Kellen Stepler stories, Page 42
Chartiers Valley increases substitute rates in effort to draw more interest
In the hope of filling more positions, Chartiers Valley School District increased its pay rates for substitutes. School directors set the increased rates during their March 26 meeting. “The pay is going to help,” said Pat Connolly, Chartiers Valley’s director of finance and operation. “Every school district in Allegheny County...
Students’ signature moves, styles highlight prom for life skills students from Valley, Burrell, Mt. Pleasant, Kiski Area
Valley High School junior Antoine Wilkerson doesn’t consider himself to be a big dancer. But as DJ Matt Roberts played more and more songs Thursday morning at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 92 in Lower Burrell, Wilkerson’s friends eventually got him onto the dance floor. Wilkerson and about 50...
Meetings scheduled for Chartiers Valley superintendent search
Taxpayers in the Chartiers Valley School District can sound off on what they’d like to see in the district’s next superintendent at two meetings later this month. Meetings are scheduled Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. in the district office training room, 2030 Swallow Hill Road; and April 22, from...
Frazer Olive Garden to pay $30,000 to settle disability discrimination claim
The parent company of the Olive Garden at the Pittsburgh Mills complex in Frazer will pay $30,000 to settle a federal lawsuit that alleged the restaurant’s management discriminated against a man by not hiring him because of his disability. GMRI, operator of the Olive Garden at Pittsburgh Mills, and the...
Penn State New Kensington students show off skills, network with future employers
Bryce Eddy knew the New Kensington cat rescue Frankie’s Friends often takes in lots of cats rescued from poor conditions. So, to take some pressure off Frankie’s team of volunteers, the Harrison native and his Penn State New Kensington classmates James Matus and Heather Shultz decided to put their skills...
Funding awarded for Sharpsburg roundabout, O’Hara sidewalks
Plans for a roundabout in Sharpsburg and sidewalks along Alpha and Gamma drives in O’Hara took a step forward. State Rep. Mandy Steele, D-Fox Chapel, announced March 26 that funding has been secured through the state’s Multimodal Transportation Fund. The fund provides grants to develop, rehabilitate and enhance modes of...
More than $16,000 in copper wire stolen from Harmar concrete plant
An East Butler man is accused of stealing copper wire from a Harmar concrete plant that, according to the business, costs them nearly $16,500 to replace. Harmar police charged Colton Shane Miner, 24, with felony counts of theft by, receiving stolen property and theft of secondary metal, along with summary...
Burrell student to perform with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
When he was in the fourth grade, Alex Platt told his parents he wanted to play the clarinet because it sounded “jazzy.” “It’s an odd reason, but that’s the reason,” said Platt, now 18 and a senior at Burrell High School. “But I stayed with it, and it’s a beautiful...
Chartiers Valley senior to compete at national business competition
Kendal Astor has been around sports her entire life. Growing up, the 18-year-old Chartiers Valley student was involved in softball and currently is the team manager for the Colts’ football, boys soccer and track teams. She competes on Chartiers Valley’s unified bocce team and is president of the school’s Best...
‘Make the town a little bit nicer’: East Deer schedules first cleanup day
An East Deer man is hoping to make a difference in the township, even if it comes down to picking up one piece of litter at a time. Adam Klingensmith is organizing what’s believed to be the township’s first cleanup day April 21. “We’re going to be picking up any...
Washington Township fire department’s auto swap brings fun, camaraderie
Dean Jacobs grew up selling popcorn at the South Park Speedway, which is what sparked his love for racing and automobiles. Later in life, he would manage B&R Speed Supply in Verona. On Sunday, he set up shop at Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department’s auto part swap meet. “I’ve been...
2 injured in Carrick shooting
Two men had leg injuries after they were shot in the Carrick section of Pittsburgh late Saturday night. At 11:45 p.m. Saturday, Pittsburgh police were dispatched to the 1600 block of Brownsville Road in Carrick for a reported shooting, said Emily Bourne, city police spokeswoman. At the scene, responders found...
Egg hatches in U.S. Steel’s bald eagle nest
An egg in the bald eagles’ nest at U.S. Steel’s Irvin plant in West Mifflin has hatched. Bald eagles Irvin and Claire, who nest near U.S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works — Irvin Plant, welcomed the first eaglet of the season Sunday morning, according to Andrew Fulton, spokesman for U.S. Steel....
Police release details about Penn Hills man’s arrest following police pursuit, crash in Mount Lebanon
A Penn Hills man wanted on several warrants was arrested by Allegheny County sheriff’s deputies Saturday morning after, authorities say, he led police on a chase through Mount Lebanon. Curtis Norvell Davis Jr., 24, was taken into custody Saturday morning after he led police on a chase that started in...
50 animals seized from Butler County home after cruelty investigation
A Connoquenessing Township man faces felony animal cruelty charges after authorities found two dead German Shepherds that belonged to him, and seized 50 animals from his home. Paul Joseph Frederick, 53, was arrested Saturday after state police in Butler searched his home in Butler Township and removed 50 animals —...
2 teens charged in connection with police chase, car break-ins in Ross, Bellevue
An 18- and 17-year old have been charged in connection to vehicle break-ins in Ross Township and Bellevue, and a police chase early Saturday morning, according to Allegheny County Police. Charges against Zymon Campbell, 18, of Pittsburgh include simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and carrying a firearm without a...
Woman dies after being hit by car in Carrick
A pedestrian died after she was hit by a car Saturday morning in Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood, according to city police. Just before 6 a.m., first responders were dispatched to the 1000 block of Brownsville Road in Carrick for reports of a car hitting a pedestrian, according to Emily Bourne, city...
Police: Man stabbed in Downtown Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh police are investigating after a man was reportedly stabbed in downtown Pittsburgh on Saturday afternoon. City police responded to the 300 block of Third Avenue just after 1 p.m. for a man reporting he had been stabbed, city police spokeswoman Emily Bourne said. Upon arrival, officers found the man,...
Police release details about Penn Hills man’s arrest following police pursuit, crash in Mount Lebanon
A Penn Hills man wanted on several warrants was arrested by Allegheny County sheriff’s deputies Saturday morning after, authorities say, he led police on a chase through Mount Lebanon. Curtis Norvell Davis Jr., 24, was taken into custody Saturday morning after he led police on a chase that started in...
After heavy rain during the week, anglers still have fun at 1st day of trout season
Eight-year-old Ava Martini was excited when a fish hooked onto her line cast in Deer Lakes Park on Saturday. With the help of her grandfather, Bill Martini of West Deer, she was able to reel in the trout and display it proudly to Bill and her father, Will Martini of...
Kiski Township looking to establish rules for solar farms
Kiski Township isn’t sure how it wants to approach possible solar farms. But officials know they want to do something. The township’s planning commission is scheduled to continue a discussion on possibly amending the township’s zoning ordinance, or even creating a new solar ordinance, to add definitions and verbiage regarding...
Chartiers Valley counselors present 3-year plan, a ‘snapshot of what we do’
Chartiers Valley School District counselors have updated school directors with a three-year district plan for career and technical education. Nicolette Churilla, K-12 counseling head and counselor at the Intermediate School, and Lesley Kunkel, a high school counselor, presented the school’s three-year guidance plan at a school board meeting in March....
Carnegie eyes parks, police technology improvements
Carnegie Borough is hoping to upgrade its parks as well as its technology in the police department. The borough recently was awarded a $178,786 police technology and wellness grant from the state’s Commission on Crime and Delinquency. With it, the borough has or will purchase more record management system licenses,...
Burrell students say yes to the dress at free prom event
The first prom dress Violet Gamble picked out from Burrell High School’s Bucco Boutique turned out to be the perfect one. “Whenever I pulled this off the rack, it looked nice,” she said of the white, spring-like floral dress. Gamble, 17 and a senior at Burrell High School, selected the...
1st draft of Burrell School District budget proposes 4% tax increase
Burrell School District’s draft budget for next school year has a 4% real estate tax increase for property owners. The draft budget totals close to $36.7 million, which is a 1.35% increase from this school year’s budget, said Jennifer Callahan, the district’s business manager. There is a deficit of about...
