July 06, 2025 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
New McKeesport police Chief Josh Alfer shares a laugh with Senior Magisterial District Judge Thomas Brletic, a former police chief. (Thomas Leturgey photo for Tube City Almanac)
Four former McKeesport police chiefs were in attendance Wednesday night when Josh Alfer officially sworn into office as the newest.
Alfer, a city native who has been with the department since 2006, had been serving as acting police chief since former chief Mark Steele retired in January. He had previously served as assistant police chief and as a lieutenant.
The new chief was sworn in by his father-in-law, Senior Magisterial District Judge Thomas S. Brletic. Brletic — himself a former McKeesport police chief — gave Alfer his badge with instructions, “Don’t tarnish it.”
The badge promptly fell to the floor. “I meant ‘don’t bring shame to it’,” Brletic added, to laughter.
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July 03, 2025 |
By Leslie Savisky | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
A two-alarm fire caused heavy damage June 15 to Cal’s Cantina on Eden Park Boulevard. (Leslie Savisky photo for Tube City Almanac)
Two weeks after a devastating fire at a popular city restaurant, there is no word yet on whether it will reopen.
Cal’s Cantina on Eden Park Boulevard was damaged by a two-alarm fire in the early morning hours of June 15.
According to McKeesport fire Chief Jeff Tomovcsik, the blaze was called in at 3:21 a.m. and extinguished 44 minutes later, at 4:05 a.m. Fortunately, the building was not occupied at the time and no injuries were reported.
The fire is under investigation by the Allegheny County fire marshal’s office, said Kasey Reigner, public information officer for Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services.
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July 01, 2025 |
By Vickie Babyak | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Semper Fidelis Club members and officers pose with the scholarship recipients and retired state Supreme Court Justice Cynthia Baldwin. (Vickie Babyak photo for Tube City Almanac)
Three outstanding local students received scholarships from McKeesport’s Semper Fidelis club.
At its annual “Salute to the Graduates” program, held at the Healthy Village Learning Institute on Freemont Street, Saniya Rivers, Santana Kennedy and Treyvon Bowling were recognized by Semper Fi. Established in 1919, it is one of Pennsylvania’s long-standing clubs and has a commitment to community service and scholarship awards.
Along with awarding scholarships, the club also makes donations to various organizations in the Mon Valley, contributed to the African American room at the University of Pittsburgh, and helped raise money for the Carnegie Library of McKeesport, chairperson Fawn Walker Montgomery said.
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June 24, 2025 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport Area School Board has approved a 2025-26 budget that holds the line on taxes.
At the June meeting, directors gave their OK to an $86.6 million spending plan that fixes property taxes at 20.96 mills. The vote came after nearly an hour of remarks concerning the end of a three-year financial partnership between the district and the Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation.
Conversation preceding the vote was brief. School Director Josh Lefcowitz praised the efforts of district business manager Joseph Villella and fellow School Director David Seropian in preparing and reviewing the document.
The annual task of passing and approving a budget is a “significant component of the board's responsibilities,” Lefcowitz said before remarking, “I think there should probably be a little bit more discussion around the budget.”
June 24, 2025 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
District Solicitor Gary Matta Jr., center, addresses questions from residents as School Board President Mark Holtzman Sr. and School Director Diane Elias look on. (Adam Reinherz photo for Tube City Almanac)
Parents and community leaders this month continued to press McKeesport Area School District officials on the end of a partnership with Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation.
At the June school board meeting, several residents asked pointed questions of board members as well as District Solicitor Gary Matta Jr., sometimes shouting them from the audience.
The conversation — lasting more than an hour — dominated the meeting.
Some residents asked whether Matta — whose firm Dodaro, Dalfonso, Matta & Cambest has worked with the McKeesport Area School District, on and off, for three decades — properly advised previous school directors in their dealings with the Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation.
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June 20, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Four county pools will be open seven days a week, weather permitting. There is also a spray pad facility in Round Hill Park, Elizabeth Twp., shown here. (Allegheny County photo)
Allegheny County officials are warning residents to be prepared for dangerous conditions beginning Sunday and are opening cooling centers for people without air-conditioning.
The National Weather Service in Moon Twp. has issued an extreme heat watch beginning Sunday and continuining through Wednesday. Temperatures are expected to reach the mid to upper 90s each day, but the humidity will make it feel more like 100 to 105 degrees, forecasters said.
The county has declared its first-ever Code Red Heat Advisory as a result.
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June 18, 2025 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
New McKeesport police cadets currently attending the Allegheny County police academy include Ronnell Hunt, Devin Webb, Jaison Mikelonis, Francis Aguirre, Dontae McCarthy and Matthew Hurst, shown with interim police Chief Josh Alfer and McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko. (Tube City Almanac photo)
McKeesport has promoted a longtime police officer to the department’s command staff and added two new officers from other departments.
In addition, McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko said six people interested in attending the Allegheny County police academy have been named as cadets and will join the department following the successful completion of their education.
At this month’s meeting, Cherepko asked council to approve the elevation of Sgt. Josh Byers to lieutenant. Byers became a full-time McKeesport police officer following nine years with the Liberty Borough police department.
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June 16, 2025 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Superintendent Don MacFann and students Lucas Sotereanos and Michael Pfeffercorn during the June 11 McKeesport Area School District regular board meeting. (Adam Reinherz photo for Tube City Almanac)
McKeesport Area School District recognized two students and hired a police chief during Wednesday’s school board meeting.
Superintendent Don MacFann congratulated Lucas Sotereanos and Michael Pfeffercorn on participating in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association All-State Chorus. Held on April 12 at Kalahari Convention Center in Pocono Summit, the concert featured student vocalists and musicians from across the Commonwealth.
Sotereanos and Pfeffercorn, MacFann said, are the first representatives of McKeesport to “qualify for the state choir in over 30 years.”
MacFann presented each teen with a certificate of accomplishment from the district.
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June 09, 2025 |
By Leslie Savisky | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
ASWP's Brian Shema (left) and Dan Mendenhall work to construct a nesting tower at Renzie Park. (Leslie Savisky photo for Tube City Almanac)
Exciting things are happening for bird lovers at Renziehausen Park as the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania builds a nesting tower for mating chimney swifts.
Native to the eastern United States, the birds can be recognized by their long, slender wings and very short legs. They feed on insects and, as their name implies, often roost in vertical structures, such as chimneys. The birds have been considered in decline since 2010 because they have been losing their habitats.
“They are not endangered,” said Brian Shema, operations director for ASWP. “The population is decreasing annually, though, which is why we want to keep these birds common.”
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June 06, 2025 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport Area School Director Jason Pavlecic updates attendees about the district's relationship with Dick's Sporting Goods Foundation during a meeting Wednesday. (Adam Reinherz photo for Tube City Almanac)
Amid the accusations and blame surrounding the end of a partnership between McKeesport Area School District and Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation, several parties are asking for new discourse.
“Apparently you guys need to hear from a student like me,” Founders’ Hall seventh grader Zada Carr told MASD school directors during a standing-room-only — and often heated — board meeting on Wednesday.
“Food, water, clothing, showers, those are all basic needs for a regular human being that you guys are cutting off,” she said. “If you guys really care about the kids, please try to bring back Dick’s.”
The middle schooler, who was one of two students to speak during the 90-minute contentious meeting, implored adults to remember those affected by a May 27 announcement signaling the end of a nearly four-year relationship between DSGF and MASD.
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