Mon Valley is Turning a Corner, Panelists Say --- But Transportation Challenges Remain

April 23, 2018 |

By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News

Above: State Rep. Austin Davis, left, makes a point as state Rep. Paul Costa and U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle listen during Friday's legislative breakfast, sponsored by the Mon Yough Area Chamber of Commerce. (Photo special to Tube City Almanac)


Although the Mon Valley is finally turning an economic corner, lack of good transportation to and from the region's "job centers" remains a obstacle.

That was the message delivered by elected officials and business leaders Friday during the annual legislative breakfast of the Mon Yough Area Chamber of Commerce.

Several panelists mentioned the need for the long-delayed extension of the Mon-Fayette Expressway through West Mifflin and Duquesne, to provide major highway access to brownfields in the McKeesport area.

But transportation progress can't begin and end with the expressway, state Rep. Austin Davis said. "If you've seen some of the growth that has taken place in the city of Pittsburgh, in places like East Liberty, it's because of access to public transportation," Davis said. "It's been transit-oriented development."

 
Read More

School Employees Get Emergency Training During 'Stop the Bleed' Sessions

April 21, 2018 |

By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, White Oak News

(All photos: Vickie Babyak, special to Tube City Almanac)


Teachers and staff at McKeesport Area School District are learning how to provide emergency help until first responders arrive at four "Stop the Bleed" sessions.

The third session was presented for employees at McKeesport Area High School on Thursday. Techniques were taught by representatives of UPMC Pre-Hospital Care and Trauma Care, as well as McKeesport Ambulance Rescue Service and White Oak EMS.

"It's part of our ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of our students," said Tom Bauman, associate principal at the high school.

 
Read More

District Residents Pitch In During Recycling Event

April 21, 2018 |

By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News

Above: Matt McCracken of White Oak and James Williams Jr. of Duquesne help load discarded tires onto a truck for recycling Saturday in Renziehausen Park.


Volunteers, students and city employees collected hard-to-recycle items --- including TVs, computer monitors, tires and cell phones --- during an Earth Day event Saturday in Renziehausen Park.

"Respect Our City, Respect Our Earth" was open to all residents of McKeesport Area School District and was supported in part by the Angora Gardens Junior Gardeners, the McKeesport Lions Club and the school district.

"This was a great opportunity for residents to safely dispose of materials that would otherwise end up in alleys or over hillsides," McKeesport Mayor Mike Cherepko said. "We want to give people as many opportunities as we can to keep their neighborhoods looking good and their homes uncluttered."

 
Read More

White Oak Councilman Resigns; Borough Updates Ordinances

April 20, 2018 |

By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: White Oak News

White Oak Councilman Sean Robb announced his resignation at Monday’s borough council meeting, saying that he has accepted a business opportunity that will require him to spend most of his time outside of Pennsylvania.

“I feel the residents of the borough deserve to have a full and fair representation of all their council members, therefore I am submitting my resignation,” Robb said.

Under the state’s borough code, council will have 30 days to appoint a replacement to fill Robb's term until the next municipal election.

In other business, council amended the borough's zoning ordinance to permit medical marijuana, and amended the part of the ordinance governing oil and gas drilling operations.

 
Read More

Funds Sought to Rehab Railroad Roundhouse as Museum

April 19, 2018 |

By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News

Editor's Note: The author has a conflict of interest. See conflict of interest note, below.

(Photo courtesy Regional Industrial Development Corp.)


Two groups have announced an effort to preserve the McKeesport Connecting Railroad roundhouse at the former U.S. Steel National Works site.

In a press release, the recently formed Steel City Chapter of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society, Inc., and the McKeesport Preservation Society said they will hold a fundraiser at Teutonia Mannechor on Pittsburgh's North Side at 5 p.m. June 16 to kick off their effort.

Tickets are $50 for members of the railway society and $75 for non-members.

The groups envision reusing the building, which once serviced steam and diesel locomotives for the railroad, as the "Western Pennsylvania Railroad and Transportation Museum."

 
Read More

District-Wide Recycling Event Planned This Saturday

April 19, 2018 |

By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements

Hard-to-recycle items such as cellular phones, computer monitors and tires will be collected during a recycling event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in Renziehausen Park.

The event, organized by McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko and city officials, is open to all residents of the McKeesport Area School District, including Dravosburg, South Versailles Twp., Versailles and White Oak, a spokeswoman said.

"Respect Our City, Respect Our Earth" is being supported in part by the Angora Gardens Junior Gardeners, the McKeesport Lions Club and the school district.

 
Read More

KDKA's Delano to Moderate Discussion at Chamber's Legislative Breakfast

April 19, 2018 |

By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements

KDKA-TV political analyst Jon Delano will moderate a discussion about economic development on Friday morning at the Mon-Yough Area Chamber of Commerce's annual legislative breakfast.

The topic of the discussion is "Economic Development Opportunities and Resources in the Mon Valley," said Maury Burgwin, executive director of the chamber. The event, presented by the Steel Valley Enterprise Zone Corp., begins at 7:30 a.m. at Westwood Golf Club, 825 Commonwealth Ave., West Mifflin.

Delano is the money and politics editor for the CBS affiliate in Pittsburgh and also serves as an adjunct professor of public policy and politics at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College.

 
Read More

White Oak Legion Slates Oldies Dances

April 18, 2018 |

By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements, White Oak News

White Oak American Legion Post 701 will hold oldies dances from 7 to 11 p.m. May 19 and 26, a spokesman said.

Music will be provided by DJs Candy and Mike. Admission is $5 and all proceeds benefit veterans' programs.

The legion is located at 2813 Capital St. For more information, call (724) 984-6611.

 

Westmoreland Co. Croatian Lodge Taking Lamb Orders

April 18, 2018 |

By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements

Sv. Nikola Brodar CFU Lodge 432 is taking orders for barbecued lamb for pick up on April 29 at the Yukon Croatian Club, 109 Union St., Yukon.

To order, call Mike Mezick by April 22 at (724) 872-7495.

All are invited to enjoy an afternoon of tamburitza music and dancing when Stari Prijatelji entertains from 2 to 6 p.m. April 29. The event is open to the public. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. with ethnic food and desserts for purchase.

Yukon is exit 53 on Interstate 70. For more information, call the Yukon Croatian Club at (724) 722-4100.

 

Local Sites Participating in DEA Drug 'Take Back' Day

April 18, 2018 |

By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements, Crime and Police News

(Photo courtesy U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency)


Allegheny County and local police are again teaming up with UPMC Health System, other agencies and private businesses to take unused prescription drugs off the streets.

The 14th annual National Take-Back Initiative, sponsored by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 28.

Law-enforcement and health officials say that unused prescription drugs --- especially painkillers --- are often abused by people to whom they weren't originally prescribed. And drugs disposed of improperly can pose a danger to birds, fish and other wildlife.

In the Mon-Yough area, drug collection sites will be available at UPMC McKeesport hospital, East Pittsburgh, Wilmerding, Clairton, Pleasant Hills, West Mifflin and the North Huntingdon Twp. town house.

 
Read More

Google™ Custom Search
McKeesport booked.net
+69°F

High: +69°

Low: +59°