November 16, 2023 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Submitted photo courtesy Pittsburgh Steeline drum band)
The Pittsburgh Steeline drummers will highlight McKeesport’s 58th Salute to Santa parade.
Called a “staple of Steelers entertainment” by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Steeline group will be just one of the marching units at this Saturday’s event, which begins at 11 a.m. at the McKees Point Marina, Downtown, and proceeds up Fifth Avenue to Coursin Street.
More than 50 units will be part of this year’s celebration, city officials have announced. Tube City Community Media will provide free coverage of the parade via YouTube, beginning at 10:45 a.m.
The parade also will include the candidates for Queen, including Sydney Campusano (representing the McKeesport Area High School Tiger Band), Shai-Lynn Morgan (MAHS cheerleaders) and A’Naudya Robinson (LaRosa Youth Club); and Princess candidates Michelle Ferguson (MAHS cheerleaders), Amyah Harper (Little Tigers cheerleaders) and John’Nasya Mack (LaRosa Club).
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November 16, 2023 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne City Council’s meeting Tuesday night was one of the quickest of this calendar year at 38 minutes, but officials went through some important items.
City residents may see an increase in their sewage rates next year. “We received a template from Pennsylvania American Water Co. with ‘here’s why,’” said Councilman Aaron Adams. He noted that there were no definitive numbers yet, but rates may increase.
Adams countered that there will still be assistance plans available for those low-income residents who may need assistance. “And there might be discounts based on income.” The council hopes to know more about the matter by next month’s meeting.
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November 16, 2023 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Adam Reinherz photo)
Correction: This story was corrected after publication to correct an editing error.
The president of the union representing McKeesport Area School District teachers remains hopeful that a months-long contract dispute is nearing conclusion.
“It’s not as bad as the press is treating it,” said McKeesport Area Education Association president Gerald McGrew Jr.
MAEA has been without a contract since Aug. 31. Weeks ago, the teacher’s union rejected a one-year contract offered by the district, but the decision wasn’t driven by financial greed, according to McGrew.
The issue is really about allowing the district to complete its audit and allow time for the new business manager to “get acclimated to the job,” McGrew said.
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November 16, 2023 |
By T.J. Martin | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News
The potential sale of the assets of the North Versailles Twp. Sanitary Authority to Aqua Pennsylvania Wastewater Inc. took another step forward earlier this week when the North Versailles Twp. Commissioners voted Wednesday to support the evaluation of the proposed deal.
In a public presentation on the proposed sale during the monthly commissioners meeting on Wednesday night, the board heard from Scott Shearer, managing director of PFM Financial Advisors LLC, which the township and authority hired in June to help assist it with the proposed sale.
Aqua is owned by Essential Utilities of Bryn Mawr, Montgomery County, the parent company of Peoples’ Gas.
Shearer said Aqua Pennsylvania Wastewater Inc. and the authority have signed a letter of intent in which the company will pay between $25 and $30 million for the sewer system, including the pipes and three pumping stations.
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November 15, 2023 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
A 15-year-old from Wilmerding was found dead Tuesday night following a shooting in the borough.
Dillan Shearer, a student at East Allegheny High School, was suffering from a gunshot wound to the head, Allegheny County homicide detectives said. He was pronounced dead just after 11:30 p.m., according to the medical examiner’s office.
The incident happened in the 300 block of Patton Street, police said.
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November 08, 2023 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Politics & Elections
Two incumbent McKeesport Area school directors appear to have lost their bids for re-election.
Complete but unofficial returns from the Allegheny County elections bureau showed current school directors James Brown, a Democrat, in sixth place, and Joe Lopretto, a Republican, in seventh place. Five seats were up for re-election.
Mark Holtzman, who was cross-filed, led the field with 3,534 votes, followed by Jason “Shun” Pavlecic (cross-filed), Diane Elias (cross-filed), Matthew Keller (Democratic) and David Seropian (Republican).
Brown was caught up in a minor scandal in the closing weeks of the campaign, when he was accused of using a homophobic slur in an argument with a resident at the August school board meeting. He and other members of the board apologized for the incident.
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November 08, 2023 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Politics & Elections
In an image from live video, former state Rep. Sara Innamorato celebrates her election as Allegheny County’s first woman chief executive with well-wishers at Mr. Smalls Theater in Millvale. (Facebook)
Democrats had a good night across Allegheny County on Tuesday — with one notable exception.
With 99.7 percent of the returns counted, former state Rep. Sara Innamorato was on pace Wednesday morning to become Allegheny County’s first woman chief executive, and other members of the party were capturing row offices and county council seats.
But Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr., running as a Republican, held off challenger Matt Dugan, winning re-election to a seventh term thanks in part to strong support in the Mon-Yough area.
Incomplete and unofficial returns from the Allegheny County Elections Bureau showed Zappala leading Dugan by nearly 12,000 votes with all but four precincts counted.
Dugan, a Democrat, defeated Zappala in the May primary, but Zappala won the Republican nomination with write-in votes, setting up the rematch.
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November 07, 2023 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements
An appropriations bill passed by the U.S. Senate last week could include a boost — valued at $1.7 million — to plans by the city and a local land bank to develop new affordable housing in McKeesport.
Senators by an 82-15 vote passed legislation funding military construction, veterans affairs, transportation, housing and urban development, agriculture, rural development and the Food & Drug Administration.
The three bills are the first bipartisan appropriations bills to pass so far in 2023 in either house of the U.S. Congress.
Included is $1.7 million for a program to recover seven abandoned lots in McKeesport and construct four new houses, said U.S. Sen. John Fetterman.
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November 06, 2023 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
New McKeesport police Chief Mark Steele receives his badge from former chief Adam Alfer at October’s council meeting. (Tube City Almanac photo)
School safety and staying visible in the community are two priorities for McKeesport’s new police chief.
Mark Steele, a 27-year veteran of the department, was sworn into office by Magisterial District Judge Eugene Riazzi in October. He replaced retired Chief Adam Alfer, who took a job with South Allegheny School District.
“I don’t want to be an ‘office chief,’” Steele said. “I want to be on the road and learn first-hand what’s going on in the city.
“You never know where I’m going to show up,” he said. “That’s the only way to know what’s going on.”
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November 06, 2023 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
City officials are excited about a $1 million grant from the federal Environmental Protection Agency that will enable McKeesport to address stormwater runoff along the Youghiogheny River, add native shade trees to several neighborhoods, and engage young people in conservation work.
The grant includes partnerships with groups such as Allegheny CleanWays and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, the city announced last week.
“We are thankful for this opportunity to improve environmental conditions within the City of McKeesport,” Mayor Michael Cherepko said. “This, like many other endeavors here, will be a whole-community effort. I can’t say often enough that I believe in ‘working together for a better McKeesport,’ and our community is full of organizations and volunteers who are committed to our city’s health and environmental wellbeing.”
The EPA in late October announced nearly $5.3 million for projects in Pennsylvania designed to address environmental problems in low-income communities. McKeesport was one of eight communities statewide that received grants, according to Virginia Nurk, EPA spokesperson in Philadelphia.
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