Kellen Stepler stories, Page 23
Springdale resident ready for power plant demo: ‘I just want it over’
Lorraine Parks of Springdale was quick to answer when asked her thoughts about the upcoming demolition of the boiler house across the street from her house. “I just want it over,” said the Porter Street resident. After plans and legal back-and-forths spanning about a year-and-a-half, the demolition of the boiler...
Schedule finalized at Burrell’s Bon Air Elementary, task forces to share with school directors
Three months of planning and reviews of reconfigured buildings at Burrell’s Bon Air Elementary and Huston Middle schools for next school year has come to a close. Superintendent Shannon Wagner said schedules at Bon Air Elementary School were approved by the task force “by a majority vote.” Since the school...
High school counselors weigh options as Penn State branch campuses hang in the balance
Burrell High School guidance counselor Sandra Oskin thinks Penn State New Kensington is still a good option for prospective students, despite the Upper Burrell campus potentially closing in two years. “I’m hoping it remains a viable option — especially for Burrell,” she said. “It’s been a great resource. It’s convenient...
New garbage carts rolling out for Shank customers in Lower Burrell
Lower Burrell residents who use Shank Waste Service for garbage collection will have to make sure all of their trash fits into the new cans they’re getting — and they won’t be alone. The Lower Burrell-based waste hauler is moving to automated collection, with garbage trucks that use a mechanical...
More than 2 dozen teaching positions cut at Chartiers Valley, but 17 new jobs created
Faced with a looming $9 million budget deficit next school year, the Chartiers Valley School Board voted to slash jobs districtwide. Directors voted 6-3 at a contentious meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 25, during which they approved two measures that eliminate 30 teaching positions and a handful of secretaries and support...
Springdale boiler house demolition to be delayed 1 day
The boiler house at the former power plant in Springdale will have to wait one more day to meet its fate. Springdale announced the boiler house demolition, originally slated for Saturday, now is planned for Sunday at a time yet to be announced. The delay is because inclement weather is...
Finalized schedule for Burrell’s Huston Middle School prioritizes academics, aligns time for cocurriculars
A focus group charged with recommending proposals to a reconfigured Charles A. Huston Middle School next year landed on a schedule administrators say prioritizes academic time and maintains integrity for each grade level. The middle school task force — a group of parents and teachers that have met over the...
Burrell Unified Bocce team receives playoff-worthy departure
Burrell’s Unified Bocce team got a fine sendoff from first responders and Bon Air Elementary youngsters while en route to a playoff match Monday at North Allegheny High School. Their bus was escorted between Lower Burrell and Upper Burrell fire departments, and Lower Burrell police, as it made its way...
Carlynton’s elementary schools have new leadership
New principals are taking the reins at Carlynton School District’s Carnegie and Crafton elementary schools. Tyler Roberto, 41, of Emsworth was named principal of Crafton Elementary. She started Feb. 11. “What brought me to Crafton was a desire to work closer to home and to return to elementary education,” Roberto...
Burrell community festival to be bigger and better this spring
A one-stop shop for all things community and school is returning to Burrell’s Charles A. Huston Middle School this spring. The Community Connections event — which had nearly 64 organizations and businesses and 1,000 guests last year — will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. May 6. “The middle...
Faces of the Valley: Dick Pesci has been cutting meat, making memories at Golden Dawn for 62 years
Dick Pesci jokes that when he starts his car each morning, it already knows where to go. After all, he’s been making the same trip from his Natrona Heights home to Golden Dawn in New Kensington for decades. And the 10-minute commute to get to work by 5 a.m. is...
Turf field project moves forward at Allegheny Valley
The Allegheny Valley School District is moving forward with its plan for a proposed multipurpose turf field and track at the high school. The board this week authorized Field Turf USA to proceed with construction drawings and permitting for the proposed turf project at the soccer field, which is across...
Burrell School District weighs options on $24 million in projects that could include air conditioning
Two buildings in the Burrell School District could have air conditioning for the first time if the district moves forward with up to $24 million in projects to upgrade its schools. Burrell High School and Bon Air Elementary, both targeted for improvements, would be slated for new heating and cooling...
Violation notice issued to Lower Burrell steel plant for spill
The state Department of Environmental Protection plans to cite the operator of Braeburn Alloy Steel in Lower Burrell following a hydraulic oil spill at the site this month. DEP spokeswoman Lauren Camarda said the state agency has not determined yet whether any fines or other sanctions are warranted as its...
Bridgeville author’s thriller has an unlikely antagonist: a mutant raccoon
A Bridgeville author’s new book strives to have people step into the world of genetic experimentation, government conspiracies and an unusual antagonist. Mark Berton, 48, released “Aroughcoune” on Feb. 19. The story revolves around a giant, military-bred, genetically modified raccoon that escapes from a secret lab and wanders around Western...
Burrell school task forces work out schedule proposals for reconfiguration
Schedules at Burrell’s Bon Air Elementary and Charles A. Huston Middle schools are close to being finalized. This week, the Bon Air and Huston task forces — groups of about 20 parents and staff providing feedback on schedules and plans for reconfigurations at the schools next year — continued to...
Proposed state tax would prop up fire, ambulance and other emergency services
Lower Burrell No. 3 fire Chief Brennan Sites is appreciative of what his city officials do when it comes to supporting his volunteer fire company. But competing with rising costs for equipment and declines in volunteerism, the city is nearly tapped out when it comes to giving its two volunteer...
Random acts of kindness new focus for foundation honoring Springdale alum Jorden Puskar
A foundation honoring a former Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School student who was shot and killed in 2022 is retooling itself to promote random acts of kindness. The Flashlight Foundation — named in honor of Jorden Lee Puskar, a 2019 Springdale graduate — was established three years ago to help raise...
New Burrell High investigative sciences course touts real-world experience
A new class at Burrell High School takes students from crime scenes to the courtroom. The Investigative Sciences and Literature course, offered to juniors and seniors this year, stems from a growing interest from students looking into careers in law enforcement or forensics, said teacher Amanda Pagnotta. “It’s not what...
Pedestrian safety plan moves forward for Bridgeville’s Bower Hill Road
Bridgeville Council likes the plan that would improve the pedestrian crossing across Bower Hill Road at Commercial Street, and directed officials to seek grant funding to make it happen. Council on Feb. 10 accepted the design from Engineer John Heyl for the crossing that’s near the Dari Delite. “The plan...
Chartiers Valley dance troupe continues success at national level
Chartiers Valley High School’s dance troupe remains one of the top high school dance teams in the country. The team traveled to Orlando, Fla., from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 to compete in the Universal Dance Association National Dance Team Championship, said Coach Riley Maghery. Ultimately, they placed fourth in...
Residents in Collier’s Rennerdale neighborhood petition for better electric service
Residents in several Collier neighborhoods say that when inclement weather is forecast, they can all but expect to lose power. “Our group of Collier Township neighborhoods — including, but not limited to, Walkers Mill, Rennerdale, Rennerdale Highlands, Barrington Manor, the homes along McMichael Road and other newer housing plans —...
Investigation launched into Chartiers Valley transportation department; security firm hired
Chartiers Valley administrators launched an internal investigation into allegations of improper use of the district’s bus garage and have since hired a security firm to protect the district’s assets, they say. Superintendent Daniel Castagna said, in response to recent threats and to ensure student safety, the district is reviewing security...
Construction project presentation for Burrell School District anticipated next week
The Burrell School Board and the public likely will get a chance to hear from the district’s architect on possible construction projects during a meeting next week. Pittsburgh-based HHSDR Inc., Burrell’s architect, is anticipated to present drafts on possible capital improvement projects at the district’s schools during a board meeting...
Instructional time a priority for Burrell’s Bon Air Elementary as reconfiguration on tap
The most important schedule features at a reconfigured Bon Air Elementary School next year appear to be equitable minutes for instruction and maintaining integrity of support time for students. That’s what the Bon Air task force prioritized the most when asked by Superintendent Shannon Wagner during a meeting Tuesday. The...
