Kellen Stepler stories, Page 47
Police make arrest in 2023 East Vandergrift shooting
A Bell Township man faces criminal charges after he shot into a vehicle last year in East Vandergrift, causing more than $14,000 in damages, according to police. Frank Callipare, 62, is charged with criminal mischief and property damage, a third-degree felony, over shots fired during an incident in March in...
Power plant property owner says judge erred by granting injunction in Springdale boiler house demolition
The owner of the former power plant in Springdale cites eight reasons why an Allegheny County judge erred in granting a preliminary injunction to block an implosion of the boiler house at the site. In a court filing Tuesday, lawyers representing Charah Solutions outlined their points against the December order...
Pittsburgh Brewing Co. unveils new Mount Washington billboard design
Iron City Beer is back on top of the hill. Pittsburgh Brewing Co., headquartered in East Deer, restored its billboard on Mount Washington to again advertise Iron City Beer. Its sister brand, I.C. Light, was on the billboard for seven months. The new design emphasizes the importance of the billboard...
‘He was larger than life’: Emilio ‘Chummy’ Saldari dies at 99
A World War II veteran and community servant well-known throughout the Allegheny Valley has died. Emilio “Chummy” Saldari of Springdale Township died Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. He was 99. Saldari attended Springdale High School and was drafted to serve in World War II in 1943. He was sent to France,...
Bower Hill VFD celebrates 100 years of service in Scott Township
In an era where local volunteer fire departments are struggling, the Bower Hill Volunteer Fire Department in Scott Township is going strong as it celebrates its 100th year of service. Township commissioners recognized the department during their January meeting. “As we look into the future, my hope is that we...
Demolition, legal battle continue at former power plant in Springdale
As the fate of the boiler house at the former power plant in Springdale is hung up in the courts, crews continue to take down other buildings at the site. “Generally speaking, we’ve been making progress on some of the other buildings throughout the site,” said Scott Reschly, vice president...
Springdale woman pleads guilty in connection to daughter’s death
A Springdale woman pleaded guilty Thursday in connection with the death of her 5-year-old daughter in June. Samantha Allison McMunn, 34, of the 40 block of Duquesne Court pleaded guilty to a felony count of involuntary manslaughter in the death of her daughter, Diem McMunn-Gereshenski, according to court records. Springdale...
New Springdale High School classes aimed at boosting student cooking, technical skills
When students begin the semester in one of Mandy Harrison’s family and consumer science courses at Springdale High School, they don’t know much about home economics or kitchen skills. Some aren’t sure which pots or pans to use to make a certain food. Others don’t know how to prep the...
Apollo man identified as victim in Harmar car crash
Authorities identified an Apollo man as the victim in a Wednesday morning crash in Harmar. According to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office, Richard C. Bailey, 65, died just after 8 a.m. Wednesday. His car crashed into a creek near Gulf Lab Road and Anchor Drive in Harmar. It’s unclear...
West Deer to revisit zoning ordinance draft
West Deer’s draft zoning ordinance isn’t necessarily going all the way back to the drawing board, but it will undergo some more editing. The township held a public hearing on the draft last week. Supervisors did not vote on the proposal. “Based in part on some of the comments that...
Man whose car went into Harmar creek found dead in vehicle
A man whose car sped through a Harmar parking lot Wednesday morning before rolling over and landing in a creek was found dead in the vehicle, but it remains unclear what caused the crash or the man’s death. The crash happened just after 8 a.m. off Gulf Lab Road, near...
Truck smashes into New Kensington gun shop; 2 dozen firearms stolen
Federal authorities are offering a reward for information about the theft of about 25 firearms from a New Kensington gun store early Monday. A truck was used to smash through the door at RC Firearms on Freeport Street. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the National...
West Deer to promote part-timers to replace retiring longtime police officers
Two officers with a combined 60 years of experience are retiring from the West Deer Police Department. To ease the loss, the township elevated two part-time officers to full-time status and also hired two new part-timers. The township supervisors accepted the notice of the resignations of Sgt. Darren Mikus and...
In brief: Bridgeville, Carnegie area news and events, week of Jan. 22, 2024 and beyond
Carnegie Borough awarded funding to rehabilitate Main Street bridge Rep. Anita Kulick, D-Allegheny, announced Jan. 16 that Carnegie earned $150,000 to rehabilitate the Carnegie Main Street bridge. The bridge was originally built in 1967. “By repairing the Carnegie Main Street Bridge, we make our roadways safer for those traveling through...
Donors needed to give blood as supply falls to critically low levels
Randy Beatty had a good reason to donate blood for the first time in the 1980s. His grandfather needed it, and Beatty, of Parks Township, wanted to be the one to help. Since that day, he has tried to donate blood as often as he can. “You never know when...
Opportunities endless at Cheswick’s Rachel Carson Park, officials say
Rachel Carson Park in Cheswick has no permanent restrooms, no direct riverfront access and really not much other space for people to gather. But borough officials are working to change that. And a state grant to the tune of just over $200,000 will help park revitalization come along. “We’re really...
Allegheny Valley school directors disagree on, but ultimately approve, Portrait of a Graduate study
Allegheny Valley School Board members agree they want Springdale High School graduates to be productive members of the community, but how exactly to get there caused some disagreements among the board. School directors Tuesday approved an agreement with the Consortium for Public Education to create a district-specific Portrait of a...
Burrell swim co-op with Kiski causes some waves
While Burrell School District is eyeing a swimming cooperative agreement with Kiski Area for the next two years, it’s unclear what the future may hold for Burrell’s pool. And that’s causing some waves between the Bucs’ swimming community and school officials. Burrell swimmers, parents and swim team alumni took their...
Deer Lakes recognized for academic achievement in AP courses
Work to increase Advanced Placement courses at Deer Lakes High School is paying off. The high school recently earned the AP School Honor Roll bronze award, district spokesman Shawn Annarelli said. Only 30% of the more than 15,000 eligible schools in the United States and Canada earned the recognition. “We...
Mogie’s Irish Pub in Lower Burrell to reopen with late owner’s children at helm
Kelsie Magill plans to carry on in her late father’s footsteps. “My goal is to live up to what he believed in — and then some,” said Magill, 22. That includes reopening her father’s popular Lower Burrell bar and restaurant. Magill and her brother, Connor, two of David “Mogie” Magill’s...
Springdale basketball team learns from its 1989 championship counterparts
Springdale’s boys basketball team attended Monday’s practice to touch up on skills and prep for their games this week. Players also got a lesson in life from a team they hope to emulate. Before practice, Scott Andrews, a member of the Dynamo 1989 boys basketball WPIAL championship team, spoke to...
Funding for Lower Burrell park projects ‘a nice win,’ mayor says
Walking the extra loop at Lower Burrell’s K-9 Officer Derek Kotecki Park trail will take a little longer, but it will be paved. And basketball players at Burrell Lake Park soon will be able to enjoy a new surface on the courts. The work will be covered by a $108,757...
Springdale appoints injunction plaintiff to vacant council seat; demolition permit renewed
A man involved in litigation to block the implosion of the boiler house in Springdale has been appointed to a two-year term on borough council. Springdale Council on Tuesday appointed Joe Kern, 40, of Duquesne Court, to fill a vacancy left by former Councilwoman Eileen Miller. Kern said he sought...
Gallagher sets big goals as new Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall executive director
Marlee Gallagher loves telling stories. She’ll now be telling the story of the historic Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall. Gallagher, 35, of Carnegie is stepping into the role of executive director for the Library and Music Hall. She started the position Jan. 2. “I’m most looking forward to...
Penn State New Kensington to host conference on artificial intelligence
Penn State New Kensington will be hosting a conference focused on how faculty at higher-education institutions can adapt to the fast-changing technology of artificial intelligence and implement it in their classrooms. The campus in Upper Burrell will host the “Future Readiness Conference” for higher-education faculty Jan. 26. People interested in...
