June 14, 2018 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Crime and Police News
A Washington County man with ties to West Mifflin is headed to federal prison after prosecutors said he sold heroin while on probation.
Maurice "Reece" Frezzell, 35, faces nearly 29 years in prison after his convictions this week before U.S. District Judges Arthur J. Schwab and David S. Cercone.
U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady called Frezzell "a career criminal and one of the most significant heroin and fentanyl dealers in Washington County" and said that people are "safer today, now that he is behind bars."
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June 14, 2018 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Crime and Police News
A Clairton man pleaded guilty in federal court to distributing the drugs that led to the death of a local man.
Skyler Carter, 37, faces 20 years to life in prison and up to a $1 million fine, U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady said in a prepared statement Thursday. U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab scheduled sentencing for Oct. 4 at the federal courthouse in Pittsburgh.
Prosecutors allege that Carter had supplied fentanyl, an opioid painkiller, and cocaine to a co-defendant, Katie Spratt, which Spratt then sold to a victim identified only as "A.B.," causing his overdose death on June 5, 2017.
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June 13, 2018 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
McKeesport officials, including city Administrator Tom Maglicco, community development director A.J. Tedesco, Mayor Michael Cherepko and fire Chief Jeff Tomovcsik, with representatives of Pennsylvania American Water Co. The company awarded a $1,000 grant to the fire department for the purchase of new hose nozzles. (Submitted photo)
Firefighters in McKeesport, Clairton, Glassport and Lincoln Borough are among those at 68 public safety agencies across the state receiving grants this month from Pennsylvania American Water Co.
The utility company announced that $50,000 is being disbursed through its annual Firefighting Support Grant Program to help fire and emergency services units to purchase protective gear, lifesaving equipment, firefighting apparatus and training materials.
“We are proud to support the critically important service provided by our communities’ emergency responders,” said Jeffrey L. McIntyre, company president, in a prepared statement. “At a time when funding and volunteers are stretched thin at many fire departments, our Firefighting Support Grants enable us to partner with and assist the dedicated men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our customers’ homes and businesses.”
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June 13, 2018 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Crime and Police News
Two men are being sought by Allegheny County police in connection with the death Tuesday night of a teen-ager in McKeesport.
Khaire Charles Cole, 17, of North Versailles Twp. died just before midnight at UPMC Presbyterian hospital in Oakland of a gunshot wound to the head, the Allegheny County medical examiner's office said.
His death has been ruled a homicide, a spokesperson said Wednesday night.
Another victim was wounded in the altercation, Allegheny County police Lt. Andrew Schurman said in a prepared statement. The second victim's name was not released. He was listed in stable condition and is expected to recover.
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June 13, 2018 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
Free basketball "mini-camps" are coming to McKeesport, Homestead, West Mifflin, Wilmerding and eight other communities again this summer.
The "Hometown Hoops" program for ages 9 to 18 is offered by the Allegheny County Parks Department. The program kicked off Monday in Clairton.
A spokesperson said all events run from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and will include a free box lunch for participants, provided through the county's Summer Food Program. Participants should wear proper basketball attire.
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June 13, 2018 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements
From left, McKeesport Lions Club member Tony Ura; Jim Brubaker of Pleasant Hills; Geno Tognarine of Clairton; Eileen Lennart of McKeesport; Bill Lowman of Pleasant Hills; Jessica Carnprobst; and McKeesport Lions Club member Bobbie Billsborrow. (All photos special to Tube City Almanac)
Six local charities providing services to people with limited or no vision received donations Tuesday night from the McKeesport Lions Club.
In a ceremony at the McKees Point Cafe, Downtown, outgoing Lions Club President Duane Turnbull presented checks to Jim Brubaker, representing the Pennsylvania Lions Sight Conservation and Eye Research Foundation; Eileen Lennart, representing the Carnegie Library of McKeesport; Geno Tognarine, representing Beacon Lodge Camp in Mifflin County; Jessica Carnprobst, representing Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children and Bill Lowman, representing Leader Dogs for the Blind.
Also receiving a donation from the McKeesport Lions Club was Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh.
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June 11, 2018 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Entrepreneur Juan Lacey is hoping some day to grow some of these same vegetables using aquaponics technology in McKeesport. (Photo special to Tube City Almanac)
Urban farming in the Mon Valley isn't anything new --- but local businessman Juan Lacey isn't proposing an ordinary garden.
Lacey says he can grow produce and raise fish for 12 months out of the year at the RIDC Industrial Center of McKeesport using a technology called "aquaponics."
And if he can line up the financing --- if McKeesport is designated as an "opportunity zone" by the federal government --- Lacey says such a farm could be employing 16 or more people, producing fresh vegetables and fish for sale in supermarkets and use by restaurants within four to six months.
"Four acres can support 16 growing systems," Lacey says. "Each one of those creates 93,000 heads of lettuce per year, which is approximately 1.6 million heads of lettuce. That's a lot of product coming out."
James Rakocy, a retired researcher at the University of the Virgin Islands who is considered one of the fathers of aquaponics, says Lacey's goal isn't unattainable.
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June 10, 2018 |
By Vickie Babyak | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(All photos: Vickie Babyak, special to Tube City Almanac)
McKeesport's annual fishing derby attracted a crowd to Lake Emilie in Renziehausen Park on Saturday morning, including the Brooks, Nowak and Jordan families from Port Vue, shown above.
Organized by the McKeesport Recreation Board, this year's event was sponsored in part by Mutt Jr. Bait Shop and Smallies on the Yough, said Jim Brown, city recreation director.
Prizes were given throughout the morning and a lunch of hot dogs, chips, drinks and cupcakes was served.
Above, showing off their prizes are winners for most fish Caiden Tagaloe and Christine Wampler, and the winners for biggest fish Michael Blackwell and Leonnah Nehila.
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June 10, 2018 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Above: Paving projects are underway throughout the city and will continue "until the asphalt plants close down," McKeesport Mayor Mike Cherepko said. Photo courtesy City of McKeesport, via Facebook)
While city workers and private contractors tackle long-awaited paving projects throughout McKeesport, officials are becoming concerned about the amount of trash littering those same streets.
"You can ride down a freshly paved street and see litter all over the sides of it," Councilman Jim Barry said last week. "As fast as you pick it up, it's back down again."
If McKeesport wants to improve its image, Barry said, then along with removing blighted houses and paving streets, "we need to do something about the litter in this city."
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June 09, 2018 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Photos special to Tube City Almanac)
One of McKeesport's neglected landmarks is on track for a $23,000 makeover.
Council has approved the use of part of the city's $1.075 million allocation of federal Community Development Block Grant, or CDBG, funds to repair and restore the railroad crossing watchtower at the corner of Walnut and Sixth streets, Downtown.
The tower is the only one remaining of possibly 20 or more that once guarded the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad's tracks when they cut directly through the Downtown business district.
A.J. Tedesco, McKeesport community development director, said the tower was deemed worthy of historic preservation.
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