October 23, 2019 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: White Oak News
The owner of the contracted trash hauler for White Oak borough said Wednesday that charges made against his company at a recent council meeting were not accurate.
Joe Eori Sr., who has owned Big's Sanitation since 1999, said the company is not mixing waste with recycling --- in fact, he said, Big's is trying to encourage recycling.
"I want everyone to recycle, because (Big's) pays by the ton" for landfill disposal fees, Eori said Wednesday. "The more (residents) recycle, the less tonnage I take in."
At Monday's meeting, residents said Big's crews were dumping recyclables into a trash truck. Eori said Big's is using a trash truck to haul recycling.
Read More
October 22, 2019 |
By Christy Walters | Posted in: White Oak News
White Oak residents voiced their opinion at Monday’s council meeting that Big’s Sanitation is not fulfilling its contract, or meeting the needs of the community.
Former councilman Rich Bryce spoke during the public comments section of the meeting to address the issue.
He claimed that workers from the Belle Vernon-based sanitation company pull their trucks up to homes and put both trash and recycling into the same trucks.
“I voted for (Big’s) when I was on council because they had a good reputation and everything else,” Bryce said. “They’re breaking their contract. They’re screwing up. They’re charging us for two things and only doing one.”
Read More
October 17, 2019 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: History, White Oak News
(* — CORRECTION, NOT PERFECTION: This story was corrected after publication.)
This 90-year-old photo shows Allen Evans' Gulf gasoline station at the corner of Long Run Road and what was then known as "White Oak Level Road" — now Lincoln Way.
Although almost everything around the intersection has changed, the same curve is still present in Lincoln Way (below, in an image from Google Maps).
Scanned from the Allegheny County archives by the University of Pittsburgh Libraries for its "Historic Pittsburgh" archive, the image touches on a lot of the history of the McKeesport and White Oak areas.
The Evans family — for whom Evans Avenue is named — was prominent in the history of the McKeesport area.
Read More
October 16, 2019 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements, McKeesport and Region News, White Oak News
A boil-water advisory that has been in effect for McKeesport-area residents since Saturday night has been lifted.
The Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County announced Wednesday morning that water samples over two consecutive days from the city, Port Vue, Versailles and White Oak were all clear.
Storage tank levels are at normal conditions so it is no longer necessary to conserve water, said Matt Junker, authority spokesman.
The advisory was put into place after an intake pump at the McKeesport Water Treatment Plant failed Saturday evening, flooding the facility and forcing it to be closed temporarily. That caused water pressure to fall throughout the system, leading the authority to impose water conservation orders for some communities and a boil-water advisory for all four communities served by the plant.
About 16,000 customers were affected.
October 15, 2019 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, White Oak News
Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County's McKeesport Water Treatment Plant (photo courtesy MAWC)
A boil-water advisory for about 16,000 customers in McKeesport, Port Vue, Versailles and White Oak could be lifted on Wednesday.
Matt Junker, spokesman for the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County, said the first round of testing on water from the McKeesport Water Treatment Plant was clear of any hazards.
"We are hopeful that the advisory can be lifted Wednesday after a second round of good results," Junker said Tuesday.
The authority also provided additional details of the incident on Saturday evening that forced the plant to be shut down, causing a loss of water pressure in parts of the McKeesport area and leading to the boil-water advisory.
Read More
October 14, 2019 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, White Oak News
Local schools and public facilities in areas affected by a boil-water advisory reported Monday they were finding ways to cope.
But the advisory left some businesses in the area --- mainly restaurants --- unable to open.
The failure of an intake pump that pulls water from the Youghiogheny River forced the shutdown on Saturday night of Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County's McKeesport Water Treatment Plant.
The pump was rebuilt and put back into service on Sunday afternoon, but not before many customers in the city, Port Vue, Versailles and White Oak reported no water, or very low water pressure.
Read More
October 13, 2019 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, White Oak News
(This story will be updated with new information periodically)
Volunteer firefighters from White Oak No. 1 and Rainbow handed out cases of bottled water at the borough’s municipal complex on Sunday afternoon. (Photo courtesy White Oak Office of Emergency Management, via Facebook)
The McKeesport water treatment plant is back in production, but is pumping slowly to purge air from the distribution system.
Authority spokesman Matthew Junker said the plant went back into operation at 3:30 p.m. Sunday. The plant shut down Saturday night when a pump failed.
However, a boil-water advisory will remain in effect until further notice for the city, Port Vue, Versailles and White Oak. Some customers at higher elevations in Port Vue and McKeesport were reporting a complete lack of water on Sunday.
Read More
October 13, 2019 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, White Oak News
Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County has now added White Oak to a precautionary boil water advisory that McKeesport and Versailles were placed on last night.
Port Vue was added earlier today. Issues with a repair to the raw water pump caused White Oak to be added as well, said Matt Junker, spokesman for the water authority.
Water tankers are available in White Oak at the municipal building, 2280 Lincoln Way, and PNC Bank, 1612 Lincoln Way, Junker said.
Water tankers also are available at 238 Atlantic Ave. in lower 10th Ward; Walnut and 12th streets, Third Ward; Walnut and Juniper streets, Versailles; and at UPMC McKeesport Hospital.
Additional water tankers are stationed in Port Vue at American Legion Post 447, 304 Gumbert St.; and the shopping center at 1515 Washington Blvd.
Read More
September 17, 2019 |
By Christy Walters | Posted in: White Oak News
White Oak Council has rejected all of the quotes it received to upgrade the gym lights at White Oak Athletic Association, and will seek new ones.
At September's council meeting, officials reported that over the past month, the borough used the request for quote process to solicit bids to convert to LED lighting. All of the bids exceeded the state's limits.
Council carried a motion to formally reject the bids received and rebid the project.
Read More
September 17, 2019 |
By Christy Walters | Posted in: Announcements, White Oak News
White Oak Borough will hold a “Truck-or-Treat” event at the community center at the White Oak Athletic Association on Oct. 26.
Councilman Lou Bender announced details of the event at September’s borough council meeting.
This free, public event will include a Halloween parade on community center grounds, music, snacks, treat bags, prizes for best boy and girl costumes, and the opportunity to see, touch and explore trucks and heavy machinery.
Read More
