Valley News Dispatch category, Page 11
Burrell’s Kids for Kids market grows, engages older students in 6th year
Madison McMann and Lyla Twidwell had their business strategy down to a science Tuesday morning at Charles A. Huston Middle School in Lower Burrell. Lyla, 10, had a display of earrings she molded and created together with her aunt, Laura Twidwell. Madison, 10, was selling art pieces she had made....
Gilpin passes budget with no tax increase
The Gilpin supervisors have passed a 2026 budget with no tax increase. The budget includes a little over $971,000 in revenue and just over $1.06 million in expenditures. Sharon Long, the township secretary/treasurer, said the township will be using money left over from this year to close the gap. Larger...
Stove sparks house fire in Harrison
Crews battled a house fire Tuesday at 54 Chestnut St. in the Natrona section of Harrison. The call came in at around 11:30 a.m. Bob Bolt of Garfield Street said his sister, Shari Bair, was inside the house cleaning her oven when it caught fire. “She came to my house...
Penn Hills man accused of fighting Plum police after being revived from drug overdose
A man repeatedly attempted to fight Plum police officers after being revived from an apparent drug overdosed Monday, police say. Frank Russo, 39, of Penn Hills is charged with three counts of felony aggravated assault, obstructing administration of the law and resisting arrest, among other misdemeanors. Officers were dispatched to...
First competition year for Deer Lakes esports team ends with state title
Dominic Huggins wasn’t sure what to expect when his mom signed him up for the Deer Lakes Middle School esports team. An eighth grader, he certainly never expected to be a part of a state championship-winning team. “I didn’t know I could compete,” said Huggins, 14. “I got into it...
South Central Armstrong Regional Comprehensive Plan takes steps toward completion
Gilpin, Leechburg, Parks Township and Bethel Township are one step closer to completing a South Central Armstrong Regional Comprehensive Plan. A little over a year ago, a pre-planning committee was formed that includes Charles Stull, a Gilpin supervisor; Chuck Pascal, a Leechburg councilman; Mary Beth Girardi, of the Leechburg Planning...
The Stroller, Dec. 23, 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. Toys, treats being collected...
Search continues for missing Avonmore man
On the fourth day of searching, emergency officials continue to search for the body of Cory Dominic Cook. Darrick Gerano, executive director of Murrysville Medic One, said Tuesday morning that the search is ongoing. Manor Township police had reported Monday evening that Cook had been found. Crews are searching for...
Judge orders New Kensington Elks Lodge to remain closed after fatal shooting
The New Kensington Elks Lodge will remain closed until at least February, a Westmoreland County judge ruled Monday. The club was temporarily shuttered last week in accordance with a preliminary injunction issued by Common Pleas Judge Chris Scherer. The injunction stems from nuisance-bar claims raised in a court filing by...
Blawnox Apartments resident accused of pulling gun on employees performing welfare check
A man living in the Blawnox Apartments is behind bars after being accused of pulling a gun on two Allegheny County Housing Authority employees who were performing a welfare check. Mark Wayne McDaniel, 64, faces two aggravated assault charges stemming from the incident that brought a large police presence from...
Speed believed to be factor in Harrison crash that injured 1 person, police say
Speed is believed to be a factor in a two-vehicle crash Sunday in Harrison, authorities said. Police Chief Brian Turack said he expects charges to be filed against the driver of a pickup truck involved in the wreck, which happened about 3:30 p.m. along Freeport Road. The name of the...
Freeport Council appoints member for remainder of year
Carrie Irvine will serve just over three weeks on Freeport Council before her term ends. She was appointed by elected members of the council on Dec. 9 to fill a vacant seat on the seven-member body for the remainder of the year. That seat was left open by the early-November...
Lower Burrell police charge woman with DUI in crash from August
A Lower Burrell woman is facing charges in connection with a car crash from four months ago. Grisell Marie Hernandez, 22, faces charges of driving under the influence, aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, accident involving injury, driving with a suspended license, reckless driving, reckless endangerment, possession...
The Stroller, Dec. 22, 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. Christmas Eve concert to...
Aspinwall, Sharpsburg and neighboring fire departments team up to rebuild volunteer force
A coalition of fire departments serving Aspinwall, Sharpsburg and other Lower Valley communities will launch an intensive recruitment process to address the region’s volunteer shortage. The number of volunteer firefighters in Pennsylvania has plummeted about 90% since 1970, according to the Pennsylvania Fire and Emergency Services Institute. It is estimated...
1 person hurt, fire station damaged in crash on Freeport Road in Harrison
At least one person was injured in a two-vehicle crash on Freeport Road in Harrison Sunday afternoon. The crash at 5300 Freeport Road, at the Harrison Hills fire station, was reported around 3:30 p.m. The location is about midway between Highlands Mall and the Route 908 intersection. According to Harrison...
Search to continue Monday in Manor Township for missing man believed to be in danger
Search and rescue crews in Armstrong County continued their efforts Sunday to find Cory Dominic Cook, a 31-year-old Avonmore man last seen Thursday and said to be suffering from paranoid delusions and hallucinations. The search, suspended on Sunday at sunset, will continue Monday morning. Authorities began the search on Saturday,...
Alle-Kiski Senior Citizen News – Dec. 7, 2025
Armstrong County Senior Centers Apollo Wednesday and Thursday: closed for the Christmas holiday. Hours: 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays. Details: Charlotte at 800-368-1066 or Amy at 724-478-1410. The center is at 707A N. Fifth St., Apollo. Freeport Wednesday and Thursday: closed for the Christmas holiday. The center is at...
The Stroller, Dec. 21, 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. Food distribution set Tuesday...
Diocese of Greensburg ‘on the cusp’ of revival going into 75th anniversary, bishop says
When the Rev. Alexander Pleban looks back on his nearly 60-year career as a priest, one feeling in particular stands out among the flood of emotions. “I feel very, very blessed that my priesthood was during the golden age of the diocese,” said Pleban, 95. He’s talking about the 1970s...
After a snow delay, Lower Burrell gets in its Christmas parade
Lower Burrell celebrated Christmas with its fourth annual parade on Saturday, a week later than originally planned. While the parade is held at night when lights shine more brightly, the snow on Dec. 13, instead of contributing to the atmosphere, forced its cancellation and rescheduling, Mayor Chris Fabry said. The...
Search efforts underway in Manor Township for endangered man
Police in Armstrong County are looking for a 31-year-old man said to be in danger and suffering from paranoid delusions and hallucinations. According to Manor Township police, Cory Dominic Cook was last seen around 8 a.m. Thursday, and the last time someone had contact with him was by phone or...
The Stroller, Dec. 20, 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. Free food pantry available...
Passing the torch: Aging VFW honor guards need younger veterans to step upVideo
Military veterans who serve on honor guards for local American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts say there is an urgent need to pass the torch to a younger generation. “We’re always asking for young people, but they don’t have the time. We have seven or eight members who...
Springdale Council members say they legally had little choice in data center approval
Despite significant pushback from residents and environmental groups, Springdale Council members said they were powerless to reject a proposed data center project in the borough. Council voted, 5-2, Tuesday to approve a conditional-use application from land developer Allegheny DC Property Co. to build a massive AI data center at the...
