Kellen Stepler stories, Page 46
Co-teaching program at Acmetonia boosts learning, test scores
The lesson in Scott Andrews’ fifth grade English Language Arts class Wednesday was about sentence structure. But as students worked through their assignments, it wasn’t just Andrews teaching. Chelsea Brody, a special education teacher, was working in tandem with Andrews and the students as part of a co-teaching program at...
Work underway to plug 2 abandoned gas wells in Scott
Two leaking abandoned gas wells in Scott are being plugged. The state Department of Environmental Protection initiated an emergency project to plug two leaking abandoned natural gas wells along Scrubgrass Road in Scott, the agency announced Monday. The project started Tuesday. Crews will be cutting down trees and potentially flaring...
Cheswick teen’s passion for giving back earns Junior Achievement’s 18 Under Eighteen distinction
Emma Winkler’s goal is to make the world a better place, and she’s starting in her own backyard to make that happen. Winkler, 16, of Cheswick has led a senior prom and winter formal dance at Longwood at Oakmont in Plum, where she also works as a part-time server. She...
Brackenridge man who led high-speed chase into Beaver County was in Ohio to solicit sex from a minor, AG says
A Brackenridge man who led authorities on a high-speed chase from Ohio into Beaver County last week originally crossed state lines to allegedly have sex with a minor, according to authorities. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced Tuesday that Adam Hileman, 43, has been charged with compelling prostitution, attempted sexual...
1 taken to hospital in 2-vehicle collision that sent van into building in Harrison
One person was taken to a hospital after their car struck another vehicle at the intersection of Freeport and Burtner roads in Harrison and pushed it into a building. Just before 4 p.m. Monday, an orange car was traveling westbound on Burtner Road when it hit a white cargo van...
Allegheny Valley school officials want to upgrade Springdale High School’s auditorium lobby
Allegheny Valley School District officials want to upgrade the lobby of the high school’s auditorium. Some school directors and administrators held a meeting Thursday with Terry Thompson, vice president of the Foreman Group, over possible updates to the school’s Marshall Auditorium lobby. The next step in the process, Thompson said,...
Harrison man accused of stealing $3,000 worth of items from Lowe’s, man’s truck
Frazer police have filed charges against a Harrison man accused of stealing more than $3,000 worth of items from the Pittsburgh Mills Lowe’s and a man’s truck in the parking lot. Terrance Guy Cichello, 49, is charged with retail theft, receiving stolen property and theft from a motor vehicle —...
Demolition contractors file appeal against Springdale boiler house ruling
Two days after the owner of the former Springdale power plant challenged a court decision halting the implosion of its boiler house, attorneys representing the demolition contractors added their own appeal. The attorneys for Grant Mackay Co. and Controlled Demolition Inc. filed a joint statement, citing what they consider errors...
East Deer resident among 3 named as civil service commissioners for regional police force
East Deer is now represented on the Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department’s civil service commission. District Judge Michael Girardi on Wednesday gave the oath of office to Joe Ferrero of Cheswick, Erin Auvil of Springdale Township and John Nwranski of East Deer for terms on the commission. The main responsibility...
Lawsuit over reimbursement fees a factor in independent pharmacy struggles, expert says
In light of two local pharmacies shuttering their doors Wednesday, some are pointing to an ongoing federal lawsuit industry experts say was set into motion by alleged wrongful penalties for prescriptions. The fees are called pharmacy direct and indirect remuneration fees. They’re charged to pharmacies under Medicare Part D regulations...
Werner Avenue in Bridgeville to close until mid-June
Werner Avenue in Bridgeville, between Chartiers and James streets, will be closed to local traffic until mid-June so crews can repair multiple landslides along the side of the road, said Bridgeville Manager Joe Kauer. The stretch of road closed Thursday, Feb. 1. The project includes building a steel beam and...
Police make arrest in 2023 East Vandergrift shooting
A Bell Township man faces criminal charges after he shot into a vehicle last year in East Vandergrift, causing more than $14,000 in damages, according to police. Frank Callipare, 62, is charged with criminal mischief and property damage, a third-degree felony, over shots fired during an incident in March in...
Power plant property owner says judge erred by granting injunction in Springdale boiler house demolition
The owner of the former power plant in Springdale cites eight reasons why an Allegheny County judge erred in granting a preliminary injunction to block an implosion of the boiler house at the site. In a court filing Tuesday, lawyers representing Charah Solutions outlined their points against the December order...
Pittsburgh Brewing Co. unveils new Mount Washington billboard design
Iron City Beer is back on top of the hill. Pittsburgh Brewing Co., headquartered in East Deer, restored its billboard on Mount Washington to again advertise Iron City Beer. Its sister brand, I.C. Light, was on the billboard for seven months. The new design emphasizes the importance of the billboard...
‘He was larger than life’: Emilio ‘Chummy’ Saldari dies at 99
A World War II veteran and community servant well-known throughout the Allegheny Valley has died. Emilio “Chummy” Saldari of Springdale Township died Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. He was 99. Saldari attended Springdale High School and was drafted to serve in World War II in 1943. He was sent to France,...
Bower Hill VFD celebrates 100 years of service in Scott Township
In an era where local volunteer fire departments are struggling, the Bower Hill Volunteer Fire Department in Scott Township is going strong as it celebrates its 100th year of service. Township commissioners recognized the department during their January meeting. “As we look into the future, my hope is that we...
Demolition, legal battle continue at former power plant in Springdale
As the fate of the boiler house at the former power plant in Springdale is hung up in the courts, crews continue to take down other buildings at the site. “Generally speaking, we’ve been making progress on some of the other buildings throughout the site,” said Scott Reschly, vice president...
Springdale woman pleads guilty in connection to daughter’s death
A Springdale woman pleaded guilty Thursday in connection with the death of her 5-year-old daughter in June. Samantha Allison McMunn, 34, of the 40 block of Duquesne Court pleaded guilty to a felony count of involuntary manslaughter in the death of her daughter, Diem McMunn-Gereshenski, according to court records. Springdale...
New Springdale High School classes aimed at boosting student cooking, technical skills
When students begin the semester in one of Mandy Harrison’s family and consumer science courses at Springdale High School, they don’t know much about home economics or kitchen skills. Some aren’t sure which pots or pans to use to make a certain food. Others don’t know how to prep the...
Apollo man identified as victim in Harmar car crash
Authorities identified an Apollo man as the victim in a Wednesday morning crash in Harmar. According to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office, Richard C. Bailey, 65, died just after 8 a.m. Wednesday. His car crashed into a creek near Gulf Lab Road and Anchor Drive in Harmar. It’s unclear...
West Deer to revisit zoning ordinance draft
West Deer’s draft zoning ordinance isn’t necessarily going all the way back to the drawing board, but it will undergo some more editing. The township held a public hearing on the draft last week. Supervisors did not vote on the proposal. “Based in part on some of the comments that...
Man whose car went into Harmar creek found dead in vehicle
A man whose car sped through a Harmar parking lot Wednesday morning before rolling over and landing in a creek was found dead in the vehicle, but it remains unclear what caused the crash or the man’s death. The crash happened just after 8 a.m. off Gulf Lab Road, near...
Truck smashes into New Kensington gun shop; 2 dozen firearms stolen
Federal authorities are offering a reward for information about the theft of about 25 firearms from a New Kensington gun store early Monday. A truck was used to smash through the door at RC Firearms on Freeport Street. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the National...
West Deer to promote part-timers to replace retiring longtime police officers
Two officers with a combined 60 years of experience are retiring from the West Deer Police Department. To ease the loss, the township elevated two part-time officers to full-time status and also hired two new part-timers. The township supervisors accepted the notice of the resignations of Sgt. Darren Mikus and...
In brief: Bridgeville, Carnegie area news and events, week of Jan. 22, 2024 and beyond
Carnegie Borough awarded funding to rehabilitate Main Street bridge Rep. Anita Kulick, D-Allegheny, announced Jan. 16 that Carnegie earned $150,000 to rehabilitate the Carnegie Main Street bridge. The bridge was originally built in 1967. “By repairing the Carnegie Main Street Bridge, we make our roadways safer for those traveling through...
