Kellen Stepler stories, Page 52
Sheriff to host concealed carry permit event in Springdale Township
People interested in getting a license to carry a weapon can do so Saturday, at a satellite event in Springdale Township. The event, hosted by the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, is scheduled for Saturday between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Allegheny Valley Volunteer Fire Company building, 851 Parkway...
What does West Deer’s fire tax referendum mean for voters?
West Deer voters will see two additional questions on their ballots on Election Day — one regarding the township’s fire tax, and the other for elected auditors. West Deer is a Home Rule charter community, meaning it is governed by a charter that can only be amended through a voter...
Upper Burrell approves 5th well pad in township
A proposed well pad site off Merwin Road in Upper Burrell won the approval of township supervisors Wednesday. Olympus Energy of Cecil Township proposed the Artemis well pad at 931 Merwin Road, on property owned by Harry and Bonnie Edgar. Artemis marks the fifth well pad in the township, and...
Case of missing Springdale man remains unsolved
Attempts to find a missing man in Harmar on Wednesday were unsuccessful, authorities say, and the investigation will return to the hands of Springdale police. Sean Dugan, 58, was reported missing by Springdale police Monday. That evening, Harmar police saw Dugan’s car, an Acura sedan, along Gulf Lab Road at...
5 candidates vying for 3 seats on Springdale Council
Five people are seeking three seats on Springdale Council in the Nov. 7 election. Incumbent Republicans Dan Copeland and Shawn Fitzgerald Jr. face challenges from Mark Stanton, a Republican, and Dolly J. Stephens, a Democrat. Joe Kern, a registered Republican, is running as a write-in candidate. Council seats are four-year...
Lower Burrell establishes safe exchange area for custody exchanges, online sale meetups
An area where people can safely conduct a custody exchange or online sale meetups is open in Lower Burrell. The safe exchange area in the Lower Burrell City Hall parking lot includes cameras and signage. Councilman Chris Fabry first proposed the idea to council in the summer. “Being on council,...
1 person taken to hospital after car crashes into creek in O’Hara
One person was injured when a car went into a creek Monday afternoon off Saxonburg Boulevard in O’Hara. O’Hara police, Parkview EMS, Pleasant Valley Volunteer Fire Company and crews out of Etna responded. It’s unclear what led to the incident. Township officials could not immediately be reached for comment. Jim...
Burrell aims to strengthen district-community relationship with ‘fireside chat’
One of the goals of Burrell’s fall fireside chats is to strengthen the district’s relationship with the community. And the s’mores aren’t too bad, either. The district’s second annual fall gathering, held Thursday night, included several campfires across the high school’s parking lot for students, teachers, parents and administrators to...
Bullying, student safety, finances among topics on minds of Allegheny Valley School Board candidates
Voters in the Allegheny Valley School District will see three different races for the upcoming school board election. Six people — Democrats Amy Sarno, Paula Jean Moretti, Nicole Paulovich and Glenna Renaldi, and Republicans Kathleen “Jeanne” Haas and James Schiemer — will vie for five seats for four-year terms on...
Cause unclear for brief power outage in Lower Burrell/New Kensington area
About 600 West Penn Power customers, mostly in Lower Burrell and some in New Kensington, lost power for a brief period Friday morning. West Penn Power spokesman Todd Meyers said an exact cause has yet to be determined, but a recloser on a pole in the 2300 block of Freeport...
Proposed Lower Burrell budget has no tax increase, more money for firefighters
Lower Burrell’s proposed budget for 2024 includes no property tax increase for city residents and landowners. And, thanks to royalties from gas drilling at Burrell Lake Park, the city intends to provide additional funding to its volunteer fire departments. “What I’m going to propose today is that we got some...
Prospect of $4 million a year for trash collection leaves New Kensington seeking new bids
The prospect of paying nearly $4 million a year for curbside trash collection — more than four times what it currently costs — has New Kensington officials holding their noses. At a special meeting Tuesday, council members rejected a trash collection bid from County Hauling and authorized the city’s clerk...
Judge sets protocol for upcoming Springdale power plant site visit
The judge presiding over the Springdale injunction case has established ground rules before a site visit at the former power plant there, as a decision on imploding the plant’s boiler house is pending. An order written by Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge John T. McVay Jr. outlines the protocol before...
November date set for West Deer well pad public hearing
West Deer supervisors have set a Nov. 9 public hearing date for another proposed deep well in Bairdford. Cecil Township-based Olympus Energy is looking to build the Tyche well pad at 201 Bairdford Road, west of the Pittsburgh National Golf Club. The property is zoned rural residential. If approved, it...
Upper Burrell supervisors to consider township’s 5th well pad proposal
Upper Burrell residents can weigh in on the township’s fifth proposed well pad next month. A public hearing for the Artemis well pad, which would be at 931 Merwin Road, will follow the Nov. 1 supervisors meeting, said supervisors Chairman Ross Walker. Olympus Energy of Cecil Township is seeking approval...
Cope, Felack on ballot for New Kensington-Arnold School Board seat
The only contested race in the New Kensington-Arnold School Board election this fall will pit an incumbent board member against a state representative’s legislative aide in the district’s Region 3. Incumbent board member and retired teacher John Cope and Eric Felack, a legislative aide for state Rep. Abby Major, will...
Man shot in New Kensington, airlifted to hospital
A middle aged man was shot in New Kensington on Thursday afternoon, according to police. About 3:30 p.m., police blocked off the 1000 block of Kenneth Avenue for a shooting. A landing zone was set up at Valley High School. Investigators at the scene directed all inquiries to the Westmoreland...
Springdale residents add Sunshine Act violation claim to reasons for stopping power plant implosion
Plaintiffs in the Springdale injunction case filed a motion in court Wednesday alleging that the issuing of a demolition permit for the former Cheswick Generating Station violated the state’s Sunshine Act. The complaint, filed by attorney John Kane, claims the violation is sufficient to block the implosion of the power...
Apparent demolition permit confusion leads Springdale Council to review policies
While recognizing a demolition permit was issued for the former Cheswick Generating Station, Springdale Council on Tuesday said it needs to review its policies for such permits. Council discussed the permitting process for the demolition at the former power plant, which included the two smokestacks that were imploded in June...
Springdale zoning officer, council members testify in power plant’s boiler house implosion case
The plant manager of the former Cheswick Generating Station in Springdale, Springdale’s zoning officer and two council members testified Tuesday as the injunction hearing to block an implosion at the boiler house continued in court. Last month, 16 Springdale residents filed an injunction to block the demolition of the boiler...
Demolition company president, contractor testify in Springdale injunction case
A prepared implosion of the boiler house at the former Cheswick Generating Station in Springdale is the safest way to take down the structure, the president of Controlled Demolition Inc. testified Monday. Mark Loizeaux, president of CDI, testified before Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge John T. McVay Jr. as part...
Armstrong, Conley seek Upper Burrell supervisor seat
An incumbent and a newcomer are seeking a seat on Upper Burrell’s board of supervisors. Cari Armstrong, 40, and Mike Conley, 60, are running for township supervisor in the Nov. 7 election. The position is a six-year term. Armstrong, a Democrat, works as an end-of-life doula. An end-of-life doula is...
Building the Valley: Lower Burrell bookstore owner shares love of reading with community
The story of Karen Watkins’ business isn’t ending anytime soon. In fact, it’s starting a new chapter. Watkins, 52, of Lower Burrell owns The Last Word bookstore along Leechburg Road in Lower Burrell. She held a grand reopening of the store Sept. 15. “I’m here. I’m open. I will be...
2 charged in scuffle at Dollar General in Springdale
Springdale police say a fight between two men last week at Dollar General led to one dispatching pepper spray at the other, causing the store to be evacuated. On Thursday, police charged William Stephen Korbe, 59, of Cheswick and Donald William Brownlee, 64, of Springdale with simple assault and disorderly...
Testimony to resume in injunction case over boiler house implosion in Springdale
The court case to block the implosion of the boiler house at the former Cheswick Generating Station in Springdale is expected to resume Monday. Last month, 16 Springdale residents filed an injunction against the companies that were scheduled to perform the implosion at the site. The boiler house was scheduled...
