May 25, 2023 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements, State & Region
(Tube City Almanac 2019 file photo for illustration only)
Allegheny County Economic Development is currently accepting applications for the 2023 round of the Blight Removal Program, a spokeswoman said.
Municipalities, public authorities, councils of government, land banks and private developers may apply for funding to remediate established blight conditions. Applications are due by 4:30 p.m. June 16 and individual awards of up to $250,000 are available.
Approximately $1.5 million is available during this round of funding, county officials said.
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May 24, 2023 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
Minimally invasive surgical techniques have the potential to reduce recovery time and pain for people suffering from hernias.
Dr. Steven Ballesteros, a general surgeon at UPMC McKeesport hospital and UPMC East, will discuss the diagnosis and treatment of hernias using robotic-assisted technology during a free talk at 12 noon May 30. The discussion will be held online, a spokeswoman said.
This live, virtual presentation is free and open to the public. To register, visit UPMC.com/VirtualEvents. You must provide a valid email address in order to receive the registration link.
For more information, email communityoutreach@upmc.edu.
May 18, 2023 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Crime and Police News, North Versailles Twp. News
Allegheny County police are investigating a head-on collision Tuesday that killed a 65-year-old driver.
Police said the accident happened just before 3:30 p.m. under the George Westinghouse Bridge in North Versailles Twp.
Investigators said an SUV driven by a 19-year-old man was traveling west on East Pittsburgh-McKeesport Boulevard, toward East Pittsburgh, when it crossed the center line and collided with an eastbound passenger van.
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May 18, 2023 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
Volunteers are needed this Saturday to help place American flags on veterans’ graves in McKeesport & Versailles Cemetery, a spokeswoman said. Please meet at the cannon near the mausoleum in the veterans’ section of the cemetery at 9 a.m. and bring a hammer with you, she said.
May 18, 2023 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
The Allegheny County Regional Asset Board has approved a $750,000 grant to the Carnegie Library of McKeesport to help transform a third-floor storage space into an area usable by the public.
The board voted Thursday to approve five grants totalling $3.8 million from a new Transformative Community Library Fund. Libraries in Braddock, Clairton, Homestead and Swissvale also will receive funding during this round of grants, a spokesman said.
The grant to the McKeesport library will enable the top floor of the 1902 building to be converted from a storage area into meeting space for public events.
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May 17, 2023 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, Politics & Elections
(Additional reporting from Jason Togyer)
Incumbent McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko won Tuesday’s primary election, easily defeating two vastly different challengers for the Democratic nomination.
According to incomplete and unofficial returns from the Allegheny County Division of Elections, Cherepko is holding a 20-point lead over his nearest rival, Corry Sanders, 52. Joe Lopretto was in third place with approximately 17 percent of the vote.
However, an official tally may not be available until Friday. Two city precincts — Ward 8, District 4, and Ward 12, District 3 — have not yet reported complete results. Countywide, 29 out of 1,324 precincts have reported incomplete results, elections officials said.
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May 14, 2023 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, Politics & Elections
The race for mayor of McKeesport has a great deal of intrigue, as voters will report to polling places in just a few days.
In many races throughout Allegheny County, including the race for mayor of McKeesport, there are no official Republican challengers. Barring a successful write-in campaign during November’s election, the winner of the primary will be sworn in as mayor.
McKeesport Mayor Mike Cherepko, 46, has been in office since 2012 and is hoping to secure the Democratic nomination on Tuesday. The Penn State University graduate was a fifth-grade teacher in the district before becoming an elected official. He touts his “Working Together for a Better McKeesport” as a successful motto.
In this year’s Democratic primary he faces two challengers who both emphasize their “outsider” status, Joe Lopretto, 58, a retired McKeesport police officer, and Corry Sanders, 52, a church deacon, barber and business owner.
All three candidates received an questionnaire with identical questions. In addition, reporter Tom Leturgey called Lopretto and Sanders on May 2 and May 12, and sent questionnaires to Sanders and Lopretto via their official Facebook pages.
Lopretto and Sanders did not respond to Leturgey’s phone messages or Facebook messages, though both have been using Facebook to share their campaign statements and positions.
McKeesport has about 17,700 residents as of the 2020 census.
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May 14, 2023 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, Politics & Elections
Five of the candidates running for McKeesport Area School Board have offered their views on pressures facing the district, relating to student achievement, building safety and charter schools.
There are 13 candidates filed to run for five seats on the school board, which has nine members in all. In addition to the city, the school district serves Dravosburg, South Versailles Twp., Versailles and White Oak.
School board elections are officially non-partisan and candidates may file to run in more than one party. Of the 13 candidates, 11 are filed as both Republicans and Democrats, while two have filed only as Democrats.
The primary election is this Tuesday. Voters from each party will choose candidates who will run in the general election in November.
In April, Tube City Almanac mailed a questionnaire to all 13 candidates at their homes, and a reminder was mailed one week later. All candidates received the same questions. Five candidates had responded as of May 13:
Jeffery Anderson (Democratic)
Diane Elias (cross-filed Democratic/Republican)
Matthew Keller (cross-filed Democratic/Republican)
Matthew Mols (cross-filed Democratic/Republican)
Cameron L. Preston (cross-filed Democratic/Republican)
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May 14, 2023 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, Politics & Elections
Name: Cameron L. Preston
Address: Craig Street, McKeesport
Filed as: Republican/Democratic
Almanac: Why are you running for school board, and what are your qualifications?
Preston: As a lifelong resident and district alumnus, I feel it is my duty to step up in the community in which I reside. I have over 15 years of experience working in social services, both inside and outside of school settings.
Almanac: One constant question at board meetings has been about gun violence. Prior to this election, how have you addressed gun-related violence within the community?
Preston: On Jan. 23, 2023, my then-16-year-old son was critically shot while walking home from school. Prior to that incident, I have spoken at rallies against gun violence and attended many functions and events. But, since gun violence has made it directly to my doorstep, I believe now is the perfect time to step up.
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May 14, 2023 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, Politics & Elections
Name: Matthew Mols
Address: Ridgeview Drive, Dravosburg
Filed as: Republican/Democratic
Almanac: Why are you running for school board, and what are your qualifications?
Mols: I have multiple master’s degrees in education. I have spent the last 25 years as an educator, with over two decades as an employee of McKeesport Area School District.
While at McKeesport, I worked in multiple buildings, serving in many different capacities. I was an in-school suspension coordinator, teacher, counselor, principal, career and technical director, and union president.
I have served as member of council in the Borough of Dravosburg for over 10 years and have volunteered in community outreach programs. Over the past five years, I have had the pleasure of highlighting McKeesport scholar athletes, as the “Voice of the Tigers.” The administration has trusted me to provide the play-by-play call of sporting events over the radio and Internet.
My diverse background has afforded me the opportunity to learn quite a bit about the operations of McKeesport Area School District. I am currently employed as a Head High School principal in an urban school setting with similar demographics to that of McKeesport Area School District. My daily work as an educator and council member focuses on issues that are essential to the skillset of a school board member including: school safety, fiscal management, educational decision making, and community outreach. As a former employee, I have working relationships with personnel, have aided in development of procedures, and have familiarity with school board policies to best streamline services for McKeesport Area School District families. I have family members that are students within the school district, and like your family want what is only best for our students. As a graduate of McKeesport Area School District, I am aware of the rich tradition and pride one can have with a diploma from McKeesport.
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