November 29, 2018 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Above: Crews renovate a pavilion at Renziehausen Park this summer. Photo courtesy Tom Maglicco, City of McKeesport.)
Allegheny County's 25th Regional Asset District budget includes $908,000 for capital improvements and operating expenses at McKeesport's Renziehausen Park --- an increase of $111,000 over last year.
Also included in the budget, approved Thursday, is $8,600 for the McKeesport Little Theater and $6.89 million for the Allegheny County Library Association, which provides support to the Carnegie Library of McKeesport, Braddock Carnegie Library and other member organizations.
The Regional Asset District is funded largely by Allegheny County's 1 percent sales tax, created in 1993. The first RAD budget provided just $53 million to 46 organizations.
In 2019, RAD will disperse $108.6 million to support 104 different non-profit groups and organizations. It's the first time the RAD budget has ever topped $100 million, according to a spokeswoman.
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November 29, 2018 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
A patient from Kane Community Living Center in McKeesport died at the emergency room Thursday after suffering respiratory distress.
Despite rumors that the patient was exposed to a hazardous chemical or other contaminant, emergency officials said there was no evidence of that, and the facility was open as normal on Thursday evening.
McKeesport police, firefighters and McKeesport Ambulance Rescue Service were dispatched to the 360-bed facility at the foot of Ninth Avenue at about 1:20 p.m. Initial reports from Allegheny County 9-1-1 were that a patient was in cardiac arrest after being exposed to a "powdery substance."
Those reports were incorrect, McKeesport fire Chief Jeff Tomovcsik said Thursday night.
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November 28, 2018 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: White Oak News
In keeping with the holiday tradition of giving back to the community, White Oak Borough employees and council are collecting new hats, scarves and gloves to be distributed to those in need this winter season.
Items are being collected at the borough building and will distributed though foodbanks at Sampson’s Mills Presbyterian Church and Ma’s Pantry.
Additionally, the White Oak Police Department, in conjunction with the borough, will be collecting toys for children in need this holiday season. Please consider dropping off new, unwrapped toys now through Dec. 12.
A unique opportunity for residents and friends to have their pet’s photos taken with Santa ‘Paws’ is slated for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 1) at the borough building.
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November 28, 2018 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements
The snow may be flying, but the leaves are still dropping, leaving (you see what we did there?) a Tube City Almanac reader to wonder what he should do with them.
A spokeswoman says McKeesport residents who have leaves that need to be picked up may call the city's public works department at (412) 675-5020, ext. 631, to arrange a collection.
The leaves should be in piles along the curb --- or the edge of the property --- to be swept up. Leaves can also be placed in bags for pick up.
No other debris or trash should be mixed in with the leaves, including branches. However, branches can be picked up separately.
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November 27, 2018 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
TW: Rape, child abuse
A Maple Street man is being held without bail in the Allegheny County Jail pending a preliminary hearing on rape and sexual assault charges. Police said the victim was his own daughter.
A preliminary hearing for the 38-year-old suspect is scheduled for Dec. 17 before Magisterial District Judge Eugene Riazzi in McKeesport.
McKeesport police said the alleged incident happened three years ago in Maryland. The victim, who is now 16, became pregnant following the assault, police said.
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November 27, 2018 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Crime and Police News
Arrest records published here were provided by the McKeesport Police Department.
Not all arrest records are published.
A report of an arrest does not mean the person identified has been convicted of a crime.
All people arrested are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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November 27, 2018 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
McKeesport Unit of the NAACP will hold its annual holiday party from 3 to 7 p.m. Dec. 8 at The Common Ground Building (former YWCA), 410 Ninth Ave., a spokeswoman said. For more information, email buffy0185@aol.com.
November 23, 2018 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Crime and Police News
A Duquesne man was killed Wednesday night while crossing the McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge.
Albert J. Vavra, 71, was pronounced dead at the scene, the Allegheny County medical examiner's office said.
Police said Vavra was on foot, crossing the traffic lanes, just after 6 p.m. when he was struck by a passing vehicle. The motorist, who was not identified, immediately stopped and called 9-1-1, police said.
The accident is under investigation. No further details were released.
November 23, 2018 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements
A $170,500 state grant will help restore and repair portions of the Great Allegheny Passage that travel through Elizabeth Twp. and Lincoln Borough.
The grant was made by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to the Regional Trail Corp., a spokesperson said. It will pay for rehabilitation of 9.8 miles of the hiking-biking trail between the Buena Vista section of the township and a portion of the trail that bypasses the Dura-Bond plant in Liberty Borough.
The project includes installation of new access gates, improvements for people using wheelchairs, new signage and other repairs.
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November 23, 2018 |
By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: Announcements, North Versailles Twp. News
Inspired by a growing trend in Western Pennsylvania, North Versailles Twp. commissioners agreed to participate in the Military Banner Tribute Program.
Commission Vice President Sam Juliano and Commissioner George Thompson said the banners will be displayed along Route 30 and other roads.
“It’s a nice honor," Thompson said. "Bethel Park, for example, has over 100 of them on their streets.” The banners will be paid for by families of service members and will be on display from Memorial Day to Veterans Day, according to township manager Patricia Logo.
Dravosburg, East Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Port Vue also have participated in the troop banners program.
For more information, visit www.troopbanners.com.
November 22, 2018 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne police reported 597 calls to service for the month of October, resulting in 71 arrests.
Police Chief Tom Dunlevy gave the department's report at the most recent city council meeting.
Calls for service included 13 abandoned vehicles, nine animal complaints, seven fights, 30 domestics, five for shots fired, one robbery and two protection from abuse order violations. Dunlevy also reported 213 traffic stops, resulting in 92 traffic citations.
The Duquesne Fire Department had 22 calls to service for October.
In other business, Mayor Nickole Nesby reported the city had an unpaid balance from last year for salt for the streets in the amount of $74,285.38.
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November 21, 2018 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Photo courtesy state Rep. Bill Kortz, via Facebook)
Crews will be drilling along Washington Boulevard in Port Vue next week as they try to determine the cause of a cave-in that has damaged one lane of the state-maintained road.
Steve Cowan, district spokesman for the state Department of Transportation, said there is no timeframe yet on how long the investigation will take, or when the repairs will begin.
The cave-in near Dersam Street in the borough's Westwood Hills section was reported Monday. The southbound lane is closed and Washington Boulevard is restricted to one alternating lane, controlled by stop signs.
Council President Mark Tortorice praised state Rep. Bill Kortz for helping to coordinate the quick response of PennDOT and other agencies.
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November 21, 2018 |
By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: Announcements, North Versailles Twp. News
East Allegheny Marching Band will hold a pancake breakfast with Santa Claus on the morning of Dec. 15 at the North Versailles Twp. community center, 1401 Greensburg Ave.
On behalf of the parks and recreation department, township Commissioner Tracy Yusko said that other upcoming events include the North Versailles Twp. Christmas party at 6 p.m. Dec. 21.
The township will hold a contest to choose the "best decorated house," beginning on Dec. 1, with judging on Dec. 14. To nominate your own house or someone else's, call the township office at (412) 823-6602.
Home Depot gift cards will be presented to the winners at the Christmas party, Yusko said.
November 21, 2018 |
By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News
North Versailles Twp. commissioners have unanimously approved a new stormwater management ordinance.
Township solicitor Greg Evashavik said the ordinance is primarily intended to regulate new development and new construction and is mandated by the Pennsylvania Storm Water Management Act.
The law requires each county to prepare and adopt a watershed stormwater management plan for each watershed located in the county, as designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“There was a model ordinance prepared and recommended by the county,” Evashavik said. “I made some minor changes to the rule for the township.”
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November 21, 2018 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne City Controller Jade Burleigh has resigned, citing health reasons.
At the Oct. 23 meeting, city council took steps to have Duquesne's current auditor and accountant, CIM Financial and Ken Herrmann, act in the controller's role temporarily.
Mayor Nickole Nesby said the decision to do so was based on the fact that no one with the proper qualifications was available within the 30-day period after Burleigh's resignation.
City Solicitor Myron Sainovich said Duquesne officials are still seeking a qualified person with an accounting degree and financial background to fill the controller position.
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November 19, 2018 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News, McKeesport and Region News
A McKeesport Area High School student who was injured by a car on Eden Park Boulevard on Wednesday morning was back in class Thursday, a spokesperson said.
Neither school officials nor McKeesport police would identify the student or release their class year.
A district spokesperson said the unidentified student stepped from behind a parked car near the entrance to the high school at about 6:25 a.m. Wednesday and was struck. Start time at the high school is 7:22 a.m.
The accident happened about 35 minutes before students generally start arriving, and flashing yellow "school zone" lights designed to slow traffic on Eden Park were not yet lit, the district said.
The student was taken by ambulance to a local hospital where they were treated for their injuries and released, the district said.
No further information was released.
November 19, 2018 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(All photos: Richard Finch Jr. for Tube City Almanac)
The grand marshal of McKeesport's 54th annual Salute to Santa parade needed planes, trains and automobiles to make it to the McKees Point Marina on Saturday morning -- but said she "wouldn't miss it for the world."
Olympic gold medalist Swin Cash, who now works as an analyst for CBS Sports and MSG Networks, was covering the New York Knicks from a studio in Manhattan on Friday night.
She took an overnight train to Philadelphia and a plane to Pittsburgh to make it to McKeesport in time to ride in the parade less than 12 hours later.
"As a young girl, I remember marching in this parade with the Black Berets," said Cash, who was born in McKeesport and grew up in the Harrison Village housing complex before leaving the city to attend the University of Connecticut. "It is a blessing and an honor to be back here in McKeesport," she said.
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November 19, 2018 |
By Vickie Babyak | Posted in: White Oak News
(All photos: Vickie Babyak, special to Tube City Almanac)
White Oak residents welcomed the holiday season with the lighting of the borough's tree on Saturday evening outside Rainbow Volunteer Fire Co.
Following concerts by the Mon Yough Chorale and the McKeesport Area High School Orchestra, the winner of the borough's coloring contest, Levi Bell, pressed the switch to turn on the tree to cap White Oak's "Season of Lights" celebration.
Bell also received an assortment of prizes donated by White Oak businesses, a spokeswoman said. A pancake "brunch with Santa" included gifts and door prizes. Gavin Goughnour won a Lionel train set and Alyssa Round won an LOL Doll House, the borough said.
More photos follow.
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November 16, 2018 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
Representatives from Duquesne Light and state Rep. Austin Davis will be available Nov. 27 to answer questions about assistance for people who have trouble paying their heating bills over the winter.
The workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Carnegie Library of McKeesport, 1507 Library Ave.
“These are important programs that I want people in my district to know about,” Davis said. “No one – especially not our children or elderly neighbors – should have to go cold this winter, and no family should have to choose between buying food and paying their heating bill.”
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November 16, 2018 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: Announcements, Duquesne News, White Oak News
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, Duquesne, McKeesport and White Oak are all getting ready for the Christmas season.
Duquesne
Duquesne’s annual "Tis the Season" celebration is slated for 6:30 p.m. Nov. 25.
Festivities will begin in Duquesne City Park and conclude with a community celebration in city hall. Local youth will perform in the city’s annual pageant, which includes a live nativity scene.
After the pageant, children may visit with Santa, and everyone can share refreshments and community camaraderie.
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November 15, 2018 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
TriWire Engineering Solutions has relocated its regional headquarters from Westmoreland County to this building on Peebles Lane in McKeesport's Third Ward. (Photo special to Tube City Almanac)
A technology company has relocated its regional headquarters to McKeesport's Third Ward and is looking to add 50 employees.
TriWire Engineering Solutions --- a Massachusetts-based company that installs fiber-optic cable, telephone and networking cable and copper wiring for major utilities such as Comcast --- this month moved into a building on Peebles Lane, just off of Market Street.
The company is holding a hiring fair between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday.
Applicants should have a valid Pennsylvania driver's license and a social security card, said Barry R. Jennings Sr., a TriWire vice president.
"Anyone who comes in, we'll interview," Jennings said. Prior experience in construction or electronics is helpful, he said, "but what I really want is someone who wants to show up for work --- and work."
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November 15, 2018 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements
(Tube City Almanac file photo)
Olympic gold medalist Swin Cash will serve as grand marshal Saturday for McKeesport's 54th annual Salute to Santa Parade.
The event gets underway at 11 a.m. Saturday with a lineup of nearly 60 parade units, including Shriners' clowns, local police and firefighters, marching band members from McKeesport Area, Serra Catholic and West Mifflin Area high schools, cheerleaders from the Duquesne-West Mifflin Boys & Girls Club, and several local drill teams.
Weather permitting, the event along Fifth Avenue, Downtown, will be streamed by Tube City Community Media Inc. live on the Tube City Online Facebook page.
Cash, a retired professional basketball player who was named a WNBA All-Star four times, is a McKeesport Area High School and University of Connecticut graduate who won a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics with the U.S. women's basketball team. She currently serves as director of franchise development for the WNBA's New York Liberty.
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November 14, 2018 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements, White Oak News
White Oak will kick off the holiday season with concerts and a tree-lighting ceremony this Saturday.
The event, to be held at Rainbow Volunteer Fire Co.'s hall on Route 48, will includes visits with Santa Claus and a pancake brunch, a spokeswoman said.
The "Season of Lights" celebration includes a pancake and sausage brunch at the fire hall, 2916 Jacks Run Road, from 2 to 4:45 p.m. Ages 16 and under may attend for free, while the cost is $2 for ages 17 and over.
Kids may have their photos taken with Santa, and "goody bags" will be available for children while supplies last.
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November 12, 2018 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
WQED-TV's Chris Fennimore will be the celebrity guest on Monday when Christy Park United Methodist Church holds its monthly "Kids' Kitchen."
Fennimore, an author and host of the station's popular "QED Cooks" segments, will help kids make pies for the upcoming Community Thanksgiving Dinner, scheduled for Nov. 22 at Beulah Park United Methodist Church, a spokeswoman said.
All kids from the area are invited to participate, and parents may stick around as well. The event is free and open from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at Christy Park UMC, 436 29th Ave. For more information, call (412) 678-3110.
November 08, 2018 |
By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport Area School District will consider creation of its own police department.
At October's meeting, the school board authorized the administration to investigate and see if creation of the district-run police department is feasible.
Several school districts, including South Allegheny and Pittsburgh Public Schools, have their own police officers. McKeesport Area School District currently pays for a school resource officer from the City of McKeesport police. That SRO divides their time between the high school and the middle school.
Superintendent Mark Holtzman Jr. said determining whether a school police department makes sense financially depends on whether grant funding is available to significantly offset the costs associated with the plan.
“We hire a lot of extra security for ball games and things of that nature and it becomes a huge expense for us,” he said in an interview. Having an in-house police department “would probably save us a little bit of money, along with continuing to utilize our local departments for extra support,” Holtzman said.
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November 07, 2018 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
A two-alarm fire that damaged a house on Grandview Avenue Saturday afternoon is under investigation by the Allegheny County fire marshal's office.
McKeesport fire Chief Jeff Tomovcsik said four adults and three children were displaced by the blaze in the two-story wood frame home at 1704 Grandview. The fire, which began on the second floor, was reported at about 1:57 p.m. All of the occupants escaped without injury, Tomovcsik said.
Although the cause and origin of the fire are still yet to be determined, officials do not believe the blaze is suspicious in nature, Tomovcsik said.
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November 07, 2018 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Work will begin soon to repair the roof of a one-story annex to McKeesport's city hall that was damaged by debris from a neighboring building.
At Wednesday's meeting, city council by 7-0 vote awarded a $265,000 contract for construction of a roof "enclosure" and relocation of rooftop equipment to Kucich Construction of McKeesport.
Kucich was the lowest responsible bidder, McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko said.
In May, the city hired Lutterman Excavating to tear down a vacant three-story office building at the corner of Sinclair and Ringgold streets because debris --- including bricks --- falling off of that structure was damaging the city hall annex.
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November 02, 2018 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements, White Oak News
Local civic leaders and the White Oak Interfaith Ministerium will hold a memorial service Saturday for the victims of the shooting at Tree of Life-Or L'Simcha Congregation in Squirrel Hill.
The service is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Francis McClure Elementary School, 500 Longvue Drive, White Oak, a spokeswoman said.
The interfaith ministerium includes members of the Jewish, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Church of Christ and independent Christian communities. Members of several congregations are expected to participate in Saturday's event.
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November 02, 2018 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
Two Pittsburgh men are headed for Allegheny County Common Pleas Court after police charged them with forging checks and attempting to defraud the City of McKeesport out of more than $11,477.
On Monday, Christopher B. Carter, 31, of Brookline and Christopher M. Belch, 41, of the Hill District waived their right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Eugene Riazzi.
Both are charged by McKeesport police with forgery, conspiracy, theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception and passing bad checks.
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November 01, 2018 |
By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment
The cast of McKeesport Little Theater's production of "Hair," which opens Friday. (David P. Adams photo special to Tube City Almanac)
If You Go: “Hair”
McKeesport Little Theater, 1614 Coursin St., (412) 673-1100
When: Nov. 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays
Ticket information: www.mckeesportlittletheater.com or www.showclix.com
Most of the cast of McKeesport Little Theater’s production of “Hair” knew very little about the musical – except maybe a popular song or two – when they were offered their roles.
At the center of the original musical, co-written by Pittsburgh native Gerome Ragni and James Rado, were issues surrounding the war in Vietnam, with a country deeply divided about the conflict and what America’s role should be.
But after researching and rehearsing since September, cast members came to agree with director Edward Bostedo that issues presented in the rock musical when it premiered in 1967 remain relevant.
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