(UPDATED with statement from Kennywood management.)
Kennywood will remain closed until Sept. 30 as police and park officials investigate a shooting on Saturday night near the Musik Express ride.
Three people — including two 15-year-olds — were taken to area hospitals with gunshot wounds, while other people reportedly suffered minor injuries while running for the exits following the 10:49 p.m. incident at the West Mifflin amusement park.
Witnesses said that a brawl broke out near the Pirate Ship ride shortly before shots were fired. Dozens of police officers from throughout the Mon Valley descended on the park following the shooting, which caused the closure of Kennywood Boulevard into the early morning hours on Sunday.
The park is “closely collaborating with police,” said Mark Pauls, Kennywood general manager, in a prepared statement. “We will continue to cooperate with authorities throughout their investigation.”
Krise Transportation says it has been aggressively recruiting drivers to fill its new contract with McKeesport Area School District, using TV and Internet ads like this one. (YouTube)
Tim Krise understands that McKeesport area parents are frustrated, but the president of Krise Transportation is asking for patience.
Since entering into agreement with McKeesport Area School District this summer, Krise Transportation has sought to remedy a difficult situation.
Krise noted that families and students experienced days last year “where routes were not covered, were delayed or were canceled within an hour or two of when students were supposed to be picked up.”
Krise Transportation’s objective, he said, “is communication — whether it's good or bad — with the school district and the parents.”
Chemay Smith, a junior at McKeesport Area High School, was recognized during Wednesday's school board meeting for receiving an academic honor from the College Board through its National African American Recognition program. She is shown here with her mother, Priscilla Carter-Smith. (Adam Reinherz photo for Tube City Almanac)
A McKeesport Area High School 11th-grader has received a national academic honor from the College Board.
At Wednesday’s meeting, district Superintendent Tia Wanzo congratulated Chemay Smith for receiving an award from the National African American Recognition program for her high test scores.
“These national recognition programs grant underrepresented students with academic honors that can be included on college, school and scholarship applications, and connect students with universities across the country, helping them stand out during the admissions process,” Wanzo said.
Future sessions of the McKeesport Area School Board will not be streamed on the Internet, a decision which dismayed some residents at Wednesday’s meeting.
In addition, board President Mindy Lundberg said, the school board has decided to cut back to just one meeting per month.
“I just want that to be transparent,” Lundberg said. “If you have concerns I welcome people to come and speak at the next meeting.”
Lundberg noted the decisions, which represent the majority wishes of the board, follow her own reflections on past meetings and the fracases that have ensued between sitting members and the public.
Burrell High School’s archaic gameplan was not enough to ground the Serra Catholic Eagles last Friday night.
Using an unrecognizable game plan for the year 2022, the Burrell Buccaneers did not attempt a single forward pass the entire game against Serra Catholic last Friday night. The Burrell offense could have literally “taken the air out of the ball,” and the results would have been same.
However, the ground-and-pound offense was only effective until halftime and that’s when the Serra Catholic football coaches went to work making the necessary adjustments on their way to a 35-20 victory.
The Eagles are on the road this week to face 2-2 Imani Christian Academy of Pittsburgh. Game time is 7 p.m.
They may seem pretty at first — but spotted lanternflies could cause hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to crops and timber in Pennsylvania every year. The invasive pests have arrived in the Mon-Yough area and are widespread. (Vickie Babyak photo for Tube City Almanac)
The invasive spotted lanternfly is spreading through the Mon Valley. Residents report noticing a few lanternflies in their yards or neighborhoods and others are seeing swarms of them.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the spotted lanternfly, or SLF, is an invasive plant-hopper native to Asia. It was first discovered in 2014 in Berks County and since then has spread to multiple counties, as well as to Ohio, Virginia and Maryland.
“We’re coming up on the time when SLF lay egg masses from September to November and this is a great time to continue to control the spread,” said Tim Byan, Whetzel Land Steward for the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania.
A Duquesne man died early Wednesday morning after a shooting in the 700 block of Grant Street.
Demetrius T. Pirl, 52, was pronounced dead at the scene, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office said.
In a prepared statement, county police said 9-1-1 was notified of the shooting just after 12 midnight.
First responders found the victim, identified as Pirl, suffering from gunshot wounds, police said.
County homicide detectives are investigating but have released few other details. Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to call the county police tip line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS. Callers can remain anonymous.
The Serra Catholic High School Eagles will look to keep their momentum alive tonight when they host the Buccaneers of Burrell High School under the lights in Haler Heights.
Last Friday, a thrilling three-minute series of plays helped the Eagles score 21 unanswered points on their way to a miraculous comeback that helped Serra defeat the Prexies of Washington High School 35–34.
The Eagles’ offense was spearheaded by sophomore quarterback Quadir Stribling, who was 11-18-1 with 185 yards passing. Senior running back Mike Schanck rumbled into the endzone for 2 touchdowns on 12 carries while amassing 93 yards on the ground.
Michael Betler, Serra Catholic associate head coach, wasn’t surprised by the comeback.
From left, Anderson Miller as Les, Ayden Freed as Davey, Dylan Pal as Jack Kelly, and Camryn Hall as Katherine Plumber, rehearse a musical number from “Newsies.” (Photo by Bonnijean Cooney Adams for Tube City Almanac)
When:7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays Sept. 16, Sept. 17, Sept. 23, Sept. 24, and matinees at 2 p.m. on Sundays Sept. 18 and Sept. 25 Tickets:$20 for adults and $12 for students, available through the website or by leaving reservation information at the theater
When Disney’s “Newsies: the Broadway Musical” opens at McKeesport Little Theater on Friday, Sept. 16, audiences will get to see the results of transforming a huge production to a community stage for an up-close-and-personal experience.
The Broadway version evolved from the 1992 film of the same name featuring a young Christian Bale as newsboy leader Jack Kelly. It is based on real events and people involved in the famous 1899 newsboys strike in New York.
The newsies peddled papers produced by media moguls Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst. The strike occurred when the publishers tried to change the way the young workers were compensated.
The show features lots of catchy tunes, likeable characters, and lively dance numbers. It’s been portrayed on the big movie screen, Broadway stages and national tours.
Carnegie Library of McKeesport will host a “lunch on the lawn” Friday as part of its continuing celebration of “Love Your Library Month,” then will welcome local poet Kristofer Collins, who will read some of his work.
A spokesperson said the Sept. 16 lunch begins at 11 a.m. and will feature quiche, salad and a beverage. Funnel cakes also will be available for an additional $5. Events will be held outside, weather-permitting.
At 2 p.m., Collins will read from his work. He is the editor of the Pittsburgh Book Review, books editor at Pittsburgh Magazine, a contributor to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and co-host of the Summer Poetry Series at Hemingway’s in Oakland.
