Kellen Stepler stories, Page 5
‘Game jam’ puts Westmoreland County gifted students’ creativity to the testVideo
Cameron Yourema’s method to create a board game was literally mayhem. “We were trying to follow the mayhem rule as much as we could,” said Yourema, a Valley High School sophomore, of the “Game Jam” board game design competition held Tuesday. “We tried to make a more chaotic game. “What...
Building the Valley: STEM Academy planned for New Kensington
A planned after-school STEM academy in New Kensington aims to put the city on the map. The nonprofit, R&D Impact Foundation plans to open the SparX Academy at 1250 Fifth Ave., said Nicole Roberts, the foundation’s director of program management. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. “It’s going...
Burrell sells Stewart School property for $1 in redevelopment deal
The old Stewart Elementary School property in Lower Burrell will be developed into 46 units of single-family, duplex-style condos. The Burrell School Board on Tuesday approved selling the Stewart Elementary property at 2800 Leechburg Road to developer David Ziccarelli. The property totals about 8.44 acres. “It’s been a great collaboration...
With flat state funding, it’s ‘too soon to tell’ if state-owned institutions will increase tuition
It’s too soon to tell if tuition will increase next year for undergraduate students attending one of the 10 colleges in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed budget keeps the funding allocation flat at $625 million for the system. zAmong the colleges affected are Slippery...
Bridgeville-based nonprofit expands to support mental health and housing
A Bridgeville-based human services nonprofit continues to grow after expanding its housing support initiative last year. Chartiers Center’s Recovery Living Services aims to meet the growing need of housing instability by providing integrated housing support, mental health services and substance use treatment across nearly 250 households. According to the Allegheny...
Burrell basketball coach accused of draining $246K from Montgomery County nonprofit
Authorities in Montgomery County have charged Burrell High School’s boys basketball coach with stealing more than $246,000 from a nonprofit group where he formerly served as treasurer. Michael Fantuzzo, 40, faces theft charges from allegations stemming from when he served as volunteer treasurer of the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association, a...
Chartiers Valley Dance Troupe places 2nd at national competition
For the second time in program history, Chartiers Valley High School’s dance troupe placed second at a national competition, remaining one of the top high school dance teams in the country. The team competed at the National Dance Team Championship at the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla.,...
Carlynton takes out $24.46M bond for Carnegie renovation, high school projects
A $24.46 million bond, taken out by Carlynton school directors Feb. 2, will support a building renovation at Carnegie Elementary and other projects at Carlynton Jr.-Sr. High School. District officials say the bond financing provides long-term funding to address aging infrastructure, improve safety and accessibility, and modernize classroom spaces. Directors...
Arnold man sentenced to 13 years for heroin, fentanyl trafficking
An Arnold man who led police on a high-speed chase with a child in the car was sentenced to 13 years in prison on a federal fentanyl and heroin trafficking charge. Kevin Watson, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge W. Scott Hardy. His sentence will be followed by five...
Northern Westmoreland students’ SpongeBob pedal car wins big at competitionVideo
A SpongeBob SquarePants-themed pedal car and months of work paid off for Northern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center students — not only for a recent competition, but also for their future careers. Students in the school’s Auto Body Collision Repair and Refinishing Technology program placed first in the 65th World...
Pitt purchases property on Atwood Street; plans not yet announced
It’s unclear what the University of Pittsburgh’s plans are for a recently-purchased property in Oakland. Pitt purchased 251-253 Atwood St. for just under $1.37 million last month, according to Allegheny County real estate records. University officials wouldn’t disclose plans for the 4,436-square-foot property. “The university is always looking for opportunities...
State budget plan includes $30M performance-based fund for Pitt, Penn State
The state’s proposed budget for the coming fiscal year includes $30 million in performance-based grants to be distributed among the University of Pittsburgh, Penn State University and Temple University, through a new state-related university performance fund. General support appropriations, however, remain flat for Pitt, at $151.5 million, and Penn State,...
New Kensington fire ‘appears to be electrical in nature,’ chief says
A New Kensington home sustained “a good bit of damage” following an electrical fire Wednesday night, according to New Kensington Fire Chief Ed Saliba Jr. Crews responded to the 600 block of Clyde Street in the Valley Heights section of the city just after 11 p.m., Saliba said. “Police got...
Nonprofit donates old Miner’s Clinic property to New Kensington
The former Miner’s Clinic property in New Kensington is now in the city’s hands. Nonprofit groups Keystone Hope Development and Westmoreland Community Action donated about 8 acres of land off Powers Drive, on both sides of Martin Avenue, City Clerk John Zavadak said. In the 1950s, the Russellton Medical Group...
New art collective, Alloy 13, launches to boost local creativity in New Kensington
An artist collective in the Alle-Kiski Valley was the result of the right people, the right place and the right time. Three area artists — James Sabulsky, Dave Howard and Alyssa Penman — had individually thought to establish a space to showcase and promote artwork in the Alle-Kiski Valley, according...
5 charged in connection with Lower Burrell vape shop raids
Lower Burrell police filed drug-related charges against five people following a yearslong, undercover investigation into three vape shops in the city. Those charged are: Hussain M. Almerdaie, 33, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Maulik H. Thakkar, 43, of Mars; Qasem A. Almardeai, 37, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Baldwiner Singh, 54, of Monroeville; and...
Valley High School to offer girls flag football
Girls at Valley Jr.-Sr. High School will have a new sport to play this spring. The New Kensington-Arnold School Board on Tuesday unanimously approved adding a flag football program. “We’ve had so many girls that have wanted it for so long,” board President Jane Graham said. “It is definitely something...
French classes cut at Valley High School; district will add in-house English as a Second Language programming
Say adieu to the French program at Valley Jr.-Sr. High School. The New Kensington-Arnold School Board on Tuesday voted to phase out its French programming and create an in-house English as a Second Language program, following enrollment declines in French and the rapid growth of students needing ESL services. Board...
Pitt to lease Wellington Apartments for overflow student housing
The University of Pittsburgh will lease the Wellington Apartment building in case there’s a need for student overflow housing this fall. University trustees on the property and finance committee Tuesday approved a five-year housing lease at the Wellington Apartments, 245 Melwood Ave. Pitt Spokesman Jared Stonesifer said the university is...
Officials warn people to stay off frozen Pittsburgh rivers
First responders have a simple message after seeing reports and videos of people walking on frozen Pittsburgh rivers: Don’t do it. “Don’t put yourself at risk to get injured — because our first responders have to put their lives on the line to help you,” said Pittsburgh EMS Chief Amera...
Lower Burrell zoning board to consider credit union’s proposal to move to old PNC Bank building
A credit union may soon occupy the former PNC Bank building in Lower Burrell’s Hillcrest Shopping Center complex. Western PA Federal Credit Union, which has a location in Feldarelli Square, New Kensington, seeks a zoning variance as it plans to move to the former PNC building at Hillcrest. PNC closed...
Penn State launches change-of-campus program
A new Penn State University program is designed to help undergraduate students explore and navigate changing campuses. The university announced Monday it is launching “Penn State Pathways” this spring through its Student Orientation and Transition program. It will feature in-person events at six campuses — University Park, Abington, Altoona, Beaver,...
Allegheny Land Trust nears goal to conserve 30 acres in Collier for park expansion
The Allegheny Land Trust is a step closer to conserving about 30 acres of property in Collier. The trust is receiving $659,100 from the state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to put toward the acquisition of the approximately 30 acres in Collier for an addition to Settlers Cabin County...
Opponents of Homer City power plant and data center air concerns at community gathering
At a community meeting Sunday about the natural gas-powered data center project near Homer City, activists and residents expressed concerns ranging from environmental to economic and health impacts. The afternoon event was organized by Concerned Residents of Western PA, a group formed to oppose the planned 4.5-gigawatt power plant and...
‘A little scary’ and a lot dangerous: People reminded to stay off frozen rivers
It is highly dangerous and widely discouraged to walk on frozen rivers. But that hasn’t stopped some people from doing it anyway. Videos and news footage from this weekend have shown people walking and sliding across the frozen Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers, near Point State Park and the North...
