February 18, 2020 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Crime and Police News
A tow-truck driver was killed Tuesday morning after police said his rig apparently rolled back onto him.
Allegheny County police Inspector Andrew Schurman said McKeesport police and paramedics were dispatched before 5 a.m. in response to a 9-1-1 call about a man trapped under a tow truck.
Andrew Sester, 42, of Lucerne Mines, Indiana County, was pronounced dead at the scene, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office said. The cause and manner of his death are pending an autopsy.
County detectives said Sester worked for International Recovery Systems and was repossessing a pickup truck.
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February 17, 2020 |
By Emily Pidgeon | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Emily Pidgeon photo for Tube City Almanac)
If you go...
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Fifth Avenue: McKeesport’s Thriving Business District
Where: McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center, 1832 Arboretum Drive, Renziehausen Park
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday
More Information: Website
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A new exhibit at McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center will take many local residents back in time — and bring a smile to their faces.
“Fifth Avenue: McKeesport’s Thriving Business District” incorporates wooden fruit stands from Balsamo’s, Daily News canvas delivery sacks, period clothing and the jukebox from the Penn-McKee Hotel.
Possibly the most amazing thing about the exhibit is not just the attention to detail, the perfectly selected artifacts, the preserved memorabilia or the amount of time that was put into this project — it’s that David Moore, museum manager, and a group of volunteers were able to put the entire exhibit together (aside from a few small items) from what they already had in stock.
The center reused artifacts that the museum had in storage for years, Moore said. Most of the items on display were donated decades ago and have been collecting dust in store rooms.
“We wanted to put it all together to tell a cohesive story,” Moore said. “A lot of this stuff was on display and then packed away for 20 (or) 30 years ago, God knows how long, and it’s like, let’s get these pieces out.”
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February 12, 2020 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Recipients of “Living the Message” awards pose with state Sen. Jim Brewster during the Feb. 5 McKeesport City Council meeting. From left, Jordon Payne (“Hope”); Brian Dinkfelt (“Respect”); Jamie Brewster-Filotei (co-recipient, “Love”); and, JoAnne Rodgers (“Dignity”). Not pictured: Mindy Sturgess, co-recipient, “Love.” (Nick Zurawsky photo for Tube City Almanac)
Four times per year, McKeesport honors community members who exemplify the words of the “McKeesport Message” of ”Respect, Dignity, Hope and Love.”
“Living the Message” awards are presented by the McKeesport Message Committee, Committee, a subgroup of McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko’s Select Committee on Crime and Violence, which invites the public to nominate community members.
Using 250 words or fewer, describe how the individual of your choice embodies one of the four words.
For more information, contact the mayor’s office at 412-675-5020, ext. 605. Nominations can be mailed to the mayor’s assistant Jennifer Vertullo, 500 Fifth Avenue, McKeesport, PA 15132, or emailed to jen.vertullo@mckeesport-pa.gov. The deadline for the next round of nominations is Feb. 17.
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February 12, 2020 |
By Nick Zurawsky | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
JoAnne Rodgers, longtime school nurse in McKeesport Area School District, receives her “Living the Message” award from McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko. (Tube City Almanac photo)
When JoAnne Rodgers was growing up in McKeesport, her family instilled in her the value of hard work and a college education. But in those days, she said, there were really only two career pathways available to a young Black woman — nursing and teaching.
Inspired by the example of an aunt in Tuskegee, Ala., who worked as a nurse — and was willing to help pay for her education — Rodgers entered nursing school.
In 1971, she became the first Black school nurse hired by the McKeesport Area School District. At 82, she’s still on the job at McKeesport Area High School.
This month at McKeesport City Council, Rodgers was honored with a “Living the Message” award from McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko for upholding the value of “Dignity” by “providing a healing and helping hand to the community.”
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February 12, 2020 |
By Jason A. Mignanelli | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News
An Allegheny Transportation Services employee made a passionate plea to East Allegheny School Board prior to its upcoming contract negotiations with the company.
East Allegheny School District is currently in its final year of a five-year contract with Allegheny Transportation Services. ATS provides regular student-to-school transportation as well as charter services, such as field trips and travel to and from sporting events.
Standard procedure is for the school district to review contracts every five years and potentially open the bidding process to other transportation companies.
The board recently voted to begin accepting new proposals for the transportation services.
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February 12, 2020 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements
The Allegheny County Health Department has ordered the closure of a convenience store in Port Vue after inspectors found that the roof was leaking onto food, including in the coolers.
The closure of the Uni-Mart on Romine Avenue was effective Friday.
The health department said the building was declared unsafe following an emergency inspection by firefighters from Vigilant Hose Co.
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February 11, 2020 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements
Allegheny County’s Elections Division has launched a new website designed to provide voters with information about new voting machines, as well as details about how to register to vote and how to become a worker at the polls.
AlleghenyVotes.com is designed to be a “one-stop website” and is part of a new countywide initiative called “Ready, Set, Vote” that was announced by the county’s Board of Elections.
The website includes instructional videos and links to additional information including voter registration.
In addition, public demonstrations of the new voting machines are being scheduled throughout Allegheny County and will be announced at the website.
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February 11, 2020 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Liberty Borough News, McKeesport and Region News
(Brett Ciccotelli photo via Flickr. Licensed under Creative Commons.)
Five local communities will share benefits from a $3 million trust fund as part of a settlement reached between U.S. Steel and Allegheny County Health Department over alleged pollution violations at Clairton Plant.
The agreement, announced Monday, also commits the company to investing $200 million in upgraded emissions controls, and creates a community advisory panel that will meet quarterly with U.S. Steel to discuss concerns. It does not require U.S. Steel to admit any guilt for recent air-quality problems.
Under the terms of the agreement, U.S. Steel has agreed to create a community benefit trust for Clairton, Glassport, Liberty, Lincoln and Port Vue that will be independently administered by Pittsburgh-based Smithfield Trust Co.
Proceeds from the fund must be spent on “environmental and/or public health” benefits, but are not restricted to air quality related projects.
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February 11, 2020 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, Sports
During a 2012 event at the McKeesport Palisades, basketball star Swin Cash posed with McKeesport area students who were helped by her charity, Cash for Kids. (Tube City Almanac file photo by John Barna)
McKeesport native and two-time Olympic gold medalist Swin Cash has been named to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.
Cash will be inducted June 13 in Knoxville, Tenn., along with her Seattle Sonics teammate Lauren Jackson; players Debbie Brock and Tamika Catchings; Carol Callan, director of the U.S. women’s national team; former NCAA vice president Sue Donohoe; and ESPN vice president Carol Stiff.
In a statement released Monday via Facebook, Cash said she was “humbled and honored” and congratulated the other new hall of famers.
“Thank you to the committee, my family, coaches, teammates, my hometown of McKeesport ... and every single fan that loves our game and supports it!” Cash said. “To all of the young ladies like me that were growing up ... as my mom always told me, ‘don’t quit!’ Do what you love and love what you do young queens!”
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February 07, 2020 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
A Glassport man was charged after McKeesport police said he left the scene of an accident on Lysle Boulevard Wednesday afternoon.
McKeesport police said two vehicles were stopped for a traffic light at Coursin Street on Wednesday afternoon when a third vehicle was unable to stop and collided with them.
The impact pushed the second car into the first car at the intersection, police said. The third vehicle then left the scene.
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