August 18, 2018 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne officials said they will pursue state ethics complaints against a former city manager, a former councilman and a police secretary.
Council voted unanimously this week to file the complaints against Frank Piccolino, John Gyure and Lori Achtzehn.
At council's meeting on Tuesday, Mayor Nickole Nesby alleged that Gyure, a former city councilman, removed playground equipment without authorization, while Nesby accused Achtzehn, a police department secretary who was terminated in March, with misuse of a city computer system to remove a citation.
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August 17, 2018 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: Duquesne News
Two new council members were sworn in at Tuesday’s Duquesne city council meeting.
Terra Henderson-Murphy (above) and Elaine Washington were sworn in by Magisterial District Judge Scott Schricker after motions were passed unanimously to name them to council.
Additionally, a motion was passed naming Sidney Walker as the city’s new zoning officer.
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August 13, 2018 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News, Duquesne News
A Duquesne man died Monday morning following a shooting inside a bar on Kennedy Avenue.
Donnell Demery, 54, died of gunshot wounds to the torso and left leg, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office said. His death has been ruled a homicide.
Duquesne police said they were called to the shooting around midnight on Monday at the 1313 Bar. Officers and paramedics arrived and found the victim, identified as Demery, bleeding badly.
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August 02, 2018 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News, Duquesne News
Submitted photo: City of Duquesne Police, via Facebook
Allegheny County and Duquesne police are looking for a suspect in the shooting of a Duquesne man.
In a statement released on Facebook, Duquesne police said officers and paramedics were dispatched at 4:25 p.m. Wednesday to a home at the corner of Edith and Clark streets when callers reported a man in his late 20s who had been shot.
The victim, whose name was not released, was taken to a trauma hospital, where he was in stable condition, a county police spokesman said. Duquesne police said the victim's wounds are not expected to be fatal.
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August 01, 2018 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: Duquesne News, White Oak News
(Above: White Oak Community Day will feature a train ride around the grounds. White Oak Recreation Board, via Facebook.)
Residents of Duquesne and White Oak will be celebrating all the great things that make up their communities this Saturday during their annual community day events.
Sponsored by the White Oak Borough and the White Oak Recreation Board, White Oak Community Day will be held at the Heritage Hill Park and Pool Complex.
Duquesne residents are sure to enjoy the 27th annual Duquesne Community Day. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Duquesne Athletic Field on Commonwealth Avenue.
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July 31, 2018 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Duquesne News
By Cami DiBattista and Jason Togyer
The city of Duquesne's lawsuit against its redevelopment authority and a non-profit development corporation is moving forward.
Duquesne officials filed suit in March against the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Duquesne and the Duquesne Business Advisory Corp., seeking the return of nearly $1.4 million from a $1.5 million revolving loan fund.
Mayor Nickole Nesby argues that the money was improperly transferred from the authority --- a governmental body created by the city --- to the business advisory corporation, which is independent.
The city has asked Allegheny County Judge Arnold Klein to grant a preliminary injunction ordering the DBAC to return the money to the redevelopment authority. A hearing is slated for 1:30 p.m. Thursday in Pittsburgh.
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July 28, 2018 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: Duquesne News
Beginning with the next municipal election, the position of Duquesne’s mayor will be a full-time salaried position.
A motion was unanimously passed during Tuesday’s city council meeting authorizing the drafting of an ordinance that will increase the salary of mayor to $65,000 under the guidelines of the Third-Class City Code.
Currently --- including for Mayor Nickole Nesby --- the position is part-time and pays $3,000 annually.
“If the great city of Duquesne wants a full-time mayor, they need to pay for a full-time mayor,” said Pastor Peter Roy of the Terrace Church of the Nazarene, who told council he supports the decision. “If they want a part-time mayor, they’ll pay for that. This city is on the move and the move is up. You can’t expect someone to give 65 to 70 hours per week and not expect to be compensated for it.”
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July 25, 2018 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: Duquesne News
Two members of Duquesne city council have resigned.
Council members John Gyure and June Wilson submitted their resignations, effective with this month's meeting. Wilson said her resignation was for health and family reasons. Gyure did not respond to a request for comment about his resignation.
Council voted 3-0 to appoint Elaine Washington to one of the vacant seats. Washington is expected to be sworn into office at the next council meeting.
Duquesne Mayor Nickole Nesby said council will accept applications to fill the other vacancy.
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June 19, 2018 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne has done away with a requirement that police officers live within the city.
At last week's meeting, Mayor Nickole Nesby said Duquesne eliminated the rule so that the city can make an "honest effort" to make sure all races and both sexes are represented on the police force.
She publicly encouraged potential candidates to apply for openings in the police department.
Council approved police Chief Tom Dunlevy’s recommendation to offer a permanent position within the department to Lee Bartalicius. In other personnel moves, council accepted the retirement of longtime employee Jeanne Dowdle and voted to name Quincy Zitelli the city's acting code enforcement officer.
Council voted to terminate code enforcement officer Allan Chiesi. Nesby said the city would make no public comment about Chiesi's termination.
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June 16, 2018 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Crime and Police News, Duquesne News
(UPDATED with name of young man who was killed.)
A shooting Saturday morning in Duquesne left one young man dead and another hospitalized.
Duquesne police said in a release that officers were dispatched to the corner of Auriles Steet and Viola Alley at 1:18 a.m. when multiple callers reported hearing shots fired.
Upon arrival, police said, they found a white Chevrolet Impala stopped on Newford Alley, with the doors open. Inside the backseat, police found a 15-year-old, suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim, identified by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office as Daevion Raines, was pronounced dead at the scene.
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