Kellen Stepler

Pennsylvania

Reporter at Valley News Dispatch

Reporter at Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Reporter @Triblive @VNDNews

Articles

Detectives: Arnold mother charged after baby tests positive for meth

2 weeks ago | triblive.com | Kellen Stepler

Westmoreland County detectives charged an Arnold woman after her infant tested positive for methamphetamine. Ariana Carter, 33, was charged with endangering the welfare of children and possession of drug paraphernalia after a ChildLine referral was turned over to the county detective bureau. A ChildLine report was received by the Westmoreland County Children’s Bureau that said Carter left the hospital against medical advice two days after her child was born.
New Kensington’s Safety Town teaches children important life lessons

2 weeks ago | triblive.com | Kellen Stepler

Look no further than a kid-sized “real town” outside Mary Queen of Apostles School in New Kensington for proof that learning can be fun. That’s Safety Town, which returned to the Alle-Kiski Valley last year, after a yearslong hiatus. The event is run under the direction of Lauren Lanzino, a professor at Pitt’s school of health sciences, and Marissa Ameris, a social and emotional behavior specialist in the Burrell School District.
Arnold man accused of pointing gun at woman holding baby in her apartment

2 weeks ago | triblive.com | Kellen Stepler

A Butler man is in jail after being accused of breaking into a woman’s apartment in Arnold and pointing a gun at her, then pushing his way into another apartment after ditching the firearm in the backyard of an abandoned house. That’s the account in a criminal complaint from Arnold police, who filed 15 criminal charges against Devon Curtis Jones, 21, in connection to the early Sunday morning incident.
Former Greensburg Diocese Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt dies

2 weeks ago | triblive.com | Kellen Stepler

Bishop Emeritus Lawrence Eugene Brandt, bishop of the Diocese of Greensburg from 2004 to 2015, died Sunday morning. He was 86. Church officials credit Brandt, the Greensburg Diocese’s fourth bishop, for leading the diocese through a series of changes, including improving finances and addressing the declining number of Catholics.
Man arrested following SWAT situation in Crafton

2 weeks ago | triblive.com | Kellen Stepler

It wasn’t the suspect authorities were initially looking for, but the Allegheny County and Crafton police departments arrested a wanted man Saturday afternoon in Crafton. County police said in a statement that its SWAT team was dispatched just after 4 p.m. to Parkview Street in Crafton to assist borough police in apprehending a man, who was not named by police, with multiple felony warrants. The man refused to exit the building, police said.
Thimons, DeAntonio appointed principals in New Kensington-Arnold

3 weeks ago | triblive.com | Kellen Stepler

Andrew DeAntonio’s success when he stepped into an interim assistant principal role at Valley High School was like that of former Pirates’ star Bill Mazeroski coming off the bench and hitting a home run. And Jeff Thimons’ efforts as interim principal of Roy A. Hunt Elementary this year, working with staff to improve attendance, grades and behavior is something the district wants to see continue.
Burrell's Stewart Elementary celebrates its last day: 'It's bittersweet'

3 weeks ago | triblive.com | Kellen Stepler

Mindy Larko may or may not have cried on her way to work Wednesday. It would mark her last day teaching at Lower Burrell’s Stewart Elementary in Room 14, a room where she, herself, was a student during the 1982-83 school year. “A lot of memories come back, when you’re teaching in the same room you went to fifth grade in,” Larko said. “I grew up here and I loved all my teachers — there’s not one I didn’t like.
New playground equipment coming to Lower Burrell's Braeview Park

3 weeks ago | triblive.com | Kellen Stepler

Children in Lower Burrell’s Braeburn neighborhood will have new playground equipment in July. City officials signed a $56,700 contract with Sports and Recreation Associates to install new playground equipment at Braeview Park after it was removed last fall. Deeming it “dangerous,” city public works crews removed the equipment, which was estimated to be more than 25 years old.
Mount Vernon streets to be target of New Kensington paving

3 weeks ago | triblive.com | Kellen Stepler

Often over the years, New Kensington officials have had to tell residents to hang tight and keep waiting for paving projects — particularly in the Mount Vernon neighborhood. Now those residents and motorists will soon have relief. Mayor Tom Guzzo said the city will enter into a loan agreement with the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Bank to pave 17 streets using state liquid fuels tax money. The program is designed to provide low-interest loans and lines of credit to help fund transportation projects.
New Kensington approves preliminary agreement for tri-city daylight fire crew

3 weeks ago | triblive.com | Kellen Stepler

A cooperative, firefighter’s duty crew between Lower Burrell, New Kensington and Arnold is a step closer to become a reality. New Kensington Council on Monday approved a preliminary Intergovernmental Cooperation agreement between the city, Lower Burrell and Arnold, to establish a tri-city duty crew for daytime volunteer fire coverage among the three cities. “It will utilize the tri-city duty crew to respond for all three cities,” said Lower Burrell Manager Greg Primm.