October 11, 2016 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport will borrow $4.9 million to fix what the state auditor general called "a costly mistake" and to fully fund its pension plans.
The new debt will be incurred despite the fact that the city received $5 million from Pennsylvania-American Water Company as a pre-payment toward the sale of its sewerage authority.
Penn-American's pre-payment has been put into the bank, Mayor Mike Cherepko said, and he would like it to stay there. "We have to continue to operate as if we're broke, because we are," he said.
In June, state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale said that McKeesport took more than $729,000 in state funding that was earmarked toward aiding the city's pension plans, and spent it instead on general operating expenses.
Read More
October 06, 2016 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
A Pittsburgh attorney who state investigators say was part of a self-proclaimed "Super PAC" run by accused video poker czar Ronald "Porky" Melocchi now faces criminal charges of his own.
Louis F. Caputo, 39, of Peters Twp., Washington County, was arraigned today before Magisterial District Judge Tom Swan in West Deer Twp. on charges of illegal use of gambling devices, criminal solicitation of gambling devices and criminal conspiracy.
He remains free on his own recognizance pending a formal arraignment Nov. 28 in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court.
State Attorney General Bruce R. Beemer said that according to a grand jury investigation, Caputo, a liquor license attorney, and state Rep. Marc Gergely of White Oak were part of what Melocchi called his "Super PAC," meaning political action committee.
Gergely, 46, was charged Feb. 25 with being associated of a corrupt organization, conspiracy to operate illegal gambling devices, criminal attempt to operate illegal gambling devices, dealing in the proceeds of illegal activities, and accepting illegal cash contributions to an election campaign.
Gergely is running for re-election. He is being challenged in the Nov. 8 general election by McKeesport city Councilwoman Fawn Walker-Montgomery, who won the Republican nomination as a write-in.
Read More
October 05, 2016 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
First Christian Church, 100 Duquesne Ave., Dravosburg will hold an auction Oct. 29, a spokeswoman said.
The event, to benefit the church, will be conducted by Donald Strickler of Strickler Auction Services.
Items to be auctioned will include quilts, small appliances, Lenox Christmas giftware, Royal Dolton China, Avon Cape Cod ruby glassware, Fostoria crystal and ceramics.
Food, beverages and baked goods also will be available.
A preview begins at 11 a.m. and the auction begins promptly at 12 noon.
October 04, 2016 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Crime and Police News
(Updated: Oct. 5 with suspect's name and arrest warrant.)
A 22-year-old Pittsburgh man currently on probation after pleading guilty to drug charges is wanted in connection with a fatal shooting on McKeesport's Maple Street.
Derrick Means (above) is considered armed and dangerous, McKeesport police said Wednesday, and Allegheny County police have obtained a warrant for his arrest.
Means is wanted in connection with the death of Ronald Means, 29, of Pittsburgh's West End. McKeesport police responding to a 9-1-1 call reporting shots fired just after 9 p.m. Monday found Carter lying on the sidewalk in the 1300 block of Maple St. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Means is described as a black male, approximately 6 feet tall, with his hair in dreadlocks. McKeesport police said he was last seen driving a dark colored Dodge Magnum with Pennsylvania license plate number KDE-1979. The vehicle also has an "Uber" sticker in the front windshield, police said.
Read More
October 04, 2016 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
Two people were found dead inside an Evans Avenue house after their 7-year-old daughter told school officials she was unable to wake her parents.
The girl and her three siblings --- ages 9 months, 3, and 5 --- are now in the custody of Allegheny County Children, Youth and Family Services, Allegheny County police Lt. Andrew Schurman said.
McKeesport police and MARS paramedics responded to the home at 917 Evans at 5 p.m. Monday after the girl told a school employee that she had been unable to wake her parents that day.
Police entered the home and found Christopher Dilly, 26, and Jessica Lally, 25, inside. They were pronounced dead at the scene.
There was no evidence of foul play, Schurman said, but there evidence of drug use in the home.
Read More
September 30, 2016 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Announcements
Cindy McGraw-Davic lost her fight with small-cell lung cancer almost exactly one year ago, at the age of 46.
Her friends and family don't intend to let go of her memory, or her passion for her pets.
On Saturday, they'll gather at Port Vue's Romine Avenue Fields --- on the site of the old Romine Avenue Elementary School --- to raise money for a new dog park in the borough.
"Bark in the Park" will feature 35 vendors, crafters and artists along with a Chinese auction, face painting and games from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dogs, of course, will be welcome.
Also scheduled to attend are the characters "Chase" and "Marshall" from the TV show "PAW Patrol," officers from the McKeesport police K-9 unit, and the Rev. Hyung-Suk Joe of Port Vue United Methodist Church, who will do a blessing for pets.
Read More
September 30, 2016 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
(Conflict of Interest: See editor's note at the end of this story.)
Mon Valley Initiative will invite local residents to "tackle" their financial goals at a free workshop Oct. 10.
Sponsored by Pittsburgh-based Neighborhood Allies, the event will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. at MVI's office, 305 E. Eighth Ave., Homestead, and will include refreshments and door prizes.
Pre-registration is requested at (412) 464-4000, ext. 4001, or by emailing gbachy@monvalleyinitiative.com.
Barry Courson of Monroeville-based Waddell & Reed will discuss “mental roadblocks” that prevent people from making smart decisions about how they spend and save money, while Bobby Smith, a financial coach and workforce development specialist at MVI, will lead a trivia game to test participants on their own spending and saving habits.
Read More
September 28, 2016 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
The McKeesport Collaborative HIV/AIDS Working Group and its partners are preparing for the 16th Annual HIV/AIDS Walk, set to take place this Saturday.
The walk is now an annual tradition that gathers hundreds of people committed to raising awareness for HIV/AIDS, and is still the only one of its kind in Allegheny County.
The 16th Annual HIV/AIDS Walk will start and end at Bethlehem Baptist Church, 716 Walnut St., Downtown. Registration and a continental breakfast will begin at 8:30 a.m.
Read More
September 28, 2016 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
A concert Sept. 20 at Stage AE on Pittsburgh's North Side raised more than $150,000 for McKeesport-based Auberle.
Spokeswoman Deb Hilton said the 12th Annual "Voices Carry" event was the most successful ever for the charity, which provides both in-community and residential services for at-risk children, teen-agers and young adults throughout Western Pennsylvania.
More than 450 people attended the event, which was sponsored in part by Huntington Bank and hosted by Randy Baumann of WDVE-FM (102.5). Entertainers included Donnie Iris, Jeff Jimerson, Scott Blasey of the
Clarks and Etta Cox
Voices Carry was launched to raise awareness and funds for Auberle’s 16 program areas that provide services to over 3,400 at-risk children and families each year, Hilton said. This year's event set records both for attendance and for the amount of money raised, she said.
September 28, 2016 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
In an attempt to control rising healthcare costs, the U.S. Congress directed the Department of Health and Human Services to create an "innovation center" that would test new ways of delivering medical treatment --- and new ways of paying for that treatment --- for people on Medicare, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program.
But what do these new "innovation models" mean for senior citizens who are receiving Medicare benefits? Cindy Gensamer, a vice president of Ohio-based Absolute Rehabilitation and Consulting Services Inc., will come to McKeesport to deliver a free talk entitled "Medicare Innovation Payment Models: What does that really mean for the senior with Medicare coverage?"
The talk, at 12 noon Oct. 12, is sponsored by the family council at Kane Regional Center, 101 Ninth Ave., McKeesport, as part of their family education series, a spokeswoman said. Light refreshments will be served.
Read More
