Kellen Stepler stories, Page 22
New Kensington hole declared a public nuisance, city seeking repair bids
New Kensington is seeking bids to fix a sewage-flooded hole that has been declared a public nuisance. “We are actively trying to fix this problem,” said City Clerk Dennis Scarpiniti. “We’re aware of it, and we’re doing our due diligence.” The hole is in Moss Alley in the Parnassus area...
Proposed Chartiers Valley budget shows no tax increase; transportation, academics discussed
Chartiers Valley School District property owners likely won’t pay more in taxes next year. School directors voted, 6-3, on Tuesday, April 8 to approve the proposed final budget for next school year, which totals $79 million and maintains the real estate tax rate at 20.1909 mills. The final budget is...
Morning Roundup: Man in custody after SWAT situation in Pittsburgh; Braddock could join regional police force
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, April 10: Man in custody after SWAT situation in Pittsburgh A man was taken into custody following a SWAT situation overnight in Pittsburgh’s Summer Hill neighborhood, according to TribLive news partner WTAE. At 8:45 p.m. Wednesday, a man...
‘It is a public hazard’: Waste-filled New Kensington sinkhole alarms neighbors
What started as a sewer repair in a New Kensington alley has devolved into a public safety and health hazard, neighbors say. “It’s technically not a sinkhole, but it turned into one,” said Vince Davis, who owns property nearby. “The hole originally was like (the width of) a manhole, 13...
Valley biology teacher wins grand prize in National Science Teaching Association competition
A Valley High School biology teacher has been nationally recognized for her efforts in the classroom. Kathy Jo Sagwitz, who has taught at Valley for 17 years, was selected as the grand prize winner in the Shell Science Lab Regional Challenge, administered by the National Science Teaching Association. “Great teaching...
Morning Roundup: Man shot into South Oakland residence, Pittsburgh police say
Here are a few morning news items from across the region for Wednesday, April 9: Police say man shot into South Oakland residence A Pittsburgh man is facing criminal charges after police say he shot into a residence in South Oakland on Tuesday night. According to a criminal complaint, Pittsburgh...
‘An officer-wellness move’: Local police departments transitioning to longer shifts
When Washington Township police officers had the idea more than a year ago to work longer shifts, Chief Jason Montgomery was all ears. Since January 2024, Montgomery has been scheduling officers for three 12-hour shifts per week instead of five eight-hour shifts. Officers say they have a better work-life balance...
‘Happy Days’ main cast reunites at Steel City Con
This weekend made for some happy days in Monroeville. Four main cast members of the popular 1970s show “Happy Days” — Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, Anson Williams and Don Most — had a reunion at Steel City Con in Monroeville. The actors participated in a panel discussion about the series...
Crashes snarl traffic on I-79, Parkway West during morning commute
Most sections of I-79 and the Parkway West near the Bridgeville area are open and clear after nearly a dozen crashes snarled traffic on those highways during the Tuesday morning commute. Pennsylvania State Troopers said in a statement Tuesday morning that there may be some residual traffic and advised drivers...
Morning Roundup: Fire damages home in Upper St. Clair; man shot in Pittsburgh’s Marshall-Shadeland
Here are a few morning news items from across the region for Tuesday, April 8: Fire damages roof of Upper St. Clair home A fire Monday afternoon in Upper St. Clair left a massive hole in a home’s roof, according to TribLive news partner WTAE. Fire crews were dispatched just...
Police: Man stabbed woman, assaulted another in Arnold
A McKeesport man faces 16 criminal charges after being accused of stabbing one woman and assaulting another over the weekend in Arnold. Arnold police charged Maurice Tymeer Johnson, 26, with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, burglary, reckless endangerment, simple assault and flight to avoid apprehension, among other charges. Early Saturday morning,...
Morning Roundup: Partial collapse leads to emergency demolition in Troy Hill
Here are a few morning news items from across the region for Monday, April 7: Emergency demolition set in Troy Hill A condemned, partially collapsed building in Pittsburgh’s Troy Hill neighborhood has been scheduled for an emergency demolition Monday. TribLive news partner WTAE reports that the American Legion building, located...
Couple hopes new candy and ice cream shop becomes a ‘centerpiece’ of Downtown New Kensington
While other businesses had approached Mike Malcanas and Michelle Thom over the years to lease the space at 1001 Fifth Ave. in downtown New Kensington, the Olde Towne Overhaul crew held off for visions of an ice cream or candy store there one day. Now, consider them lucky ducks. Mark...
Investigation continues into fatal New Kensington fire
The cause of a house fire in New Kensington on Thursday afternoon that took the life of a bartender at the Lower Burrell American Legion remains unclear. Amy L. Seguiti died in her home in the 1100 block of Strawn Avenue when fire tore through the upper floor. She was...
New Ken-Arnold’s Roy A. Hunt Elementary showing academic improvement for 1st time in a decade
New Kensington-Arnold Superintendent Chris Sefcheck compares academic growth at Roy A. Hunt Elementary to that of a physics equation. “It’s all about momentum,” Sefcheck said. “We have every little piece, and it’s starting to fly.” Hunt, which serves third through sixth grade students in the New Kensington-Arnold School District, was...
Burrell students square off in mock murder trial
It was literally a jury of their peers. On Thursday, students in Burrell’s Investigative Sciences and Literature course set up a mock trial in the high school board room that they called Pennsylvania v. Adam Seed; based on the real-life murder trial of Maryland v. Adnan Syed. A team of...
1 dead in New Kensington fire; 2 firemen injured
A New Kensington woman died in a house fire Thursday. The Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office identified the woman as Amy L. Seguiti, no age given. She was inside the home as crews were fighting the fire, the coroner’s office said. The cause and manner of death are under investigation. An...
Carnegie candy store gets big break in area Market Districts
Nina Midgley Kelman jokes that she took over My Favorite Sweet Shoppe in 2014 because of one of its products, Mountain Magic Bites. “I joke that I bought the store so that I can have access to it,” she said. “It really is that good.” Now, even more people will...
Chartiers Valley Vietnam Symposium gives students real look at history
Chartiers Valley High School continued its annual tradition of respecting those who served the United States and the importance of preserving history through its Vietnam Veterans Symposium on March 21. The event was facilitated by social studies teachers Frank Brown and Jennifer Heffley, and English teachers Kristen Steen and Kelly...
First draft of Burrell School District budget proposes roughly 4% tax increase
Burrell School District’s draft budget for next school year has just under a 4% real estate tax increase for property owners. The draft budget totals close to $37.7 million, which is a 3% increase from this school year’s budget, said Business Manager Jennifer Callahan. The real estate tax increase included...
Bon Air students celebrate March Madness with coding robots
Second and third grade students at Bon Air Elementary School in Lower Burrell are celebrating March Madness this week — but with a ping-pong basketball, a plexiglass court, paper displays of defenders and Dash robots. The “Dash-ketball” assignment was the brainchild of technology and engineering teacher Brooke Miller, getting students...
As PSNK’s future teeters, New Kensington business leaders stress the importance of The Corner Launchbox
Jim Radeshak was about 75% prepared to open a business with his wife, Christine, when he took a free course at The Corner Launchbox in New Kensington around two years ago. The course, which met over about 12 weeks, was a “how-to business course” where attendees learned about starting a...
Girls flag football: From high schools and colleges to the Olympics
Mackenzie Livingston played basketball in college, but if flag football had been an option, things might have been different. The nonstop action is something that has always drawn her to the game. “You are constantly doing something — pulling flags or going out for routes — it’s always something,” said...
‘Celebrate CV’ brings together students, staff and community
Chartiers Valley School District’s ‘Celebrate CV’ showcase is more than just an event, said intermediate school assistant principal and coordinator Amanda Beckett. “It’s a reflection of the pride, passion and unity that define our school community,” Beckett said. “We are grateful for the support of our families and community members...
$24M in projects being worked into Burrell school budget
The public can get its first look at how Burrell School District’s multimillion-dollar school realignment could affect their taxes next school year at a meeting Tuesday. “If you want to know where your tax money is going, and what they pay for, show up to the meeting,” board President Rick...
