Valley News Dispatch category, Page 588
Kiski Township’s Bill Kerr receives distinguished educator award from Pitt
The University of Pittsburgh honored alumnus Bill Kerr of Kiski Township with the Distinguished PreK-12 Educator Award. An awards ceremony at which Kerr was to be honored in March was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, but he received the actual award — an engraved University of Pittsburgh crystal bowl...
Judge rejects bid to return $2,500 to witness in cop killer investigation
A Westmoreland County judge on Friday denied a Braddock man’s request to return money seized from him during the investigation into the murder of a New Kensington police officer. Tavon Harper, 30, who testified at the 2019 trial of Rahmael Holt, the man convicted of killing New Kensington Officer Brian...
New Kensington-Arnold hires wife of acting superintendent as teacher
The same day Jon Banko was named acting superintendent of New Kensington-Arnold School District, his wife was hired as an elementary teacher in the district. Banko conceded the hiring of his wife, Nicole Banko, could appear inappropriate to some. But he said he was not involved in her interview nor...
Lower Burrell man awaiting trial in illegal used car scheme avoids return to jail
A Lower Burrell man awaiting trial on 67 criminal counts of using fake identities to sell cars as a licensed dealer avoided having his bond revoked Friday for allegedly “brokering” another car sale last month in Delmont, but was instead admonished by a judge. “From here on out, you are...
$900K car wash proposed for Tarentum Bridge Road in New Kensington
A car wash has been proposed to replace a building housing a pizza shop and cellphone store on Tarentum Bridge Road in New Kensington. For that to happen, the proposed project will need a variance from the city’s zoning, which does not allow a car wash at that location, said...
New Kensington to award contract for demolition of former bar, hotel buildings
A woman living across from a rundown New Kensington building that was once a bar is happy it will soon be gone, while a business owner whose garage is across from an empty former hotel in the city wonders how it got so bad that tearing it down is all...
The Stroller, Aug. 28, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Is your non-profit organization going to have a fundraiser? Send information to The Stroller at least a week in advance to vndnews@tribweb.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on Twitter @VNDStroller for a daily link to The Stroller. Concert scheduled Sunday in Brackenridge A concert featuring Two...
Tarentum woman, 19, becoming 3rd owner of Merle Norman Cosmetics studioVideo
Mary Lee Naccarato first learned of Olivia Grace Fertig from a newspaper story. She was so impressed by the young woman that Naccarato offered her a job at her New Kensington Merle Norman Cosmetics studio. Just over a year later, Naccarato, 73, of Washington Township is retiring, and Fertig, 19,...
More than a dozen shots fired in Arnold shooting, man hit in foot
A man was shot in the foot Thursday afternoon in Arnold in a shooting in which more than a dozen rounds were fired. The shooting was reported to 911 at 1:10 p.m., a Westmoreland County dispatcher said. Shell casings were found in the 1500 block of Kenneth Avenue, just on...
Twisted Thistle, Lingrow Farm to host farm-to-table dinner in Gilpin
Two Leechburg-area businesses are partnering to present a rural farm fresh dining experience. The Twisted Thistle in Leechburg and Lingrow Farm in Gilpin will host Farm 2 Table, an al fresco supper event on the grounds of Lingrow Farm on Saturday. “The primary reason that Twisted Thistle ever opened was...
Police: Speed a factor in fatal Route 28 crash in Harrison
A Harrison man was speeding on Route 28 before a crash that claimed his life Tuesday, according to state police. Charles A. Crowe Jr., 48, of Harrison, died at the scene of the one-vehicle crash shortly after 7:30 p.m. near Exit 15 in Harrison. Police said Crowe had been traveling...
The Stroller, Aug. 27, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Is your non-profit organization going to have a fundraiser? Send information to The Stroller at least a week in advance to vndnews@tribweb.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on Twitter @VNDStroller for a daily link to The Stroller. Western Pa. toy run to benefit children’s charities The...
Plum EMS earns silver award from American Heart Association
Plum EMS recently received recognition from the American Heart Association for its efforts to improve the treatment of patients with severe heart attacks. The ambulance company was given the AHA’s Mission: Lifeline EMS Silver Plus Award. The program is designed to showcase EMS organizations across the nation for excellent STEMI...
Union members join industry groups to rally against state caps on power plant emissions
Union workers — seeking a voice at the table in fossil fuel policies at the state and national level — rallied Wednesday at the coal-fired Cheswick Generating Station. Organized by the Power PA Jobs Alliance, a coalition of labor and business groups spanning Southwestern Pennsylvania, the event targeted the negative...
Police suspect medical issue behind fatal Harmar crash at Route 28 exit
A medical condition is suspected in a crash that killed one man and seriously injured another in Harmar on Tuesday night, according to township police. Robert Burkardt, 68, of Penn Hills was the driver in the crash on Route 910 at the southbound Route 28 exit that was reported to...
Sports teams will pay to use lights at West Deer’s Bairdford Park
Youth sports teams that play at West Deer’s Bairdford Park will now pay for any electricity they use while there, township Manager Dan Mator said. The agreement ends a dispute of almost 20 years over who pays for what at the 94-acre township park — the taxpayers or the youth...
Leechburg cancels ‘Halloweenburg’ event because of pandemic
A popular annual Halloween event has canceled in Leechburg because of the coronavirus pandemic. Halloweenburg, sponsored by the Leechburg Area Community Association and the Leechburg Fire Department, is the latest covid-19 cancellation for the borough. Pink Day, the popular annual breast cancer fundraising event, was scrapped in June. “The borough...
The Stroller, Aug. 26, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Is your non-profit organization going to have a fundraiser? Send information to The Stroller at least a week in advance to vndnews@tribweb.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on Twitter @VNDStroller for a daily link to The Stroller. Annual Mutts & Margaritas event goes virtual this year...
Natrona Heights man killed in crash on Route 28
A man was killed in a crash off Route 28 at exit 15 near Harrison and Tarentum on Tuesday night, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. Charles Crowe, 48, of Natrona Heights was pronounced dead at the scene. Emergency responders were dispatched to the wreck around 7:40 p.m....
New Kensington-Arnold approves later start, names acting superintendent
New Kensington-Arnold School District has formalized a later start to the coming school year, which it will begin with a temporary leader. The school board Tuesday approved a revised calendar for the 2020-21 school year that puts the first day of school after Labor Day on Tuesday, Sept. 8. That’s...
Man killed in crash on Route 28 exit ramp to Route 910 in Harmar
One man was killed and the exit ramp from southbound Route 28 onto Route 910 was closed for several hours Tuesday. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office said Robert Burkardt, 68, of Verona, died in the crash. It could not be determined whether anyone else was hurt. An Allegheny County...
Upper Burrell firefighters display fire truck on department’s wish listVideo
More than 100 people turned out Monday night to check out a new fire truck the Upper Burrell Volunteer Fire Company wants to buy. After some township residents expressed opposition this month to a proposed 2-mill real estate tax increase to help pay for the new truck, the fire company...
West Deer, Hampton kids to raise money for Free Store through ‘Snack Shack’ fundraiser
A West Deer nanny and five children are raising money for a store that gives free items to those in need. A “Snack Shack” fundraiser to benefit the Russellton Free Store will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday on Woodlake Drive in West Deer. The group will...
Harrison raises concerns over maintenance agreement for Springhill Road project
Harrison officials want to talk with Allegheny County representatives about their concerns over a maintenance agreement for a pedestrian and bicycle path the county will build along Springhill Road. Township Manager Rich Hill said the township wants to define and refine what the township’s responsibilities for the path will be...
Westmoreland transit authority looks to bump up local bus service
A portion of Westmoreland County’s local bus service, slowed because of the coronavirus pandemic, will be restored in September. Westmoreland County Transit Authority Executive Director Alan Blahovec said that an informal survey of riders determined an interest in added public transportation for routes around the county. Specifics about which routes...
