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 03, 2022 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
City officials hope to have an answer soon whether or not it will be possible to salvage a building that was damaged Tuesday morning by an apparent natural gas explosion.
An Allegheny County spokeswoman said Wednesday that investigators are still working to determine the cause of the blast that caused severe damage to The Common Grounds Building.
Emergency personnel believe the explosion was triggered after two contractors installing a wheelchair ramp at the rear of the building struck a gas line just before 8 a.m.
The contractors, whose names have not been officially released, were hospitalized.
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August 02, 2022 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
An explosion ripped through the former YWCA on Ninth Avenue on Tuesday morning, seriously damaging the building, which houses Penn State’s Mon Valley LaunchBox as well as the Ninth Street Clinic and other offices. The Allegheny County fire marshal is investigating. (City of McKeesport official photo via Facebook)
BREAKING: This is a developing story and will be updated with new information.
Investigators are combing through the debris at the former YWCA on Ninth Avenue to determine what caused an explosion Tuesday morning that sent two people to the hospital.
Emergency personnel believe that a contractor excavating in a parking lot to build a wheelchair accessible ramp may have struck a gas line, triggering the blast at about 8 a.m.
The building, owned by the city, is home to a small-business incubator run by Penn State Greater Allegheny as well as the Ninth Street Clinic, a free medical clinic for people without health insurance.
The two-story office building, constructed in the 1950s, was heavily damaged in the blast and an engineer has determined it is unsafe for occupancy, said a spokesperson for McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko.
None of the offices were occupied at the time of the blast.
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July 12, 2022 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
The Becker House at 511 Romine Ave. is one of 27 slated for demolition in the city’s next phase of the “McKeesport Rising” program. (Tube City Almanac file photo)
McKeesport city council has awarded a contract for demolition of another 27 vacant houses, including a one-time landmark on Romine Avenue in upper 10th Ward.
Council also approved a $725,000 contract with Lutterman Excavating for renovations at five playgrounds, including Highland Grove, Fawcett Park, Chester Park, Sayfoot Park and Riverview Park.
Mike Betters Co., Inc., of Lincoln Borough was the lowest responsible bidder for Phase 8 of the McKeesport Rising vacant house demolition project, city officials said. The company bid $197,100 to demolish the abandoned homes, including seven on Ridge Street and another at 511 Romine Ave.
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July 12, 2022 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
The Versailles Avenue Viaduct, part of which is shown here, was closed in February after an inspection determined it had become unsafe for motorists and pedestrians. (Tube City Almanac file photo)
McKeesport is seeking state funds to help replace the closed Versailles Avenue Viaduct.
Council this month authorized city officials to apply for $3 million from the state Department of Community & Economic Development for a multi-modal transportation grant.
McKeesport officials also are seeking funds to replace or repair Ramp 1 and Ramp 2, the bridges that cross the CSX Railroad tracks and connect lower 10th Ward to West Fifth Avenue, said Tom Maglicco, McKeesport city administrator.
Citing an inspection report that showed the bridge had become dangerous, McKeesport closed the Versailles Avenue Viaduct in February. The bridge, built in the early 1970s, is almost 300 feet long and spans Ravine Street between Point Street and Wisp Alley.
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July 10, 2022 |
By Elizabeth Laughlin | Posted in: Entertainment, McKeesport and Region News
At Saturday’s Renzie Ramble, Olympic gold-medalist and WNBA half-of-fame champion Swin Cash will be portrayed by Nya O’Neil, presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation. Olympic gold-medalist and Baltimore Orioles southpaw Rick Krivda will be portrayed by Mason Gergely, presented by DTI Development and Marc Gergely. (Submitted photos courtesy McKeesport Little Theater)
The Renzie Ramble is returning to Renziehausen Park this Saturday from 12 noon to 4 p.m.
Sponsored by McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center, the event celebrates McKeesport history with a walking tour of local and national figures. They will be portrayed by 11 actors from the McKeesport Little Theater.
All of the people represented contributed to McKeesport’s history. This is the second year for the event.
National figures include Langston Hughes, the playwright and poet from the Harlem Renaissance, who will be played by Dellen Morton and presented by Allen Come Get Wright. Hughes traveled to McKeesport to visit his mother.
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June 30, 2022 |
By Vickie Babyak | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Germaine Gooden-Patterson from Women for a Healthy Environment is arranging her table of information and pamphlets. She said, “Health is important and people may not know about all the resources available.” (Vickie Babyak photo for Tube City Almanac)
Take Action Mon Valley hosted a resource fair on Saturday in the parking lot of New Beginnings Ministry, Inc.
The resource fair focused on McKeesport’s Hi View Gardens residents but everyone was welcome to attend the event. TAMV hosted the fair to introduce residents to resources they may not have been aware of and to provide a fun-filled day for children.
Residents have been working with the Community Justice Project, a nonprofit legal assistance firm, addressing poor living conditions that were not being corrected by previous management, said Fawn Walker-Montgomery, executive director of TAMV.
She said there’s some improvement but TAMV continues their support for the community.
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June 23, 2022 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport Area School District has extended the role of a consultant who has been working with students, parents and teachers to address problems such as absenteeism, and make sure everyone’s voices are heard.
At Wednesday’s meeting, the MASD school board voted to continue a collaboration with Erika Gold Kestenberg, a diversity, inclusion, equity and justice consultant.
Kestenberg, who holds a doctorate in education from the University of Pittsburgh, has been working in the district since December 2021, establishing stakeholder committees and holding student-centered listening sessions.
Funding for her position is being provided by federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds as well as the Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation.
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June 23, 2022 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport Area School Board has approved the district’s budget for the 2022-23 academic year.
The $79.8 million spending plan keeps property taxes at the current millage rate of 20.96 mills. In 2021-22, each mill generated approximately $1.2 million in revenue for the district, according to Allegheny County Treasurer John Weinstein.
At Wednesday’s meeting, School Directors Jim Brown, Dan Goughnour, Steve Kondrosky, Mindy Lundberg and LaToya Brown voted to approve the spending plan, while School Director Dave Donato, Diane Elias, Matt Holtzman and Joe Lopretto voted no.
Last month, district officials said they expected to end the 2021-22 academic year with an $11 million fund balance, or surplus.
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June 22, 2022 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Scholarship winner Grace Walker (Submitted photo courtesy George and Fawn Montgomery)
A McKeesport Area High School graduate is one of 10 recipients of this year’s James R. Roebuck Scholarships from the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus.
Grace Walker, Class of 2022, will receive the $1,000 award during a virtual ceremony Thursday morning. The awards may be viewed online or via Facebook.
“Grace is a fantastic student but an even better person,” said Dale McCall, head principal at McKeesport Area High School. “She has a very bright future ahead of her, and North Carolina A&T is very lucky to have her.”
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