Valley News Dispatch category, Page 5
4-alarm house fire in South Buffalo results in total loss
A four-alarm fire in South Buffalo on Monday drew a dozen companies to a home on Collier Drive. South Buffalo VFD Chief Zachary Wood said both residents of the home were safely evacuated, but the structure is a total loss. Crews from Tarentum to West Kittanning responded to the blaze...
More than 100 New Kensington-Arnold children to benefit from Angel Tree
Karen Thomas didn’t flinch when the Angel Tree she coordinates for students in need at the New Kensington-Arnold School District was the biggest it has been in more than 20 years. She knew her colleagues would step up to provide gifts for 51 families in the district — 126 children...
Former Highlands teacher’s sex assault charges held for court
Charges of sexual assault against former Highlands School District teacher Sean Dicer were held for court during a preliminary hearing Monday. Dicer, 53, of Brackenridge, appeared before District Judge Michael J. Girardi in Harmar on charges that include involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, unlawful contact with a minor...
Decisive vote expected for Springdale data center proposal
Months of meetings and discussions surrounding a massive proposed data center in Springdale are set to be resolved Tuesday. Springdale Council is expected to vote to approve or reject a conditional-use application for the center, which would sit at the site of the former Cheswick Generating Station in the borough....
Oakmont welcomes new Dollar General location
Oakmont residents will have a new place to shop in 2026. The site of the former Rite Aid on Allegheny River Boulevard will be reopened as a Dollar General next year. According to a Dec. 5 Instagram post by Bennett Williams Commercial Real Estate agent Adam Hagerman, the building was...
Some fees waived for students at closing Penn State branch campuses
Students at the closing Penn State Commonwealth Campuses can take more classes than normal in their next three semesters and save some money while doing it. With the New Kensington, Fayette, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre, DuBois, York and Mont Alto campuses scheduled to close after the Spring 2027 semester, students there can...
Iron City Distilling pays tribute to, makes history with whiskey release
Amid the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, Iron City Distilling is hitting a major milestone. On Friday, the East Deer distillery will be hosting a limited single-barrel release of its Bessemer Rye whiskey, marking the first drink produced completely in the distillery. “We distilled this about 21⁄2 years...
The Stroller, Dec. 15, 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. Festival of Trees raffle...
New Penn State building will remain closed next semester after ‘structural issue’
One of Penn State’s newest buildings will remain closed next semester because of a “localized structural issue.” The university’s $128 million Susan Welch Liberal Arts Building is scheduled to remain out of service for the entire spring 2026 semester. Though the building has been determined safe for limited reentry, it...
Free haircuts & cookies among offerings at West Deer free store Poppin’ Tags holiday party
Things were poppin’ for a holiday party at Poppin’ Tags Free Store in West Deer on Sunday. The fourth annual party at Poppin’ Tags, which opened in May 2021, extended next door to Mama Jo’s House, which store owner Sonya Dembowski of Shaler opened in September. Named after Mary Jo...
1 killed in Saturday night house fire in Tarentum
Allegheny County officials have confirmed one person was killed in a fire that severely damaged a duplex home late Saturday in Tarentum. Kasey Reigner, spokesperson for the county’s Department of Emergency Services, said the fire is being investigated by the Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s Office. She was unable to provide...
The Stroller, Dec. 14, 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. Allegheny Valley Association of...
Snow brings Christmas feel to New Kensington church’s live nativity
The snow didn’t keep The United Presbyterian Church of New Kensington from staging its second annual live nativity early Saturday afternoon. Rather than a possible impediment, the Rev. Becca Siddle saw it as a feature. “For people in the neighborhood, it’s perfect because snow means Christmas,” she said. But the...
The Stroller, Dec. 13, 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 Christmas dinner planned...
Faces of the Valley: Harrison’s Bill Porter revels in connections made through Salvation Army kettle campaign
Bill Porter likes to talk. It’s a good thing, since he spends about seven hours a day chatting with strangers as a bell-ringer for the Brackenridge Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign. He sets up outside Giant Eagle at The Waterworks five days a week and says he revels in making...
Use of food delivery apps remains strong despite rising costs
James Duty used food delivery apps pretty regularly until about a year ago, when the costs began hitting his wallet a little too hard. “Food delivery was always a very luxury item,” said Duty, 24, of East Liberty. “As prices everywhere rise, this is a natural first cut for a...
Plum Council passes budget with no tax increase
Plum property owners are looking at a level tax rate next year after council passed its budget Monday. The budget keeps the tax rate for residents at 6.63 mills for the second year in a row. That means the annual borough property tax bill on a home at Plum’s median...
House that was home to East Deer family for 3 generations destroyed by fire
No injuries were reported when a fire tore through the home of an East Deer firefighter Friday afternoon. The blaze at the Bertolini home in the 200 block of Baileys Run Road was reported shortly after 1 p.m., according to Allegheny County 911. Firefighters at the scene said their efforts...
Springdale police quietly ink deal with ICE without public vote
Springdale police discreetly signed a deal last month to partner with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the borough. The public, however, should have had the opportunity to comment on the agreement first, and it should have been the subject of a public vote, according to Melissa Melewsky, media law...
Popular Penn State New Kensington programs to open elsewhere as college prepares to close in 2 years
A trio of Penn State New Kensington’s most popular academic programs has found new homes as the university plans to close the Upper Burrell campus at the end of the Spring 2027 semester. Penn State announced this week that three programs — biomedical engineering technology, electro-mechanical engineering technology and radiological...
Indiana Township property taxes hold steady
Indiana Township will hold the line on taxes in 2026. Supervisors on Wednesday approved an $8.7 million budget that keeps the property tax rate at 3.47 mills: 2.99 mills for the township and 0.48 mills for the fire departments. The owner of a home assessed at the township’s median value...
Deer Lakes, Springdale students up for Prime Stage Theatre Drama Awards
Nominees for Prime Stage Theatre’s 6th Annual High School Drama Awards were announced Wednesday, with students from Deer Lakes, Springdale, Fox Chapel Area and Shady Side Academy in the running for top honors. Leading the pack are Fox Chapel Area and Shady Side Academy with eight nominations each, followed by...
Highlands welcomes 3 new board members
Highlands School Board this week held its annual reorganization meeting where they welcomed new members Clint Crowell, Jeff Thimons and Kelly Powell. Crowell will represent Region 3; Thimons was elected in Region 2; Powell will serve Region 1. During the meeting Tuesday, Deb Lehew was reelected to serve as board...
The Stroller, Dec. 12, 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. Sunday concert moved to...
Hampton woman accused of stealing $130K from Deer Lakes School District
A Hampton woman is facing multiple felony charges after being accused of stealing nearly $130,000 in student activity fees while serving as the Deer Lakes School District’s accounts receivable/payable clerk. Rachel Rominski, 53, is charged with theft by unlawful taking, misapplication of entrusted funds and receiving stolen property. Rominski was...
