Valley News Dispatch category, Page 649
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 Unwanted or out-of-date prescriptions and...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...
Western Pa. Christmas Bird Count has 10th most volunteers, Audubon says
Pittsburgh isn’t exactly the bird capital of world, but its volunteers who count birds for the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count are ranked as the 10th largest group of counters in more than 2,600 count areas. Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count is the largest citizen survey in the country that measures...
The Stroller, Dec. 10, 2019: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Springdale High School Drama Club to present two plays The Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School Drama Club will perform two shows in one, “The Charge Is Murder,” and “Our Place,” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the high school auditorium. Tickets are $8; $5 for students and senior citizens; Gold...
Former Leechburg police Chief Mike Diebold to remain in jail on parole violation
Former Leechburg police Chief Michael Diebold will remain in jail for an indefinite period pending a hearing to determine whether his parole will be revoked. Diebold, 42, a convicted sex offender, was jailed late last week after he was accused of accessing a social media site that specializes in sadomasochism....
Harrison tree service company emphasizes safety as they reach new heightsVideo
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 Lee at mlee@tribweb.com B.J. Schaltenbrand recalls the time BeaverJack Tree Service received...
Former Leechburg police chief jailed again, accused of accessing porn website
A former Leechburg police chief — who was fired and prosecuted for seeking sex from what he thought was an underage girl — used his cellphone while meeting with a probation officer to access a website devoted to fetishes, bondage and sadomasochism, state investigators said in court. In doing so,...
Tarentum hires firm to update zoning ordinance, map
Tarentum could pay nearly $35,000 to update its zoning ordinance and map. The review comes as a billboard company arguing to place a sign at the Tarentum Bridge has pointed to errors and omissions in the borough’s zoning ordinance, which the company said unlawfully excludes billboards from any location in...
Frazer votes to allow horses on certain residential properties
A couple who wants to put horses on a 24-acre property in Frazer is now one step closer to getting their wish. Supervisors last week unanimously voted to pass an ordinance that allows agricultural operations on properties larger than 15 acres as a conditional use in residential moderate density, or...
New Kensington police say runaway girl returned home
A girl missing since Friday has returned home, New Kensington police said Tuesday. Police said Monae Matthews is safe and was not injured when she returned home. In a post on the department’s Facebook page, police said Monae was a runaway who was last seen on Friday....
The Stroller, Dec. 9, 2019: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Festival of Trees raffle supports hospital projects Allegheny Valley Hospital Auxiliary is hosting its annual Festival of Trees raffle to benefit projects supporting the hospital. Each hospital department decorates a tree to be raffled off and they are on display in the lobby. Tickets are 10 for $5 or 25...
Marigold the potbellied pig found wandering in Indiana TownshipVideo
A pig found wandering along Dorseyville Road last week in Indiana Township remains unclaimed. The female adult mini-sized potbellied pig was found without any identifying tags on Dec. 5, reported to Indiana Township Police and later transported by volunteers to a pig rescue facility. The pig remains under the care...
Donations sought for ‘Small Town Christmas’ at Sheldon Park
Donations are needed for the second annual Small Town Christmas event in Harrison’s Sheldon Park neighborhood. The event was first held last year to help bring together and heal the community in the wake of two shootings. It ended up filling the void left when the township’s own parade and...
Community rallies around St. Joseph High School senior Eli Swierczewski as he battles Ewing’s sarcoma
It’s easy to see why St. Joseph High School is rallying around Eli Swierczewski and his second battle with cancer. Classmates, teachers and friends describe the senior with a broad infectious smile as a great person. He’s an A-student who plays soccer, basketball and his favorite, baseball, and is also...
Twisted Thistle eatery in Leechburg staying put with new menuVideo
The Twisted Thistle in Leechburg is here to stay. The historic eatery on Market Street is no longer on the market after being listed for $1.5 million in 2018. “Linda (Alworth, the owner) was interested in selling last year due to her desire to focus on other projects such as...
Unique model train displays showcased in West Deer for holiday seasonVideo
Joe Puet is just as excited about model trains now as he was as a little boy. On Sunday, he enthusiastically showed his 1-year-old grandson Daniel Kline an O Scale model train display that had been set up at the Bull Creek United Presbyterian Church Model Railroad Association Holiday Train...
