort grows New Kensington’s sense of community
Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series that features Alle-Kiski Valley residents and the notable things that they do. New Kensington couple Kevin and Mary Bode have traveled the world on Christian mission trips, and discovered one of the best ways to help people is to fulfill a...
Firefighters from across Western Pa. pay respects to New Ken chief J. Edward SalibaVideo
New Kensington fire trucks lined Alder Street street Saturday in Lower Burrell. More from Lower Burrell, Upper Burrell, Arnold, Tarentum, Greensburg and departments throughout and beyond the Alle-Kiski Valley were parked across Freeport Road in a plaza parking lot awaiting their spot in the procession. There wasn’t a parade. Instead,...
First responders interact with kids at Sam’s Club Safety Day in Frazer
About a half a dozen fire trucks Saturday lined up for Safety Day at the Sam’s Club in Frazer Township, drawing more than 200 children and their families, organizers said. Christian Schreckengost, 5, of Leechburg, tried on a fire helmet that engulfed his small head. “It helps kids to see...
Police ask motorists to avoid Piper Road in Allegheny Township due to subsidence
Allegheny Township police are asking residents to avoid Piper road near Route 356 if possible because of continued damage to the road. The road continues to experience subsidence despite efforts to fix it, police wrote in an advisory message for residents signed up with the Nixle.com alert service. The road...
Springdale Firemen’s Jubilee kicks off Monday
A fourth generation of Springdale firefighters are among volunteers who will bring to life the nearly 90-year-old Fireman’s Jubilee starting Monday. The fun begins with carnival rides, bingo and a family night emphasis at Veterans’ Field, said Springdale VFD station 273 Secretary Jeannie Harman. It’s the largest annual fundraiser for...
2 charged in Harrison cocaine bust
Two Harrison residents were jailed on drug charges after police discovered more than $25,000 worth of cocaine in a home along North Canal Street. Police Chief Mike Klein said officers were responding to a disturbance call Thursday in the township’s Natrona section when they found resident Jervon Faison. He told...
Police seek Tarentum man in Fayette County homicide
A Tarentum man is wanted by state police in connection with the Sept. 17 shooting death of a Fayette County man outside his home. Trooper Richard Sizer said police are seeking the whereabouts of Omari Parker Jr., 18, who is wanted in connection with the slaying of Tywain James Reid,...
Pittsburgh Mills store owner could avoid trial on counterfeiting charge
A Pittsburgh Mills mall store owner accused of selling counterfeit merchandise will be able to get a misdemeanor charge against him thrown out if he completes 100 hours of community service, a judge ruled Friday. Tommy Wang, 42, of Pittsburgh’s Highland Park neighborhood had been scheduled to appear Tuesday for...
