Kellen Stepler stories, Page 47
Donors needed to give blood as supply falls to critically low levels
Randy Beatty had a good reason to donate blood for the first time in the 1980s. His grandfather needed it, and Beatty, of Parks Township, wanted to be the one to help. Since that day, he has tried to donate blood as often as he can. “You never know when...
Opportunities endless at Cheswick’s Rachel Carson Park, officials say
Rachel Carson Park in Cheswick has no permanent restrooms, no direct riverfront access and really not much other space for people to gather. But borough officials are working to change that. And a state grant to the tune of just over $200,000 will help park revitalization come along. “We’re really...
Allegheny Valley school directors disagree on, but ultimately approve, Portrait of a Graduate study
Allegheny Valley School Board members agree they want Springdale High School graduates to be productive members of the community, but how exactly to get there caused some disagreements among the board. School directors Tuesday approved an agreement with the Consortium for Public Education to create a district-specific Portrait of a...
Burrell swim co-op with Kiski causes some waves
While Burrell School District is eyeing a swimming cooperative agreement with Kiski Area for the next two years, it’s unclear what the future may hold for Burrell’s pool. And that’s causing some waves between the Bucs’ swimming community and school officials. Burrell swimmers, parents and swim team alumni took their...
Deer Lakes recognized for academic achievement in AP courses
Work to increase Advanced Placement courses at Deer Lakes High School is paying off. The high school recently earned the AP School Honor Roll bronze award, district spokesman Shawn Annarelli said. Only 30% of the more than 15,000 eligible schools in the United States and Canada earned the recognition. “We...
Mogie’s Irish Pub in Lower Burrell to reopen with late owner’s children at helm
Kelsie Magill plans to carry on in her late father’s footsteps. “My goal is to live up to what he believed in — and then some,” said Magill, 22. That includes reopening her father’s popular Lower Burrell bar and restaurant. Magill and her brother, Connor, two of David “Mogie” Magill’s...
Springdale basketball team learns from its 1989 championship counterparts
Springdale’s boys basketball team attended Monday’s practice to touch up on skills and prep for their games this week. Players also got a lesson in life from a team they hope to emulate. Before practice, Scott Andrews, a member of the Dynamo 1989 boys basketball WPIAL championship team, spoke to...
Funding for Lower Burrell park projects ‘a nice win,’ mayor says
Walking the extra loop at Lower Burrell’s K-9 Officer Derek Kotecki Park trail will take a little longer, but it will be paved. And basketball players at Burrell Lake Park soon will be able to enjoy a new surface on the courts. The work will be covered by a $108,757...
Springdale appoints injunction plaintiff to vacant council seat; demolition permit renewed
A man involved in litigation to block the implosion of the boiler house in Springdale has been appointed to a two-year term on borough council. Springdale Council on Tuesday appointed Joe Kern, 40, of Duquesne Court, to fill a vacancy left by former Councilwoman Eileen Miller. Kern said he sought...
Gallagher sets big goals as new Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall executive director
Marlee Gallagher loves telling stories. She’ll now be telling the story of the historic Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall. Gallagher, 35, of Carnegie is stepping into the role of executive director for the Library and Music Hall. She started the position Jan. 2. “I’m most looking forward to...
Penn State New Kensington to host conference on artificial intelligence
Penn State New Kensington will be hosting a conference focused on how faculty at higher-education institutions can adapt to the fast-changing technology of artificial intelligence and implement it in their classrooms. The campus in Upper Burrell will host the “Future Readiness Conference” for higher-education faculty Jan. 26. People interested in...
Snow causes headaches, similar storm could return by week’s end
Western Pennsylvania is in for another round of snow by the end of the week, meteorologists warned. Tuesday morning’s snowfall dropped about 2 to 4 inches across the region. It caused about 200 school cancellations and more than a few headaches for commuters. Across Allegheny County, the average snowfall was...
East Deer commissioners mull water rate increase
While believing the township is being overcharged on water rates, the East Deer commissioners will consider a rate adjustment at their February meeting to brace for an increase from Tarentum Borough, its water supplier. During a Thursday meeting, commissioners Chairman Tony Taliani gave his colleagues information on what Tarentum currently...
The ins and outs of the new Bridgeville garbage contract
Trash collection will look a little different in Bridgeville this year. The borough renewed its five-year contract with County Hauling. During the bidding process, five trash haulers expressed interest in bringing their services to Bridgeville, but only two — County Hauling and Waste Management — submitted bids, said borough Manager...
Springdale planners recommend renewing demolition permit for power plant
Springdale planners on Wednesday recommended the borough follow through with renewing a demolition permit for the former power plant. The planning commission’s recommendation came after just more than an hour of public comment, which went back and forth on differing opinions on the permit, first issued in January of last...
‘They fit just right’: Kids of Steel at Acmetonia Elementary win running shoes
Some students at Acmetonia Elementary School will now be running in style. Representatives from Kids of Steel, a program that promotes healthy living for children and families, presented red, white and blue Brooks Trace running shoes for each of the 28 fifth- and sixth-grade students at Acmetonia’s running club Wednesday....
Bridgeville approves 2024 budget with no tax increase
Bridgeville will hold the line on taxes for another year. Bridgeville council approved the borough’s spending plan for 2024 on Dec. 11. It totals just more than $7.93 million. There is no increase in property taxes, as the millage rate remains at 10 mills on land, and 6.5 mills on...
Charah files notice to appeal injunction decision regarding boiler house in Springdale
The owner of the former power plant in Springdale has 21 days to show how an Allegheny County court erred in granting a preliminary pause to imploding the boiler house at the site. Allegheny County Judge John T. McVay Jr. ordered Tuesday that Charah Solutions has 21 days to file...
Ferri, Franchick, Sarasnick sworn in to Bridgeville council
Bridgeville Council welcomed three new members at its reorganization meeting last week. Mayor Betty Copeland gave the oath of office to Jason Ferri, Shane Franchick and Jason Sarasnick on Jan. 2. Council also selected Joe Verduci to serve as council president and Bruce Ghelarducci as vice president. In other business,...
Man accused of felony aggravated assault following West Deer bar fight
A West Deer man faces a felony aggravated assault charge after, police say, he hit a man with a pool cue. Michael Richard Skiles, 49, was arrested and charged Friday. A preliminary hearing before District Judge Tom Swan is scheduled for Jan. 24. West Deer police said they, along with...
Burrell student to serve as Lower Burrell junior councilman
A teenager will be joining the ranks of Lower Burrell Council. Jason Wagner, 17, will be the city’s junior councilman throughout the year, Mayor Chris Fabry said. Wagner, a junior at Burrell High School, said he is looking forward to being involved in local politics. “I want to show that...
Innovative Polish Hill company looks to future of robotics, technology
Need a robot that can crawl up a metal wall? How about one with suction cup legs that can go almost anywhere? It won’t be long until robots with those abilities and more become common. In fact, you can see them now in Pittsburgh’s Polish Hill neighborhood. HEBI Robotics is...
Friends remember late Lower Burrell bar owner ‘Mogie’ Magill as loving, passionate
Hundreds of people attended a celebration of life Saturday for David “Mogie” Magill, a popular Lower Burrell restaurant owner who was shot and killed a little over two weeks ago. And as family members and friends remembered of Magill, 64, it was clear to see what prompted the large turnout...
East Deer to discuss 5% amusement tax this week; decision could come as early as next month
An amusement tax in East Deer could be enacted as soon as February. The township commissioners Thursday discussed the idea of establishing an amusement tax, in light of scheduled events at the Pittsburgh Brewing Co. facility. Township officials plan to continue the discussion Thursday, said commissioners Chairman Tony Taliani. If...
New mayor outlines goals for Lower Burrell in 2024
Lower Burrell’s new mayor took the gavel Wednesday night and prioritized continued business growth and development, community engagement and transparency. “There’s no more of us reacting to stuff,” Mayor Chris Fabry said. “We’re really going to take a proactive approach moving forward in the city, because that’s what needs to...
