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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August 24, 2018 |
By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment
Members of Serra Catholic High School's colorguard practice their moves during band camp. (David Adams photo special to Tube City Almanac)
(* -- Correction made, Aug. 25. See editor's note.)
With most of his students in choir and musicals, in addition to playing instruments, Serra Catholic High School marching band director Jesse Bush said he was looking for something different and unique to match their skillset when selecting a theme for the season.
“I wanted to do a Latin-themed show,” he said. “I watched the Disney movie ‘Coco’ last year and thought the Day of the Dead holiday was something that could work.”
Following their appearance in Kennywood’s Fall Fantasy Parade on Aug. 18, the band kicks off its season tonight when the Eagles open their football season at Yough in a non-conference game starting at 6 p.m.
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August 23, 2018 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: White Oak News
White Oak Borough Community Day was a successful, well-attended event, Councilman Lou Bender said at Monday’s borough council meeting.
The annual event, which included an exotic animal show, performance by a local dance group, several musical sets and fireworks, drew many residents from White Oak and neighboring communities.
“Council sends a big thank you to Michelle Gessner and the White Oak Recreation Board for organizing the event,” Council President David Pasternak said.
A community–wide yard sale is slated for Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. throughout the borough. A rain date is set for Aug. 26.
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August 22, 2018 |
By Josh Rizzo | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News, Sports
Easing into the 2018 football season won’t be an option for East Allegheny.
In what promises to be a schedule with plenty of obstacles, the Wildcats may face their two toughest tests before Labor Day.
East Allegheny opens the season at 7 p.m. Friday by taking on defending Class 1A PIAA champion Jeannette. The following week the Wildcats will go on the road to Steel Valley -- which is ranked in the top five in the PIAA in Class 2A -- for their Allegheny Conference opener.
“You’ll be hard-pressed to find anyone in the state that has a tougher first two games of the season than us,” East Allegheny coach Dom Pecora said. “But we’ll show up every Friday ready to play.”
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August 22, 2018 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: White Oak News
Several structures targeted for demolition in White Oak as blighted and unsafe are receiving 120 day reprieves before council takes further action.
Of the six properties discussed at a hearing this week, five owners came forward and asked council for an extension.
Councilman Ken Robb said the owners of the following properties were granted the extension to bring their structures up to code: 606 New Jersey St., 738 O’Neil Blvd., 2420 O’Neil Blvd., 608 Osborne St., and 1828 California Ave.
Another property at 700 New Jersey St. was approved for demolition, but Borough Manager John Palyo said he believes council will hold off until the 120 days pass for the other properties.
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August 21, 2018 |
By Josh Rizzo | Posted in: Sports
Dylan Vaniel wants the fresh faces on McKeesport’s football team to settle comfortably into their new roles.
Seeing an across-the-board transition at the skill positions on offense has the 6-foot-2, 246-pound senior motivated to keep the new Tigers off their backs.
Helping McKeesport’s option attack move in the right direction -- and protecting quarterback Konota Gaskins -- isn’t something Vaniel will have to go at alone.
When the Tigers open the season Saturday afternoon against Erie High School at the Wolvarena in Turtle Creek, Vaniel will be flanked by center Brandon Brooks, a first-team all-conference selection, and junior guard Andy Mellinger, who was chosen for the second team.
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August 21, 2018 |
By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Superintendent Mark Holtzman Jr. is excited about the school year and said the McKeesport Area School District will hit the ground running when classes begin Wednesday.
Among new initiatives this year is a pilot program where all third graders will have one-on-one access to an iPad electronic tablet in their classrooms.
Besides enhancing the classroom experience, Holtzman said, the pilot program will help the district decide whether experiments with electronic tablets should be expanded.
“It will be costly,” he said. Because of the expense, deciding when and where to expand access to technology “is not always easy,” Holtzman said.
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