August 18, 2022 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Some Duquesne officials seemed surprised that the city’s clerical and public works departments had quickly accepted a four-year contract extension without so much as a fight.
The news was reported this week at the city council meeting by Acting City Manager George Newsome.
Councilwoman Elaine Washington asked “who approved” the proposal, and a somewhat surprised Mayor Scott Adams commented that with his “30 years in city government, I have never seen it approved the first time. Kudos to those involved.”
City Solicitor Myron Sainovich noted that while clerical and public works employees of Teamsters Local 205 accepted the proposal, it still must be ratified by a vote of council, which can reject the pact if it doesn’t work for Duquesne.
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August 16, 2022 |
By Amy George | Posted in: Duquesne News
After 20 turbulent years, Duquesne City School District leaders say they’re positioning the district for success.
“DCSD is a comeback story in the making,” district Superintendent Sue Mariani said. “Like a phoenix, (we are) rising from the ashes.”
After improvements carried out over three years, in fall 2021, seventh-graders, who were being bused to neighboring districts, returned to school in Duquesne — the first time that’s happened in Pennsylvania. Eighth graders will return on Aug. 29 for the fall 2022 semester.
To date, 50 students and counting have enrolled in eighth grade, adding to the 430 and counting enrolled in kindergarten through seventh grades. All students will have the option of attending class in person or through the Duquesne Virtual Academy.
The expansion of services was approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education in early 2022.
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August 05, 2022 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements, Duquesne News, McKeesport and Region News
Bridge inspection work could cause delays on several area roadways.
A district spokesman for the state Department of Transportation said Friday that crews will be inspecting several local bridges, beginning Aug. 8. The work will continue through most of the month, weather-permitting, on the following roadways:
McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge — A traffic shift will occur on the bridge
Northbound Route 837 ramp at the McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge — Shoulder restrictions will occur on northbound Route 837 under the bridge
Union Railroad bridge on Route 837 in Clairton between Mulberry Avenue and Mendelssohn Street — Single-lane alternating traffic will occur
Railroad viaduct inspection on the Tri-Boro Expressway in Turtle Creek between Electric Avenue and Ramp B — Single-lane restrictions in the southbound right lane
Crews from HDR and the Sofis Rigging Company will conduct the work, the PennDOT spokesman said. Motorists should be prepared for changing traffic patterns. Please use caution when driving through the area.
August 02, 2022 |
By Amy George | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne City School District’s “Dukes” are a comeback story in the making.
Once known for their athletic prowess in the mill town’s glory days, the Dukes were forced to leave the playing field in 2012 due to serious financial challenges, which ultimately caused the closure of both DCSD’s middle school and high school.
However, this fall marks their triumphant reappearance. For the first time in 10 years, DCSD will sponsor school athletics in conjunction with the recent return of seventh-graders — which happened in the fall 2021 — and upcoming return of eighth-graders, which is happening this fall.
All in all, Superintendent Sue Mariani sees a bright future ahead for the Dukes and the district as a whole.
“As DCSD works to restore equity in the classroom and provide students the opportunities and access they deserve, they stay diligent in their efforts to restore athletic facilities, to help restore the pride, excitement and community support that comes with rebuilding team sports,” Mariani said.
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July 28, 2022 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Residents in Duquesne may be required to have garbage cans on trash day.
At this month’s council meeting, Councilman Aaron R. Adams said that “animals going through trash” have been a problem and “trash cans would limit that.”
An ordinance would need to be created to lay out fines to residents who don’t properly use the trash cans. Council voted 4-0 on a motion to proceed with the measure.
In other business, City Engineer LaFranz Hemphill discussed that the city has a $44,000 grant that was supposed to earmarked for improvements at the Duquesne Place Playground, but that was before officials discovered that the property was owned by Duquesne City School District.
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July 22, 2022 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
When Kelly Robertson spoke at the conclusion of Tuesday’s Duquesne City Council meeting, she said she couldn’t thank the people of the city enough for the opportunity to serve as manager for nearly two years.
A chance to get reconnected with the city was invaluable to her, she said.
Robertson has announced her intention to resign as city manager. On Aug. 12, she will leave to become executive director for the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services with the Department of Community & Economic Development. The job will keep her involved in the Act 47 program for municipalities throughout the Commonwealth.
A search for Robertson’s replacement has not yet been announced.
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July 07, 2022 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News, Entertainment
In a clipping from the San Francisco Examiner, Duquesne native Earl “Fatha” Hines poses with San Francisco nightclub owner Leonard Martin after signing a lifetime guaranteed contract in 1967. Hines, who died in 1983, is regarded as one of the most influential jazz and pop music piano players of all time. (Tube City Almanac file)
When then-city councilman Scott Adams first took office in Duquesne, longtime resident Arnold Staples handed him a folder filled with history and information regarding the city’s favorite son and jazz legend Earl “Fatha” Hines.
Sitting right next to Adams was Councilwoman Elaine Washington, who caught a peak of the exchange. Intrigued, she told Adams, “I’ll take that” and grabbed the folder.
While she personally likes different artists of that music genre, Washington wanted to ensure that Hines, who is far more instrumental in jazz than many might realize, was properly recognized in his hometown.
He always called Duquesne home, said Washington. “He didn’t say Pittsburgh. He said, ‘Duquesne’.” As a result, Washington has been working with the Pennsylvania State Historical Preservation Office to designate Hines’ childhood home at 600 Priscilla Ave. as a historical landmark.
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June 29, 2022 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
A Braddock-based construction company has final approval to move into the Duquesne industrial park.
At its June meeting, city council approved plans for Mele & Mele & Sons to move into RIDC City Center of Duquesne.
Founded nearly 50 years ago as A.A. Mele & Sons, Mele & Mele & Sons specializes in excavation, heavy highway construction, water and wastewater treatment, and asphalt paving and milling. The move was first proposed in late 2020.
Mele & Mele is not the only company interested in the industrial park. Mayor R. Scott Adams noted that the city is one of the “two or three finalists” for an unnamed battery company to move into Duquesne.
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June 22, 2022 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne City Council has approved pay hikes for starting police officers in an attempt to fill some vacancies in the force.
With a unanimous vote, the starting hourly wage for a new officer in the city will be $21.25, up from $19.10. As part of the measure, three current officers will see their hour wage increase to $22.75.
“We are down two or three officers,” said Mayor Scott Adams. The increases will cost the borough an additional $7,000. Adams said other options would have cost the borough as much as $60,000 “and we weren’t going to do that.”
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June 20, 2022 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Duquesne News
A fire Saturday afternoon at a vacant house on Ferndale Avenue in Duquesne is suspicious in nature.
The Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the blaze, which was reported just before 3 p.m. at a home near the corner of Ferndale and Fifth Street.
City fire Chief Frank Cobb said crews were dispatched at 2:48 p.m. and arrived to find smoke visible on all four sides of the house and fire showing through a first-floor window.
The home, a one-story brick ranch, was vacant and is currently listed for sale, he said. Property records indicate the house is owned by a limited-liability company in Houston, Texas.
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