September 09, 2024 |
By T.J. Martin | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News
Residents filled the North Versailles Township meeting room before the township commissioners’ latest meeting to voice their opposition to a proposed sale of the township’s sanitary authority to a for-profit company. (T.J. Martin photo for Tube City Almanac)
After two votes before two standing-room-only gatherings of residents, a proposal which would have seen the operations of the North Versailles Twp. Sanitary Authority taken over by a for-profit company has been officially rejected.
In December, the sanitary authority board voted 5-0 to move forward with an asset purchase agreement with Aqua Pennsylvania Wastewater Inc. Aqua is owned by Essential Utilities Inc. of Bryn Mawr, Montgomery County, the parent company of People’s Gas. It operates in nine states and has more than 3,100 employees.
Under the agreement, Aqua would pay between $25 million and $30 million for the township sewer system, including the pipes and three pumping stations. To take effect, any agreement would need the approval of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and it was hoped an agreement could be closed by the end of 2024.
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September 06, 2024 |
By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment, McKeesport and Region News
CORRECTION, NOT PERFECTION: Two students, Deshea Davis and Marek Krol, were incorrectly identified. We apologize for the error.
McKeesport Area High School’s Tiger Band opens tournament competition for the season on Saturday at Penn-Trafford. This year’s show, titled “Recess,” includes use of a swing set as part of the show. (All photos: Bonnijean Adams for Tube City Almanac)
McKeesport Area High School Marching Band’s 2024 show is designed to bring smiles to faces of all ages during “Recess.”
“It was a fun and upbeat concept,” Band Director Drew DeCarlo said, “and most likely was the best time for students when they were in elementary school. We wanted a show this year that everyone would understand.”
He and his staff started their yearly brainstorming sessions in January, DeCarlo said.
“We talked about our strengths and weaknesses for this season, and had many ideas. We didn’t have a nailed-down concept until about March. We all settled on ‘Recess,’” he said.
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September 06, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Adam Reinherz photo)
A McKeesport resident asked Thursday why the school board gave its police chief a raise in salary while rumors were swirling about a possible criminal investigation at her previous job.
Brenda D. Sawyer, 61, of North Versailles Twp., was arrested Thursday by detectives from the Westmoreland County district attorney’s office following an months-long investigation into mishandling of funds during her time as regional director of narcotics investigations for the state Attorney General’s Office.
Sawyer retired from that job after being appointed police chief for McKeesport Area School District in October 2023.
During Thursday’s school board meeting, resident Julian Thomas asked board members and district officials if they knew that Westmoreland County detectives had searched Sawyer’s home in May.
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September 06, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport Area School District’s treatment of outgoing Superintendent Tia Wanzo was raised again during Thursday’s open agenda meeting. Parents and residents expressed dismay — and at points contempt — with the board and Solicitor Gary Matta’s handling of personnel.
A separation agreement between Wanzo and MASD signed on Aug. 22 states the parties will not “disparage” the other.
Nonetheless, during Thursday’s meeting McKeesport resident Bridget Truss accused director Diane Elias of making “disparaging comments” toward Wanzo on social media on Aug. 23, merely one day after the separation agreement was signed.
“You deleted the comment but I have screenshots,” Truss said. “You said and I quote, ‘I refuse to support our children being put in danger.’ But that was when somebody stated their support of Dr. Wanzo, so you are alluding that Dr. Wanzo's presence in the position of superintendent is jeopardizing our children's lives.”
“That is your opinion,” Matta said. “That is your conjecture.”
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September 05, 2024 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
BREAKING: This is a developing story and is subject to change.
(Tube City Almanac file photo)
McKeesport Area School District’s police chief has been charged with theft, forgery and other offenses related to the misuse of money from her former job at the state Attorney General’s office.
Westmoreland County investigators also allege that Brenda D. Sawyer, 61, of North Versailles Twp. misappropriated money from the community violence fund of the McKeesport unit of the NAACP, which she served as president.
The money was used to cover gambling debts at the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh and the Hollywood Casino at The Meadows in Washington County, a criminal complaint alleges.
Sawyer was arraigned Thursday evening at a district magistrate’s office on charges of theft by unlawful taking, obstruction of justice, tampering with evidence, forgery and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities.
She was being held Thursday night in Westmoreland County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bond pending a preliminary hearing Sept. 13 before Magisterial District Judge Henry Lee Moore in North Huntingdon Twp.
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September 05, 2024 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
BREAKING: This is a developing story and is subject to change.
A former McKeesport police detective diverted more than $1 million in dues and other funding from his Fraternal Order of Police lodge to support his Christy Park bar and restaurant, the state attorney general alleges.
Joseph A. Osinski, 55, of Haler Heights was charged Thursday by state investigators with using money from Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 91 to pay personal expenses as well as business expenses for his Christy Park business, Puzzlers Restaurant & Lounge on Walnut Street.
Puzzlers closed abruptly in July.
Osinski was placed on leave from the police department Friday when the city learned of the allegations, McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko said. He subsequently retired, Cherepko said, and is no longer employed by the police department.
McKeesport police Chief Mark Steele said there is “no concern whatsoever” about any missing funds from the police department.
Osinski is currently free on $50,000 bond pending a preliminary hearing Oct. 9 before Magisterial District Judge Patrick D. Campbell in Munhall. Court documents did not list an attorney for Osinski.
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September 03, 2024 |
By Vickie Babyak | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Two of the Callos’ family’s emus relax inside an enclosure at the family’s home. (Vickie Babyak photo)
It was a typical Saturday morning — until city residents spotted a giant Australian bird casually strolling down Soles Street.
By Saturday afternoon, videos, pictures and jokes were posted all over social media about an emu on the loose in McKeesport. Even the Pittsburgh Meme group got in on the social media action, and created humorous memes regarding the unusual event.
All joking aside, David and Carly Callos of McKeesport own the emu, and live in the city with their four children. After they realized their 6-foot-2, 120 pound bird had roamed away, they immediately jumped into action to retrieve him.
Callos was concerned that someone could accidentally harm the emu while trying to capture him. He said an emu is susceptible to neck injury if a person is not familiar with how to correctly handle them.
After Callos saved his emu from the street, the big fellow rode in the passenger’s seat of the truck until they got home safely, he said. “We love our emus,” Callos said.
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September 03, 2024 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
With the rally cry “take it to the polls,” a retired Pennsylvania state supreme court justice and her husband will help lead a voter-registration drive on Saturday in McKeesport.
“A Rally in the Valley” is a non-partisan informational event, said retired Justice Cynthia Baldwin, who is hosting the event along with her husband, Art.
The event will be held from 12 noon to 3 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 7) at Noah’s Ark Community Center, 200 Sixth Ave.
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September 03, 2024 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
The teen-aged suspect charged in connection with a homicide on Monday morning was released from jail less than a month ago after charges were withdrawn in a separate attempted homicide case.
Daemond Artemus, 17, of McKeesport is charged by Allegheny County police with homicide, carrying a firearm without a license and possession of a firearm by a minor in connection with the fatal shooting of Dylan C. Saula, 22, of North Versailles Twp. on a Downtown street.
He is being held without bail in the Allegheny County Jail pending a preliminary hearing Sept. 13.
County police allege that Artemus and a friend saw Saula driving through McKeesport on Monday morning and flagged him down to purchase narcotics. Once Saula stopped, police allege, Artemus and Saula got into the back seat of the car and the friend drove the two around.
That’s when police allege that Artemus produced a handgun and shot Saula once in the head. Police allege that Artemus told his friend to stop the car at the intersection of Lysle Boulevard and Sinclair Street, where Artemus is accused of shoving Saula’s body out of the car, then telling his friend “just drive.”
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September 02, 2024 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
(This is a developing story and is subject to change.)
Allegheny County police are investigating a shooting Monday morning that left a North Versailles Twp. man dead on Lysle Boulevard.
Police said first responders were called to the area near Sinclair Street just before 11 a.m. when callers reported that a man was down in the street. Police found the victim suffering from a gun shot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene, detectives said.
The Allegheny County medical examiner’s office has identified the victim as 22-year-old Dylan C. Saula of North Versailles.
On Monday night, Allegheny County police charged 17-year-old Daemond Artemus of McKeesport with homicide and firearm violations. Artemus was detained by McKeesport police shortly after the incident and was being held in the Allegheny County Jail awaiting arraignment, county police said.
Crews remained in the area for more than two hours processing the crime scene. The victim’s name has not yet been released.
Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to call Allegheny County police at 1-833-ALL-TIPS. Callers can remain anonymous.
