November 28, 2019 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Tube City Almanac photo)
A stone panel fell from the People's Building on Wednesday afternoon, causing one lane of Lysle Boulevard to be closed Downtown.
No one was injured when the block fell at around 1 p.m. from the third-story corner of the so-called annex of the building, at the corner of Lysle Boulevard and Walnut Street.
McKeesport police, firefighters and ambulance rescue services responded to the scene.
The sidewalk near the building and part of one lane of Lysle Boulevard remained closed on Thursday.
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November 27, 2019 |
By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News
North Versailles Twp. commissioners have approved a preliminary budget for 2020 that includes no tax increase.
At this month's meeting, commissioners approved a tentative budget for 2020 in the amount of $8.1 million, consisting of $7,577,657 for the general fund; $331,248 for the liquid fuels fund and $205,010 for the fire tax fund.
Commissioners also gave preliminary approval to an ordinance fixing the tax rate for the year 2020 at 7.25 mills for the general fund and 0.5 mills for the fire tax.
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November 26, 2019 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements, West Newton News
West Newton Center for Active Adults will host a free craft session at 12:30 p.m. Dec. 9 when attendees can learn how to make beads from paper. The event is being sponsored by the Rewind-Reuse Center and Workshop.
A spokesperson said the Rewind-Reuse Center and Workshop is dedicated to a green initiative reusing discarded materials and turning them into art rather than sending items to landfills.
Advanced registration is requested by calling (724) 872-4976. The West Newton Center is located at 103 East Main St.
November 26, 2019 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
A Wilmerding man was charged following a shooting Friday morning in the borough.
Darrell Pettis, 37, is charged by Allegheny County police with unlawful possession of a firearm and tampering with physical evidence. He is free in lieu of $20,000 bond pending a preliminary hearing Dec. 5 before Magisterial District Judge Roxanne Sakoian Eichler.
County police and Eastern Area Ambulance were dispatched just before 9 a.m. Monday to a residence on Watkins Avenue when callers reported a 28-year-old male had been shot on the front porch.
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November 26, 2019 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News, North Versailles Twp. News, White Oak News
White Oak
In October, White Oak police made 14 total arrests, 13 adult and one juvenile: three assaults, two criminal mischief, two criminal trespasses, one DUI, one flight to avoid apprehension, one hindering apprehension/prosecution, two theft, one unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, 63 traffic violations, and 823 total incidents. -- Christy Walters
North Versailles Twp.
During October, North Versailles Twp. police department received 763 calls, made 19 arrests and housed six inmates from Turtle Creek and six inmates from East McKeesport, according to township Commissioner Russell Saula. --- Richard Finch Jr.
November 26, 2019 |
By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News
North Versailles Twp. residents can expect an increase in their sewer bills as a result of the sanitation authority budget, approved by the board of commissioners at Thursday's meeting.
The increase will amount to approximately 24 percent, commission Vice President Sam Juliano said.
The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority, or Alcosan, treats wastewater from the northern part of the township, while sewers in the southern part of the township are connected to Pennsylvania American Water Co.'s McKeesport treatment plant. PAWC took over the McKeesport sewerage authority in 2017.
Township officials said for the past three years the North Versailles sanitary authority held rates constant despite increases from Alcosan totaling more than 21 percent for that time period.
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November 25, 2019 |
By Vickie Babyak | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport Area High School cheerleaders were among more than 70 different units in the city’s 55th annual Salute to Santa parade. (Vickie Babyak photos, special to Tube City Almanac)
Pleasant weather --- a welcome change --- drew a large crowd Saturday morning to Fifth Avenue for McKeesport’s 55th Annual Salute to Santa parade.
The parade got underway just after 11 a.m., following a performance of "Joy to the World" by McKeesport Area High School senior Joey Young. State Sen. Jim Brewster served as parade marshal.
Video was streamed live by Tube City Online and its radio station, WMCK, from the corner of Fifth and Walnut streets.
Photographer Vickie Babyak captured these scenes for Tube City Almanac.
(All photos: Vickie Babyak. For reprint information, email vbabyak@yahoo.com.)
Serra Catholic High School Eagle Marching Band and McKeesport Area High School Tiger Marching Band prepare for the parade under the Jerome Street Bridge.
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November 25, 2019 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Politics & Elections
(Submitted photo courtesy of the candidate)
A Westmoreland County attorney has announced plans to challenge state Sen. Jim Brewster's bid for re-election in the 45th District.
But Nicole Ziccarelli of Lower Burrell is no stranger to the Mon-Yough area. A graduate of McKeesport Area High School, Ziccarelli grew up in White Oak and is a former member of the advisory board at Penn State Greater Allegheny campus.
She will seek the Republican nomination in the April 28 primary.
“I am running because the 45th District needs a fresh voice in the State Senate who is committed to solving problems and advocating for the needs of our community,” Ziccarelli said in a prepared statement. “From the Allie-Kiski Valley to the Mon Valley, we need a strong advocate to stand up for what’s most important — job creation, what’s best for kids and families, improved infrastructure and quality, affordable healthcare.”
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November 21, 2019 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Announcements, McKeesport and Region News, White Oak News
(Tube City Almanac file photo by Richard Finch Jr.)
McKeesport's 55th annual Salute to Santa parade will kick off the Christmas season at 11 a.m. Saturday along Fifth Avenue, Downtown.
Then, on Saturday evening, White Oak will light the borough's holiday tree with a celebration at Rainbow Volunteer Fire Co. on Long Run Road.
And McKeesport's 34th annual Festival of Trees is just a few weeks away.
First up is "Salute to Santa," one of the largest Christmas parades in Western Pennsylvania.
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November 20, 2019 |
By Christy Walters | Posted in: White Oak News
White Oak Council took action on a variety of construction and paving projects this week.
At Monday's meeting, council voted to authorize Senate Engineering Company to prepare specifications for the 2020 Borough Paving Program project.
Roads included in the project are Cool Springs Road, Messinger Lane, White Oak Drive, Rankin Road, the 2200 block of Cypress Avenue and the 1600 block of Ohio Avenue.
Council President David Pasternak abstained from voting, as he lives in the 2200 block of Cypress Avenue.
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November 19, 2019 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Low-income homeowners in the Christy Park and Grandview (above) neighborhoods of McKeesport will be eligible next year for assistance upgrading their exteriors of their houses, with help from gaming funds and tax credits, local and state officials announced last week. (Tube City Almanac photo)
A Pittsburgh-based non-profit will begin helping residents of two McKeesport neighborhoods rehabilitate their homes with assistance from Pennsylvania gaming revenues.
Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh, located in Homewood, has been awarded $150,000 for a program to offer exterior improvements for low-income homeowners in Grandview and Christy Park in 2020, a spokeswoman for McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko said.
The money will be provided from the state's Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund, which receives 5.5 percent of the revenues from casinos and other gambling facilities in Pennsylvania.
Separately, the state Department of Community and Economic Development has authorized $225,000 in tax credits for the same home improvement program, as well as $360,000 to the McKees Point Development Group for redevelopment projects and tourism enhancements in the Downtown area.
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November 17, 2019 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Tube City Almanac photo)
Crews have begun the long-awaited process of running a new water line to fire hydrants in the Grandview neighborhood of the city.
The work is being done by W. Construction Corp. of Jeannette under a contract from the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County, said Matthew Junker, water authority spokesman.
Nearly a half-mile of 12-inch water main is being installed, he said. Work is expected to conclude in early February. McKeesport city council this month granted a right-of-way along Silver Alley to the water authority.
"We were happy we were able to come to an agreement with the city and we look forward to working with them," Junker said.
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November 15, 2019 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements, West Newton News
First Church of God, 157 N. Second St., West Newton, will hold a “cookie walk” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 14 at the church.
A spokesperson said more than 20 varieties of homemade cookies will be for sale on tables. Visitors will be invited to walk through the church hall with a box that they can fill with whichever cookies they want.
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November 15, 2019 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport firefighters and Allegheny County hazardous materials teams responded to a chlorine leak Thursday morning at the McKeesport Water Treatment Plant.
Matthew Junker, spokesman for the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County, said the chlorine was isolated to a single building and water treatment operations at the plant were not affected.
Emergency crews were notified when workers detected a “slight chlorine smell” in the room where the tanks are housed, Junker said.
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November 14, 2019 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
The Allegheny County fire marshal's office is investigating a blaze on Tuesday afternoon that destroyed a vacant house on Stewart Street.
McKeesport fire Chief Jeff Tomovcsik said callers reported the fire at 3:21 p.m. in the two-story wood frame structure at 2910 Stewart.
Initial reports indicated that someone may have been inside, but those proved to be incorrect, Tomovcsik said.
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November 14, 2019 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
A city woman has been charged following an incident late Tuesday night that involved police from multiple jurisdictions, including Allegheny County and City of Pittsburgh special weapons and tactics teams.
McKeesport police Chief Adam Alfer said Thursday that despite initial media reports, no police officers were fired upon. No injuries were reported in the incident that stretched into Wednesday morning.
Jasmine A. Mosby, 29, is charged by McKeesport police with recklessly endangering another person and receiving stolen property in connection with the incident. She is being held in Allegheny County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bond pending a preliminary hearing Nov. 18 before Magisterial District Judge Eugene Riazzi.
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November 14, 2019 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
Mon Yough Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a women's networking luncheon and craft fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 20 at Dave & Buster's, 180 E. Waterfront Drive, Homestead. Tickets cost $20 for members and $25 for non-members, and registration in advance is required.
The event will include open shopping from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a buffet lunch from 12 noon to 1 p.m.
The deadline to register is Nov. 15. To purchase tickets online, visit the website.
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November 08, 2019 |
By Emily Pidgeon | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Michael Kennedy and Vickey Giddens-Kennedy have opened Vickey’s Soul Grill Takeout & Catering with help from Penn State’s Mon Valley Launchbox. (Photo by Emily Pidgeon, special to Tube City Almanac)
Vickey Giddens-Kennedy wants to change how people think and feel about Southern cooking.
“Just let me get into a kitchen," says the owner of Vickey’s Soul Grill Takeout & Catering. Giddens-Kennedy says she found her own personal healing through food and wants to pass that gift onto others in the community.
Sometimes, Giddens-Kennedy says, she would pray, “Lord if you heal me, I’ll give this healing to others.”
"Food is my cure,” she says.
Vickey's Soul Grill is one of the first busineses to receive guidance and assistance from the Mon Valley Launchbox, a business incubator program of Penn State University’s Greater Allegheny Campus.
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November 08, 2019 |
By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: Announcements, McKeesport and Region News
Students perform during McKeesport Area High School’s 2013 Veterans’ Day program. (Photo courtesy McKeesport High School Tiger Band.)
McKeesport Area students will perform a one-hour concert, “A Tribute to Veterans,” at 9:30 a.m. Monday at the high school in honor of Veterans Day.
The event will begin with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the Presentation of Colors by the McKeesport Area High School Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps.
The program will feature the district’s symphonic and jazz bands, directed by Mark DeCarlo; the concert and a capella choirs; and the string orchestra directed by Sarah Persin, as well as a multimedia presentation including “Tribute to Apollo 11,” “75th Anniversary of D-Day” and Toby Keith's “American Soldier,” and conclude with an audience sing along with the a capella and concert choirs.
“The students are very excited to present their hard work to the veterans,” said Beth Eger, choral director at Founders Hall Middle School. “This is one of our favorite programs, we get to show our appreciation to the men and women who fought for our country.”
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November 07, 2019 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Emmy winner Rachel Brosnahan is co-producing “I’m Your Woman,” an upcoming Amazon Studios release which is filming some scenes in McKeesport this month. (Submitted photo)
Hollywood is back in McKeesport: Amazon Studios is using locations in the city for scenes in an upcoming movie starring Rachel Brosnahan.
Film crews used The Elbow Room restaurant on West Fifth Avenue this week, as well as the former Weinberg's Texaco station on the opposite side of Rebecca Street.
Brosnahan, who recently won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in Amazon Studio's series “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” is the lead in a movie titled “I’m Your Woman,” according to the Pittsburgh Film Office.
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November 07, 2019 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Want to buy a garbage truck?
McKeesport officials have reversed their decision to bring trash collection in-house and will instead contract for services in 2020 with County Hauling of Rostraver Twp., Westmoreland County.
At Wednesday's meeting, council by 7-0 vote approved a contract with the trash collector, a division of Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill, to pick up waste and recycling citywide beginning Jan. 1 at a cost of $79.75 per ton. The company will replace Big's Hauling as McKeesport's residential trash collector.
Big's was charging $112 per ton, City Administrator Tom Maglicco said.
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November 06, 2019 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Politics & Elections
Across the Mon-Yough area, few polling places reported any serious problems on Tuesday, during what is expected to be the last hurrah for Allegheny County's current voting machines.
About 29 percent of the county's registered voters cast ballots, according to the Elections Division.
Spokeswoman Amie Downs said problems at Allegheny County's more than 1,300 polling places were generally minor. Polling hours are from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Locally, a polling place on Maplewood Street in McKeesport's 12th Ward reported opening late --- about 8:30 a.m. --- after the judge of elections had car trouble, Downs said. In West Mifflin, voters at Lebanon Presbyterian Church reported that the judge of elections did not arrive until 7:10 a.m. and voting did not begin until 7:20 a.m.
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November 06, 2019 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Liberty Borough News, Politics & Elections, White Oak News
New faces are apparently headed to White Oak council after election returns show two incumbents trailing in their bids to retain their seats.
Six candidates --- three Republicans, three Democrats --- were running for three four-year terms on borough council.
According to complete but unofficial results from the Allegheny County Elections Division, incumbents Charles Davis and Lou Bender, both Republicans, were the top vote getters, followed by Democrat George Pambacas.
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November 06, 2019 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Politics & Elections
McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko is headed for a third term after winning Tuesday's election by a 2-1 margin.
According to complete but unofficial results from the Allegheny County Elections Division, Cherepko, a Democrat, defeated former city councilwoman Fawn Walker-Montgomery, running as an independent, 2,058 to 1,056 votes. There were 13 write-ins.
Across the region, there were few surprises on Tuesday, despite insurgent campaigns run, in some cases, by well-funded independents. Voters across Pennsylvania gave their overwhelming support to a proposed constitutional amendment dubbed "Marsy's Law," though it is unclear if their votes will be counted.
In McKeesport, Cherepko was running on his record as well as the strength of his "McKeesport Rising" program to address blight, infrastructure upgrades and crime. The former McKeesport Area teacher and McKeesport city council president had the endorsement of the Democratic Party as well as state Sen. Jim Brewster and state Rep. Austin Davis.
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November 04, 2019 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Politics & Elections
Other stories:
‣ County DA Race Adds Excitement to Municipal Elections
‣ City Voters Choosing Mayor, School Board on Tuesday
One of the highest profile election initiatives in recent years is an effort to add a "victims' rights" amendment to the Pennsylvania State Constitution.
On Tuesday, voters statewide will be asked to consider a proposed "Crime Victims' Rights" amendment.
The ballot initiative has been dubbed "Marsy's Law" and is part of a nationwide campaign being supported by a California billionaire philanthropist.
Supporters say "Marsy's Law" ensures that crime victims understand their rights and have a voice when someone who committed a crime against them is eligible for parole or pardon.
But opponents have called the proposed constitutional amendment "unnecessary" and some argue it undermines the American justice system.
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November 04, 2019 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, Politics & Elections, White Oak News
Other stories:
‣ Politicians Endorse 'Marsy's Law,' But Some Worry it Goes Too Far
‣ County DA Race Adds Excitement to Municipal Elections
Some of the excitement over the hotly contested race for Allegheny County district attorney has spilled into local politics.
Lisa Middleman, an independent who is challenging incumbent District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr., has lent her support to Fawn Walker-Montgomery, who is running for mayor of McKeesport.
A former city councilwoman, Walker-Montgomery is challenging Mayor Michael Cherepko, who has said he's running on the strength of the "McKeesport Rising" initiative that his administration launched two years ago.
Cherepko, a former city council president and McKeesport Area school teacher, is seeking his third term as mayor. The Democrat is asking voters to keep together the team responsible for "McKeesport Rising."
"McKeesport Rising" has targeted neighborhoods throughout the city for removal of blighted buildings, street paving and infrastructure improvements, as well as expansion of facilities at Renziehausen Park and along the city's waterfront.
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November 04, 2019 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Politics & Elections
Other stories:
‣ Politicians Endorse 'Marsy's Law,' But Some Worry it Goes Too Far
‣ City Voters Choosing Mayor, School Board on Tuesday
Voters across Allegheny County are being asked to "skip the straight ticket" and cast ballots on Tuesday for independent candidates.
Countywide, the highest-profile race is for Allegheny County district attorney, where independent Lisa Middleman is challenging five-term incumbent Stephen Zappala Jr.
No federal or statewide offices are on the ballot this year, but voters also are being asked whether the state constitution should be amended to add a so-called "victim's rights" clause known as "Marsy's Law."
The race for Allegheny County District Attorney has caused rifts in the local Democratic party, where longtime incumbent Zappala, 62, is being challenged by former public defender and defense attorney Middleman, 57.
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November 01, 2019 |
By Chris Baumann | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, White Oak News
Versailles volunteer firefighter Nick Ursta, then a volunteer from White Oak, responded to New York City following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. (Submitted photo)
When the towers of the World Trade Center fell on Sept. 11, 2001, volunteer firefighter Nick Ursta didn't wait, says his friend Perry Gricar.
“He didn’t even think twice about going, just beelined and was right out there,” says Gricar, chief of the Versailles Volunteer Fire Co., who served alongside Ursta for 14 years. “He was a very selfless person, the kind of guy who would give you the shirt off his back, who you could call at 3 a.m. Just an all around genuine, great person.”
Ursta died Tuesday --- on his 52nd birthday --- of complications of mesothelioma. Family and friends believe he developed the form of cancer after a week of breathing the toxins in the air at Ground Zero following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
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