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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January 03, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, State & Region
(Tube City Almanac file photo)
State Rep. Matt Gergely has been hospitalized for what was described as a “medical emergency” by a spokesperson for the state House Democratic Caucus. Few other details were released.
The McKeesport Democrat won a special election in 2023 to fill the 35th District seat, which was left vacant when former state Rep. Austin Davis of McKeesport was elected lieutenant governor.
In November, Gergely was elected to a full two-year term. His illness was first reported Friday by Pittsburgh public radio station WESA-FM.
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January 03, 2025 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Download printable version)
McKeesport’s 2025 recycling calendar was published incorrectly in this quarter’s edition of “In McKeesport Area” magazine, the mayor’s office has announced.
The correct calendar is attached and available on the city’s website.
McKeesport participates in single-stream recycling, which means residents can dispose of paper, cardboard, plastics Number 1 through 7, and aluminum or bi-metal cans by placing everything in a single bin, the city said.
The holiday scheduling for trash and recycling pickup affects customers whose service falls on a holiday. The entire week will be one day behind when a holiday falls on a Monday. When the holiday falls on any other day, the only days that will be affected are those following the holiday within the holiday week. If the holiday falls on a weekend, there will be no delay.
December 30, 2024 |
By Danielle M. Smith - Public News Service | Posted in: State & Region
As President-elect Donald Trump takes office, federal safety net programs such as Medicaid, CHIP and SNAP, which support 85 million low-income Americans, may face cuts to reduce inflation and debt.
In Pennsylvania, 40 percent of the child population is covered through Medicaid.
Carolyn Myers, communications director for Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, said Medicaid has been instrumental in reducing the child uninsured rate. Cuts to the program will threaten coverage and benefits to the 1.2 million children currently enrolled in Pennsylvania.
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December 30, 2024 |
By Danielle M. Smith - Public News Service | Posted in: State & Region
In January, low-wage workers in Pennsylvania will be missing out on pay hikes seen in 23 other states.
Neighboring states such as Ohio are starting the new year with higher minimum wages.
Gillian Kratzer, deputy director of the advocacy group Better Pennsylvania, said the state’s minimum wage has stayed the same as the federal minimum wage, $7.25, since 2009. Her group argues that a better economy requires people to have money to spend.
“When you are living not just at minimum wage but even within some distance above it, you do not have money to spend, you are living paycheck to paycheck,” Kratzer said.
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