October 21, 2020 |
By Kristen Keleschenyi | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News
Upcoming events and news of several new businesses topped the agenda at this month’s meeting of the North Versailles Twp. commissioners.
Commissioner Allen Wagner said there will be an open house at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 25 for Walkers Pet HoTail’s new location at 1751 Lincoln Highway.
In addition, a slag reclamation plant is being developed near the George Westinghouse Bridge and has received all of the necessary permits. The business will take slag and convert it into road construction material that can be used in concrete and asphalt, officials said.
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October 21, 2020 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Politics & Elections
Allegheny County elections officials are reminding voters who plan to use an absentee or “vote-by-mail” ballot that they must put their ballot into a secrecy envelope and sign the voter’s declaration before mailing or depositing it. Sample envelopes are shown. (Allegheny County photos)
Over the past two weekends, nearly 27,000 absentee ballots have been returned in-person at temporary Allegheny County elections offices, a county spokeswoman said.
Last weekend, 12,675 ballots were returned at five locations, including CCAC South Campus in West Mifflin, where 1,950 ballots were returned during the two-day period, said Amie Downs, county spokeswoman.
During the weekend of Oct. 10 and 11, approximately 13,950 ballots were returned to five temporary elections offices, Downs said.
Although Pennsylvania does not allow early in-person voting, absentee or “vote-by-mail” ballots may be returned by voters, in-person, to a county election office.
Allegheny County is opening temporary, satellite elections offices at locations throughout the Pittsburgh area to accommodate voters who do not want to wait in lines on Nov. 3 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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October 21, 2020 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
A Texas man remains in Allegheny County Jail on charges that he led officers on a chase through McKeesport, then bailed out of his vehicle following a crash in Dravosburg.
City police used an aerial drone and a tracking dog to help locate Kendall L. Mikell, 33, of Fort Worth, who remains jailed in lieu of $100,000 bond pending a preliminary hearing Nov. 23 before Magisterial District Judge Eugene Riazzi.
City and Allegheny County police were working a crime suppression detail on Walnut Street, Downtown, on the evening of Sept. 18 when a black Toyota sedan with Texas license plates turned onto Shaw Avenue, traveling at a high rate of speed.
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October 21, 2020 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements
The non-profit corporation that oversees Tube City Almanac, McKeesport Obituaries and WMCK Internet Radio has elected its board of directors and officers for 2020-2021.
The board also announced its plans to transition all of Tube City’s online content to the trademarked “Tube City Online” name during 2021.
At its annual meeting, the board re-elected for one-year terms current directors Alycia Bencloski, Andrea Luketic Cartwright, Dan Dougherty, Daniel C. Malesky, William C. Phillips, Dianne Ribecca, Judy Rosenfeld, Rev. Chris Stillwell, Thomas Schroll Jr., Jennifer Sopko and Jason Togyer.
The board also elected William Phillips as chair, Alycia Bencloski as treasurer and Jennifer Sopko as secretary.
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October 21, 2020 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport’s 35th annual Festival of Trees is expected to continue as scheduled, but this year’s Christmas parade has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Tube City Almanac file photo from 2019)
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused yet another cancellation — this time, of McKeesport’s Christmas parade.
However, the 35th annual Festival of Trees is expected to be held, though with social distancing rules in place and probably without food service.
“You’ll probably agree with me that this year has been a really tough year for many reasons,” Mayor Michael Cherepko said. “It’s disheartening to not have the events — the concerts, the ribfest, the Easter egg hunt, International Village, I could go on and on. That’s made this year a lot worse because that’s where (McKeesport) gets to shine.”
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October 18, 2020 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Ben Carson, U.S. Secretary of Housing & Urban Development, visited McKeesport on Thursday to discuss the federal Financial Opportunity Zone program. The meeting with city officials and local business owners was closed to the public. (HUD photo via Twitter)
The federal secretary of Housing & Urban Development made an unannounced visit to McKeesport on Thursday to meet with city officials and local business owners.
Neither media nor the public were invited to the event with HUD Secretary Ben Carson, described as a roundtable discussion of the federal Opportunity Zone program with local business owners and developers.
It is the third time in as many months that HUD officials have visited McKeesport to discuss the Financial Opportunity Zone program, which provides tax incentives to people who invest in economically distressed areas.
Joseph J. DeFelice, Region III administrator for HUD, visited the city in both August and September.
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October 18, 2020 |
By Kristen Keleschenyi | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News
East Allegheny School District will hold a virtual town hall meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday to discuss plans to move to a mix of in-person and online education.
At the board’s Oct. 12 meeting, school directors said the town hall will break down the proposed plan and allow time for questions and discussion.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the district began the school year with most students taking classes remotely, except for those who required face-to-face instruction due to special learning needs.
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October 18, 2020 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Crime and Police News
(Submitted photos)
Allegheny County sheriff’s deputies and the North Versailles Twp. Walmart teamed up Friday to donate nearly $5,000 of school supplies to McKeesport Area School District.
“Our agency is once again extremely grateful to support local families in need during this challenging time when community support is needed most,” said Tony Griffith, communications director for the sheriff’s office.
October 18, 2020 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements, West Newton News
West Newton First Church of God, 157 North Second St., has three mission projects for the month of November.
A church spokesperson said the congregation is collecting “Toys for Tots,” collecting Kleenex and pump hand sanitizers for teachers at West Newton Elementary School, and collecting items to be sent to people serving in the armed forces.
Anyone wishing to participate is welcome, the spokesperson said. Items can be dropped off at the church. Call (724) 872-7467.
In December, the church is holding its second-annual Cookie Walk fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 12. Masks and social distancing will be in place, and cookies will be sold by the pound.
October 08, 2020 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Workers from Allegheny CleanWays cleared debris from an illegal dumping site in the city in September. CleanWays crews and city officials also picked up garbage dumped along the Youghiogheny River. (Submitted photo)
Frustrated by dozens of illegal dump sites throughout McKeesport, council has voted to drastically increase the fines and the city will soon post cameras in target areas.
Council on Wednesday voted 7-0 to amend the city’s illegal dumping ordinance to set a minimum fine of $2,500 and a maximum of $10,000, or up to 180 days in the Allegheny County Jail.
The previous fine was $300.
Mayor Michael Cherepko said the city has been working with Allegheny CleanWays’ “DumpBusters” program to identify illegal dumping spots.
City Administrator Tom Maglicco said 48 sites have been identified so far.
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