December 09, 2018 |
By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
The day after two McKeesport Area High School students were charged with bringing a weapon onto a school bus, District Superintendent Mark P. Holtzman Jr. promised school directors and the community that the administration is doing everything in its power to ensure the safety of students and staff.
“Considering some recent (events), I just want to reassure everybody in the audience, on the record, that we are committed to our students,” Holtzman said at Wednesday's school board meeting. “Before we educate children, we have to continue to focus on safety and security at all times.”
On Tuesday, McKeesport police arrested a 16-year-old student who they said had brandished a handgun on a school bus. Police believe the student was supplied with the weapon by a 15-year-old who was not in class that day, but entered the campus after dismissal and boarded the bus. The younger student also was charged.
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December 09, 2018 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: White Oak News
A closed-circuit camera will be used to inspect a sewer main along Kansas Avenue in White Oak.
Borough council authorized the expenditure at its Nov. 19 meeting. The sewer is between Ohio and California avenues, where residents have complained about backups following heavy rains.
Borough Manager John Palyo said technicians will use the camera to confirm the location of the existing sewer line and determine its condition.
In other business:
Borough Engineer Ken Hillman asked council to authorize a payment of $43,650 to Swede Construction for completion of the salt shed project.
Additionally, he asked the borough to award a bid in the amount of $37,750 to Satira Construction for Phase 1 of the accessibility upgrades to Heritage Hill Pool.
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December 07, 2018 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Crime and Police News
Family and friends of a Dravosburg woman missing for more than a month are seeking any information about her disappearance and current whereabouts.
At a press conference Friday in Munhall, the family of Heather Short said she was last seen on Nov. 6 at a residence on Third Avenue in West Mifflin, where she was visiting with friends.
Short, 46, is approximately 6 feet tall with a medium build, short blond hair, and glasses. She has a physical impairment of her right leg which causes her to walk with a limp, sometimes uses crutches.
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December 07, 2018 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements
Symphanique and her mom (not shown) Shalawrae Shogan of McKeesport visit with Santa Claus during the opening on Thursday night of McKeesport's 33rd annual Festival of Trees. (All photos: Vickie Babyak, special to Tube City Almanac)
With blustery weather designed to put dreams of a snowy Christmas into everyone's bones, McKeesport's 33rd annual Festival of Trees opened Thursday at Jacob Woll Pavilion.
The annual celebration of the holidays --- and of the creativity of more than 90 local groups and churches who have created hand-decorated ornaments for their Christmas trees --- is open from 12 noon to 9 p.m., now through Monday.
Admission is $2 for adults. Children age 12 and under are admitted free with one canned good for a needy family.
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December 06, 2018 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements
Above, Peyton Estochin, 6, of Christy Park helps McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko press the button to light the city's Christmas tree in Kennedy Park, Downtown, on Wednesday night.
Estochin, a student at Praise Christian Academy in North Versailles Twp., opened a sweet tea stand in her neighborhood in August and raised $700 to support the McKeesport police K-9 unit, which includes four canines and their handler/officers.
Estochin has hopes of being a police officer and K-9 handler some day.
(Photos special to Tube City Almanac)
December 06, 2018 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Crime and Police News
A McKeesport man is charged with bribery of a public official after city police said he tried to pay off a police officer following a traffic stop.
Montell R. Wallace, 27, is also charged by McKeesport police with driving with a suspended license and driving at unsafe speeds. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 17 before Magisterial District Judge Eugene Riazzi.
Wallace also was among more than 30 people rounded up by city police Wednesday during a drug sweep. He faces separate charges in that incident.
McKeesport police said Officer Floyd Gault was on patrol at 7 a.m. Nov. 14 on Eden Park Boulevard when he began following a car through the school zone.
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December 06, 2018 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Crime and Police News
More than 30 people were arrested Wednesday during a sweep of suspected narcotics dealers in McKeesport, and police have arrest warrants for another 30.
The sweep was the result of a seven-month investigation and also recovered two handguns and an assault rifle, McKeesport police Chief Bryan J. Washowich said. The investigation is continuing and additional charges are pending, he said.
City police made the arrests along with the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office, county police, county probation officers, state parole officers and local constables, a spokesperson said.
As of Wednesday night, 36 people had been taken into custody by police and 34 suspects remained at large, city officials said.
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December 05, 2018 |
By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment
Cast members of "The Happy Elf" rehearse a scene. (Photo courtesy of McKeesport Little Theater Juniors)
If You Go:
Harry Connick Jr.’s “The Happy Elf”
Where: McKeesport Little Theater, 1614 Coursin St., McKeesport, 15132
When: Dec. 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.
Tickets: $12 for adults, $7 for children 12 years and younger. Reservations at (412) 673-1100.
Santa will be taking a break from all his duties at the North Pole to spend some more time in the old Tube City as he meets and greets patrons of all ages – and even has lunch with some of them – when McKeesport Little Theater Juniors present “The Happy Elf.”
A musical creation by Grammy Award-winning composer and lyricist Harry Connick Jr., “The Happy Elf” features Eubie, who has set his sights on becoming part of Santa’s sleigh team.
His extremely bubbly personality actually rubs some the wrong way, and he finds himself assigned to checking the naughty-or-nice lists instead.
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December 04, 2018 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
Port Vue will hold its Christmas parade and light-up night on Friday, a borough spokesperson announced.
The event was originally scheduled for Dec. 1 but was rescheduled due to rainy weather.
The parade will line up at 5:45 p.m. at the parking lot of American Legion Post 447, corner of Romine Avenue and Gumbert Street. Santa Claus will arrive via Vigilant Hose Co. fire truck at 6 p.m. and the parade will proceed down to Port Vue Municipal Fields, next to the municipal building.
Lighting of the borough holiday tree and Christmas caroling will then be held at the pavilion at the park.
December 04, 2018 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
A 16-year-old male student at McKeesport Area High School is being held at Shuman Juvenile Detention Center after police said he brought a gun onto a school bus.
In a prepared statement, police said the student got onto the bus after dismissal on Monday and brandished the firearm. A video circulated on social media showed the student with the weapon, police said.
A school district spokesperson said MASD officials learned of the incident Tuesday morning and called police.
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