February 10, 2024 |
By Yousuf Lachhab Ibrahim | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Tube City Almanac photo)
The sun will set permanently on a McKeesport landmark this weekend with one final party at The Elbow Room.
After opening for limited hours for several months, the beloved 10th Ward restaurant and bar announced via Facebook this week that it is closing for good Sunday.
A farewell event will begin at 3 p.m. and continue “until the last person leaves,” according to the post.
Calls and messages to the Elbow Room were not returned as of presstime.
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February 06, 2024 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
The Rev. Bill Meekins Jr., lead pastor of the McKeesport Area Shared Ministry of the United Methodist Church, delivers the invocation Tuesday evening at the rededication of the city’s dek-hockey rink in memory of murdered police officer Sean Sluganski. Mayor Michael Cherepko and Sluganski’s family look on. (Tube City Almanac photo)
More than 300 people gathered at sunset Tuesday to remember murdered McKeesport police Officer Sean Sluganski.
At a ceremony attended by many current and retired law-enforcement officers, city officials and clergy re-dedicated the dek-hockey rink at Renziehausen Park in memory of Sluganski, who was fatally shot by a suspect on Feb. 6, 2023, as he and his partner, McKeesport police Officer Chuck Thomas Jr., responded to a domestic dispute in the Grandview neighborhood.
A former city man is awaiting trial on homicide charges in connection with Sluganski’s death.
A bench bearing Sluganski’s name and image also was unveiled by Thomas and McKeesport police Lt. Bob Eastman, who responded to the same call.
McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko said the city wanted to honor Sluganski with an appropriate, permanent memorial, and felt renaming the dek-hockey would be appropriate, because of his love of hockey.
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February 03, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Citizens withheld tears, shouted and questioned board members about the resignation of Amy Gumbert, McKeesport Area High School’s girls basketball coach during Thursday’s open agenda meeting.
Gumbert, a third-year coach who led the Tigers to the WPIAL Class 5A semifinals in her first two seasons, and her staff, which included her brother Eric Gumbert, have all been replaced.
“Coach Amy and Coach Eric have been in my life since I can remember,” sophomore Luciana Lewis said during Thursday’s hearing of citizens. “I knew I could go to either one of them when I needed someone to talk to. They are like family.”
“Amy and Eric have been one of the best coaches ever that I've had since fourth grade,” freshman Morgan McClung said. “They pushed us to the point where we become the best version of ourselves.”
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February 01, 2024 |
By T.J. Martin | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Pennsylvania American Water Company acquired the assets of the Municipal Authority of the City of McKeesport in 2017. The company is proposing a rate increase for both sewer customers served by the McKeesport treatment plant as well as water customers in Liberty and West Mifflin. (Tube City Almanac photo illustration)
Residents in the Mon Valley took the opportunity to speak to representatives of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission this week at the first pair of public input hearings regarding a rate increase request by Pennsylvania American Water Company.
At a public hearing at the Port Vue municipal building, state Rep. Matthew Gergely of McKeesport called proposed rate increases to water and sewerage rates “extreme and unprecedented.”
About 50 people attended the hearing. Port Vue Councilman Bob Betters said he was also opposed to the proposed increase. Noting that PAWC said that it wants to make “infrastructure upgrades” as one of the reasons for a rate increase, Betters said, “You bought this junk car, you should have to fix it — not us.”
In 2017, PAWC purchased the assets of the Municipal Authority of the City of McKeesport and began providing sewage services to at that time 64,000 people in McKeesport, Duquesne, Dravosburg, White Oak, North Versailles, East McKeesport, Elizabeth, Glassport, Liberty, Port Vue and Versailles.
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January 22, 2024 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Three people, including two crew members of McKeesport Ambulance Rescue Service, were injured Sunday evening in a collision at the intersection of Stewart and Soles streets.
McKeesport police are investigating the incident, which occurred as the ambulance was responding to a house fire in the 2700 block of Dinsmore Street.
MARS Chief Bill Miller said the 2019 Ford ambulance had just left the station on Evans Avenue and was eastbound on Stewart when it was struck broadside on the driver’s side by another vehicle.
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January 22, 2024 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
A family of five was displaced Sunday evening when fire swept through their Dinsmore Street home.
Crews were dispatched to the 2700 block just before 7:30 p.m. and arrived to find smoke visible and flames emerging from the left side of the house, McKeesport deputy fire chief Ed Harmon said.
The occupants of the home — a mother and four children, ages 7 to 18 — were able to escape safely and called 9-1-1, Harmon said.
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January 12, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Members of the McKeesport Little Theater’s Juniors Program performed selections from Disney’s Aladdin Jr. at Thursday’s school board meeting. The show opens tonight (Friday). (Adam Reinherz photo for Tube City Almanac)
McKeesport Area School Board has accepted the resignation of the firm that was providing security in district buildings and will retain a new company within 60 days.
The move comes after a guard for Homeland Intelligence & Protective Services LLC of McDonald was arrested and charged this week with having a sexual relationship with a now 17-year-old student.
The guard, Alexis Brown, 24, of McKeesport is charged by Allegheny County police with unlawful sexual contact with a student, corrupting the morals of minors and unlawful contact with a minor. She is awaiting a preliminary hearing Jan. 29 before Magisterial District Judge Eugene Riazzi.
Board members and staff spent Thursday’s monthly meeting reiterating that student safety remains paramount.
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January 08, 2024 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Members of a city-based credit union have approved its merger with a larger thrift in Moon Twp.
At a meeting Thursday at McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center, shareholders of Parkview Community Federal Credit Union OK’d a merger with Clearview Federal Credit Union by a vote of 336 to 74, according to accountants from McKeever, Varga & Senko, who oversaw the ballotting.
The merger is expected to take effect July 1. The agreement has already been approved by federal regulators.
Lisa Florian, president and chief executive officer of Clearview, said there are no plans to close either of Parkview’s offices in McKeesport or North Huntingdon Twp.
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January 06, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Although McKeesport Area School Board meetings have returned to the Internet, board president Mark Holtzman said he hopes that residents will still attend in person when they are able.
“We encourage the public to come,” he said.
Monthly meetings are a chance for citizens to voice concern, however, if a “major issue” arises in the district Holtzman hopes interested parties won’t wait weeks to articulate the problem.
“Please see the superintendent,” he said. “I'm sure she'll address it and take care of it accordingly.”
At Thursday’s agenda meeting, board members extended wishes for a happy new year, and also welcomed new school district police chief Brenda Sawyer
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December 31, 2023 |
By Yousuf Lachhab Ibrahim | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Citing a lack of applicants for key jobs as well as new data-processing requirements, city-based Parkview Community Federal Credit Union is asking its members to vote to approve a merger with a larger Moon Twp.-based financial institution.
A meeting is planned for Parkview credit union members at 6 p.m. Thursday (Jan. 4) at the McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center in Renziehausen Park.
Comments also may be filed online at the National Credit Union Administration website.
The merger would end Parkview’s 88-year existence and close one of the last McKeesport-based financial institutions. Another city-based credit union — McKeesport Bell — is also considering a merger with another thrift. Several smaller credit unions are chartered by area churches and McKeesport Area School District employees.
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