September 06, 2018 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Click the map to explore it in detail.)
Nine additional vacant houses were added to McKeesport's demolition list on Wednesday as city council awarded a contract to demolish those properties, as well as 85 previously targeted.
By 6-0 vote, the $679,000 contract for Phase III of McKeesport's 2018 city-wide demolition project was awarded to Jadell Minniefield Construction Services of Pittsburgh's Hazelwood neighborhood. Councilwoman Lu Ethel Nesbit was absent.
Minniefield in July was awarded a contract to demolish 92 vacant structures. Mayor Michael Cherepko said Minniefield was the lowest responsible bidder on Phase III, and had done excellent work so far.
"He's doing a wonderful job, and I'm glad he bid on our contract," Cherepko said.
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September 05, 2018 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
(Photo courtesy Mon Yough Area Chamber of Commerce)
The eighth-annual "Tour de Mon" bike ride will be held Sept. 15 on the Great Allegheny Passage biking-hiking trail between Elizabeth Twp. and Hazelwood.
The event -- billed as a "family fun ride" --- is sponsored by the Mon Yough Area Chamber of Commerce and presented by Levin Furniture, with support from the Steel Valley Trail Council and the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area.
Maury Burgwin, executive director of the chamber, said the bike ride begins and ends at the historic Pump House located at the Waterfront in Munhall.
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September 05, 2018 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
(Photo courtesy Penn State Greater Allegheny)
The McKeesport unit of the NAACP will hold its 58th annual Human Rights Dinner on Sept. 15 at the Palisades, 100 Fifth Ave., Downtown, a spokeswoman said.
The keynote speaker will be Anthony Mitchell Sr. (above), an associate teaching professor at Penn State Greater Allegheny Campus.
A graduate of Geneva College, Penn State and Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a doctorate in education, Mitchell is the co-founder of the university's African American Male Mentoring Program.
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September 04, 2018 |
By Charlotte Hopkins | Posted in: Entertainment
Editor's Note: Charlotte Hopkins was one of the hosts of this event.
Local authors --- including two from McKeesport and one from Pleasant Hills --- met with readers and members of the public at an event in Washington County last month.
The Monongahela Area Library and the Just Write Literary Group held the first-annual Mon Valley Author Expo on Aug. 25. Also in attendance was Rebecca Benston, the CEO of Springfield, Ohio, based Higher Ground Books and Media.
The authors who attended the event shared their background and motivation behind their published work.
Yasmin Brown
Last year, Yasmin Brown of McKeesport released her memoirs in a two-part series. Her first book, “The Silent Destruction,” tells how, as a young girl, she was forced into silence regarding sexual assaults that she suffered by a close friend and family member.
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September 02, 2018 |
By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Ryan Gedman perches on the steps of the new conducting tower he built as part of an Eagle Scout project. (David Adams photo for Tube City Almanac)
Two Serra Catholic High School band members used their talents to make improvements that benefit the entire group while meeting ongoing requirements to attain the rank of Eagle Scout.
Junior Logan Kearns of Turtle Creek converted what once was the library in the school's friary into a much-needed instrument storage and uniform area, removing stacks and stacks of books, adding shelving and organizing the area for easy access.
“I worked on it over the summer, for four hours on three Saturdays to get it done,” Logan said. The junior said he belongs to Troop 184 out of Monroeville. “I am still in the process of obtaining (Eagle Scout),” he said. “I am very close.”
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August 30, 2018 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: Duquesne News
With new officers Nathan Calabro, Kevin Diamond and Ian Clinton-Layton being hired in Duquesne, the city once again has a fully staffed department, Police Chief Tom Dunlevy announced at Tuesday’s council meeting.
The hiring of the new officers filled a gap created when several officers retired and several more relocated earlier this year.
“It will be nice to have our force back to a full staff,” Dunlevy said. “We will be able to focus more on some of the issues we are aware of concerning juvenile problems in the area.”
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August 30, 2018 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
A Pittsburgh man is being held in the Allegheny County Jail after McKeesport police said he deliberately set a fire at the Crawford Village housing complex to retaliate against his former girlfriend.
Willie McKinnon, 58, no fixed address given, is charged by McKeesport police with aggravated arson, arson, endangering other persons, endangering property, causing or risking a catastrophe, making terroristic threats, stalking, recklessly endangering other persons, defiant trespassing and criminal mischief in connection with the Aug. 16 incident.
According to court records, McKinnon is jailed in lieu of $50,000 bond pending a preliminary hearing Sept. 10 before Magisterial District Judge Eugene Riazzi.
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August 29, 2018 |
By Vickie Babyak | Posted in: Entertainment
(All photos: Vickie Babyak, special to Tube City Almanac)
Dravosburg Borough celebrated its 115th anniversary on Saturday with daylong festivities, including a parade, a carnival, a lantern launch at dusk, and fireworks.
Above, the Syria Shrine Highlanders Pipes and Drums from Pittsburgh.
Doug Baxter served as event coordinator. More photos after the jump.
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August 29, 2018 |
By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment
Darrin Mosley as graduate student James Stevens exchanges heated remarks with Andy Pivarnik as Holocaust denier William Whitehead during a rehearsal of "The Survivor," McKeesport Little Theater's entry in Pittsburgh New Works Festival. (David Adams photo special to Tube City Almanac)
If you go
What: “The Survivor,” produced by McKeesport Little Theater for Pittsburgh New Works Festival
When: 8 p.m. Aug. 30, 4 p.m. Sept. 1, 2 p.m. Sept. 2, 8 p.m. Sept. 7, 8 p.m. Sept. 8
Where: Carnegie Stage, 25 W. Main St., Carnegie
Tickets: Single tickets available for $17 online or $20 at the door; $15 for students with valid ID. Festival passes and other ticket options available online.
At the helm as director of “The Survivor,” McKeesport Little Theater’s production for Pittsburgh New Works Festival, Ed Bostedo is pleased with how his luck of the draw turned out.
The festival, in its 28th year, is an opportunity for regional theater companies to introduce a series of new, one-act plays. The catch? After directors review available scripts and get a chance to see actors complete generic auditions, is they have to bid on the play, then the cast, of their choice.
“I was second to last to bid (on the play) and got the show, then was second for the cast and got my first choice both times,” Bostedo said.
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August 29, 2018 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News, Duquesne News
A Hill District man has been arrested and charged in connection with a shooting in a Duquesne bar that led to another man's death.
Carl Jones, 27, was arrested on Tuesday by Allegheny County sheriff's deputies, a spokesman said. He is being held in the Allegheny County Jail without bond on charges of homicide and a firearms violation pending a preliminary hearing Sept. 9 before Allegheny County Judge Jeffrey Manning.
Jones was wanted by county police in connection with the death of Donnell Demery, 54, on Aug. 13.
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