April 30, 2021 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
U.S. Steel has canceled plans to invest $1.5 billion in its three Mon Valley Works facilities, including Edgar Thomson Plant, shown here, saying that conditions have changed. (Mark Dixon photo via Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons)
Local officials and the United Steelworkers union are blasting an announcement by U.S. Steel Corp. that it will cancel more than $1.5 billion worth of investment in its three Mon Valley Works facilities.
The corporation also will idle three out of nine coke oven batteries at the Clairton Plant.
The decisions were announced Friday morning during a call with investors and stock market analysts.
“To be very clear, this is not the end of Mon Valley Works,” said David Burritt, U.S. Steel president and chief executive officer. “This highly competitive mill will continue to serve strategic customers today and into the future.”
Mon Valley Works includes Clairton Plant, which produces coke and other chemical byproducts from coal; Edgar Thomson Plant, a basic steelmaking faciity in Braddock and North Braddock; and Irvin Plant, which produces coils of finished steel in West Mifflin.
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April 29, 2021 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
A McKeesport man is being held in the Allegheny County Jail in connection with a fire in Christy Park that police said was deliberately set.
Jesse Henderson, 23, is jailed in lieu of $25,000 bond pending a preliminary hearing May 10 before Magisterial District Judge Eugene Riazzi. He was arrested Tuesday.
Police said McKeesport firefighters were dispatched to a home in the 2200 block of Walnut Street on the afternoon of April 19 for a reported structure fire.
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April 29, 2021 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
A Pittsburgh man was charged with aggravated assault, recklessly endangering other persons and reckless driving after McKeesport police allege that he deliberately caused a three-car wreck in the East End in an attempt to injure himself.
Carl E. Taylor, 30, of Lawrenceville faces a preliminary hearing May 10 before Magisterial District Judge Eugene Riazzi. He is currently being held in the Allegheny County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bond.
City police said they were dispatched to the area under the McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge during evening rush hour on April 20 for a report of a three-vehicle crash with injuries.
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April 28, 2021 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
The death of a woman whose body was found just off Versailles Avenue early Sunday morning is not considered suspicious, investigators said.
The Allegheny County medical examiner’s office said the body of Myra Huff, 36, of Duquesne was discovered just before 7 a.m. near the intersection of Versailles Avenue and Park Street. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Allegheny County police Lt. Venerando Costa said Huff’s death does not appear to have been a homicide and may have been an overdose. Investigators are awaiting a report from the medical examiner’s office, he said.
April 28, 2021 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Commentary-Editorial
A collage of newspaper clippings from both local and national publications traces Lou Washowich’s career from coach of the McKeesport Little Tigers to one of Allegheny County’s only two full-time mayors. (Tube City Almanac illustration)
Dennis K.E. Pittman served as a community development consultant to McKeesport Mayor Lou Washowich from 1985 to 1989, and as the city’s community development director from 1989 to 2000.
Washowich, who served as mayor from 1980 to 1995, died April 2 at age 81.
Pittman writes:
The measure of a person’s life is often determined by his or her time and place. One’s values may transcend the ages ... the “what-ifs” of what might have happened had one been in a particular situation and place. The bottom line is really, how did someone respond when their name is called?
Lou Washowich — only his beloved bride of 58 years, Jean, was allowed to call him “Louis”! — impacted so many lives in his 81 years that I am confident each and every one of those individuals Lou met could relate their own special remembrance. Hopefully, this will conjure up some memories for them to enjoy.
Lou’s character was forged early in life, growing up poor in a tough industrial town without benefit of a standard nuclear family. He became rich, however, through his experiences and friendships with many days when he did not have a nickel in his pocket.
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April 28, 2021 |
By Siana Emery | Posted in: Politics & Elections
(Submitted photo courtesy Steven Singer)
Steven Singer, challenger to the incumbent for the Democratic nomination in District 9 of Allegheny County Council, is determined to make the voice of the Mon Valley heard.
“The Mon Valley is kind of forgotten by the rest of the county. But this corner of the county — we’re here, and we deserve the same resources and amenities as the rest of the county. I want to stand up and make sure we’re heard,” Singer said. “The steel mills may have closed, but we’re still here.”
Singer is “Allegheny County born and bred,” having lived in White Oak his entire life. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Singer worked as a journalist at the McKeesport Daily News, as well as an educator in Baldwin and McKeesport, before settling at the Steel Valley School District as a middle school teacher.
“Mon Valley is my community,” said Singer. “I want to serve this community because this is my neighborhood. This is the place I grew up. My family lives here, I care about the people here.”
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April 28, 2021 |
By Siana Emery | Posted in: Politics & Elections
Editor’s Note: Tube City Almanac contributor Siana Emery called Bob Macey on his home phone, cell phone and office phone, asking for an interview. She also sent email to Macey’s office.
Macey did not respond to those requests.
(Allegheny County photo)
For the first time since 2013, Allegheny County Councilor Bob Macey has an opponent in the Democratic Primary in the race for the District 9 seat.
Macey, who resides in West Mifflin, did not respond to requests from Tube City Almanac for comment. However, he told WESA-FM Radio that his policies are a better reflection of the Mon Valley community than those of his opponent, Steven Singer.
District 9 serves Dravosburg, Duquesne, Elizabeth, Forward, Glassport, Liberty, Lincoln, McKeesport, North Versailles Twp., Port Vue, South Versailles Twp., Versailles, West Mifflin and White Oak. Macey was appointed to the seat in 2006 and elected for a four-year term in 2009.
An article published by WESA on April 26 outlines some of Macey’s voting record for local issues. Throughout his three terms on county council, Macey has established himself as a politician who leans further right than many others in his party, while still supporting some progressive legislation.
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April 23, 2021 |
By Sarah Turnbull | Posted in: Announcements, White Oak News
White Oak Clean-Up Day will be held 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 24, borough officials said.
Volunteers should gather at Heritage Hills Park no later than 9:30 a.m. to receive assignments and supplies.
Electronics and household hazardous waste recycling collection will be held on the same day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the borough building.
Councilwoman Julie Opferman, who chairs the parks and recreation committee, said that Rainbow Volunteer Fire Co.’s Cars in the Park from 1 to 7 p.m. May 16 at Heritage Hill Park. The rain date will be May 23.
Councilman George Pambacas said a rabies vaccination clinic will be held at the Municipal Public Works Garage on Lincoln Way from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 5.
“It’ll be a drive-through clinic, where you stay in your car until you’re called,” Pambacas said. “Dogs should be on a leash and cats should be in a carrier. The animals must at least three months old, not pregnant, and not sick.”
Sarah Turnbull is a freelance writer in Irwin. She can be reached at sarahturnbull323@gmail.com.
April 22, 2021 |
By Sarah Turnbull | Posted in: White Oak News
White Oak Council approved a new contract with the union representing borough police officers after the mayor cast the tie-breaking vote.
Council voted 3-3 to adopt the four-year agreement with Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 91, with council members George Pambacas, George Dillinger and Kenneth Robb voting no.
Councilwoman Julie Opferman abstained due to a conflict of interest. Mayor Ina Jean Marton broke the tie.
Pambacas said he voted against the resolution for financial reasons, while Robb expressed concerns about the length of the contract.
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April 22, 2021 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
Allegheny County’s Department of Public Works announced Thursday that Elizabeth Road between Scott Drive and Curry Hollow Road in Dravosburg has reopened to traffic earlier than expected.
The closure, which began on April 12, was required to repair damage to a support wall and guide rail caused by a single-vehicle crash that occurred in November 2020.
The $40,284 project was done by Pugliano Construction Co., Inc., of Pittsburgh.
