August 29, 2024 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
A $5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for a fire that damaged four McKeesport police vehicles early Wednesday morning.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives is investigating the incident, along with McKeesport police and the Allegheny County fire marshal’s office.
The ATF announced the reward. Investigators said that arson is suspected.
The fire was reported just after 3 a.m. Wednesday in the municipal parking lot at the end of the Jerome Avenue Bridge and damaged four police vehicles. The vehicles were used as backup cars and were not in active use, city officials said.
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August 29, 2024 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
(Photo courtesy Vitalant, via Facebook)
Local Lions and Rotary clubs will partner with Vitalant to hold a blood drive Sept. 18 at Sampson Mills Presbyterian Church in White Oak.
All participants will receive a free Halloween-themed T-shirt that says “I am a blood donor.”
The event is sponsored by the McKeesport Lions Club, Mon River Fleet Lions Club, White Oak Lions Club and White Oak Rotary and will be held from 2:30 to 7 p.m. at the church, 1665 Lincoln Way.
To schedule an appointment, call 1-877-25-VITAL or visit Vitalant.org and go to “Find Blood Drives.” The event code is UC2120033.
Founded in 1943, Vitalant is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit blood and biotherapies healthcare organizations. It merged with Pittsburgh-based Central Blood Bank in 2018.
August 29, 2024 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
The McKeesport unit of the National Alliance on Mental Illness will hold its next monthly meeting at 6 p.m. Sept. 4 in Room 122 of the Frable Building at Penn State Greater Allegheny, a spokeswoman said.
The meeting is open to families and friends of loved ones living with mental illness.
A “Care and Share” session will be held. This opportunity offers understanding and support unique to those who are affected by mental health conditions of loved ones.
For more information about the NAMI McKeesport support group meeting call (412) 527-6600. For the NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania Helpline, call 412-366-3788 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The suicide and crisis hotline can be reached via phone or text, 24 hours per day, at 9-8-8.
August 29, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
With additional reporting from Jason Togyer
McKeesport Area School District will pay $173,250 as part of its settlement with outgoing Superintendent Tia Wanzo.
In the meantime, the Tribune-Review has reported that the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office is investigating whether school officials promptly reported a series of sexual encounters between a former security guard and a McKeesport Area School District student.
The guard, who worked for an outside contractor, faces criminal charges in connection with those incidents.
Rumors have circulated for several weeks that Wanzo’s decision to step down was somehow connected to the incident involving the former security guard. Neither Wanzo nor district officials have been willing to confirm, deny or comment on the rumors.
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August 27, 2024 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne police have filed criminal charges against the city’s former mayor, Nickole Nesby, stemming from a traffic stop.
According to a criminal complaint, Duquesne police Officer Ryan Drohn was in a marked car and sitting stationary on Commonwealth Avenue at State Route 837 at 12:08 a.m. Aug. 7 waiting for a traffic light to turn green.
The complaint states that a black GMC SUV negotiated a wide turn off of 837 and entered his eastbound lane. Drohn wrote that the vehicle nearly struck the front driver side panel of his patrol vehicle “before turning abruptly back into the westbound lane of Commonwealth Avenue.”
According to the complaint, Drohn estimates that the SUV missed the cruiser by less than a foot. The complaint states that he turned the patrol car around and followed the SUV. He “observed it to be drifting over the double yellow line by approximately a half tire width for approximately two seconds with ongoing traffic in the eastbound lane.”
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August 26, 2024 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport police Chief Mark Steele, Rev. Dr. Moni McIntyre of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, South Allegheny school police Chief Adam Alfer and Ethel Balas of St. Stephen’s met at International Village this month. (Tube City Almanac photo)
A Downtown church is continuing its practice of providing $300 gift cards to McKeesport police officers who were on duty when a tragic shooting claimed the life of one officer and seriously injured another.
This month, members of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church provided retired McKeesport police Chief Adam Alfer with a $300 gift card for Alfer and his spouse to use at a restaurant of his choice.
Funds were donated by members of the parish, said Rev. Dr. Moni McIntyre, priest in charge of St. Stephen’s.
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August 26, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
There are things Dr. Tia Wanzo will speak about, and things she won’t. It’s a knotty position for someone who’s always considered herself “an open book.”
Currently on leave as superintendent of McKeesport Area School District, Wanzo won’t talk about her separation agreement, the board or personnel issues.
She won’t talk about the events of recent weeks — how prior to Thursday evening, rumors circulated about her continuance with MASD.
Some clarification was offered Thursday night, when after the meeting’s adjournment Solicitor Gary Matta told the public that “Dr. Tia Wanzo has requested a leave of absence from the district effective Aug. 14, 2024 until Nov. 13, 2024 at which time Dr. Wanzo will resign as superintendent of the McKeesport Area School District.”
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August 23, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Leadership at McKeesport Area School District is becoming slightly more clear. During Thursday’s special board meeting, the board approved the hiring of William Pettigrew as acting superintendent.
Pettigrew will be paid at a rate of $650 per day, $100 per week for expenses and $110 per month for cell phone expenses. According to published reports, he is the former longtime superintendent of the Mars Area School District and holds a doctorate from Penn State University.
Prior to the board’s approval, District Solicitor Gary Matta announced during a hearing of citizens that MASD Superintendent Tia Wanzo is on “a leave of absence. She had requested that leave of absence. She will be on that leave of absence for 90 days and I can’t tell you the reason due to confidentiality.”
Matta added that Wanzo has full salary and benefits during her 90-day leave of absence.
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August 23, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Tia Wanzo was sworn in as McKeesport Area School District’s superintendent in 2022 by Magisterial District Judge Eugene Riazzi. Wanzo has resigned effective Nov. 13, the district’s solicitor announced last night. (McKeesport Area School District photo)
After a contentious meeting marked by public frustration, McKeesport Area School District solicitor Gary Matta announced that the board had agreed to a separation agreement with Superintendent Tia Wanzo.
Matta, who delivered his comments after the meeting was adjourned, said that he and Wanzo’s attorney worked on the separation agreement for one week beginning the “day after the last meeting.”
During Thursday’s special board meeting neither Matta nor the board shared details regarding that separation agreement. During a hearing of citizens, several McKeesport residents voiced support of Wanzo. After that portion of the meeting concluded, the board approved agenda item “5.3 Resignation,” which called for a board action to accept the separation agreement for employee #2584. The action was approved.
Following the meeting’s adjournment, Matta confirmed that the employee was Wanzo.
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August 22, 2024 |
By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment
Nancy Caronia as Rivka Blumenthal and Alex Naglich as Michael Primmer rehearse ways they might be able to resolve a tricky situation in “They-Said, They-Said.” (Submitted photo courtesy McKeesport Little Theater)
If you go...
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McKeesport Little Theater’s Production of “They-Said, They-Said”
Written by Brenda Kenworthy
Part of the 33rd season of Pittsburgh New Works Festival
Where: Genesius Theater at Duquesne University, 1225 Seitz St., Pittsburgh (Uptown/The Bluff)
When: Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 22-25. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday shows at 8 p.m., with matinees Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Tickets: Advance discounted ticketsare $17 for adults, $15 for students. Tickets are $20 at the door.
Note: “They-Said, They-Said” is the middle one-act play presented during the three-play program each day. The other two are “Evie & Frannie Take a Detour,” produced by Stray Cat Theatre, and “I Do?”, produced by Glass Fox Productions.
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Fans of McKeesport Little Theater have another opportunity to show their support at the world premiere of an original one-act play as part of the 33rd season of Pittsburgh New Works Festival.
McKeesport Little Theater is producing “They-Said, They-Said,” by playwright Brenda Kenworthy of Garden Grove, Calif., as their entry to the festival.
For those not familiar with the process, PNWF annually solicits original, one-act plays, which are narrowed down by a panel of judges. The top 15 are selected to become full productions.
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