Kellen Stepler stories, Page 34
New Springdale parking regulations focus on supporting borough businesses
Watch where you park in Springdale, especially if you’re a renter. The borough has outlined new rules regulating parking in the town. “We have a pretty wide parking ordinance in our codified ordinances,” Solicitor Craig Alexander said. He said council wanted to amend that to include additional “no-parking” streets, to...
Curb appeal: Springdale businesswoman pitches idea to clean up Pittsburgh Street
Kathy Crissman was appalled at what she saw as she strolled Springdale’s Pittsburgh Street during the borough’s community day in early July. “This place is dirty,” she said of the borough’s main business artery. “It has so much trash and dirt on the street.” The top issues, Crissman said, include...
Firm pitches funding ideas for Springdale Township
Springdale Township may tap a Pittsburgh-based government consulting group in its battle to obtain grant funding — an issue township officials say has been unsuccessful for years. The commissioners Thursday learned about the proposal from Nick Bonesso, president of Avanti Consulting Group. Bonesso said Avanti works with many townships in...
‘Up close and personal,’ officials paddle for the future of the Allegheny River
Advocates of the Allegheny River hope getting state and federal officials into the water will emphasize the need for more attention and funding for recreation and commercial use on the waterway. Local, state and federal officials paddled kayaks Friday morning from the Springdale to Harmar marinas, through Lock 3 on...
Housing Authority police chief to lead statewide association, tackle issues of recruitment, pay, regionalization and more
Mike Vogel prides himself on learning from others. Now Vogel, Allegheny County Housing Authority police chief since 1998, will be doing that on a statewide scale. Vogel, 57, of Bethel Park, was installed as president of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association in July. His tenure begins during a time...
West Deer to weigh future of old municipal building; new complex coming in under budget, ahead of schedule
West Deer is seeking bids to demolish its municipal building, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that’s the building’s fate. Although the township posted documents to secure bids for demolition and asbestos abatement for the municipal building at 109 E. Union Road, manager Dan Mator said the measures are preliminary. “In...
11-year-old killed in Natrona crash ‘brought people together’
Tony Cszimadia takes it a little bit at a time when he visits the growing makeshift memorial for his daughter, Roxanne Alexis Bonnoni, on North Canal Street in Harrison. “She went through life a very caring person,” Cszimadia said of 11-year-old Roxanne, who died Tuesday evening when she was struck...
Springdale approves ordinance against squatting
Rules to deter squatters are officially on the books in Springdale. Council on Tuesday approved an ordinance against squatting — a situation where people take over an often-vacant structure or property without permission to be there. Council President Mike Ziencik referenced nearby communities that have had issues with squatters when...
Burrell Lake Park effort ‘the perfect project at the perfect time’
Cash Wyble just felt concertgoers should have a place to sit when enjoying a show at Burrell Lake Park in Lower Burrell. Wyble, 18, of Upper Burrell recently assembled and installed benches in front of the concert venue at the park. “I wanted to do it,” Wyble said. “There were...
Plans for Lower Burrell Tractor Supply store advance
Plans for a Tractor Supply store in Lower Burrell took a step forward. The city’s planning commission approved a subdivision for a Tractor Supply to be located off Greensburg Road, in the Kinloch section of Lower Burrell. The location, 108 Greensburg Road, is a vacant, wooded lot next to a...
Springdale police officer, 2 firefighters recognized for efforts during hostile arrest
Two Springdale volunteer firefighters and a borough police sergeant were honored this week for their efforts during an arrest in the spring that quickly became dangerous, according to officials. Volunteer firefighters Dan Copeland and Joseph Stanga and police Sgt. Fred Hockenberry were recognized by Mayor Joel Anderson during Springdale’s council...
Mounted horse unit visits Harrison’s Sheldon Park
Children in Harrison’s Sheldon Park community got a visit from a four-legged friend on Wednesday. Officers with the Allegheny County Police Department brought Milo, a horse in its mounted unit, to the Booker Center at Sheldon Park. About 20 children and their families had the opportunity to feed Milo a...
Springdale outlines short-term rental rules
People wanting to operate short-term rentals in Springdale will have to abide by rules set by council Tuesday night. “We haven’t had any type of ordinance set in place for these types of properties,” Councilman Dan Copeland said. “It’s going to give us some type of insight as to what’s...
Dimperio to lead CV superintendent search, board hires finance director
If all goes according to schedule, Chartiers Valley School District will have a permanent superintendent by October or November. That’s the timeline set by the school board, as it voted Aug. 13 to have its interim superintendent, Joseph Dimperio, lead the superintendent search at an amount not to exceed $5,000....
‘Char Valley, Let’s Rally’: Pep rally revs up Colts fans, community
Chartiers Valley’s football boosters brought together members of the community in a fun way. The booster club held its second annual community pep rally Friday, Aug. 16 at the Primary School’s field. The event included football players and cheerleaders from kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as the dance team...
Frazer shooting suspect reaches deal to pay victim’s medical bills, plead guilty to lesser charge
A West Deer man accused of shooting a man during a scuffle at a Frazer auto salvage yard will cover the other man’s medical bills and then plead guilty to a summary charge of disorderly conduct, according to a deal announced Monday. That was the consensus reached among District Judge...
PennDOT approves reduction to 45 mph on section of Greensburg Road in Upper Burrell
A remedy to combat speeding on Greensburg Road in Upper Burrell is on the way. PennDOT officials approved reducing the speed limit from 55 to 45 mph in the 2200 block of Greensburg Road, or Route 366. The township requested a traffic study after fielding complaints from neighbors who advocated...
Burrell School District considers new internal communication system for emergencies, drills
Burrell School District officials are eyeing improvements to the district’s internal communication system for emergencies. The school board is considering a service agreement with Emergent 3 for technology software to handle internal communications among district staff during emergencies or drills. The contract would be for a three-year term. The first...
Deer Lakes Park, Burrell Lake Park dealing with lake water issues; officials eye treatment plans
The lower lakes at Deer Lakes Park are “virtually unfishable,” said Tom Fitzgerald, a longtime fisherman and East Deer resident. Fitzgerald walks the park nearly every day and notes three glaring issues with the ponds: overgrowth, algae and lily pads out of control. “There are parts where it looks like...
Study to determine feasibility of roundabout at tricky Chartiers Street intersection
A Robinson-based traffic engineering firm will analyze the feasibility of a roundabout at a Chartiers Street intersection that straddles Bridgeville and Upper St. Clair. Bridgeville Council on Monday, Aug. 12 authorized working with Upper St. Clair to have Trans Associates prepare a roundabout traffic analysis, plan and estimate to determine...
Increased police presence in Harrison’s Sheldon Park ‘paying huge dividends’Video
Promised foot patrols by police officers in Harrison’s Sheldon Park neighborhood have led to fewer altercations in the neighborhood and a better rapport between law enforcement and residents, officials say. In response to a shooting in the neighborhood nearly two months ago, Allegheny County Housing Authority Police Chief Mike Vogel...
Career readiness framework and outdoor classroom are new at Chartiers Valley
Chartiers Valley is launching a new program to help prepare students to become career ready. This year, the district will join the RIASEC framework which asks students about their aspirations, skills, and interests in different jobs to help them learn about careers and fields of study. RIASEC includes six characteristics:...
Michelle Peduto, former superintendent of Pittsburgh Catholic schools, dies
Michelle Peduto, the former superintendent of the Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, died Tuesday. Peduto served Catholic schools in the Diocese of Pittsburgh for more than 21 years, according to the diocese. She became superintendent in 2019 and stepped down in June to spend time with family. A...
J.D. Vance set to campaign at Lower Burrell VFW, but event is by invitation only, Post 92 says
Vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance will make a campaign stop in Lower Burrell on Thursday. Vance, the Republican senator from Ohio, will speak at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 92 on Wildlife Lodge Road at 10 a.m., his campaign announced Tuesday. VFW Post 92 posted on Facebook on Tuesday evening...
Wreck knocked out power to part of Lower Burrell, closed Leechburg Road for hours
A wreck closed Leechburg Road in Lower Burrell for nearly 12 hours Monday. Leechburg Road, the main thoroughfare through the city, was closed between MacBeth Drive and Edgecliff Road from 3 a.m. to 2 p.m. after a vehicle struck a utility pole. The vehicle sheered a utility pole, which fell...
