January 17, 2025 |
By Yousuf Lachhab Ibrahim | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Donald MacFann addresses the audience Thursday after being hired as McKeesport Area School District’s new superintendent. Board President Mark Holtzman looks on. (McKeesport Area School District via YouTube)
The McKeesport Area School District hired Donald MacFann as its new superintendent on Thursday by unanimous decision. He was approved for a five-year contract at the salary yet to be determined.
MacFann replaces acting superintendent William Pettigrew, who was himself the replacement of Superintendent Tia Wanzo. Wanzo resigned amid significant controversy in August.
“He’s a Mon Valley guy,” said district solicitor Gary Matta on the new hire. “That’s what we need. We need one of our own to help lead the charge here.”
MacFann, an alumnus of California University of Pennsylvania, is expected to start within the next 60 days, but he hopes to start in 20 days.
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January 17, 2025 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Editorial Cartoons
January 16, 2025 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne officials thanked the public works department for its response following the winter’s first significant snow falls.
At this week’s council meeting, Council Member Elaine Washington said she started receiving calls from concerned citizens as soon as the roads received their first covering, but she assured everyone, “we know the guys are out there.”
Mayor R. Scott Adams asked residents to “just be patient,” and one person in the audience responded he had seen city crews out clearing streets at 3 a.m. Monday.
With continued snow predicted, the public works department has put in another order for road salt, said Public Works Director Steve Arbasak but the city has “plenty of salt” for immediate needs.
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January 14, 2025 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
Allegheny County’s public transit agency will hold a community meeting tonight (Jan. 14) at Penn State Greater Allegheny to get community input on upcoming changes to bus service.
The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the Ostermayer Room of the Student Community Center.
Ten attendees will be randomly selected to receive a free weekly CONNECT fare card.
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January 10, 2025 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport Area School District has potentially found a new superintendent. School directors will announce the candidate during next Thursday's regular meeting.
Though the announcement was slated to be made during the Jan. 9 open agenda meeting, a requisite letter to school directors regarding the upcoming vote was delayed, according to solicitor Gary Matta.
“The school code says you have to give notice to the board,” Matta said. “The registered letter didn’t go out on time because of the school being closed on Monday, so we just wanted to make sure we followed the regulations.”
Next week’s agenda will include an item to hire the new superintendent. Should that individual be hired, they will replace acting superintendent William Pettigrew, who replaced former superintendent Tia Wanzo. Pettigrew, who was absent from the Jan. 9 meeting, has assisted Albert Educational Consulting with conducting the superintendent search.
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January 10, 2025 |
By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment
Members of the McKeesport Little Theater Juniors rehearse for the musical production, "Finding Nemo Jr.," which opens tonight. (Submitted photo McKeesport Little Theater/Jennifer R. Vertullo)
If you go...
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“Finding Nemo Jr.”
Musical presented by McKeesport Little Theater Juniors
Based on the 2003 Disney/Pixar film
Where: McKeesport Little Theater
1614 Coursin St.
412-673-1100
www.mckeesportlittletheater.com
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 10-12 and Jan. 17-19.
Friday and Saturday shows at 7 p.m., with Sunday matinees at
2 p.m.
Tickets: $15 for adults, $10 for students. Available through the
theater website, by calling and leaving a message, or through www.onthestage.tickets/show/mckeesport-little-theater
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Still hoping to find Nemo? Then head to McKeesport Little Theater for the musical production of “Finding Nemo Jr.”
Although based on the 2003 Disney/Pixar movie of the same name, the stage show includes lots of catchy tunes and choreography – and some puppets – to portray familiar characters from the Great Barrier Reef to the Big Blue World.
Opening today (Jan. 10), and continuing weekends through Jan. 19, an enthusiastic cast and crew affiliated with the MLT Juniors program will bring the story of an adventuresome young clownfish to life.
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January 10, 2025 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne is moving forward with plans to hire a code enforcement officer and council is expected to vote Jan. 28 on whether to officially open the position, city officials said this week.
Council discussed the issue at this week’s meeting. Officials said that for several years, the city has discussed creating the position, but funding for a salary has been the main problem. In the past year, there has been a more concerted effort by leaders to find a candidate who would investigate issues in the community.
In other business, City Manager Douglas Sample said that Duquesne also continues to advance with plans for a Home Rule Study Commission. He said he’s waiting for direction from state officials.
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January 07, 2025 |
By T.J. Martin | Posted in: White Oak News
Residents of White Oak Borough will face no real estate tax increase under the 2025 budget approved as 2024 closed. They will, however, pay more to have their garbage collected, and those who work in the borough will pay more to do so.
At a special meeting last week, the White Oak Borough Council voted 5-2 to approve the budget, which calls for expenditures of $6.67 million and projected revenues of $6.13 million. The difference of approximately $541,000 will be made up for from the borough’s reserve fund.
The votes against the budget were cast by George Pambacas and Amanda DePaulis.
Pambacas had an issue with the portion of the budget which allows for 13 police officers plus a chief of police.
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January 07, 2025 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Keenon Mikell, chief operating officer, and Keith Giles, chief executive officer, relax in the new community room at First Step Recovery Homes’ Olive Street facility. (Tube City Almanac photo)
A new housing facility in a former Downtown elementary school will provide safe, temporary homes to up to 40 men who are in the process of re-entering the workforce after drug or alcohol treatment.
Last month, First Step Recovery Homes held an open house inside its new facility at 416 Olive St. The building, constructed in the 1950s as St. Mary German Catholic School, was most recently used by FamilyLinks.
Keith Giles, chief executive officer of First Step, said the facility — which had been set up for the needs of children and young adults — needed extensive remodeling before it could begin accepting its first residents. Nine people were staying at Olive Street in December.
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January 07, 2025 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
• Download a copy of McKeesport’s 2025 Budget
• Download Mayor Michael Cherepko’s 2025 Budget Message
McKeesport’s financial story remains a tale of “doing more with less,” Mayor Michael Cherepko said in his 2025 budget message.
In December, city council passed a $25 million spending plan with no tax increase — but with a $100 annual increase in the municipal service fee that is largely allocated toward the cost of trash collection.
Residents took to social media to complain about the increase.
“The 33 percent increase in user fees is directly related to a more than 100 percent increase in the city’s cost of garbage collection,” Cherepko said in his budget message. “Our budget has eaten that cost over the last few years, and yet we are only going after 33 percent. In all honesty, I didn’t feel comfortable pursuing this increase until our service was satisfactory.”
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