Kellen Stepler stories, Page 41
Kickin’ it old school: Acmetonia students going back to paper and pencil for math intervention
Old school is new school at Acmetonia after an initial dismal showing in math proficiency among its elementary students. The Allegheny Valley School Board last week approved purchasing SpringMath as Acmetonia’s mathematics intervention program for students in first through sixth grades for nearly $7,800. The program is included in the...
Springdale to undergo water rate study
Springdale Council is taking a closer look at its water rates in the wake of the borough increasing rates by $1.25 per 1,000 gallons for all customers in this year’s budget. Council on Tuesday authorized a study into the rates at a cost not to exceed $18,500. Valuation and Rate,...
Springdale students capture 1st place, valuable skills in stock market game
Before entering Nick Spehar’s economics class at Springdale High School, Casey Sprinkle wasn’t sure what the difference was between the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. Now, at the end of the year, he and two of his peers, Shane Parsons Jr. and Owen Scheuring, are budding stock market experts....
Armstrong County group plans lobbying trip to push for Allegheny River lock funding
As the Allegheny River Development Corp. prepares to head to the nation’s capital to lobby lawmakers for money to keep locks open along the river, they’re looking for as much support as they can get. The ARDC, a grassroots organization based in Armstrong County, works with the Army Corps of...
Country star Cole Swindell to headline Pittsburgh Brewing Co.’s summer concert series
“You Should Be Here” is what the Pittsburgh Brewing Co. might be saying to country music fans as it announces its third concert for the summer. Country music star Cole Swindell will take the stage Sept. 1 at the brewery’s amphitheater in the Creighton neighborhood of East Deer. Brewery spokeswoman...
Greensburg man dies in crash with tractor-trailer in Washington Township
A Greensburg man was killed in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday morning along Greensburg Road (Route 366) in Washington Township. Andrew Allen Malarkey, 37, was driving a Kia Forte eastbound when his car crossed the center line and collided with a tractor-trailer rig, according to the Westmorland County Coroner’s Office. He...
Abandoned dog cared for by West Deer shelter prepares to undergo 2 surgeries
Josie, an older flat-coated retriever mix, is a rainmaker of sorts. The kind that brings in money. Since the West Deer Dog Shelter took in Josie, the story of her plight is bringing in donations to help get the dog the care she needs. So far, the shelter has raised...
Scott, public works employees ink 5-year contract; new officer hired
Scott Township officals and its public works department have agreed to a new five-year contract. The contract provides for pay increases of 3.75% after the first year, 3.5% each year from 2025 to 2027, and 3.25% in 2028. Base wages will rise to $73,000 plus benefits. Township commissioners signed off...
Heidelberg Raceway featured in book published by Chartiers Valley 2nd graders
The history of the Heidelberg Raceway has been introduced to a new generation. Students in Shelley Territ’s second grade class at Chartiers Valley Primary School recently published a book, “The Story of the Heidelberg Raceway.” The Heidelberg Raceway held weekly races and other special events between 1948 and 1973. It...
Burrell Community Connections event draws nearly 1,000 people
An event to boost communication and collaboration in the Burrell School District community drew almost 1,000 people and 60 vendors. Burrell Community Connections, held Thursday evening at Charles A. Huston Middle School, brought together people from the community, school district, city government and local businesses. Activities included a “clothing closet”...
Chartiers Valley Primary students put science skills to test at annual Olympiad
Chartiers Valley first grader Ivy Woods carefully lined up her small, wooden catapult and placed a gummy bear in its bucket. And with a quick fling of the catapult, the gummy bear launched in the target’s bull’s-eye. The gummy bear launch was one of 14 stations at Chartiers Valley Primary...
Chartiers Valley increases substitute rates in effort to draw more interest
In the hope of filling more positions, Chartiers Valley School District increased its pay rates for substitutes. School directors set the increased rates during their March 26 meeting. “The pay is going to help,” said Pat Connolly, Chartiers Valley’s director of finance and operation. “Every school district in Allegheny County...
Students’ signature moves, styles highlight prom for life skills students from Valley, Burrell, Mt. Pleasant, Kiski Area
Valley High School junior Antoine Wilkerson doesn’t consider himself to be a big dancer. But as DJ Matt Roberts played more and more songs Thursday morning at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 92 in Lower Burrell, Wilkerson’s friends eventually got him onto the dance floor. Wilkerson and about 50...
Meetings scheduled for Chartiers Valley superintendent search
Taxpayers in the Chartiers Valley School District can sound off on what they’d like to see in the district’s next superintendent at two meetings later this month. Meetings are scheduled Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. in the district office training room, 2030 Swallow Hill Road; and April 22, from...
Frazer Olive Garden to pay $30,000 to settle disability discrimination claim
The parent company of the Olive Garden at the Pittsburgh Mills complex in Frazer will pay $30,000 to settle a federal lawsuit that alleged the restaurant’s management discriminated against a man by not hiring him because of his disability. GMRI, operator of the Olive Garden at Pittsburgh Mills, and the...
Penn State New Kensington students show off skills, network with future employers
Bryce Eddy knew the New Kensington cat rescue Frankie’s Friends often takes in lots of cats rescued from poor conditions. So, to take some pressure off Frankie’s team of volunteers, the Harrison native and his Penn State New Kensington classmates James Matus and Heather Shultz decided to put their skills...
Funding awarded for Sharpsburg roundabout, O’Hara sidewalks
Plans for a roundabout in Sharpsburg and sidewalks along Alpha and Gamma drives in O’Hara took a step forward. State Rep. Mandy Steele, D-Fox Chapel, announced March 26 that funding has been secured through the state’s Multimodal Transportation Fund. The fund provides grants to develop, rehabilitate and enhance modes of...
More than $16,000 in copper wire stolen from Harmar concrete plant
An East Butler man is accused of stealing copper wire from a Harmar concrete plant that, according to the business, costs them nearly $16,500 to replace. Harmar police charged Colton Shane Miner, 24, with felony counts of theft by, receiving stolen property and theft of secondary metal, along with summary...
Burrell student to perform with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
When he was in the fourth grade, Alex Platt told his parents he wanted to play the clarinet because it sounded “jazzy.” “It’s an odd reason, but that’s the reason,” said Platt, now 18 and a senior at Burrell High School. “But I stayed with it, and it’s a beautiful...
Chartiers Valley senior to compete at national business competition
Kendal Astor has been around sports her entire life. Growing up, the 18-year-old Chartiers Valley student was involved in softball and currently is the team manager for the Colts’ football, boys soccer and track teams. She competes on Chartiers Valley’s unified bocce team and is president of the school’s Best...
‘Make the town a little bit nicer’: East Deer schedules first cleanup day
An East Deer man is hoping to make a difference in the township, even if it comes down to picking up one piece of litter at a time. Adam Klingensmith is organizing what’s believed to be the township’s first cleanup day April 21. “We’re going to be picking up any...
Washington Township fire department’s auto swap brings fun, camaraderie
Dean Jacobs grew up selling popcorn at the South Park Speedway, which is what sparked his love for racing and automobiles. Later in life, he would manage B&R Speed Supply in Verona. On Sunday, he set up shop at Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department’s auto part swap meet. “I’ve been...
2 injured in Carrick shooting
Two men had leg injuries after they were shot in the Carrick section of Pittsburgh late Saturday night. At 11:45 p.m. Saturday, Pittsburgh police were dispatched to the 1600 block of Brownsville Road in Carrick for a reported shooting, said Emily Bourne, city police spokeswoman. At the scene, responders found...
Egg hatches in U.S. Steel’s bald eagle nest
An egg in the bald eagles’ nest at U.S. Steel’s Irvin plant in West Mifflin has hatched. Bald eagles Irvin and Claire, who nest near U.S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works — Irvin Plant, welcomed the first eaglet of the season Sunday morning, according to Andrew Fulton, spokesman for U.S. Steel....
Police release details about Penn Hills man’s arrest following police pursuit, crash in Mount Lebanon
A Penn Hills man wanted on several warrants was arrested by Allegheny County sheriff’s deputies Saturday morning after, authorities say, he led police on a chase through Mount Lebanon. Curtis Norvell Davis Jr., 24, was taken into custody Saturday morning after he led police on a chase that started in...
