Valley News Dispatch category, Page 2
Oakmont Lions band engages in acts of service through performances
For members of the Oakmont Lions Club Good Time Band, rehearsals and performances are filled with laughter and music. Worries are left behind for a couple of hours. For its listeners, the band offers an escape from the mundane. Laura Amos, 61, of Oakmont, the band’s director and vocalist, equated...
New Kensington man jailed following alleged domestic dispute, drug discovery
A New Kensington man is behind bars after an alleged domestic dispute last week. Police charged Anthony T. Swann Jr., 23, with strangulation, simple assault, carrying a firearm without a license, tampering with evidence and drug possession with intent to deliver. Swann was unable to post $100,000 bail and is...
Springdale Planning Commission to review plans for proposed massive data center
The first meeting for a proposed data center in Springdale is set for Aug. 6. That’s when the borough’s planning commission will hear a presentation from the site developer and discuss potential conditions for its use at a public meeting. Springdale Borough Manager Terry Carcella said topics likely would include...
Charges filed in connection with vandalism of U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly’s satellite office
A Sharon man is facing multiple charges in connection with the vandalism of the Hermitage office of U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly. According to Hermitage police Chief Adam Piccirillo, the department received reports of the vandalism just before midnight Friday. Expletives, disparaging accusations and derisive comments directed toward the Republican from...
Game Commission adds 10 Sundays to fall hunting seasons
Pennsylvania hunters can now spend 13 consecutive Sundays in the woods this fall. In a unanimous decision at its Monday meeting, the Pennsylvania Game Commission voted to instruct its executive director to open up 10 Sundays for hunting starting Sept. 14 and ending Dec. 7. That’s in addition to the...
Leechburg mayor to host coffee, idea session with residents
Leechburg Mayor Doreen Smeal is hoping to hear from residents. To do that, she will be starting what she hopes will be a series of Coffee with the Mayor events on Aug. 6. “I really think this is going to be sort of an experiment to see what kind of...
Leechburg residents told to lock vehicles after spate of theft reports
Police are reminding Leechburg residents to lock their cars after more than 20 unlocked vehicles in the borough were entered early Monday, borough police Chief Jason Schaffer said. The incidents occurred between midnight and 4 a.m., Officer Mark Pollick said. Thefts varied between vehicles, he said. “Some cash was taken,...
Iron City Distilling serves those who serve: active-duty military, veterans, first responders
Iron City Distilling threw open its doors in East Deer on Sunday, welcoming active-duty military, veterans and first responders to hang out as they showed some love to those who serve and have served the country. Between 180 and 200 were expected for the first-time, free event, which featured spirit...
Pittsburgh area wasn’t woman’s 1st foray in being an ‘impostor nurse,’ authorities say
It appeared not many authorities in Pennsylvania knew Shannon Nicole Womack was bouncing from nursing home job to nursing home job over the past year, despite allegedly lacking the professional license to do so. In fact, it wasn’t until an April traffic stop that Womack, 39, of Pittsburgh was found...
The Stroller, July 28, 2025: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Local food shuttle available...
Avonmore officials assess damages after night of flash floods
Avonmore officials are beginning clean up efforts after a slew of rain caused flash flooding and damages to the borough. “We had a whole lot of rain in a very short amount of time,” said Avonmore Borough Manager Cindy Rupert. She said there was multiple cases of flash flooding in...
Groups forming to plan futures of Penn State Fayette, New Kensington campuses
Officials in Fayette and Westmoreland counties are in the early stages of figuring out how they can best repurpose the closing Penn State campuses in their communities. Scott Dunn, chairman of the Fayette County commissioners, has been leading the charge to establish a team — branded the Eberly Campus Transition...
Volunteers prep for upcoming Festa Italiana in New Kensington
Karen Mitchell has a simple answer when asked what has kept New Kensington’s Festa Italiana going strong for 44 years. Food! “The food is good, and people enjoy it,” said Mitchell of New Kensington, who’s in her third year as the main coordinator for Mount St. Peter Church’s annual event....
Waterfront log cabin offers nature-inspired living in Parks Township
A rural residence big on rustic charm and log cabin living is on the market in Parks Township. The custom three-story spruce log cabin home at 1255 Stitts Run Road on 2 acres along Carnahan Run Stream is listed for $525,000. Howard Hanna Kiski Valley Realtor Denise Lewandowski said listings...
The Stroller, July 27, 2025: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Parade, fireworks planned at...
Large family descended from Lebanese immigrants gathers from across region, nation & world for overdue reunion at Boyce Park
Four generations of a family with roots in Lebanon that today spans from the Alle-Kiski Valley, across the U.S. and to Brazil gathered at Boyce Park in Plum on Saturday for a reunion some of them said was too long in coming. The more than 150 people expected at the...
Wrong-way detection system work to restrict Route 28 ramp shoulders in O’Hara, Harmar
Work that is part of the installation of a wrong-way detection system on Route 28 will be done at exits in O’Hara and Harmar starting Monday. The work to install conduits is scheduled for between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday at the southbound Route 28 off ramp...
Aspinwall launches new borough website
Aspinwall officials have recently launched a new borough website designed to make it easier for residents and others to access departments, documents and other important information. Aspinwallpa.gov went live on July 14. It features substantial changes both in layout and domain name from its previous incarnation, aspinwallpa.com. “Many boroughs and...
‘Deliberate, patient approach’ resolved Tarentum SWAT incident peacefully, police chief says
A roughly three-hour SWAT standoff in Tarentum on Thursday was resolved peacefully because of a “deliberate, patient approach that prioritized time, communication and containment,” said William Vakulick, the borough’s police chief. “We’re grateful that yesterday’s incident on East Eighth Avenue was resolved without injury to the individual involved, the public...
The Stroller, July 26, 2025: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Back-to-school drive collecting supplies,...
Grocery tenant to fill Community Supermarket in Harrison will be ‘a tough sell’
Local grocery guru Doug Sprankle predicts it will be a tough sell to replace the closing Community Supermarket in Harrison. “It’s probably going to be near impossible,” said Sprankle, whose family owns supermarkets in Saxonburg, Leechburg and Kittanning. “The capital to open a business like that is insane. It’s a...
Shannon Rummel appointed to fill Fawn supervisor vacancy
A new Fawn Supervisor was appointed by the township’s vacancy board following two tie votes by supervisors. Vacancy board member Tom Kuhns cast the deciding vote for Republican Shannon Rummel, saying, “I truly thought that both candidates were qualified to hold the position.” Longtime resident Carrie White, a Democrat, also...
A-K Valley High school class reunions, July 25, 2025
Publicize your high school’s class reunion for free in The Stroller. Send information as soon as possible to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum, PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. • Ken Hi Class of 1958 will have a...
Tarentum history museum premieres documentary on ‘Boarding the Westbound,’ a hobo’s 1932 journey
Joseph Szalanski set off to tour the country in 1932 with 48 cents in his pocket. The 22-year-old from East Vandergrift, who immigrated from Poland to America as an infant, was determined his future wouldn’t be forged in a steel mill. Instead, he traveled as a hobo, hopping freight cars...
Plum School Board promotes 2 principals, hires teachers ahead of school year
The Plum School Board promoted two new principals as the 2025-26 school year nears its start. Stephan Sereda, who previously served as an assistant principal at Plum High School, will now head up operations there as principal. At Holiday Park Intermediate School, Ashley DeVito is set to serve as principal...
