Ordinance Officer Sought in Duquesne

November 04, 2022 |

By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News

One of the common themes of Duquesne City Council meetings is the governing body’s continued attempt to do something about neglected properties–buildings as well as vacant land—but they admit that process is slow.

And practically every meeting, a resident has a tale of how they take pride in their homes, but are saddled with an eye sore–or four–on their street.

At council’s regular meeting on Tuesday, Mayor Scott Adams attempted to lessen fears by saying that the city hopes to hire an ordinance officer to cite property owners who chose to ignore their properties when it comes to overgrown conditions and general “filth.”

Council also discussed diverting $44,000 from a Duquesne Place Playground project to the demolition of blighted properties. There was also talk of another grant in which $125,000 would be used for street paving, and $51,000 earmarked to clear lots.

 
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Duquesne Adds Three New Police Officers

November 04, 2022 |

By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News

Duquesne Police Department now has 13 full-time officers, including acting Chief Tom Shaw, as a trio of new officers were hired at Tuesday’s city council meeting.

Brandon Morris, Ryan Drohn and Tobias Yuhouse were officially added to the force, according to council’s unanimous vote. Drohn and Yuhouse have already started patrols, and Morris is set to take his first shift Nov. 6.

All are experienced officers, according to Shaw. Duquesne’s police department has lost a few officers in recent months, largely due to better pay elsewhere; however, Council has successfully added the new hires.

 
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10th Ward Ramp Closed for Paving

October 31, 2022 |

By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements

Ramp No. 1 into the city’s 10th Ward will remain closed through Nov. 11 so that crews can pave the surface and perform other repairs.

A district spokesman for the state Department of Transportation said crews from Joseph B. Fay Co. will conduct milling operations where the ramp meets the Jerome Avenue Bridge, conduct concrete repairs, and pave the road.

Ramp No. 1 connects West Fifth Avenue and the Jerome Avenue Bridge to River Road and the lower half of Rebecca Street. Traffic is being detoured around-the-clock while the ramp work occurs.

 
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MASD Ready for Prime-Time Viewing

October 31, 2022 |

By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News

The stories of McKeesport Area High School’s people will soon appear on TV screens.

At last week’s meeting, the school board voted to approve two projects that will showcase local students, staff and families.

The first, a docuseries titled “The Road to the Ring,” will follow the McKeesport Tigers Varsity Football team and its quest to win a state championship. Produced by Teall Properties Group, LLC, the 10-part series, will chart the end of the Tigers’ season — the team is currently 9-1 — and begin streaming in January on Teall’s YouTube channel.

James Companion, Teall’s EVP, National Sales, told the board the docuseries will provide viewers a perspective from “behind the curtain.”

By focusing on athletes and coaches, “this is a chance to show the country one of the top programs,” Companion said.

 
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School Board Discusses Achievements, Challenges

October 31, 2022 |

By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News

In her report to the board during Wednesday’s meeting, McKeesport Area Superintendent Tia Wanzo spotlighted students and staff across the district.  

Wanzo described various acts of kindness undertaken by those at Francis McClure Elementary School and Founders’ Hall Middle School, as well as recent achievements by McKeesport Area High School’s band and color guard.

Wanzo’s presentations culminated in more than 10 students receiving certificates and rounds of applause.

After the final student was celebrated, Board President Mindy Lundberg told the nearly 50 attendees at Wednesday’s meeting, “Ladies and gentlemen, that's what this is all about.”

Apart from celebrating student success, however, board members heard about various challenges in the district.

 
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Serra Hopes to Rebound After Apollo-Ridge Loss

October 28, 2022 |

By Jason A. Mignanelli | Posted in: Sports

Serra Catholic’s football team suffered an untimely loss last Friday night at the hands of Apollo-Ridge. The final score was 43–36 in a close game that came right down to the final whistle.

The Eagles are hoping to bounce back tonight (Oct. 28) when they host the 8-0 Steel Valley Ironmen under the lights in Haler Heights. Game time is 7 p.m.

“A loss is never a bad thing. We saw what happened after the North Catholic loss and this needs to be treated the same way. We hope to still have a long season ahead, and the loss doesn't do anything to change that outlook,” said assistant head coach Michael Betler.

Senior quarterback Elijah “Tiger” Ward was 5-8-170 passing with three touchdowns and rushed for 56 yards on 10 carries.

 
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Local Business Recovering After Explosion

October 27, 2022 |

By Elizabeth Laughlin | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News

Shalay Williams, founder of Care Heart CPR, conducts a training course. The building and other tenants were displaced when a natural gas explosion heavily damaged a small-business incubator on Ninth Avenue, Downtown. (Submitted photo courtesy Care Heart CPR, via Facebook)


For business owner and licensed nurse Shalay Williams, saving lives is the top priority.

“If I can train one person to save another, I’ve done my job,” Williams said.

Shalay Williams is a practical nurse with 13 years of experience. She graduated from UPMC St. Margaret School of Nursing, located in Pittsburgh. She opened Care Heart CPR, an emergency-training service, in July 2021.

Until Aug. 2, the business was located on Ninth Avenue in McKeesport, at Penn State Greater Allegheny’s small-business incubator, the Mon Valley LaunchBox.

That morning, a devastating natural gas explosion heavily damaged several businesses supported by the LaunchBox, including Care Heart, Painting with Rissa and The Fry Bar.

 
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New Director Puts Heart, Soul Into MLT’s ‘Rocky’

October 27, 2022 |

By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment

CORRECTION: Due to an editing error, the photos on this story were incorrectly credited. They were supplied courtesy of Edward E. Bostedo Jr.

Jacob Hecht as Dr. Frank-N-Furter (center), makes his first appearance to his unexpected visitors Brad and Janet, while members of his household and others look on. His creation Rocky (Ayden Freed), has not yet been revealed at this point in McKeesport Little Theater's production of "The Rocky Horror Show." (Submitted photos courtesy of Edward E. Bostedo Jr.)

If you go...

   

“The Rocky Horror Show”

Where: McKeesport Little Theater
1614 Coursin St.
www.mckeesportlittletheater.com

When: All shows are at 7:30 p.m. Friday (Oct. 28), Saturday (Oct. 29) and Sunday (Oct. 30).
 
Tickets: $25 for adults, or $30 with prop bag.

Recommended for ages 18 and older. Ages 17 or younger must be accompanied by an adult over 21.

Once Heather Atkinson found out McKeesport Little Theater had acquired the rights to “The Rocky Horror Show,” she knew she had to be part of it.

“I’ve been an avid ‘Rocky Horror’ fan most of my life,” she said.

That began when she and her father, who also is a big fan of the cult classic, went to a midnight viewing of the 1975 movie “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” She said she was approximately 12 years old at the time.

An avid performer at McKeesport Little Theater and other venues, Atkinson applied to direct “Rocky,” with veteran director Edward E. Bostedo Jr. as her mentor and director.

 
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Communities Post Halloween Events, Times

October 26, 2022 |

By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements

“Jack o’Lanterns” by Joe Shlabotnik via Flickr. Licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY 2.0)


Mon-Yough area communities have slated times for trick-or-treat and other Halloween activities.

The City of McKeesport will hold trick-or-treat hours from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday (Oct. 31), along with Liberty Borough, North Versailles Twp., Port Vue, Versailles, West Mifflin and White Oak.

Trick-or-treat hours in Dravosburg are 6 to 7:30 p.m.

In the City of Pittsburgh, trick-or-treat will be celebrated from 5 to 7 p.m. for those who participate.

Duquesne will not have door-to-door trick-or-treating. Instead, Duquesne’s Halloween festivities will take place at Memorial Park from 3 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31, Mayor Scott Adams said. In case of inclement weather, activities will be moved to the police garage.

 
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Duquesne Working to Address Vacant Properties

October 26, 2022 |

By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News

Duquesne officials will seek a state grant to purchase license-plate readers for the police department.

At the October meeting, Mayor Scott Adams said the city is seeking $100,000.

The mayor said he also hopes that the state can obtain funding with the help of state Sen. Jim Brewster to purchase a new pickup truck with snow-plowing and road-salting capabilities for the public works department

In other business, the city is moving forward with programs to address the number of vacant and abandoned properties in Duquesne, Adams said.

The city’s goals include both redeveloping vacant properties and removing abandoned structures, Adams said.

 
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