Kellen Stepler stories, Page 19
Penn State New Kensington rallygoers say campus closure decisions ‘too fast, too final’
Meredith Carter, a senior at Penn State New Kensington, strongly believes there’s a disconnect between Penn State decision makers in State College and students at its branch campuses. Carter was among roughly 40 students, professors and community members who attended a rally Friday at the Upper Burrell campus advocating against...
Lead water service lines in New Kensington, Arnold to be replaced
Lead water service lines soon will be replaced in New Kensington and Arnold in a project that will affect 100 residential customers in the two cities. “This will replace all lead service lines. We will not have any lead lines in the New Kensington water system,” said James Matta, manager...
As data centers spread, their leaders push for transparency, consistency in state regulations
Last year, Duquesne Light Co.’s network service peak load was nearly 2,700 megawatts. And a hyperscale data center commonly ranges from 60 megawatts to several hundred megawatts, according to C. James Davis, director of rates, energy procurement and federal affairs at Duquesne Light. “A single data center could account for...
Development key issue for Lower Burrell Council candidates
Business growth and development are priorities identified for Lower Burrell by all three candidates seeking two seats on city council. Incumbent Councilman David Stoltz and newcomers Lance Anthony and Carley Logan are running for council on the Republican ballot. No Democrats filed as candidates for the primary, so it’s likely...
Ham radio broadcast to honor late Lower Burrell man, raise awareness for pancreatic cancer
Leeanna Ryba would often tease her husband, Rich, that he was off to Peter Pan’s “Never Never Land” when he’d go to Skyview Radio Society to partake in the amateur, or ham, radio activities. “He’d play with the boys. He enjoyed his time there,” Leeanna said of the society’s Upper...
Carnegie mayoral candidates want to tap into business potential
Editor’s Note: The Signal Item is only spotlighting contested races in the primary election. Both candidates seeking the Democratic nod for Carnegie mayor say they’re running to bolster growth and development in the borough. Sam Bigham, 23, and Dave Klug, 59, are the Democratic nominees seeking their party’s candidacy in...
2nd rally planned to support Penn State New Kensington
Another rally supporting Penn State New Kensington is planned this week as a decision on the Upper Burrell campus’s fate is anticipated to be made in less than a month. The “Too Fast, Too Final” rally will be at Penn State New Kensington’s main parking lot in Upper Burrell, 3550...
New Kensington’s Ethical Hope to cultivate life, community with larger space
Meredith Hedeen believes her newer and bigger space can provide people in New Kensington with a little more hope. She is nearly quintupling the size of her store, Ethical Hope, by moving to 938 Fifth Ave. and having a grand opening Friday during Downtown New Kensington’s Fridays on Fifth event....
Private school, fire office approved by Arnold Zoning Hearing Board
The Arnold Zoning Hearing Board on Tuesday gave the green light to a future private school and an administrative regional fire office. Matt DeHart of Harrison sought to return the 1704 Fourth Ave. building to its original use as a school for his Teach from DeHart Academy, a private school...
3 generations of Arnold family facing charges in drug bust
An Arnold grandmother, her daughter and 15-year-old grandson are facing criminal charges after a drug bust last week that, police say, turned up $13,000 worth of crack cocaine and suspected fentanyl. Desdrene Smith, 64, and Brittany Shelton, 34, each are charged with felony counts of possession with intent to deliver...
Fiscal responsibility, managing growth priorities to Collier commissioner candidates
Editor’s note: The Signal Item is only spotlighting contested races in the primary election. Three Collier commissioner seats are available in this year’s election. The Republican primary candidates are incumbents Wayne Chiurazzi and Karianne Suter, along with Mark Lewis and Jason Wylie. The Democratic candidates in the primary are incumbent...
Meet the candidates for Chartiers Valley School Board
Editor’s note: The Signal Item is only spotlighting contested races in the primary election. Candidates for Chartiers Valley School Board have an array of answers as to how they’d lead the district into the future. In the May 20 primary election, incumbents Mitch Montani, Herb Ohliger, Megan Sexton and Lisa...
Carlynton School board candidates key in on communication, transparency, finances
Editor’s note: The Signal Item is only spotlighting contested races in the primary election. Communication, transparency and finances are top of mind for the six candidates seeking four nominations on the Carlynton School Board. Brittany Bova, Tina Geer and Reece Smith, and incumbents Leeanne Mitchell-O’Brien, Susie Puskar and Christine Simcic...
Artificial intelligence to help Lower Burrell public works save money, plan road repairs
Lower Burrell officials expect to save a few thousand dollars annually by using artificial intelligence software to determine the quality of city roads. Council on April 14 approved a five-year agreement with Vialytics of New Jersey at a cost of $11,520 annually plus a setup fee of $2,875. “By implementing...
Penn State trustees speak out against branch campuses closing
Four current or former Penn State University trustees, including late football Coach Joe Paterno’s son, are urging the university administration not to close any of the school’s branch campuses. “The easy decision is to close campuses because it requires the least thought and inflicts pain elsewhere,” said the op-ed, published...
Outlawing noisy brakes may be uphill battle for stretch of Lower Burrell road
Lower Burrell is asking PennDOT to weigh public safety against peace and quiet on a stretch of Route 56. Council last week requested PennDOT complete a “brake retarder study,” in the section of Route 56 between Hill Crest Country Club and its intersection with Puckety Church and Leechburg roads. Mayor...
Penn State branch campus closure announcement delayed
Upper Burrell Supervisor Ross G. Walker III hopes no news is good news. The longtime township supervisor said that, since learning of the potential closure of his township’s Penn State New Kensington campus, he has not heard anything from Penn State administration regarding the school’s future. “It could make you...
Lower Burrell planners OK proposed Bon Air Elementary renovations
Regardless of which option Burrell School Board chooses when it comes to renovating Bon Air Elementary School, it has the support of Lower Burrell’s planning commission. The commission recommended approval of plans that add cafeteria and kitchen space to Bon Air, or additional cafeteria space and six additional classrooms at...
6 buildings to be razed, others renovated at New Kensington Advanced Manufacturing Park
A familiar, if not attractive, sight to motorists on the New Kensington Bridge soon will be gone. Red brick buildings, known for decades for being empty and having smashed windows, are among six at the New Kensington Advanced Manufacturing Park to be demolished over the summer as remediation efforts at...
Proposed Carnegie Elementary renovation reevaluated
A proposed renovation project at Carnegie Elementary School is being reevaluated due to costs exceeding expectations, according to Carlynton School District officials. Carlynton had planned to move forward with the renovations this summer, but the bids were higher than anticipated, according to a district statement. The base bid was about...
Collier boy could be part of golf’s next generation
When Niko Ameredes was 2 years old, his father, TJ, would take him out to the golf course with an iPad and snacks. “(Niko) would get out and putt,” said his mom, Samantha. “As time went on, he’d do a little more than putting. He’d play two holes, and that...
Infrastructure improvements for electrical service on tap in Collier
Duquesne Light officials plan for infrastructure improvements for electrical service in a problematic section of Collier to be complete by the fall. Company spokeswoman Alyssa Battaglia said Duquesne Light sent letters to customers in the Rennerdale section of Collier to update them to increased reliability in the area. Those area...
Bridgeville seeks reversal of federal decision for funding for McLaughlin Run flood project
Bridgeville is at risk of missing out $5.33 million of federal funding for a flood control project officials say would advance public safety and development in the northern end of the borough. The borough is calling on its residents to contact federal legislators to restore FEMA’s “Building Resilient Infrastructure and...
New Kensington sinkhole deemed ‘public nuisance’ now fixed
A hole in a New Kensington alley deemed a “public nuisance” by officials has been filled. Crews spent Monday and Tuesday working to fill the hole in Moss Alley in the Parnassus section of the city. “It was a great day,” said Vince Davis, who owns property nearby. The hole...
Lower Burrell nixes idea for alcohol at city parks events
Lower Burrell is scrapping plans to allow alcohol at city park events — at least for now. The proposal, according to City Manager Greg Primm, would have required alcohol vendors to be state-licensed and offer only Pennsylvania-made alcoholic products. It would have established a formal permitting system and operational rules...
