People’s Building Full of Reminders of City’s Past

September 02, 2020 |

By Emily Pidgeon | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News

This massive door in the former bank vault at the People’s Building weighs an estimated 15 tons, says owner Jonathan Stark. (Emily Pidgeon photo for Tube City Almanac)


Jane Jacobs, the writer and journalist who in the 1960s helped popularize the idea of preserving city architecture, once said, “New ideas often need old buildings.”

The Peoples Union Bank Building, with its high vaulted ceilings and old fashioned charm, has been a fixture in McKeesport’s skyline since 1906. Owner Jonathan Stark has ideas, and bringing commerce back to this old building is an important duty he holds dear to his heart.

Purchased by Stark in the late summer of 2019, the People’s Building has had a bit of a facelift and cleanup as well as some more serious construction in the past year. That included repairs to a section of the brick veneer that had pulled away from the exterior, with the potential to cause damage to cars and people below.

Stark was able to repair the damage before any major issues occurred and restored the brick without a hiccup.

 
Read More

City Man Indicted on Gun, Drug Charges

August 26, 2020 |

By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News

A man arrested by McKeesport police in December on weapons and drug charges has now been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh.

A spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady said the four-count indictment, unsealed Wednesday, charges Jermaine Pawlik-Curry Sr., 35, with violating federal weapons and drug trafficking laws.

McKeesport police and Allegheny County probation officers went to Pawlik-Curry’s home on Dec. 18 to confirm that he was complying with the terms of his parole.

 
Read More

NV Commissioners OK Fire Company Payments

August 26, 2020 |

By Kristen Keleschenyi | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News

North Versailles Twp. commissioners will express their support for the Tobacco Free Allegheny campaign.

At the August meeting, Township Manager Patricia Logo was directed to draft a letter of support for Tobacco Free Allegheny, notifying the campaign that North Versailles prohibits smoking in township parks and around public buildings.

In other business, commissioners approved payments to the West Wilmerding VFC in the amount $6,749.64 from the 2019-20 Fire Tax Money and to the Crestas VFC in the amount of $15,943.83.

 
Read More

Crew Missions Seeks Volunteers for Cleanup

August 26, 2020 |

By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements

Clairton-based Crew Missions is seeking volunteers to help clean up a local road in Jefferson Hills.

A spokeswoman said the event is planned for 9 to 11 a.m. Sept. 19 along High Road, which parallels Route 51 off of Ridge Road.

Participants will be give a face mask and hand sanitizer, and all cleanup supplies will be provided. Volunteers should wear old clothes for the event, she said.

To register, call Judi at (412) 708-7328, email info@crewmissions.org or visit the Facebook page for the event.

 

Chicken Ordinance Passed In North Versailles

August 26, 2020 |

By Kristen Keleschenyi | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News

Chickens are now welcome in North Versailles Twp. after a unanimous vote of commissioners at their August meeting.

The new ordinance, approved by commissioners, will allow homeowers to apply for a permit to keep up to four female chickens on their property. The property must be a single-family dwelling and chickens must be secured at night in their coop.

 
Read More

Wolf Endorses Brewster Bill on Lawmaker Gifts

August 26, 2020 |

By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Politics & Elections

Editor’s Note: Clarified to note that Pennsylvania puts no monetary limits on gifts. There are other restrictions.

State Sen. Jim Brewster of McKeesport, shown with Braddock Mayor Chardaé Jones and representatives of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission during a recent tour of the Monongahela River, has introduced legislation to ban gifts from lobbyists to Pennsylvania lawmakers. (Submitted photo)


Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has lent his support to an effort by a McKeesport lawmaker to block gifts from lobbyists to state lawmakers.

During a press conference Tuesday near Harrisburg, Wolf introduced his fall legislative agenda, asking the state house and senate to take up several proposals this fall, including additional aid for workers who lost jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic and for businesses forced to close or restrict operations.

Wolf also endorsed a proposal introduced by state Sen. Jim Brewster that would ban gifts from special interests to legislators.

Pennsylvania is one of only 10 states that puts no monetary cap on gifts to members of the state house and senate, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

 
Read More

Part of W.M. Road to Close Sept. 8

August 26, 2020 |

By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements

Part of Greensprings Avenue in West Mifflin will close Sept. 8 for repairs, the Allegheny County Department of Public Works has announced.

The westbound lane of Greensprings will close near the Homeville Volunteer Fire Dept. so that crews can repair a concrete culvert, repave the road and install a storm grating and paint new pavement markings.

Work is expected to continue until November. Stop signs will be used to control traffic, and drivers are urged to use caution in the area, the county said.

The $73,123 project is being done by Pugliano Construction Co. Inc. of Plum.

 

Annual Kane Fun Walk Goes Virtual Sept. 19

August 26, 2020 |

By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements

(File photo/submitted)


The ninth-annual Joan Burns Kane Foundation “Fun Walk 4 Kane” has gone virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is our first attempt at a virtual walk,” says Janet Kulis, volunteer and sister of Joan Burns, for whom the walk is named.

This year’s event is Sept. 19. Entrants are being encouraged to “walk anywhere you like, for as long as you want” and ask friends, family, neighbors and co-workers to sponsor them.

Burns was a retired McKeesport Area teacher and Kane volunteer who died in 2013 at age 59. A board member of the Kane Foundation, she was co-founder of the family council at Kane McKeesport.

 
Read More

Volunteers Offer Smiles, Supplies to MASD Students

August 24, 2020 |

By Vickie Babyak | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News

Mindy Sturgess, a McKeesport Area school director and city resident, passes a backpack for a student through the family's SUV window. (Vickie Babyak photo for Tube City Almanac)


McKeesport Area School District students were invited to a “Back-to-School Giveaway” event held in front of the high school on Saturday afternoon.

Back packs and hygiene essentials were distributed by members of the McKeesport unit of the NAACP, along with community volunteers.

The event was made possible with donations from the McKeesport Community Fund, Walmart, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency and McKeesport residents.

Volunteers handed out appropriately filled backpacks for all students in kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as hygiene essential bags including products such as hand sanitizer, Kleenex and lip balm.

 
Read More

Teen Faces Drugs, Weapons Charges After Chase

August 22, 2020 |

By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News

A Clairton teen-ager faces a long list of charges — including for weapon and drug violations — after police said he crashed into a McKeesport patrol car, then led officers on a chase through Duquesne, West Mifflin, Dravosburg and Glassport.

McKeesport police said the car driven by the 15-year-old boy traveled down Route 837 at speeds well in excess of the posted limit, going airborne on several occasions, and causing officers to stop pursuing for safety reasons.

According to police reports, officers on routine patrol near Crawford Village on the night of Aug. 11 noticed a vehicle with darkly tinted windows in a parking lot. When the officers approached the vehicle, it drove away, police said.

 
Read More

Google™ Custom Search
McKeesport booked.net
+69°F

High: +69°

Low: +59°