February 28, 2025 |
By Vickie Babyak | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
JoAnne Rodgers, the first Black nurse hired by the McKeesport Area School District in 1971 (above) and Arlene Harvey, the first African American to retire from the Carnegie Free Library of McKeesport.
The local women were celebrated during a Black History Month event at McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center. (Both photos: Vickie Babyak for Tube City Almanac)
Two local women who “dared to be first” were celebrated Saturday during a Black History Month Celebration at McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center.
Arlene Harvey and JoAnne Rodgers were guests of honor and received awards during the celebration, organized by McKeesport HBCU Vision, an organization for local alumni of historically Black colleges and universities.
Harvey was the first African American to retire from the Carnegie Free Library of McKeesport, while in 1971 Rodgers was the first Black nurse to be hired by the McKeesport Area School District.
“I’m honored, it’s been a long time coming, and it was a surprise,” Rodgers said. “I’m thankful that a lot of people came to the ceremony.”
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February 27, 2025 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, State & Region
(Penn State University photo)
Local leaders are expressing concern and support for Penn State University’s campus in McKeesport following an announcement that 12 of the regional or “Commonwealth” branches could be shuttered.
On Tuesday, University President Neeli Bendapudi said that declining enrollment, increasing costs and demographic trends — including the declining population in the western part of Pennsylvania — are forcing the state-related institution to consider the future of its smaller campuses.
In addition to its main campus in Centre County, Penn State has 19 regional or Commonwealth campuses around the state. Campuses in Western Pennsylvania include McKeesport (Greater Allegheny), as well as New Kensington, Beaver County and Fayette County.
“We cannot continue with business as usual,” Bendapudi said. “The challenges we face — declining enrollments, demographic shifts and financial pressures — are not unique to Penn State, but they require us to make difficult choices. Across higher education, institutions are grappling with similar headwinds, and we have reached a moment where doing nothing is no longer an option.”
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February 20, 2025 |
By Yousuf Lachhab Ibrahim | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Auberle will host the second of two meetings this week to discuss disbursements from a health and welfare fund created in the wake of a 2018 air-pollution incident.
A public hearing will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. today (Feb. 20) at 1101 Hartman St., McKeesport (register now) to hear community input into the Mon Valley Public Health and Welfare Fund.
The fund was created as part of the settlement from the 2018 fire at the U.S. Steel Clairton Plant.
On Tuesday, Allegheny County held a virtual town hall meeting regarding the fund. Six projects have been awarded money so far, officials said.
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February 17, 2025 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Smoothies are popular among students at McKeesport Area School District.
Sushi, less so. Dietary preferences were among the highlights presented to MASD school directors by Kelly Patterson, regional director of Nutrition Inc., MASD’s food services management company, during Thursday’s school board meeting.
Aided by photos and an informational packet, Patterson shared highlights from the district's food program.
In December, MASD featured a breakfast with Santa. The district also offered a Bluey Day, which students at Francis McClure Elementary and Twin Rivers Elementary “absolutely loved,” Patterson said.
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February 10, 2025 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Plans to relocate the bike trail to the river’s edge in McKeesport have stalled. (Tube City Almanac photo)
A plan to move McKeesport’s section of the Great Allegheny Passage to the edge of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers has stalled, Mayor Michael Cherepko said Wednesday.
The cost of relocating railroad tracks and industrial operations is too expensive, and the city is looking for alternatives for the busy hiking-biking trail that forms part of a network between Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C., the mayor said in his report to council.
One of those alternatives would take the bike trail through the heart of the city’s central business district, which could provide an incentive for retail and restaurants to locate on the dormant Fifth Avenue corridor.
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February 08, 2025 |
By Vickie Babyak | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Former Steeler Russell Stuvaints signs his donated Steeler jersey for the sports wall at McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center. (Vickie Babyak photo for Tube City Almanac)
Former Steelers defensive back Russell Stuvaints donated sports memorabilia to the McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center to keep a promise to a longtime friend.
A member of the 2005 Steelers team that defeated the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL, Stuvaints was accompanied by his wife, son and mother. The family was greeted by Heritage Center board chair Jennifer Vertullo.
Vertullo said Stuvaints and State Rep. Matthew Gergely, a member of the heritage center’s board, were lifelong friends. Gergely had arranged for Stuvaints to make the donation prior to Gergely’s untimely death in January.
“The history center is making sure to fulfill Gergely’s wish to give Stuvaints his due honor on the sports wall with the other great McKeesport athletes,” Vertullo said.
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February 08, 2025 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport Area School District will vote to approve several expenses and fiscal measures during next Thursday’s regular board meeting.
On Feb. 13, school directors will decide whether to authorize the district to receive quotes and award work to repair two hot water circulation pumps at the high school for a cost not to exceed $19,500 per pump, according to President Mark Holtzman Sr.
School director Jason Pavlecic said the work is “much needed to continue the heat in the building.” In lieu of replacing faulty pumps, pursuing repairs at a total cost not to exceed $39,000, will save the district a “significant amount of money,” Pavlecic added during a Feb. 6 open agenda meeting.
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February 08, 2025 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Two administrators who were accused of failing to properly report alleged sexual misconduct by a former security guard were terminated Thursday by McKeesport Area School Board.
Two other employees also were terminated by the board in connection with a different incident. Details were not released by the district, citing privacy concerns.
Following this week’s special board meeting, Solicitor Gary Matta described the circumstances preceding the board’s decisions.
Two of the firings relate to an incident involving a former security guard at the high school, who was charged with maintaining a sexual relationship with a former student. The other two employees were terminated for “acting inappropriately,” Matta said.
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February 05, 2025 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
A retired McKeesport police sergeant quizzed city officials Wednesday night on why a police officer charged in connection with a $1.3 million fraud was allowed to retire with his pension.
“I am retired from the police department after 21 years,” Dan Rich of Christy Park said at this month’s council meeting. “When I worked here on this department, you carried yourself to a standard that if you came into work, if your (work) wasn’t in order you got disciplined.”
Former McKeesport police Detective Joe Osinski retired days before he was charged with diverting more than a million dollars from Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 91 to support his own business.
Another retired McKeesport police officer is reportedly being questioned by the Allegheny County district attorney’s office in connection with money allegedly missing from the police evidence room.
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January 31, 2025 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, Politics & Elections
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was retracted and rewritten after publication. We learned after posting it that Joe Pero had also announced his candidacy on Facebook. We apologize to Pero for the omission.
Those are the only two candidates for this office of which we are presently aware.
CANDIDATES: Please do not depend on Facebook messages or posts.
Please send candidate announcements to us at tubecitytiger@gmail.com, or Tube City Almanac, 409 Walnut St., Suite 200, McKeesport, PA 15132; we will publish candidate announcements as they are received at our office. —JT
McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko speaks at a Veteran’s Day ceremony. He has announced plans to run for magisterial district judge. (City of McKeesport photo by Jennifer R. Vertullo)
Retired McKeesport police Chief Joe Pero also is seeking the office. Pero is a Marine Corps veteran and graduate of the FBI Academy. (Submitted photo via Facebook)
Two candidates widely known to city residents have announced their plans to run for magisterial district judge.
Saying that he looks forward to stepping out of the limelight — but continuing community service — McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko announced his plans on Thursday.
Earlier in the week, former McKeesport police Chief Joe Pero also announced his candidacy, via Facebook. Pero retired from the police department in 2010 after a 30-year career.
Magisterial District Judge Eugene Riazzi, who has served in that role since 2007, confirmed Friday that he is not seeking re-election. Riazzi, who previously served as a McKeesport police officer, chief of detectives, and as an Allegheny County sheriff’s deputy, is eligible for retirement under state law.
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