Lead Stories
Before Pittsburgh Mills, There Was Mickey’s Mill
Today, you might possibly run down to Pittsburgh Mills Mall for a sandwich, but 100 years ago you might have had to go down to the nearest mill…and I’m not talking steel. I’m talking Mickey’s Mill, on Buffalo Creek in Freeport, PA. You probably pass it all the time if you live in the Alle-Kiski area...

The Dedicated
What Do We Do To Help Them?
Janet Conrad of Plum had a traumatic experience three years ago. A young close friend went to prison. “It was very painful and very hard,” she said. When she read the friend’s letters from prison she began to learn what life was like behind bars. In the midst of this heart wrenching time, Janet’s brother in Erie told her about a prison ministry called Kairos. He invited her to participate in a weekend visitation program. It was a weekend that changed her life.

AK Educators
Keeping Kiski Exemplary
For every school district, there are behind-the-scene people who keep things running smoothly. These individuals serve as the oil that makes the engine hum.

Gloria's Kitchen
Hearty Taco Bake
Here is a new twist to serving tacos. It is easy to fix without a lot of prep work and can be done when there is little time remaining in the day. Come in from the pool and in a half hour dinner will be ready. Having ready supplies on hand helps speed things along. This is a truly amazing dish I sure you will enjoy.

AK Sports
Out of Comfort Zone; Into Something Special
“They worked hard in the off-season. They let us know they wanted to go to playoffs. They definitely have a passion for softball.”

AK Sports
Unselfish Maneuvers: Deer Lakes Softball
The senior catcher--and co-captain--made the move. Taliani says, “She didn’t complain. And she did great at third base.” The coach says the whole team is like that: selfless.

AK Sports
Drive Results in Title: Burrell Buc Baseball
This year’s playoff excursion, now a fairly regular trip for the Bucs, was powered by the triple-cylinder, “Taylor-Brown-Peoples Hi-Performance Pitching Machine.”

AK Sports
The Four-Game Must-Win: Fox Chapel Baseball
Five games were left in the Foxes’ 10-3 season. They were up against North Allegheny, the kings of WPIAL baseball and reigning 2005 champions. Only one could be king...

AK Sports
Rags To Riches Season: Franklin Regional Baseball
They started the season 0-3 against strong teams. It wasn’t pretty for the Panthers who have been to WPIALs 13 out of the last 14 years and won the WPIAL crown in ’97 and ’01.

AK Sports
Constructing Championships: Franklin Regional Softball
THUDS! and POUNDS! echo in the background like an indoor construction site. It is, in fact, an indoor construction site.

AK Sports
Undefeated Is Sweet: Kiski Area Softball
Only three WPIAL softball teams went undefeated this spring, and Kiski Area (15-0) was one of them.

AK Sports
Consistency & Greatness: Leechburg Softball
“We have a great group of seniors this year,” says Leechburg Softball Coach Jim Oberdorf. “Every one of them is great. They are very good leaders. I totally enjoy being around them.”

AK Sports
Contributing to Success: Plum Softball
“I’ve been fortunate to have had two very nice groups of girls my first two years as head coach,” mentions Lady Mustang Coach Jay Marston.

AK Sports
Heart of a Giant: Saltsburg Softball
Sometimes behind an inoffensive exterior lies the raging boldness of a giant. Saltsburg High School is like that.

AK Sports
One Game at a Time: Valley Softball
The club looked to go deeper in playoffs, but for one player, it was remarkable that she was even alive to witness it, and an even more incredible thing to do what she has done.

AK Sports
Picking It Up: Springdale Baseball
“On any given day, any team in the section can win,” Springdale Baseball Coach Dan Pschirer states. “We didn't take any team lightly.”

AK Sports
Pitching Propulsion: Valley Vikings
He saw his ballplayers put together a six-game winning streak that drove them into a ‘pigtail’, which they won and entered the other playoff rounds...

Veterans of Freedom
Bell Township Native Served In Nine Naval Campaigns
Richard (Dick) D. Nelson’s family dates back to the 1700’s when they settled in the Bell Township area. Today he lives on the farm where he was raised after being born. Located on Nelson Road (named after his family) in Bell Township, his whole world centered on the farm and school. Graduating from the then Bell Township High School in 1943, he was drafted into the Navy and went off to boot camp at the Sampson Naval Training Base in upstate New York. Little did he know he would soon be boarding a major fleet task force and fight in nine major Pacific naval campaigns.

Alle-Kiski Businesses
Leed’s Experiences Phenomenal Growth
Leed’s is experiencing phenomenal growth in the past several years. Located in the Westmoreland Business & Research Park off Route 780 in Washington Township, the company added over 400 new employees this past year. Currently employing over a thousand people, the company is expecting further growth later this year. Their offices serve as a corporate headquarters and production facility.

Alle-Kiski Churches
Pastor Ministers Beyond Church Walls
Calvary Baptist Church of Natrona Heights had its beginning 84 years ago. Founded in 1922 with 35 people, the church met in six different locations before building the church at the corner of Pacific Avenue and Mile Lock Lane. Two years ago, Pastor Larry Pawson was invited to be their part-time pastor.

A-K Dining
Luma Restaurant – A Neighborhood Eatery
“We looked at twenty sites before settling on Aspinwall,” Michael Rudman, co-owner of Luma Restaurant, said. Why Aspinwall? “We were looking for a neighborhood setting that would cater to locals,” he went on. And that is just what happened. Locating on the corner of Brilliant Avenue and Freeport Road (the main thoroughfare), they opened an 88-seat restaurant and built a 33-seat outside patio deck complete with heating for the cool seasons in 2002. The patio dining became instantly popular. Luma quickly earned a reputation for great food and excellent service.