Filed Under: Announcements || By
Category: Announcements || By
The City of McKeesport has announced a City Wide Cleanup for April 26. If you have an organization that wants to pitch in, call the mayor's office at (412) 675-5020, extension 605.
Are you looking to get rid of a TV or other electronic device? Before you "Toss It" remember as of January 1 of this year, many types of electronic waste are not allowed to be placed in landfills. So think of the following first, can you reuse it? Can you repurpose it? Can an family member use it? Can a nonprofit agency use it?
Category: Commentary/Editorial || By
The City of McKeesport held its first meeting of the Mayor's Committee on Community Issues on Wednesday, March 19 at 6 p.m. at the Corpus Christi Social Hall on Walnut Street.
City residents' attendance was hampered by the weather but the City Administration was well represented and included members of City Council, the Fire Department, Police Department, Recreation Department, representatives of the Housing Corporation, Community Development Department, City Solicitor and members of our local Task Force.
If the Stakeholders that were present at the meeting are any indication, and using the current meeting format, the goal --- to Focus on Solutions --- is off to a good start.
Residents were reminded that this is not a single event but an ongoing process to focus on solutions to the problems that are presented.
Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report
Penn State Greater Allegheny will offer a new four-year degree program in administration of justice, with classes beginning summer 2014, a spokeswoman said.
The major is intended for students interested in pursuing careers in criminal justice, either immediately after obtaining the baccalaureate degree or after graduate school. Students can complete either a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree.
Director of Academic Affairs and professor Margaret Signorella is ready to launch the program. "We have had students requesting this major for a long time," she said. "Many of our faculty have teaching and research interests in this area, and our new faculty member, Katherine McLean, will be on board in August to head the program."
Category: History || By Andi Cartwright
When four McKeesport-area soldiers received permission to leave Camp Barry in Washington, D.C., to attend a production of "Our American Cousin" at the Ford's Theater, they never suspected that they would become participants in the aftermath of one of the nation's most tragic occurrences.
That night, April 14, 1865, the four soldiers, Jacob Soles, Jabes Griffith, John Corey and William Sample, found themselves seated in a box on the same side of the theater as President and Mrs. Lincoln and their guests.
Jacob Soles, a miner from North Versailles Twp., recalled watching the President during the play and "noticed him laughing at one of the comical parts of the show."
Shortly after the play resumed from intermission for the third and final act, they heard the crack of a gunshot through the theater. The four reached the President "in seconds." said Soles: "We lifted him up. He felt limp, as if all of the fight had gone out of him."
Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report
All of Allegheny County's air-monitoring sites --- including those that sample the air around U.S. Steel's Clairton Coke Works --- met federal standards for certain fine particles of pollution for the first time last year.
"This is a significant milestone for Allegheny County, especially at the Liberty (Borough) air monitoring site, which historically has had the highest pollution levels in the county and was the only monitoring location until now not to meet all federal standards for fine particulate pollution," said Dr. Karen Hacker, director of the county Health Department.
"It marks a huge leap forward in our efforts to improve air quality," she said. "While our work is far from finished, we are proud to say that air quality in Allegheny County is the best it's been since the industrial revolution."
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sets standards for certain pollutants that look at the impact of pollution levels on public health. The standard now being met county-wide is for so-called PM2.5 particles --- tiny particles of pollution that are so small they can penetrate the lungs and affect other organs of the body.
Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report
McKeesport Art Group will host a demonstration by local artist Dave Coulson. Coulson is an accomplished artist in many media, but his demonstration at the March 17 meeting will be on calligraphy. He will talk about how the art is created and how calligraphy can be applied to other projects.
The meeting is at 7:30 p.m. March 17, 2014, in the art room of McKeesport Area High School, 1960 Eden Park Blvd. The public is invited. For more information, visit the group's website.
Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report
"The Civil War in Pennsylvania," a special exhibit prepared by the Senator John Heinz History Center, is coming to McKeesport.
The exhibit will be at the McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center in Renziehausen Park beginning this Saturday and continuing through April 8.
To discuss the upcoming exhibit, Michelle Wardle-Eggers, executive director of the Heritage Center, and Anne Madarasz, museum division director at Heinz, will be our guests on Friday's episode of "Two Rivers, 30 Minutes." The program airs at 9:30 a.m. on WEDO (810) and can be downloaded Friday afternoon from Stitcher and iTunes.
The Civil War in Pennsylvania includes four historical figures, along with panels describing Pennsylvania's contributions to the Civil War. In conjunction with this traveling exhibit, McKeesport's history museum will host a secondary exhibit focusing on the regiments recruited from McKeesport, and that secondary display will be on display from March through July.
There is no admission fee to visit the museum and view this exhibit. For more information, call (412) 678-1832 or visit the website.
Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report
The Allegheny County Department of Human Services' Project Prom Giveaway will open this weekend. Eligible county high school students will be offered the opportunity to select from among hundreds of new and gently worn dresses in the latest trends.
For more than 10 years, Project Prom has provided eligible high school students the opportunity to choose free formal attire from a selection of thousands of donated items.
The shop carries a wide range of sizes and colors, and also has accessories including shoes, purses, wraps and jewelry to complete the ensemble. Each participant will be paired with a personal stylist to help them find the perfect gown and accessories.
The shop will open at 10 a.m. this Saturday on the third floor of Century III Mall in West Mifflin. For more information about Project Prom, visit www.alleghenycounty.us/dhs/projectprom.
Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report
The Allegheny County Health Department is offering homeowners an opportunity to receive funds for investing in whole-home energy upgrades that reduce energy consumption and improve indoor air quality.
The Healthy Homes Incentive Program is a partnership with Growth Through Energy and Community Health Strategies.
The program provides up to $2,500 in funds to the first 100 qualified applicants who invest at least $5,000 in whole-home energy upgrades. Only non-smoking homeowners in Allegheny County are eligible to apply for the program.
"Our program will help homeowners not only lower their energy bills but also improve their familys health through energy retrofits that enhance indoor air quality. Increasing energy efficiency also reduces power plant emissions and can help improve air quality outdoors as well," said Dr. Karen Hacker, director of the health department.
Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report
The McKeesport Area Ministerium and the Jericho People will hold community Lenten services on Wednesdays through April 9.
The services will be held at 12 noon and are non-denominational. A light lunch will be served before 1 p.m. and everyone is welcome.
Category: News || By Staff Reports
(Photo courtesy Gilbert Funeral Home and Crematory)
The McKeesport Area High School Class of 1992 is raising money to help the family of a 14-year-old Founders' Hall Middle School student who died after being struck by a dump truck on Thursday.
Alyson Higdon, an eighth-grader from the city, was struck Thursday afternoon on O'Neil Boulevard as she crossed the street with friends. She died hours later at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC in Lawrenceville.
McKeesport and Allegheny County police are investigating. The truck driver's name has not been released by police.
Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report
Longtime local journalist Harold Hayes of KDKA-TV (2) presents a history of the early years of the McKeesport unit of the NAACP on this week's edition of "Two Rivers, 30 Minutes," recorded live Feb. 22 at McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center.
That's tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. on WEDO (810), or available Friday afternoon as a free download from iTunes and Stitcher.
Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report
The state Department of Transportation is inviting interested parties to view plans for the Lincoln Way improvement project in White Oak on Monday, March 10.
The plans will be presented in an open-house format from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the White Oak Borough Building, 2280 Lincoln Way.
The approximately $6.9 million improvement project includes the installation of a center turning lane, widening of Lincoln Way, the realignment of Henderson Road and Guice Street, intersection improvements, milling and resurfacing, signal work, utility relocation, new drainage facilities, curb and sidewalk improvements, ADA ramps and other miscellaneous work. Approximately 23,580 vehicles use this section of Lincoln Way on an average day.
The plans display will identify the project details, traffic impacts, schedule, and other information. PennDOT's project team and Plum Contracting will be available for questions and answers. Comments on the proposed project will be accepted.
The display location is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. In addition, if you or an individual with whom you are familiar does not speak English as their primary language and who has a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English desires to participate in this display, or if you require special assistance to attend, call (717) 787-5891 or 1 (800) 468-4201.
Category: News || By Submitted Report
The city of McKeesport today lifted a state of disaster emergency after receiving road salt from Allegheny County, the state Department of Transportation, Monroeville and Port Vue and Liberty boroughs.
"At this time, we were able to treat all primary and secondary roadways," Mayor Mike Cherepko said in a prepared statement. "The critical situation that was potentially dangerous to the safety of residents and visitors has been alleviated."
Cherepko thanked all residents for their "cooperation and understanding during this unprecedented event," as well as the agencies and municipalities that helped the city through the crisis.
Category: Announcements || By Submitted Reports
(Updated: 11:56 a.m., 1:17 p.m.)
A critical shortage of salt for melting ice and snow has led McKeesport officials to declare a disaster emergency.
Residents are being urged to delay travel unless absolutely necessary, Mayor Mike Cherepko said. Penn State Greater Allegheny campus announced it was closing this afternoon (March 3) due to road conditions in the area.
In Westmoreland County, officials in Hempfield Twp. issued a similar warning. In nearby Sewickley Twp., officials urged caution but said they were lifting a voluntary travel restriction as of 1 p.m. today (March 3).
The city buys its salt through a joint purchasing program with the South Hills Area Council of Governments. Cherepko said road salt was ordered Feb. 10, but has yet to be shipped. The salt usually arrives within one to three days, he said.
"We have diligently rationed our remaining salt supply over the past few weeks, but it was critically depleted due to two house fires over the weekend," Cherepko said. Salt was needed to melt the ice as firefighters put out those blazes.
Roads in some neighborhoods have become "unsafe for travel," city police Chief Bryan Washowich said this morning. He asked residents who "do not have an emergency or life threatening situation" to remain at home and off of the roads until the roads can be treated.
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