Lead Stories
Local Army Reserve Key Element in War
Thousands of Alle-Kiski Valley residents pass by the New Kensington United States Army Reserve Center every day, located at the corner of Craigdell and Leechburg Roads, and most have little knowledge of what goes on behind its' walls. Although the Reserve Center often looks quiet with little activity, the U. S. Army men and women reservists stationed there are our neighbors who are very busy and have already suffered the loss of two of their own in the Iraq war with another 20 wounded. Two wreaths quietly are set in front of the Reserve Center.

Our Kids
Talented All-Around
Waking up before the rooster crows, driving across state to compete in a gymnastics competition and then driving another six hours back to compete in a championship softball game might seem like an overloaded day. But, it's not out of the ordinary for Brittany Skrot; it's just another day in her busy but rewarding life.

The Dedicated
One Person Making A Difference
Many of us at some point in time have seen a need in our community or felt compassion towards the plight of another. We have been moved in our hearts but somehow that concern didn't translate to taking an active part in its resolution. "What can one person do? How can I make a difference?" Those thoughts often leave us in a place of hopelessness that breeds inactivity. Throughout my interviewing experiences I have been fortunate to talk to so many people who have decided to look past the extent of the job and have focused on the end product. One of these individuals, Jim Granville of Lower Burrell, has proven that with passion many things are possible

AK Educators
Awarded for Academic Excellence
In November of 2004, the school board of the Highlands School District was awarded its seventh Tri State Award of Excellence from the Tri State Regional Organization. These awards are given for establishing a leadership agenda clearly focused on improving student academic performance in grades kindergarten through twelve. While Dr. Karol Galcik, Assistant Superintendent at Highlands, is extremely proud of the district for receiving these prestigious awards, she explains that there is an even greater quality for which she is most proud of the folks at Highlands.

Our Local Heritage
The Spring and the President's Cousin
Little did they know it would be the site of one of the first football games in Pennsylvania, or that one day the facility would instruct future students such as Congressman Jack Murtha or Zoo Director Jack Hanna

AK Sports
Ray Bartha and the Apollo-Ridge Lady Vikings:
Giving All They've Got
The Lady Vikings are one of many Alle-Kiski area teams whose coaches regularly put together demanding schedules for the season against much-stronger opponents. Those coaches don't enjoy seeing their teams get whupped, but they know giving their players opportunities to face those difficult challenges, builds something great inside them.

AK Sports
Bob Davis and the Cheswick Lady Chargers:
Playing Beyond The Crackerbox
"There's been no whimpering, no whining. They've really had a really, really great attitude. It really amazes me to see the commitment from them, even the younger girls. They have the proper attitude to play as a team…it's all in the attitude, when you come out of the locker room, are you ready to play?"

AK Sports
Shari Infante and
the Evangel Heights Lady Eagles: Seeing Improvement
Shari has seen them come a long way. "They’re very talented and I had most of these girls in middle school, since 8th grade, and," she adds, "it is a lot of fun just watching them mature the team."

AK Sports
Jeremy Bennett and
the Fox Chapel Lady Foxes: Dedicated and Focused
"They're a dedicated group…they're competitors and winners," Bennett notes. "They haven't won that section or WPIAL championship yet…but the record and the way that they handle themselves on and off the court—they're great students, they're winners. Overall, they're a group of kids that really does a nice job. Good things are going to come."

AK Sports
Ron Grove and
the Freeport Lady Yellow Jackets: Paying the Price
"The thing I felt we needed to do was get that experience, getting a lot of girls in there, 10, 11, 12 sometimes I play, getting that experience they lack," he explains. "They seem to be responding very well to that."

AK Sports
Joe Lucchino and the Lady Golden Rams:
Stick-To-It Survivors
"They committed themselves to playing the game. They enjoy playing the game," states Highlands girls' basketball Coach Joe Lucchino, describing his team. "They took it upon themselves to join a basketball team back in seventh grade, when I wasn't there, and they've just stuck to it."

AK Sports
Tom Pipkins
and the Lady Cavaliers: Will to Win
The Lady Cavs basketball team prepared for this season by playing a lot of ball in the off-season, taking part in several summer league matches. "We had some girls who played AAU. We had some other girls who came out in the summer and just worked hard, Kiski Area Coach Tom Pipkins says.

AK Sports
Chad Logero and the Lady Blue Devils:
Doing Whatever It Takes
Leechburg basketball Coach Chad Logero is seeing some changes in this year's edition of the Lady Blue Devils.

AK Sports
John Cope and the Lady Vikings:
One Rebound at a Time
Playing up to the level of success enjoyed by previous teams is a difficult challenge. But the coach has seen the team working at getting better at filling the shoes of the record-setting stellar athletes who graduated.

AK Sports
Rich Mull and the Lady Mustangs:
Working Harder to Get Better
"I mean that’s how I view them. I think that they are only going to get better. They are relatively young and the more experience they get, the better off they’re going to be, of course," says Coach Rich Mull.

AK Sports
Mark Hribar and the Lady Dynamos:
Getting There
Mark Hribar believes the Springdale basketball program has a lot of opportunities ahead of it. "I think that it’s a nice area. It’s a great place to be. We appreciate all the support," he says.

AK Sports
Paul Sylba and the Lady Raiders:
Mentally Focused
"The next day, for good and bad, if they’ve had a rough day the previous day, they don’t bring it back to practice the next day. It's always fresh…" Coach Sylba says.

AK Sports
Steve Good and the Lady Warriors:
Resiliency on the Loose
"They've worked extremely hard even since 7th grade," Good points out. That hard work that has taught them as a team, how to be flexible, tough and durable.

AK Sports
Larry Barkowski and the Lady Spartans:
Looking for Another Taste
"Our underclassmen responded in a very positive manner. A couple of our key players recommitted themselves to extra effort, so during the summer they worked on their game…" Barkowski says. "They sort of said 'We want to taste this again.'"

AK Sports
Todd Durand and the Lady Buccaneers:
Battling and Building
But Durand sees that the players on his team are putting forth the effort. "The girls are working hard. They're a great bunch of girls," he says. "The practices are great—the girls make it great. They continue to want to learn the game and keep the positive attitude, against any kind of adversity. It's a great thing to see."

Veterans of Freedom
Salute to a Hero
Sergeant Lonny Wells was a man who always put the lives of others before his own. As a Marine combat instructor, Lonny was informed that his squad was being deployed to Iraq, but that his commander wanted him to stay at Camp Lejeune to continue training new men. Lonny, however, insisted on going with his squad, saying, “I have to watch over them. These are my kids.”

Alle-Kiski Businesses
Handcrafted Stone Improves Local Homes
What do you do with your business degree after college? For Cynthia Sakala it wasn’t climbing a corporate ladder. With her Associates in Business from Penn State and Bachelors in Business from the University of Pittsburgh, she and her husband set out to build their own business. What happens next is a great story of business success, but more importantly, a business service that enhances and beautifies many local homes in our region. Come with me to visit Sakala Stone Products and learn more about how they locally manufacture and install handcrafted stone products on area homes.

Alle-Kiski Churches
New Kensington Church Expands Ministry
Rivers of Life Outreach Ministry was founded by a group of seven people that had been led to minister to people in the streets. All sharing the same vision they started by holding street meetings that led to bible studies in the project’s community center. They then moved to Lazarus Tomb in Arnold and then to the Salvation Army. Within three years they established the church at 4th Street in New Kensington and have continued there to recently. Read what just happened.

A-K Dining
Gail’s Café Very Popular Locally
Gail’s Café, located near the Route 356 and 66 intersections in Washington Township, is a very popular restaurant that is always busy. It’s a restaurant that has a 50-year history, having four previous owners before Arnie and Gail Holm bought it four years ago. You may know Gail Holm from her other love, Gail’s Ladylocks bakery with stores at 334 State Route 356 in Washington Township and Stewart Plaza in Lower Burrell. Good cooking, good food, good baking and good people are the ingredients that make Gail and Arnie successful and why Gail’s Café remains such a busy place. It’s the home cooking from personal recipes and special dishes you just don’t find on other menus along with freshly baked cinnamon rolls, pies and cookies that come in every day adding flavor that keeps all the customers coming back. Read the full story at alle-kiskitoday.com under Dining.