August 27, 2024 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne police have filed criminal charges against the city’s former mayor, Nickole Nesby, stemming from a traffic stop.
According to a criminal complaint, Duquesne police Officer Ryan Drohn was in a marked car and sitting stationary on Commonwealth Avenue at State Route 837 at 12:08 a.m. Aug. 7 waiting for a traffic light to turn green.
The complaint states that a black GMC SUV negotiated a wide turn off of 837 and entered his eastbound lane. Drohn wrote that the vehicle nearly struck the front driver side panel of his patrol vehicle “before turning abruptly back into the westbound lane of Commonwealth Avenue.”
According to the complaint, Drohn estimates that the SUV missed the cruiser by less than a foot. The complaint states that he turned the patrol car around and followed the SUV. He “observed it to be drifting over the double yellow line by approximately a half tire width for approximately two seconds with ongoing traffic in the eastbound lane.”
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August 26, 2024 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport police Chief Mark Steele, Rev. Dr. Moni McIntyre of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, South Allegheny school police Chief Adam Alfer and Ethel Balas of St. Stephen’s met at International Village this month. (Tube City Almanac photo)
A Downtown church is continuing its practice of providing $300 gift cards to McKeesport police officers who were on duty when a tragic shooting claimed the life of one officer and seriously injured another.
This month, members of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church provided retired McKeesport police Chief Adam Alfer with a $300 gift card for Alfer and his spouse to use at a restaurant of his choice.
Funds were donated by members of the parish, said Rev. Dr. Moni McIntyre, priest in charge of St. Stephen’s.
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August 26, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
There are things Dr. Tia Wanzo will speak about, and things she won’t. It’s a knotty position for someone who’s always considered herself “an open book.”
Currently on leave as superintendent of McKeesport Area School District, Wanzo won’t talk about her separation agreement, the board or personnel issues.
She won’t talk about the events of recent weeks — how prior to Thursday evening, rumors circulated about her continuance with MASD.
Some clarification was offered Thursday night, when after the meeting’s adjournment Solicitor Gary Matta told the public that “Dr. Tia Wanzo has requested a leave of absence from the district effective Aug. 14, 2024 until Nov. 13, 2024 at which time Dr. Wanzo will resign as superintendent of the McKeesport Area School District.”
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August 23, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Leadership at McKeesport Area School District is becoming slightly more clear. During Thursday’s special board meeting, the board approved the hiring of William Pettigrew as acting superintendent.
Pettigrew will be paid at a rate of $650 per day, $100 per week for expenses and $110 per month for cell phone expenses. According to published reports, he is the former longtime superintendent of the Mars Area School District and holds a doctorate from Penn State University.
Prior to the board’s approval, District Solicitor Gary Matta announced during a hearing of citizens that MASD Superintendent Tia Wanzo is on “a leave of absence. She had requested that leave of absence. She will be on that leave of absence for 90 days and I can’t tell you the reason due to confidentiality.”
Matta added that Wanzo has full salary and benefits during her 90-day leave of absence.
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August 23, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Tia Wanzo was sworn in as McKeesport Area School District’s superintendent in 2022 by Magisterial District Judge Eugene Riazzi. Wanzo has resigned effective Nov. 13, the district’s solicitor announced last night. (McKeesport Area School District photo)
After a contentious meeting marked by public frustration, McKeesport Area School District solicitor Gary Matta announced that the board had agreed to a separation agreement with Superintendent Tia Wanzo.
Matta, who delivered his comments after the meeting was adjourned, said that he and Wanzo’s attorney worked on the separation agreement for one week beginning the “day after the last meeting.”
During Thursday’s special board meeting neither Matta nor the board shared details regarding that separation agreement. During a hearing of citizens, several McKeesport residents voiced support of Wanzo. After that portion of the meeting concluded, the board approved agenda item “5.3 Resignation,” which called for a board action to accept the separation agreement for employee #2584. The action was approved.
Following the meeting’s adjournment, Matta confirmed that the employee was Wanzo.
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August 22, 2024 |
By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment
Nancy Caronia as Rivka Blumenthal and Alex Naglich as Michael Primmer rehearse ways they might be able to resolve a tricky situation in “They-Said, They-Said.” (Submitted photo courtesy McKeesport Little Theater)
If you go...
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McKeesport Little Theater’s Production of “They-Said, They-Said”
Written by Brenda Kenworthy
Part of the 33rd season of Pittsburgh New Works Festival
Where: Genesius Theater at Duquesne University, 1225 Seitz St., Pittsburgh (Uptown/The Bluff)
When: Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 22-25. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday shows at 8 p.m., with matinees Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Tickets: Advance discounted ticketsare $17 for adults, $15 for students. Tickets are $20 at the door.
Note: “They-Said, They-Said” is the middle one-act play presented during the three-play program each day. The other two are “Evie & Frannie Take a Detour,” produced by Stray Cat Theatre, and “I Do?”, produced by Glass Fox Productions.
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Fans of McKeesport Little Theater have another opportunity to show their support at the world premiere of an original one-act play as part of the 33rd season of Pittsburgh New Works Festival.
McKeesport Little Theater is producing “They-Said, They-Said,” by playwright Brenda Kenworthy of Garden Grove, Calif., as their entry to the festival.
For those not familiar with the process, PNWF annually solicits original, one-act plays, which are narrowed down by a panel of judges. The top 15 are selected to become full productions.
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August 19, 2024 |
By Danielle M. Smith - Public News Service | Posted in: State & Region
A state vehicle accesses a public charging station. Electric vehicle registrations increased 82 percent between 2021 and 2023. (Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection photo)
Pittsburgh is emerging as a leader in innovative solutions like electric vehicles and clean energy to combat the climate crisis, says the group Elected Officials to Protect America.
The bipartisan nonprofit, based in Rockland, Maine, is a network of elected officials who are concerned about the effects of climate change on the environment. It recently hosted a press conference in Pittsburgh to applaud the region for efforts to encourage motorists to switch to electric cars, and for projects such as Energize Pittsburgh, a pilot program designed to help low-to-moderate income homeowners to reduce their energy costs.
Statewide, in 2022, electric vehicle registrations increased by about 82 percent from the previous year, the group said. At the start of this year, more than 47,000 electric vehicles were registered in the state.
State Rep. Emily Kinkead, Democrat from Bellevue, envisions Pittsburgh as a future leader in the green economy, bolstered by strong labor unions and academic institutions.
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August 19, 2024 |
By Vickie Babyak | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
A group of friends pose for a portrait while playing a game of cards. Front left is Bill Hall from White Oak, sitting behind him is Rita Gallo from White Oak, on the opposite side of the table sitting in front, is Marlanna Steiner from West Mifflin, and behind her is Kathy Sloan from Elizabeth Twp. (Vickie Babyak photo for Tube City Almanac)
Judy Marcase of Greenock is an older adult who likes staying active and independent. She enjoys dancing, exercise and computer time. Like a number of senior citizens in the Mon Valley, she finds all three activities — and more — at her local LifeSpan resource center, located in Olympia Shopping Center.
“Growing older is challenging and I believe that being there for an older person can help change how they feel,” Marcic said.
The Mon Valley LifeSpan in Versailles is one of six resource centers in Allegheny County that also include Homestead, Bethel Park, North Fayette Twp., and the Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Chartiers and Knoxville.
LifeSpan is a non-profit resource and service center for people aged 60 plus, and has been located in Olympia Shopping Center since 2015. Each month, the center has a calendar filled with activities, and every weekday a healthy lunch is served to older adults for a suggested donation.
Amy Marcic from McKeesport, Judy Marcase from Greenock, and Deb Kebles from McKeesport pose for a portrait in front of the Life Span bingo board.
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August 19, 2024 |
By T.J. Martin | Posted in: East McKeesport News
New police Chief Scott Lowden has been with the East McKeesport department for 27 years. (T.J. Martin photo for Tube City Almanac)
There’s a new top cop in East McKeesport and next month, the borough will welcome a new councilperson as well.
At the monthly borough council meeting, Scott Lowden was sworn in as the new borough police chief. Lowden has been with the East McKeesport Police Department for 27 years, the last 25 of those as a full-time officer. As chief, Lowden will oversee a department of three full-time officers, including himself, and seven part-time officers.
He replaces Chief Russell Stroschein who retired in June.
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August 16, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Tube City Almanac file photo by Adam Reinherz)
McKeesport Area School District’s superintendent is on leave at her own request, the district’s solicitor said Friday.
In response to questions from Tube City Almanac about the status of Superintendent Tia Wanzo, district solicitor Gary Matta said, “Dr. Wanzo has requested to take a leave of absence. She is on leave effective August 14, 2024.”
Wanzo asked for a three-month leave, according to the solicitor.
The board has not yet approved an acting superintendent, he said. “Mr. [Matthew] Mols is currently the assistant to the superintendent and is the next in line until the board appoints an acting superintendent.”
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