July 28, 2018 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: Duquesne News
Beginning with the next municipal election, the position of Duquesne’s mayor will be a full-time salaried position.
A motion was unanimously passed during Tuesday’s city council meeting authorizing the drafting of an ordinance that will increase the salary of mayor to $65,000 under the guidelines of the Third-Class City Code.
Currently --- including for Mayor Nickole Nesby --- the position is part-time and pays $3,000 annually.
“If the great city of Duquesne wants a full-time mayor, they need to pay for a full-time mayor,” said Pastor Peter Roy of the Terrace Church of the Nazarene, who told council he supports the decision. “If they want a part-time mayor, they’ll pay for that. This city is on the move and the move is up. You can’t expect someone to give 65 to 70 hours per week and not expect to be compensated for it.”
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July 28, 2018 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Crime and Police News
An East Pittsburgh man is being in held in the Allegheny County Jail after police allege he assaulted a 16-month-old child.
Jacob P. Coles, 23, is charged by Allegheny County police with aggravated assault of a child, endangering the welfare of children and reckless endangerment and is awaiting arraignment. The incident happened Friday in McKeesport, police said.
Allegheny County police Lt. Andrew Schurman said the toddler was taken to UPMC McKeesport hospital Friday night before being transferred to Children's Hospital of UPMC in Lawrenceville. Schurman said doctors believe the child was suffering injuries consistent with an assault.
Police allege that Coles struck the child. A preliminary hearing has been tentatively scheduled for Aug. 6 before Magisterial District Judge Eugene Riazzi.
July 28, 2018 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Crime and Police News
A woman has died following a one-vehicle crash late Thursday night on West Fifth Avenue in the city's lower 10th Ward.
The victim was identified by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office as Lori Mula, 48, of Pittsburgh. The medical examiner's office said Mula died Friday morning after being taken by ambulance to the hospital. The cause and manner of her death is still pending.
McKeesport police are investigating. No further information has been released.
July 26, 2018 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Crime and Police News
A McKeesport woman was arrested after police allege she attempted to run over someone she had been having an argument with, but hit a bystander instead.
Jakiia Williams, 32, is being held in the Allegheny County Jail pending formal arraignment, said Lt. Andrew Schurman of the Allegheny County police homicide unit. Charges against Williams include attempted homicide.
The 72-year-old man who was struck remains in critical condition with "life-threatening" injuries at a hospital, Schurman said. The victim's name was not released.
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July 26, 2018 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Crime and Police News, White Oak News
Five people, including members of a White Oak family connected with several local real estate developments, have been accused by state Attorney General Josh Shapiro of running an illegal video gambling operation for more than 30 years.
Robert Biros, 83, of White Oak; his sons, John M. Biros, 56, of McKeesport and Andrew R. Biros, 52, of Greensburg; and his daughter, Christine A. Biros, 55, of White Oak are charged with multiple counts, including violating state gambling laws and criminal conspiracy.
Also facing charges is Alfred J. McCauley Jr., 63, of Plum.
“These defendants raked in millions of dollars in illegal profits, draining money from Pennsylvanians --- and from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” state Attorney General Josh Shapiro said Thursday afternoon in a prepared statement. “These video poker machines --- with the lure of the cash payout --- are illegal gambling devices. Working with our partners in the Pennsylvania State Police, we’ve shut it down.”
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July 25, 2018 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: Duquesne News
Two members of Duquesne city council have resigned.
Council members John Gyure and June Wilson submitted their resignations, effective with this month's meeting. Wilson said her resignation was for health and family reasons. Gyure did not respond to a request for comment about his resignation.
Council voted 3-0 to appoint Elaine Washington to one of the vacant seats. Washington is expected to be sworn into office at the next council meeting.
Duquesne Mayor Nickole Nesby said council will accept applications to fill the other vacancy.
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July 25, 2018 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements, North Versailles Twp. News
(Submitted photo: City of McKeesport)
The long-awaited reconstruction of Bowman Avenue in the city's Highland Grove neighborhood began this week. Above, McKeesport city Administrator Tom Maglicco and Mayor Michael Cherepko visit the construction site.
A spokeswoman said no through traffic is allowed on Bowman Avenue while the work is being done. The posted detour takes motorists inbound to McKeesport from North Versailles Twp. from East Pittsburgh McKeesport Boulevard down Westinghouse Avenue to Fifth Avenue.
Drivers heading toward North Versailles from McKeesport should use Fifth Avenue to Route 30 or Westinghouse Avenue, the spokeswoman said.
Residents of the neighborhood may use Elm Street to access Cronemeyer, Highland and Bowman avenues.
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July 25, 2018 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements, McKeesport and Region News
Work continues on the rehabilitation of five pavilions at Renziehausen Park in McKeesport.
The general contractor for four of the pavilions is Plavchak Construction Co. of Jefferson Hills. The work includes new roofs, signage, benches and other updates to pavilions 1, 2, 3 and 7 at a cost of $184,750.
Funding is being provided through a special allocation from the Allegheny Regional Asset District, which is supported by Allegheny County's 1 percent sales tax.
A fifth pavilion is scheduled to be renovated with the help of the McKeesport Lions Club.
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July 25, 2018 |
By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: Announcements, North Versailles Twp. News
The North Versailles Twp. Idlewild Picnic will be held on Aug. 17, a spokesperson said. Tickets are $30 per person, with children ages 2 and under free.
A bus will be available to transport residents to the picnic. The bus departs the Walmart park and ride lot at 10 a.m. Tickets must be purchased no later than Aug. 10 at the township's Parks and Recreation office, 1401 Greensburg Pike, or residents can call (412) 823-6602 ext. 104 for information.
July 24, 2018 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Letters to the Editor
Abandoned house awaiting demolition in Maryland. (Amy McGovern photo via Flickr. Licensed under Creative Commons --- Attribution 2.0 Generic.)
Reader Ray Firth writes:
Regarding your July 13 story, "172 Houses Head to Demolition; At Least 50 More to Be Added."
The demolition of blighted properties in McKeesport --- part of the "McKeesport Rising" project --- is important for McKeesport and the families who live near them. The homes being demolished are in terrible shape and old.
These homes also probably have lead paint on the windows, doors and walls.
The 200-plus demolitions will cause a lot of dust when the crews push the houses to the ground, and load the debris into dump trucks. That dust will have lead in it from the old lead paint.
In similar projects in other cities, that dust spread to nearby neighborhoods. They found that more children in those nearby neighborhoods had lead in their blood than before the demolitions.
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