January 03, 2025 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Download printable version)
McKeesport’s 2025 recycling calendar was published incorrectly in this quarter’s edition of “In McKeesport Area” magazine, the mayor’s office has announced.
The correct calendar is attached and available on the city’s website.
McKeesport participates in single-stream recycling, which means residents can dispose of paper, cardboard, plastics Number 1 through 7, and aluminum or bi-metal cans by placing everything in a single bin, the city said.
The holiday scheduling for trash and recycling pickup affects customers whose service falls on a holiday. The entire week will be one day behind when a holiday falls on a Monday. When the holiday falls on any other day, the only days that will be affected are those following the holiday within the holiday week. If the holiday falls on a weekend, there will be no delay.
December 20, 2024 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Pam Irizarry of Irwin gives last-minute instructions Thursday morning to helpers before parents of needy children begin “shopping” at Mission: Agape in McKeesport. (Tube City Almanac photo)
Volunteers from Mission: Agape this week distributed 2,000 toys and gifts for almost 400 children in the Mon-Yough area.
At a makeshift toy store set up inside the former Wesley United Methodist Church on Prescott Street, volunteers guided parents and guardians through a series of shopping stations grouped by ages ranging from birth to 18 year olds. “Shoppers” entered in groups of 10 at a time.
No children were permitted so that all gifts will remain a surprise until unwrapped, said Lori Smith-Sakalousky of Latrobe, who was helping organize this week’s giveaways along with Pam Irizarry of Irwin.
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December 16, 2024 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Illustration based on “Republic Services Trash Truck” by Jon Cutrer, licensed under Creative Commons CC BY 2.0)
Many McKeesport residents reacted with anger after city council this month voted to increase the annual Municipal Service Fee from $300 to $400.
The fee, payable in quarterly installments, has not been raised for several years. But Mayor Michael Cherepko told council that the cost of trash collection has more than doubled.
“We’ve eaten that cost the last two years,” Cherepko said. “I didn’t think it was right to increase that fee when our garbage collection was poor at times. I didn’t feel comfortable pursuing this increase until our service was satisfactory.”
Following three years during which residents alleged that the previous contractor was skipping houses, missing entire streets or leaving trash in the road, McKeesport returned in 2023 to Big’s Sanitation of Forward Twp. Cherepko said that complaints have dramatically decreased since the switch.
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December 16, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
School Board President Mark Holtzman Sr. congratulates Sen. James Brewster. (Adam Reinherz photo for Tube City Almanac)
Two longtime public servants were honored by McKeesport Area School District during Thursday’s meeting. Retiring state Sen. James Brewster and school director David Donato were recognized for decades of service to the district.
Brewster, a 1966 graduate of McKeesport Area High School, praised his alma mater, its educators, coaches and the city at-large for providing a surplus of edifying and meaningful experiences.
“I always talked about it in the senate. Jay Costa will tell you I talked about it ad nauseam,” Brewster said. “McKeesport has had four NFL players and a number of good athletes, attorneys, judges, you name it. We’ve had a lieutenant governor, senators — and that's a tribute to the city and the school district.”
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December 10, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
A national shortage of teachers for kindergarten through 12th grade is impacting McKeesport Area School District as well, officials said.
At Thursday’s meeting, school directors and district officials addressed concerns about the resignation of Angela Cale, MASD’s coordinator of special education and alternative services.
Cale is a McKeesport Area High School graduate and former dean of students and principal of East End Academy. She had served as special ed coordinator since 2013, according to the district. Her resignation was effective Dec. 10.
McKeesport resident Carolyn Cash asked the board how Cale’s resignation would affect student education. Residents have previously voiced concerns about vacancies in special education and other departments.
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December 10, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport Area School District is moving ahead with its superintendent search.
“We have a total of 28 applicants,” board president Mark Holtzman Sr. said during a Dec. 5 open agenda meeting. “We're pretty excited about that.”
The applicants, who are vying to fill the position vacated by Tia Wanzo following her resignation last month, stem from multiple backgrounds.
Candidates include one executive director, 12 superintendents, four assistant superintendents, five principals or assistant principals, and six others that “work in central administration in districts around here,” Holtzman said.
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December 05, 2024 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport’s police chief will retire at the end of the year to take a job in South Allegheny School District.
Chief Mark Steele’s departure was announced Wednesday night at McKeesport’s city council meeting. Mayor Michael Cherepko said Assistant Chief Josh Alfer, who was appointed last month, will serve as interim chief until a new police chief is chosen.
At a separate meeting on Wednesday, South Allegheny School Board hired Steele as a school police officer.
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December 02, 2024 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport police Chief Mark Steele and Mayor Michael Cherepko (right) congratulate new assistant chief Josh Alfer (center) following his promotion. (Tube City Almanac photo)
McKeesport’s new assistant police chief comes from a family with deep local roots, and helped create the department’s program to recruit and train new officers.
Josh Alfer, an 18-year veteran who previously served as the lieutenant in charge of patrol, was appointed second-in-command of the department in November. The position of assistant chief had been vacant since current police Chief Mark Steele was promoted from assistant chief more than a year ago.
Mayor Michael Cherepko said Alfer and other candidates were screened by the personnel committee following civil service testing.
“We had unbelievably qualified candidates, but obviously there comes a time to make a very difficult decision,” Cherepko said, adding that he was confident in Alfer’s abilities.
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November 30, 2024 |
By Vickie Babyak | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Photographer Vickie Babyak captured these views of last week’s 2024 Salute to Santa Parade in Downtown McKeesport. Members of the Better Block Foundation served as grand marshal for the Nov. 23 event, along with special guest Cooper the Emu.
Nie’Zhay Jefferson, representing McKeesport Little Theater, was crowned as the queen of the parade, while Gabrielle Poston, representing the McKeesport Little Tigers, was crowned as princess.
Other candidates included princess nominees Skylar Crenshaw (McKeesport Area Shared Ministry, Beulah Park Campus); Sydney Hrinda (McKeesport Little Theater), Dee’Asia Little (LaRosa Youth Club), Mariah Robinson (McKeesport Little Tigers), and Zariah Swindle (McKeesport Area High School Cheerleaders)
Queen nominees included Alaysia Brewton (MAHS Cheerleaders), Kaitlyn Brush (McKeesport Area High School Tiger Marching Band), Madison Martino, (McKeesport Area High School National Honor Society), Elizabeth Nemes (MAHS Choir), Saniya Rivers (LaRosa Youth Club), Riley Sheposh (MAHS Student Council) and Ashley Slagle (MAHS Colorguard)
To request a reprint of any photo, email vbabyak@yahoo.com.
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November 27, 2024 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Tube City Almanac photo)
Investigators are probing a fire that damaged an apartment building Tuesday morning on Versailles Avenue.
McKeesport firefighters said crews were dispatched to 3212 Versailles Ave. just before 7 a.m. after Allegheny County 9-1-1 reported receiving multiple calls about a fire in a second-floor apartment. The blaze at the corner of Versailles and Craig streets quickly went to two alarms.
The first floor of the building previously housed Omerta Ink, a tattoo parlor. According to a post on Facebook, Omerta Ink closed Sept. 26.
Firefighters said the upper floor of the building was not occupied as a residence at the present time and appeared to be a storage area.
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