Kellen Stepler stories, Page 7
Group of 5 sworn-in to launch new Bridgeville Shade Tree Commission
Five women were sworn-in to Bridgeville’s inaugural shade tree commission on Oct. 6. Jen Brilmyer was named chairperson; Courtney Tolmer was appointed as vice chairperson and Alison Thomas was named secretary. Other commission members include Virginia Schneider and Kayla Lawrence. The borough established the commission this year. Shade tree commissions...
Rally tries to reverse pending closure of United Physicians office in New Kensington
Ed Freeman has been going to the United Physicians clinic in New Kensington “for what seems like forever.” “My father came here, and he lived to be 85,” said Freeman, who lives in the Mount Vernon neighborhood of New Kensington. “And that’s how I ended up going here.” But come...
Chartiers Valley kindergarteners learn more about policing
Kindergarteners in the Chartiers Valley School District gave a special thank you to area police officers while also learning more about the profession. On Oct. 1, three kindergarten classrooms at Chartiers Valley Primary School participated in a “Coffee with Cops” event as part of the district’s “World of Work” career...
CMU cuts 75 employees in its Software Engineering Institute
Carnegie Mellon University on Wednesday cut 75 staff positions at its Software Engineering Institute. The cut represents 10% of the institute’s overall workforce, according to Cassia Crogan, CMU spokeswoman. Crogan told TribLive the cuts were a “variety of roles and titles across the institute.” She didn’t say how it would...
Mayor defends New Kensington water authority board appointment
A divided New Kensington Council appointed a retired Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County employee to the New Kensington Water Authority board. Council voted 3-2 to appoint Tom Ceraso to the water authority board, for a term that expires at the end of 2027. One resident, Melvyn Smith, believed Ceraso’s appointment...
Retention, community college transfers highlight Pa. state system’s enrollment increase
Fall enrollment at the 10 universities that make up the state system of higher education increased for the first time in more than a decade, with the biggest gains coming from retention and community college transfers, according to data released Tuesday. Enrollment in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education...
New Kensington man charged with causing serious injuries to his baby
A New Kensington man is accused of causing serious injuries to his 2-month-old infant. New Kensington police filed aggravated assault, child endangerment and obstruction charges against Jacob Alexander Piontek, 25, after his child suffered seizures, a stroke and brain trauma after being in his care, according to a criminal complaint....
Lower Burrell VFW’s Vietnam-era helicopter restored with help from Forbes Road students
The Vietnam-era helicopter outside VFW Post 92 in Lower Burrell has been restored thanks to the help of students from the Forbes Road Career and Technology Center in Monroeville. Last weekend, students from Forbes’ SkillsUSA chapter partnered with A-K Valley Back the Blue to repaint the helicopter, displayed outside the...
New Kensington to increase license fees for skill games
New Kensington anticipates generating about $30,000 in additional revenue under a proposal that would increase the license fee for mechanical skill games. Council this week advanced a plan to increase annual license fees for skill games from $300 to $750, which is an increase of about 150%. “It’s my opinion...
No students seriously injured in Moon bus crash
Moon Area School District elementary students were safe and accounted for after their bus crashed with another vehicle in Moon Township on Monday afternoon, according to authorities. At 3:48 p.m., first responders were dispatched to the intersection of Montour Run Road and FedEx Drive for the crash, according to the...
Car rams into Pizza Hut in Harrison
A Tarentum woman suffered a medical emergency before her car crashed into the Pizza Hut in Harrison on Monday night. Harrison police were dispatched to the crash at around 6:45 p.m. Monday at the Pizza Hut, 3036 Freeport Road, said Chief Brian Turack. Two people were inside the car when...
Bus crashes into house in Forward Township
A school bus ran into a house Monday afternoon in Forward Township. At 3:32 pm, the bus rammed into a building at 3206 Rainbow Run Road, according to Allegheny County Emergency Services. When crews from the Gallatin Sunnyside Volunteer Fire Department arrived on scene, responders saw that the bus had...
New Kensington’s Rhythm Ridez expands spin studio
Shayle Prorok wants to remove the negative connotation of the word exercise. “Why can’t it be fun?” said Prorok, owner of the Rhythm Ridez spin studio at 878 Fifth Ave. in New Kensington. “I want to create that atmosphere. “Wherever they are on their health journey, they’re pedaling. I want...
Faces of the Valley: Upper Burrell’s Betty Beestrice has township’s history at her fingertips
If you want to know something about Upper Burrell, ask Betty Beestrice. You’ll not only get a detailed answer, but after she sifts through the numerous pictures, newspaper clippings and other documents she and her late husband, Bill, have collected over the years, you’ll walk away with at least 10...
New Kensington man arrested following evacuation of apartment building where he lives
A gunshot and the discovery of what appeared to be two grenades led to the evacuation of a New Kensington apartment building Thursday night. The incident began shortly before 9:30 p.m. with an altercation at Valley Royal Court, an apartment complex along Fifth Avenue, that led to a man firing...
PennWest enrollment declines slightly but is ‘steadying,’ official says
During her first semester at Kent State University in fall 2023, Alison Jones realized she wanted to attend a smaller university where she would be able to make her mark. “Kent was a little too big for me,” said Jones, 20, of Edinboro. “Transferring to Edinboro, there’s obviously a lot...
Alle-Kiski Valley municipalities escape the pinch of state budget impasse
Unlike school districts and county governments, Alle-Kiski Valley municipalities aren’t sounding the alarm on how the state’s budget impasse is affecting their coffers or future projects. In fact, unless the impasse continues well into next year, local governments won’t be feeling it at all. “It’s really not hurting us at...
Upper Burrell data center to be live by end of year
The TECfusions data center in Upper Burrell will be live by the end of this year, according to founder Simon Tusha. Part of the 1,395-acre site, located at the former Alcoa Research Center, already has been built out to accommodate some tenants, Tusha said. The Florida-based company is working through...
Pitt’s Oakland enrollment increases 4%; numbers stable elsewhere
Enrollment at the University of Pittsburgh’s Oakland campus has increased by roughly 4%, according to data released Wednesday. Pitt reports more than 31,200 students attending the campus this fall, an increase from 29,927 last fall. Of those, about 21,380 are undergraduates, about 1,000 more than last fall; and 9,849 are...
Former Rite Aid building in Lower Burrell could be enticing location for retailers
The location of a former Rite Aid in Lower Burrell, near the Route 56 and Leechburg Road intersection, could make it attractive to a potential retailer, city officials say. “What we’ve found is large retail establishments, they insist on having a four-lane highway,” said Councilman David Stoltz. “With that building,...
Sorcan appointed as Scott commissioner
A longtime volunteer in Scott Township has been chosen to fill an open seat on the board of commissioners. Jane Sorcan was appointed in September to fill the Ward 2 commissioner seat vacated by Brandon Edwards. “I have been active in Scott Township as a volunteer for a number of...
Suspect in 2024 Stowe homicide taken into custody in Maryland
A Stowe homicide suspect on the run for nearly a year was taken into custody Monday in Maryland. Dacahary Sampson, 32, is charged with shooting and killing James Nelson Jr., 42, of McKees Rocks, the afternoon of Aug. 12, 2024, along the 400 block of Pleasant Ridge Road. The U.S....
Carbon monoxide, gas alarms triggered before fatal explosion at U.S. Steel Clairton facility, authorities say
Carbon monoxide and gas alarms were triggered leading up to a fatal explosion at the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works site Aug. 11, according to information released by the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. Preliminary investigations into the blast, released Monday by the CSB, indicate the explosion occurred...
Chartiers Valley names homecoming court
Chartiers Valley High School has announced its homecoming court. The members are Lleyton Fox, Ryan Fox, Dylan Heffley, Marc Little, Tristan Mayo, Brady Bart, Kaylen Bin, Delaney Fox, Shaffer Kinnee and Olivia Pollak. The homecoming dance, themed “Tropical Oasis,” is Oct. 4....
Former Newport Business Institute building in Lower Burrell to be demolished
The former Newport Business Institute in the Kinloch section of Lower Burrell will be demolished. City officials will move forward with plans to demolish the building at 945 Greensburg Road. “We’re excited to see this next, and massive, step forward with that property,” Mayor Chris Fabry said. “Razing that building...
