October 14, 2019 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements
(Tube City Almanac photo)
McKeesport firefighters have installed 700 smoke alarms in city homes since 2015 and would like to make it an even 1,000 before the end of 2019.
Fire Chief Jeff Tomovcsik said that in cooperation with the American Red Cross of Southwestern Pennsylvania, the department will install smoke alarms, free of charge, in any residence in the city.
"Just call the fire station or email us," he said. "We will call you back and set up a time for installation. There is no income restriction. It just has to be installed in an occupied residence."
National Fire Prevention Week is held every year in October to commemorate the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, and firefighters were busy last week doing safety demonstrations in local schools, Tomovcsik said.
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October 14, 2019 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, White Oak News
Local schools and public facilities in areas affected by a boil-water advisory reported Monday they were finding ways to cope.
But the advisory left some businesses in the area --- mainly restaurants --- unable to open.
The failure of an intake pump that pulls water from the Youghiogheny River forced the shutdown on Saturday night of Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County's McKeesport Water Treatment Plant.
The pump was rebuilt and put back into service on Sunday afternoon, but not before many customers in the city, Port Vue, Versailles and White Oak reported no water, or very low water pressure.
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October 14, 2019 |
By Marcy Cendroski | Posted in: Announcements, Liberty Borough News
Halloween in Liberty Borough will be celebrated with a parade and trick-or-treat on Oct. 31, Councilwoman Melissa Morgan said.
The parade will line up on Scene Ridge Road at 5:30 p.m., followed by trick-or-treat from 6 to 8 p.m. Residents are asked to keep their porch light on if they are giving out Halloween treats.
Liberty police and volunteer firefighters will be patrolling throughout the trick-or-treat period.
October 13, 2019 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, White Oak News
(This story will be updated with new information periodically)
Volunteer firefighters from White Oak No. 1 and Rainbow handed out cases of bottled water at the borough’s municipal complex on Sunday afternoon. (Photo courtesy White Oak Office of Emergency Management, via Facebook)
The McKeesport water treatment plant is back in production, but is pumping slowly to purge air from the distribution system.
Authority spokesman Matthew Junker said the plant went back into operation at 3:30 p.m. Sunday. The plant shut down Saturday night when a pump failed.
However, a boil-water advisory will remain in effect until further notice for the city, Port Vue, Versailles and White Oak. Some customers at higher elevations in Port Vue and McKeesport were reporting a complete lack of water on Sunday.
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October 13, 2019 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, White Oak News
Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County has now added White Oak to a precautionary boil water advisory that McKeesport and Versailles were placed on last night.
Port Vue was added earlier today. Issues with a repair to the raw water pump caused White Oak to be added as well, said Matt Junker, spokesman for the water authority.
Water tankers are available in White Oak at the municipal building, 2280 Lincoln Way, and PNC Bank, 1612 Lincoln Way, Junker said.
Water tankers also are available at 238 Atlantic Ave. in lower 10th Ward; Walnut and 12th streets, Third Ward; Walnut and Juniper streets, Versailles; and at UPMC McKeesport Hospital.
Additional water tankers are stationed in Port Vue at American Legion Post 447, 304 Gumbert St.; and the shopping center at 1515 Washington Blvd.
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October 12, 2019 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
An equipment failure at the McKeesport Water Treatment Plant has some customers under a mandatory conservation order, and others being advised to boil their water as a precaution.
The orders were issued by Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County on Saturday night. More than 16,000 customers are affected.
Customers in McKeesport and Versailles Borough are being advised to boil their water for at least one minute before drinking or cooking with it, while customers in Port Vue and White Oak have been ordered to conserve water.
Water tankers have been placed at 238 Atlantic Ave. in lower 10th Ward; UPMC McKeesport hospital; the intersection of Walnut and 12th streets in Third Ward; and Walnut and Juniper streets in Versailles, said Matthew Junker, spokesman for the water authority.
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October 11, 2019 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, North Versailles Twp. News
This house on Duquesne Avenue in McKeesport is listed in a “lease with option to buy” deal for $1,500 down and $378 per month by a South Carolina company, Vision Property Management. Pennsylvania’s attorney general alleges the company’s sales tactics violate state law. (Photo via Zillow.)
A South Carolina company that has heavily marketed its “rent-to-own” homes in McKeesport, Glassport, Braddock and other parts of the Mon Valley is being sued by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, claims that Vision Property Management of Columbia, S.C, and more than 50 affiliated companies used deceptive business practices to market homes that had serious problems that were concealed or never disclosed, including missing plumbing, insect infestations, defective wiring and leaky roofs.
State Attorney General Josh Shapiro brought the lawsuit on behalf of 650 families.
As of Friday, according to the company’s website, Vision Property had 14 houses available in Allegheny County, including one on Duquesne Avenue in McKeesport and others on Maryland Avenue in Glassport and Zimmer Lane in Greenock, Elizabeth Twp.
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October 11, 2019 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
A two-alarm fire on Grandview Avenue that displaced two adults and one child is under investigation by the Allegheny County Fire Marshal's office.
But McKeesport fire Chief Jeff Tomovcsik said the blaze at 1804 Grandview is not believed to be suspicious in nature.
A 9-1-1 caller reported seeing smoke outside the house at 4:11 p.m. Saturday. The residents were not home at the time, Tomovcsik said.
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October 10, 2019 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements, West Newton News
A pasta dinner on Sunday will raise money for a West Newton man to purchase a new wheelchair van.
The event is being held from 12 noon to 6 p.m. Oct. 13 at the West Newton Lions Field House, 511 Pittsburgh St.
Participants will get ziti with homemade meat sauce, a tossed salad, bread and butter, soft drink and dessert for $10, or $5 for children under 10. Dinners will be available to eat in or take out.
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October 10, 2019 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
(Photo courtesy state Sen. Jim Brewster)
State Rep. Austin Davis and state Sen. Jim Brewster are inviting all area veterans to a free breakfast with them on the Friday before Veterans’ Day.
The veterans’ breakfast will be held from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Nov. 8 at the White Oak American Legion, 2813 Capitol St., White Oak.
“Our veterans served our country with honor, integrity and bravery,” Davis said. “Sen. Brewster and I find that it’s only fitting to serve them breakfast as a small token of our appreciation for the service they’ve provided to our country.”
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