Kellen Stepler stories, Page 13
Urgent care facility on tap in Allegheny Township
Allegheny Township residents soon won’t have to drive far for emergency medical care. Township supervisors Chairman Jamie Morabito said a walk-in, urgent care facility is in the works for 48 Towne Center Drive, near the magistrate’s office. “I’m real excited about it,” said Supervisor Mike Korns. “It’s in a good...
Tuition increase approved for state-owned universities for 1st time in 7 years
Tuition for state universities is set to increase by 3.6% for students this fall, but that figure could decrease if state funding increases, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education said Thursday. In-state undergraduate tuition for this academic year will increase by $139 per semester, to $3,997 per semester, according...
Kinloch streets marked for Lower Burrell summer paving
More than 20 streets in Lower Burrell are on tap to be paved this year. City Council on Monday approved a contract of close to $235,000 with Russell Standard to chip-seal 19 streets — the majority of which are in Kinloch — this summer. The full list of roads, according...
Lower Burrell approves cooperative fire agreement: ‘a realistic solution,’ mayor says
A cooperative fire agreement among Lower Burrell, New Kensington and Arnold fire departments has won approval from Lower Burrell officials. Council approved plans outlining rules to establish a Tri-Cities duty crew for daytime volunteer fire coverage among the three cities. “I’m very excited for the Tri-City duty crew and its...
Historic Carnegie park stone pavilion restored, rededicated
Chuck Woods says his family history exemplifies the story of immigrants coming to Pittsburgh. In the early 1900s, Woods’ grandfather, Domenico Masciantonio, came to Pittsburgh from Italy with his brother, Pietro, and sister, Maria. The trio settled in Carnegie’s Cubbage Hill where Domenico worked as a stone mason. And during...
Burrell elementary school expansion to be tweaked after bids come in over budget
Burrell School District officials need to pare the cost of construction projects at Bon Air Elementary School after bids came in over budget. The lowest bid for Bon Air’s proposed cafeteria and kitchen addition, and heating and cooling projects, came in at $12.6 million, according to Superintendent Shannon Wagner. “That...
Shoe Sensation nearing opening date in Allegheny Township
A Shoe Sensation is coming to Allegheny Township. The store, in the Hyde Park Plaza, 451 Hyde Park Road, tentatively plans a soft opening Aug. 15, according to a representative from Shoe Sensation. The representative offered no other details about the store. Shoe Sensation sells an assortment of shoes and...
PennDOT rejects Lower Burrell’s request to outlaw jake brakes on stretch of Route 56
The loud roar of diesel trucks using brake retarders will continue to be heard on Route 56 between Hillcrest Drive and Leechburg Road in Lower Burrell. City officials in April had requested that PennDOT look into outlawing brake retarders, commonly known as jake brakes, on that stretch of road after...
Girl’s fall from Leechburg Bridge under investigation, officials say
Leechburg officials said Tuesday they’re still investigating after a girl fell from the Leechburg Bridge on Monday night. First responders were dispatched to the Leechburg Bridge at around 7:30 p.m. for a juvenile who had fallen from the bridge and onto the shoreline along the Kiski River. It’s unclear at...
Lower Burrell’s Kotecki Park to include space for dogs
Lower Burrell police Officer Derek Kotecki’s legacy will be remembered in the city in a new way. Council approved plans for a dog park at K-9 Officer Derek Kotecki Memorial Park. The dog park will be located past the outfield of the ballfield, closest to where people pull in to...
Burrell School Board to consider bids for Bon Air Elementary construction projects
The Burrell School Board will meet Tuesday to consider awarding contracts for construction at Bon Air Elementary School. The board will consider hiring contractors for a cafeteria addition, air conditioning and boiler repairs at Bon Air, said Superintendent Shannon Wagner. Bids haven’t yet been made public but architects previously estimated...
Pitt approves tuition and fee increases for fall term, lifts hiring freeze
Tuition for students at the University of Pittsburgh will increase again. The $3.2 billion budget, approved Friday by the Board of Trustees, includes a 2% tuition increase for in-state undergraduate and gradate students attending the Oakland campus, a 4% hike for out-of-state students and a 1% increase for students attending...
Arnold seeks bids for new fire engine
Arnold officials have taken the first step toward replacing a 31-year-old fire engine. Council on July 8 voted to advertise bids for a new fire engine, to ultimately replace its 1994 fire engine. “The maintenance side of it, it’s getting increasingly costly to maintain that vehicle,” said Chris O’Leath, fire...
New Kensington’s Sankofa Mansion sets grand opening date
Laurie Johnson-Wade sets high expectations for those who will attend the grand opening of the new Sankofa Mansion — formerly the Bloser Mansion — in New Kensington on Thursday. “They’ll be treated like royalty,” said Wade, who owns Sankofa with her husband, VonZell Wade. The grand opening will be the...
Man accused of armed robberies in Ohio, Crafton now faces similar charges in New Kensington
Authorities have linked a New Kensington man, already in jail in connection with armed robberies in Crafton and Ohio, to a May 2024 incident where, police say, he stole $47,000 of electronics from the AT&T store off Tarentum Bridge Road. Trey Bell, 31, is charged with robbery, theft, unlawful restraint,...
Want to be Arnold’s city controller? Petition the court, solicitor says
Arnold’s next city controller — whomever that may be — already needs some help from residents. City Solicitor Jaclyn Shaw said 10 interested registered voters need to petition the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas to fill the vacancy for city controller. Arnold has been without a controller since Toni...
Arnold resurrects Civil Service Commission, Redevelopment Authority
Arnold reactivated its civil service commission and redevelopment authority after all members of both groups resigned last month. “They both collapsed at the same time,” Mayor Shannon Santucci said. “I just made phone calls and asked people if they’d be interested.” Santucci estimated she made about 24 phone calls to...
Yoga and working out go hand-in-hand at New Kensington studio
Leah Delaney thinks the peace of yoga and the strenuous exercises of a fitness boot camp are a perfect mix. That’s why Delaney, owner of AngelWing Yoga and Wellness in New Kensington, is expanding her studio to incorporate exercise and fitness classes, including kickboxing, weight training circuits, body sculpting and...
Robert Haus appointed as Arnold officer-in-charge — again
What’s old is new again within the Arnold Police Department. Mayor Shannon Santucci on Tuesday appointed Robert Haus as officer-in-charge of the department. “We had to make a move,” Santucci said. “It’s the best resolution for the police department and the community at this time.” And it’s a move that’s...
Accessible playground, park project pitched for Arnold
When Devin Moore takes his daughters to parks and playgrounds in the New Kensington area, he finds they struggle with, or can’t use, some or all of the amenities there. And he thinks his isn’t the only family experiencing that. That’s why Moore is pitching an idea to New Kensington...
Upper Burrell police contract includes 4% pay hikes
Upper Burrell police officers have a new five-year contract that includes a 4% increase in hourly wages annually. The collective bargaining agreement, between the township and the Wage and Policy Committee of the Upper Burrell police department, takes effect Jan. 1, 2026 and expires Dec. 31, 2030. “I’m happy with...
Chartiers Center shuffles CFO, CIO positions
Bridgeville-based Chartiers Center, a nonprofit that focuses on mental health, announced leadership transitions this month. Melissa Leoni was appointed chief financial officer, which allows Lindsay Bahl to focus exclusively on the chief information officer role, according to Chartiers Center. Bahl had previously held both positions since 2014. Chartiers Center officials...
Elderly woman freed from beneath car at Lower Burrell Manor
An elderly woman was flown to a trauma center Wednesday evening after she was pinned underneath a car in Lower Burrell. Lower Burrell Co. 3 Chief Brennan Sites said crews were dispatched at 6:28 p.m. for reports of a woman trapped under a car at Lower Burrell Manor, 200 Sylvan...
Police: 19-year-old arrested following wild police chase; stolen guns, drugs recovered
A 19-year-old Hollidaysburg man is behind bars after he led police on a high-speed chase from New Kensington into Murrysville early Thursday morning. Jerome Micha McClung faces 19 charges, among them aggravated assault, DUI, receiving stolen property, endangering the welfare of children, reckless endangerment, fleeing from an officer, causing an...
Kevin and Lori Schoch named majors of New Kensington Salvation Army
The New Kensington Salvation Army has new leadership. Kevin and Lori Schoch took over as majors of the New Kensington Salvation Army, 255 Third St., last week. The Schochs, married 40 years, said they look forward to learning more about the New Kensington community. “We’ll spend a lot of time...
