November 14, 2022 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
A Wilmerding man is being held in the Allegheny County Jail after McKeesport police said he forcibly took back a car that had been repossessed.
Raymont T. Dallas, 25, is accused of assaulting an employee of American Recovery Corp. on Lysle Boulevard, taking a Ford Mustang he had previously owned, and crashing through a fence into traffic, nearly striking several other vehicles.
A foot chase later ensued on the campus of McKeesport Area High School, police said, scattering students before McKeesport and White Oak police and state investigators forcibly took Dallas into custody. Two police officers were injured, one seriously, according to a report.
Dallas is being held without bail pending a preliminary hearing Nov. 21 before Magisterial District Judge Eugene Riazzi.
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November 07, 2022 |
By Danielle M. Smith - Public News Service | Posted in: State & Region
Election Day is busy at most news outlets, but some employees of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette are picketing instead — still on strike for what they consider unfair labor practices of the newspaper’s parent company.
Some workers have been off the job since Oct. 6; others since Oct. 18.
Kitsy Higgins, advertising account representative at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, claimed workers at the Pulitzer Prize-winning paper have spent five years with no bargaining agreement, and some people have gone 15 years without pay increases.
“We’re looking for a fair contract, which is reasonable — an increase in wages, especially for 2022; and insurance," Higgins said. “Along with just to bargain in good faith, which we’re not having right now, which is unfortunate.”
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November 04, 2022 |
By Jason A. Mignanelli | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, North Versailles Twp. News, Sports
Serra Catholic’s Eagles will take on the Washington High School Prexies in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs tonight at the Norwin High School stadium.
The 7-3 Eagles are coming off of a 28-0 loss last week to the Steel Valley Ironmen (9-0). Tonight’s game is a rematch of the third game of the season, when Serra Catholic defeated Wash High (6-4) in a very close game, 35-34.
“It is always difficult to beat a team twice,” said Michael Betler, assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Serra Catholic. “They have the added motivation of beating us since we won the last game. We have some film on them from last time, so we can see what they did against us, but I am sure they will make adjustments, just like we will.”
In other matchups of local interest, the 9-1 McKeesport Area Tigers were defeated by (7-3) Thomas Jefferson High School on Oct. 28 by a score of 20-10. McKeesport (5-1 in conference play) will have a home playoff game in the first round of the AAAA WPIAL football playoffs, and are hosting (6-4) Mars High School at 7 p.m.
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November 04, 2022 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
One of the common themes of Duquesne City Council meetings is the governing body’s continued attempt to do something about neglected properties–buildings as well as vacant land—but they admit that process is slow.
And practically every meeting, a resident has a tale of how they take pride in their homes, but are saddled with an eye sore–or four–on their street.
At council’s regular meeting on Tuesday, Mayor Scott Adams attempted to lessen fears by saying that the city hopes to hire an ordinance officer to cite property owners who chose to ignore their properties when it comes to overgrown conditions and general “filth.”
Council also discussed diverting $44,000 from a Duquesne Place Playground project to the demolition of blighted properties. There was also talk of another grant in which $125,000 would be used for street paving, and $51,000 earmarked to clear lots.
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November 04, 2022 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne Police Department now has 13 full-time officers, including acting Chief Tom Shaw, as a trio of new officers were hired at Tuesday’s city council meeting.
Brandon Morris, Ryan Drohn and Tobias Yuhouse were officially added to the force, according to council’s unanimous vote. Drohn and Yuhouse have already started patrols, and Morris is set to take his first shift Nov. 6.
All are experienced officers, according to Shaw. Duquesne’s police department has lost a few officers in recent months, largely due to better pay elsewhere; however, Council has successfully added the new hires.
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October 31, 2022 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
Ramp No. 1 into the city’s 10th Ward will remain closed through Nov. 11 so that crews can pave the surface and perform other repairs.
A district spokesman for the state Department of Transportation said crews from Joseph B. Fay Co. will conduct milling operations where the ramp meets the Jerome Avenue Bridge, conduct concrete repairs, and pave the road.
Ramp No. 1 connects West Fifth Avenue and the Jerome Avenue Bridge to River Road and the lower half of Rebecca Street. Traffic is being detoured around-the-clock while the ramp work occurs.
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October 31, 2022 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
The stories of McKeesport Area High School’s people will soon appear on TV screens.
At last week’s meeting, the school board voted to approve two projects that will showcase local students, staff and families.
The first, a docuseries titled “The Road to the Ring,” will follow the McKeesport Tigers Varsity Football team and its quest to win a state championship. Produced by Teall Properties Group, LLC, the 10-part series, will chart the end of the Tigers’ season — the team is currently 9-1 — and begin streaming in January on Teall’s YouTube channel.
James Companion, Teall’s EVP, National Sales, told the board the docuseries will provide viewers a perspective from “behind the curtain.”
By focusing on athletes and coaches, “this is a chance to show the country one of the top programs,” Companion said.
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October 31, 2022 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
In her report to the board during Wednesday’s meeting, McKeesport Area Superintendent Tia Wanzo spotlighted students and staff across the district.
Wanzo described various acts of kindness undertaken by those at Francis McClure Elementary School and Founders’ Hall Middle School, as well as recent achievements by McKeesport Area High School’s band and color guard.
Wanzo’s presentations culminated in more than 10 students receiving certificates and rounds of applause.
After the final student was celebrated, Board President Mindy Lundberg told the nearly 50 attendees at Wednesday’s meeting, “Ladies and gentlemen, that's what this is all about.”
Apart from celebrating student success, however, board members heard about various challenges in the district.
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October 28, 2022 |
By Jason A. Mignanelli | Posted in: Sports
Serra Catholic’s football team suffered an untimely loss last Friday night at the hands of Apollo-Ridge. The final score was 43–36 in a close game that came right down to the final whistle.
The Eagles are hoping to bounce back tonight (Oct. 28) when they host the 8-0 Steel Valley Ironmen under the lights in Haler Heights. Game time is 7 p.m.
“A loss is never a bad thing. We saw what happened after the North Catholic loss and this needs to be treated the same way. We hope to still have a long season ahead, and the loss doesn't do anything to change that outlook,” said assistant head coach Michael Betler.
Senior quarterback Elijah “Tiger” Ward was 5-8-170 passing with three touchdowns and rushed for 56 yards on 10 carries.
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October 27, 2022 |
By Elizabeth Laughlin | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Shalay Williams, founder of Care Heart CPR, conducts a training course. The building and other tenants were displaced when a natural gas explosion heavily damaged a small-business incubator on Ninth Avenue, Downtown. (Submitted photo courtesy Care Heart CPR, via Facebook)
For business owner and licensed nurse Shalay Williams, saving lives is the top priority.
“If I can train one person to save another, I’ve done my job,” Williams said.
Shalay Williams is a practical nurse with 13 years of experience. She graduated from UPMC St. Margaret School of Nursing, located in Pittsburgh. She opened Care Heart CPR, an emergency-training service, in July 2021.
Until Aug. 2, the business was located on Ninth Avenue in McKeesport, at Penn State Greater Allegheny’s small-business incubator, the Mon Valley LaunchBox.
That morning, a devastating natural gas explosion heavily damaged several businesses supported by the LaunchBox, including Care Heart, Painting with Rissa and The Fry Bar.
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