September 08, 2016 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Crime and Police News
September 07, 2016 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Correction added, 11:57 a.m. Sept. 8, 2016)
With no controversy, McKeesport City Council on Wednesday took the first step toward selling the city's sewerage authority to Pennsylvania-American Water Company.
By 6-0 vote, with Councilwoman LuEthel Nesbit abstaining, councilors authorized the Municipal Authority of the City of McKeesport to enter into a sales agreement with the water company. Nesbit is a member of the municipal authority's board. The authority board will meet on Thursday to consider the deal; Nesbit said Wednesday she will abstain from voting there, as well.
In a separate vote, council also accepted a $5 million advance payment from Penn-American. If for any reason the sale isn't consummated, the city will be required to repay the money, Cherepko said.
Although the final sale price of the sewerage authority isn't yet known, its outstanding debts --- including some $62.5 million spent recently to upgrade and expand the system --- top $90 million, city officials have said.
In a prepared statement, Kathy Pape, president of Penn-American, said Wednesday night that the company was "pleased" with city council's decision and was looking forward to the authority's vote on Thursday.
September 07, 2016 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
Christy Park United Methodist Church will offer afterschool tutoring and homework help beginning Tuesday, Sept. 20.
"Cool School Featuring the Homework Helpers" will run from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays throughout the school year.
The program will feature tutoring, a quiet place to do homework, and snacks, and is completely free, a spokeswoman said.
However, all students must get written permission from their parent or guardian, and must have a ride home at 6 p.m. with a parent, guardian or responsible older sibling.
The church is located at the corner of 29th Avenue and Beale Street in the Christy Park section of the city. Call (412) 678-3110 for more information.
September 06, 2016 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
In a long expected move, McKeesport City Council on Wednesday night is expected to take the first steps toward selling the city's sewerage authority.
At a council work session on Tuesday, Mayor Michael Cherepko said the city has received two competing proposals to purchase the Municipal Authority of the City of McKeesport, which also serves customers in Dravosburg, Duquesne, East McKeesport, Elizabeth Twp., Glassport, Liberty, Lincoln, North Versailles Twp., Port Vue, Versailles and White Oak.
Cherepko has recommended to council that the city accept a proposal from Pennsylvania-American Water Co. The exact sale price has yet to be determined pending an appraisal and an analysis of outstanding debts owed by the sewerage authority, but it will be in excess of $90 million, said J. Jason Elash, city solicitor.
"As a ratepayer and as a taxpayer, I would say there are more pros than cons," Cherepko said. "In fact, I see very few cons."
September 04, 2016 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
Friends and colleagues of a Duquesne police officer who died in a motorcycle crash Saturday night in Dravosburg are setting up a memorial fund for his son.
Duquesne police Officer Robert Gogo Jr., 40, was pronounced dead at the emergency room of UPMC McKeesport hospital about an hour after the crash, said a spokeswoman for the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office.
Allegheny County police said Gogo was off-duty and was traveling south on Richland Avenue on his motorcycle, toward the Mansfield Bridge, when the bike collided with a car headed northbound, toward Dravosburg Hill.
September 02, 2016 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
A Turtle Creek man has been charged by McKeesport police in connection with a four car accident last week in the city's East End that injured him as well as four other people.
Henry J. Robinson Jr., 63, faces a preliminary hearing Oct. 17 before Magisterial District Judge Eugene Riazzi Jr. on charges of causing an accident involving personal injury and driving with a suspended license.
McKeesport police said officers were dispatched on Aug. 24 during the afternoon rush hour for a report of a multiple vehicle accident on East Fifth Avenue at Hartman Street.
September 02, 2016 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
A family-friendly event Saturday afternoon in Rankin will allow adults and kids to create art and learn how metal and glass are made.
The second-annual Festival of Combustion is being held from 12 to 8 p.m. at the Carrie Furnaces National Historic Landmark site near the Rankin Bridge.
Children and teen-agers 18 and under are admitted free. Adult tickets are $15 and are available at Showclix.com.
Spokeswoman Stacy Drane said visitors will get to experience "hot art making processes" with booths dedicated to glass flame working, Raku ceramics, metal fabrication, aluminum casting and cast iron.
September 01, 2016 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
The vision of Penn State Greater Allegheny is to always care for and advance the success of its students and communities.
Each year, on several early Saturday mornings, students from the McKeesport-based campus have helped their community by volunteering with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh. The tradition of students helping to build houses will continue this year as students gear up to volunteer three days this fall.
Glenn Beech, director of student affairs, takes the students on these trips, and he has been impressed with the enthusiasm the students show when helping their local community.
“I am so proud of each of the students who, unselfishly, gives up entire Saturdays to participate in a community service project for a community in which they are a part of, only because they are studying here," Beech said. "This act of kindness, on their part, demonstrates to me that they are members of a caring and compassionate generation that is striving for a better future for all of us.”
August 31, 2016 |
By Mike Mauer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
After nearly a century of service to Duquesne, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 188 Raymond C. Burns is no more. Citing declining membership and dwindling finances, the post turned in its charter following a meeting with VFW District 29 officials Tuesday.
The physical trappings of a once active post were still there at the close of the meeting. A 57 mm anti-tank gun made in 1942 graced the outside of the building. A memorial dedicated to local servicemembers lost in World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam was in the foyer directly across from the main entrance.
But this history ended after VFW Post 188 Commander Elizabeth Salvador banged her gavel to close the organization’s final vote. Roughly one dozen of the unit’s remaining members voted unanimously to turn in the charter.
August 29, 2016 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
September is Love Your Library Month, and all month, Carnegie Library of McKeesport is collecting unworn and unwanted jewelry to be sold to benefit the institution, said Mary Rose Bendel, director of adult programs and community outreach.
Persons interested in making a donation should call the library at (412) 672-0625 for more information.
Other programs happening in September include "Wisewalk," which runs Tuesday afternoons through Nov. 8. Walkers are invited to meet at the McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center in Renziehausen Park for a hour-long walk through the park. Refreshments are available at the end of the walk.
