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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October 08, 2020 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Crime and Police News, McKeesport and Region News, White Oak News
A longtime city police officer is recovering at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, Oakland, after being injured in a serious motorcycle crash on Route 48.
McKeesport police Chief Adam Alfer said Detective Joseph Osinski was southbound at Ripple Road at around 3 p.m. Monday when his motorcycle collided with a car pulling out onto the highway.
White Oak police are investigating. Chief Mark Sargent could not be reached for comment.
Osinski and his wife, Brenda, are the owners of Puzzlers’ Restaurant & Lounge in Christy Park and founders of the Joey-O Foundation for Autism Awareness, and are frequent contributors to charitable causes around the region.
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October 08, 2020 |
By Jason A. Mignanelli | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, North Versailles Twp. News
East Allegheny High School is one of five locally that participates in the Emerging Leaders Program, run by the Human Services Center Corp. in Turtle Creek. The program is having trouble recruiting students due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Submitted photo)
A program that prepares local high school seniors for college and the workforce is having trouble recruiting due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Emerging Leaders Program, run by the Human Services Center Corp. in Turtle Creek, still has nearly 40 spots available for seniors attending East Allegheny, McKeesport Area, Penn Hills, West Mifflin Area and Woodland Hills high schools, said Leah O’Reilly, director of programs at HSCC.
“One of the complications that we are having with the pandemic is recruitment,” she said. “Normally we have staff on-site in each one of the school districts so they are able to see the students every day and identify potential candidates.”
That hasn’t been possible this year due to the pandemic, O’Reilly said.
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October 07, 2020 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements, West Newton News
The West Newton Library is accepting donations of books for its back room book sale, a spokesperson said.
Books should be no older than 10 years. Hardcover, paperback, children’s books, biographies, non-fiction and DVDs are accepted. No cookbooks, encyclopedias or textbooks can be accepted.
Books may be dropped off at the library, 124 N. Water St. West Newton, 12 noon to 5 p.m. Monday and Thursday, 12 noon to 7 on Wednesdays, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, call (724) 633-0798.
October 06, 2020 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Announcements
Posting has been somewhat slow here as the editor has taken care of some other deadlines. We’ll be back on track soon.
In the meantime, remember that you can check out Tube City Community Media’s two podcasts, “Consumer Review Report” with Dianne Ribecca, and “Two Rivers, 30 Minutes,” which also airs on Sunday mornings at 8 a.m. on McKeesport’s WEDO (810) and at 9:30 a.m. on Braddock’s WZUM (1550/101.1).
This past Sunday on “Two Rivers,” we talked to Jacqueline Smith, executive director of Greater Valley Community Services.
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October 03, 2020 |
By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport Area School Directors expressed their appreciation for the way teachers and administrators have handled the academic year so far.
At September’s meeting, school board President Joe Lopretto thanked Superintendent Mark Holtzman Jr. and other district officials for “diligently working to keep this district on track throughout the ups and down since mid-March.”
Lopretto also praised students who participated in the Sept. 18 NBC “Today” show episode that featured McKeesport Area students. During a live broadcast, Comcast, NBC’s parent company, gave away 2,500 laptops as well as Internet access to help students and teachers work remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Let me tell everybody, what you saw on the Today Show segment was real,” Lopretto said. “Nothing was staged. A lot of people like to give McKeesport a bad rap about our community and our school district. I couldn’t be more proud of how our kids handled themselves in the national media spotlight.”
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September 25, 2020 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
A nearly five-month investigation by Allegheny County detectives led to charges being filed this week in connection with the April shooting death of a McKeesport woman.
Gerald Lamar Walker, 37, of Penn Hills is being held in the Allegheny County Jail without bond on charges of criminal homicide, unlawful possession of a firearm and carrying a firearm without a license.
Walker is charged in connection with the April 26 shooting death of Amber Rose Dolby, 38, also known as Amber Bailey. Walker was arraigned Monday and faces a preliminary hearing Oct. 16 before Magisterial District Judge Kim Berkeley Clark.
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September 23, 2020 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
(Tube City Almanac photo)
In its first week of operation, a drive-through COVID-19 testing site at the Industrial Center of McKeesport served more than 180 people, county officials said.
Up to 250 people per day can be tested at the site, located just off of Lysle Boulevard, officials said. Samples are taken by courier daily to a state lab in Harrisburg, they said, and results of most tests will be available in 48 hours or less.
Persons who want to be tested may schedule an appointment online, or by calling (412) 209-2262 during normal business hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday).
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September 23, 2020 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Local legislators split Wednesday on an effort to overrule Pennsylvania’s governor and allow school districts to decide whether to permit spectators at athletic events during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gov. Tom Wolf on Monday vetoed House Bill 2787, which would have allowed local school boards to sidestep the state Health Department and set their own COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
On Wednesday, the state General Assembly voted 130-71 to override Wolf’s veto. The move fell five votes short of the two-thirds majority necessary.
While state Rep. Austin Davis, McKeesport Democrat, called the attempt to override Wolf’s veto “a waste of taxpayer money,” state Rep. Bill Kortz, Dravosburg Democrat, said it was “extremely disappointing” that the vote failed.
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