PennDOT Head: New Bridges Have ‘Steep’ Price

April 09, 2025 |

By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: State & Region

Michael B. Carroll, state secretary of transportation, delivered the keynote address at the annual legislative luncheon sponsored by the Mon Yough Area Chamber of Commerce. (Tom Leturgey photo for Tube City Almanac)

Pennsylvania is serious about the need to replace, repair and upgrade the commonwealth’s many bridges, the state’s transportation secretary told Mon-Yough area business leaders last week.

But Secretary Michael B. Carroll cautioned: “The price tag is pretty steep.”

Carroll delivered the keynote address at the Mon Yough Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual legislative luncheon, held at the Georgetown Centre banquet hall in Pleasant Hills.

Guests at the luncheon included members of local borough and city councils as well as state Sen. Jay Costa.

Several candidates for Allegheny County Council also attended. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Chamber presented lifetime achievement awards to McKeesport real estate executive Robert “Bob” Baum and retiring District 9 Allegheny County Councilman Bob Macey.

Board Will Voice Support for GA Campus

April 07, 2025 |

By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News

McKeesport Hall, the dormitory at Penn State Greater Allegheny Campus. (File photo by Ryan Kegel via Wikimedia Commons, used under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license)

A five-minute McKeesport Area School District meeting, which featured zero comments during a hearing of citizens and only a brief overview of items set for vote at next week’s school board gathering, included one small ask seeking sizable change.

School Director Matthew Keller called for a resolution offsetting efforts to shutter Penn State University’s Greater Allegheny campus.

Located steps from McKeesport Area High School, the 59-acre campus is one of 12 Penn State campuses slated for potential closure following the 2026-2027 academic year — the university maintains 24 campuses across the commonwealth.

University-wide downsizing stems from declining student enrollment, financial pressures and demographic changes, Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi said in February.

Goughnour Takes Oath as New 35th Rep

April 07, 2025 |

By Staff Reports | Posted in: State & Region

Members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly applaud newly sworn-in State Rep. Dan Goughnour, his wife, Lauren, and their children, Gavin, Gannon and Gracelynn. (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania photo)

Dan Goughnour took the oath of office at the state Capitol on Monday to become the new representative for Pennsylvania’s 35th Legislative District.

Goughnour was joined by his wife Lauren and their children, Gavin, Gannon and Gracelynn, along with McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko, City Administrator Tom Maglicco and other guests and Mon-Yough area officials.

“Swearing in a new member is always a special occasion in the state House of Representatives,” Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton said.

“I know that Rep. Goughnour will leverage his 16 years of experience as a public servant and local elected official to work on policies that will help his Mon Valley neighbors and communities across the state thrive,” she said.

Volunteers Needed Saturday for Tree-Planting

April 03, 2025 |

By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements

(Courtesy Western Pennsylvania Conservancy)

TreeVitalize Pittsburgh is looking for volunteers to help plant 30 trees in McKeesport this Saturday, a spokeswoman said.

Volunteers will help plant 10 trees in Renziehausen Park, six along Sixth Avenue and 14 along Market Street.

Trees are selected that are slower-growing, native to Pennsylvania, compatible with an urban environment and safe around sidewalks and overhead utility lines, according to TreeVitalize’s website.

TreeVitalize Pittsburgh is a project of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Allegheny County Parks, the City of Pittsburgh, Tree Pittsburgh and the state Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. 

Volunteers will meet at 9 a.m. Saturday at 500 Market St.

To register, contact Alicia Wehrle at awehrle@paconserve.org or 412-586-2386, or visit the Water Land Life website.

Police: Man Tried to Hit Victim With Brick

April 03, 2025 |

By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News

• RELATED STORY: Crowd Presses City on Man’s Arrest, Reform

A city man injured March 8 during an arrest by McKeesport police was trying to hit another man with a brick, a criminal complaint alleges.

Callie Stinson Sr., 72, is charged by McKeesport police with two counts of simple assault and one count of resisting arrest in connection with the incident. He faces a preliminary hearing April 28 before Magisterial District Justice Eugene Riazzi.

Stinson’s family has alleged that police used excessive force in arresting Stinson, causing broken ribs and contusions on his face and neck. Stinson has a tracheotomy tube to assist his breathing, they said. A video of Stinson’s arrest, recorded by a bystander, was widely shared on social media last month.

Crowd Presses City on Man’s Arrest, Reform

April 02, 2025 |

By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News

• RELATED STORY: Police say man tried to hit victim with brick

A large group of residents and visitors from surrounding communities crowded McKeesport City Council chambers Wednesday night to address concerns about the arrest of a 72-year-old man that resulted in his hospitalization.

A video of police officers arresting Callie Stinson Sr. on March 8 was widely shared on social media. Police allege that Stinson threatened a neighbor with a brick and had to be restrained after he threw a punch.

“My brother right now has four broken ribs in his chest, and another broken rib in his back,” Kay Stinson of McKeesport told city council, adding that Black residents of McKeesport are “still treated like it’s the 1950s and ’60s. Enough is enough.”

All McKeesport police officers are required to wear so-called body cams — body-worn video cameras — while on duty. McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko told the audience that the city has joined community groups to ask for body cam footage of the arrest to be released to the public.

Think Spring: White Oak Plans Seasonal Events

April 02, 2025 |

By Stacy Alderman | Posted in: Announcements, White Oak News

Correction: All children age 10 and under are allowed to participate in the Easter egg hunt. This story was corrected after publication. We apologize for the error.

(File Photo, “Tulips Jubilee,” by Cam Miller, via Flickr. Licensed under Creative Commons By-NC-ND.)

The White Oak community is gearing up for warmer weather with events and activities that will appeal to everyone from kids and craft enthusiasts to athletes and animal lovers.

White Oak Athletic Association 

WOAA will host its first youth basketball tournaments starting April 17-19 and again from April 24-27. Softball and baseball are ongoing, and the association’s calendar has several fundraisers, cash bashes, and bingos listed well into May. Their calendar can be found online.

Easter Egg Hunt

For children 10 and under, the borough will host an Easter Egg hunt on April 19 starting at 10 a.m. at Heritage Hill Park.

School Support Workers Seek ‘Living Wage’

April 02, 2025 |

By Danielle M. Smith - Public News Service | Posted in: State & Region

Pennsylvania school support staff and their allies met with lawmakers last week at the State Capitol, asking for their support of a bill to raise their wages to at least $20 an hour. They estimate House Bill 777 would benefit more than 41,000 workers. (Photo courtesy PSEA)

Amid a severe teacher and staff shortage, school support workers and their union allies rallied last week in Harrisburg for what they called a living wage.

More than 100 people gathered on the Capitol steps and met with lawmakers to gauge their support for House Bill 777, which they said would raise wages for more than 41,000 school staff members.

The bill was introduced by State Rep. Dan Miller, Mt. Lebanon Democrat, and currently has 24 co-sponsors, including two from the Mon Valley, State Rep. John Inglis of West Mifflin and State Rep. Brandon Markosek of Monroeville.

Aaron Chapin, president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, said that if enacted, the law would raise the pay for support staff in public schools to a living wage of at least $20 per hour.

Musical ‘Titanic’ Sets Sail at MAHS

April 01, 2025 |

By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment, McKeesport and Region News

Director/choreographer Erin Seaberg, in green shirt at left, gives pointers and makes adjustments during a recent rehearsal for the spring musical at McKeesport Area High School. (Bonnijean Cooney Adams photo for Tube City Almanac)

When the creative staff was considering what show to select for this year’s McKeesport Area High School musical, they agreed on one thing.

“We were looking for an ensemble show,” Producer/Pit Director Sarah Persin said. “We have a lot of talent.”

They decided on “Titanic the Musical,” based on the true story of the RMS Titanic, which sank after hitting an iceberg on its maiden voyage in April 1912. More than 1,000 people died in the disaster. 

Some students said they were surprised when they found out what the musical was going to be. Some had heard of it, while others initially thought it was going to be the Jack-and-Rose story like the 1997 movie.

EA Serves Up Laughs With ‘Spamalot’

April 01, 2025 |

By Kristen Keleschenyi | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News

Will Wilson, Jacob Ankney and Chris Cornelius are knights searching for the Holy Grail. (Submitted photo via EAHS_Musical on Instagram)

The search for the Holy Grail takes a goofy turn as the curtain rises on East Allegheny High School’s production of Spamalot.

The musical is an adaptation of Monty Python’s 1975 movie “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” parodying the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. The cast at EA is slightly smaller than in years past, but Musical Director Amanda Rosco says they have been one of the staff’s favorites to work with.

“They have so much heart and it’s something that the audience isn’t necessarily going to know and see how much they have taken care of each other behind the scenes — the way they have cheered each other on,” Rosco says.

Senior Reily Fenters took the musical plunge this year and is making his stage debut. He plays multiple roles, including the Knight Who Says “Ni,” and says he regrets not getting involved sooner, but his afterschool job took up a lot of his time. “I cut my schedule back this year and threw all hands in and was like, ‘I’m just going to do it!’”