Kellen Stepler stories, Page 57
Shoring work nearly complete on Route 28 bridge in Harmar
Additional work to fix a railroad bridge where rocks fell onto the Route 28 expressway last week is underway. Crews are adding shielding under the railroad structure, this time southbound, between Exit 11 (Harmar) and Exit 12 (Cheswick) with single-lane restrictions for travelers. Northbound Route 28 was closed early Friday...
East Deer seeks noise exemption from Liquor Control Board for Pittsburgh Brewing concert venue
East Deer is seeking an exemption from the state’s Liquor Control Board rules on noise, as a concert venue is in the works at Pittsburgh Brewing Co. In June, the township commissioners approved a noise ordinance that was prompted, in part, by Pittsburgh Brewing Co. in the township’s Creighton neighborhood...
East Deer refers proposed billboard rules to planners; fate of 4 digital displays pending
As the fate of four proposed billboards in East Deer looms, the township commissioners Thursday referred its drafted rules regarding those signs to township and county planners. The proposal amends the township’s zoning ordinance regarding billboards and was advertised last month. Now, the next step in the process is to...
Frazer promotes 3 police officers, looking to hire 2-3 more full-timers
Three part-time Frazer police officers are now full time. Township supervisors on Tuesday approved the promotions of Sean Moore, Michael Shook and Cole Berg as full-time officers, effective Sunday, Aug. 6. Lori Ziencik, Frazer township secretary and supervisor, said the promotions were recommended by Chief Terry Kuhns. Kuhns said Moore...
Olympus submits DEP application for 5th well pad in Upper Burrell
A fifth natural gas drilling well pad may be on its way to Upper Burrell. Township officials received notification that Olympus Energy of Canonsburg is applying for an erosion and sediment control permit to the state Department of Environmental Protection for the proposed Artemis well pad project. Artemis would be...
New playground, pickleball courts included in Lower Burrell parks improvements
Enhancements are coming to Lower Burrell’s parks and playgrounds. The city is working through two grants to improve its parks, Councilman Chris Fabry said. The impact of the first grant can be seen at Veterans Park for two new playgrounds — one of which was installed a couple weeks ago....
Lower Burrell angler catches American eel in Allegheny River
Shirley Cooper was hoping the fishing would be good while on her friend’s boat in the Allegheny River on Monday night. But she caught something she’d never seen in the river before — and neither have most people. At 9:50 p.m. near the Cheswick Marina, Cooper, who has fished her...
Lower Burrell firefighters make case for additional funding from city
Volunteer firefighters in Lower Burrell are joining forces to ask city council for more funding. No official action has been taken, but council members heard from Ted Hereda, chief of Lower Burrell Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 in Kinloch, and Brennan Sites, chief of Lower Burrell Volunteer Fire Company No....
West Deer to consider allowing linkup of Leto well pad with eastern interconnect
West Deer supervisors heard more than six hours of testimony last week on a project that, if built, would allow gas to flow from the approved Leto well pad in Bairdford to the eastern interconnect pipeline. Hyperion Midstream, a wholly owned subsidiary of Olympus Energy of Canonsburg, seeks approval for...
Springdale fire department becomes certified to help with medical emergencies
Springdale residents shouldn’t be alarmed when the fire department shows up to a 911 medical call. That’s because this month, the Springdale Volunteer Fire Department became certified as a Quick Response Service from the state Health Department, which means a fire apparatus will respond along with an ambulance service to...
Chiropractor aims to promote healthy living at new Lower Burrell location
Chiropractor Seth Hornack believes that to age well, one must live well. And he plans to continue to spread that message in the community with his new practice, the Healthy U Factory at 2869 Leechburg Road in Lower Burrell, which is expected to open by Sept. 1. “I had a...
Student organizing 5K in Lower Burrell to raise money to start mental health foundation for teens
A Burrell High School student aiming to promote mental health wellness is coordinating a physical challenge for the cause in August. Grace Nesko, a rising senior at Burrell High School, is coordinating a 5K on Aug. 12 in K-9 Officer Derek Kotecki Memorial Park. Nesko said shirts and concessions will...
Company seeks electronic billboard upgrade in Harmar
The billboard blitz has made its way to Harmar. Kenjoh Outdoor Advertising of Charlotte seeks to alter its sign on the Harmar side of the Hulton Bridge. The three-sided sign has two displays facing Freeport Road and one facing the Hulton Bridge and the Allegheny River. A hearing for the...
Another natural gas drilling well pad, pipeline proposed in West Deer
Another well pad is proposed in West Deer, as residents learned during a public hearing Tuesday for a separate interconnect pipeline. Olympus Energy is proposing the Tyche well pad and an associated pipeline at property located at 201 Bairdford Road, west of the Pittsburgh National Golf Club. The proposed well...
Embattled Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer could go to sheriff’s sale
The Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer could go to sheriff’s sale this fall. According to court filings, a notice of sheriff’s sale for real estate that includes the mall property will be held at 9 a.m. Oct. 2 in the Allegheny County Courthouse. Filings indicate Pitt Galleria Reality LLC, Pitt...
Freeport chalk festival to challenge artists, promote the borough
Freeport has a storied past, a rejuvenated present and an up-and-coming future. Local business owners are encouraging artists to depict that on borough sidewalks during a chalk festival this weekend. The second annual Freeport Chalk Art Celebration will take place Friday, July 28 and Saturday, July 29 along Fifth Street....
West Deer residents challenge Leto well pad approval
A West Deer community advocacy group and nine residents have formally filed a land use appeal against the township and its board of supervisors over an approved well pad in Bairdford. The filing, submitted Wednesday in Allegheny County Court, alleges that the project’s applicant, Olympus Energy of Canonsburg, failed to...
Car slams into building in downtown New Kensington
A car struck a building in downtown New Kensington on Friday afternoon, leaving the vehicle totaled and some damage to the building. Crews responded to the corner of 11th and Barnes streets in New Kensington for the crash at around 4:45 p.m. Assistant Fire Chief B.J. Kersey said the car...
Old Leechburg Road slide repair work continues for another week in Plum
Work along a section of Old Leechburg Road in Plum will continue for another week. PennDOT spokesman Steve Cowan said guiderail installation work will continue through Friday, July 28, on a portion of Old Leechburg Road between Sardis and Old Mine roads. The roadway will remain closed until the work...
East Deer plans Baileys Run Road waterline improvements
A problematic water line in East Deer is being addressed by township officials. Commissioners recently approved a nearly $500,000 loan from PennVEST — the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority — to complete the project to fix a waterline on Baileys Run Road. “This is a section of waterline that has the...
Upper Burrell planners recommend approval for building addition at Alcoa
Upper Burrell planners are recommending approval for a proposed building addition at the Alcoa Technical Center. The township’s planning commission issued the recommendation at its meeting Tuesday. According to township documents, Alcoa Technical Center intends to add the approximately 5,100-square-foot building for equipment storage at the research complex at 859...
Springdale takes 1st step on zoning overlay; power plant owner threatens legal action
Despite opposition — and even a threat of legal action — from the property owner, Springdale officials took the first step in creating a zoning overlay district around the former power generating station property. Council members unanimously decided to refer an ordinance providing for various zoning amendments and changes within...
Lower Burrell subdivides former Blockbuster property in hopes for a future sale
It’s yet to be seen what will become of the former Blockbuster store at Burrell Plaza, but officials believe they have made it easier for the landowner to sell the land to prospective buyers. The Lower Burrell Zoning Hearing Board on Monday granted a variance to Widewaters of Syracuse, N.Y.,...
Par Mar convenience sets opening date in East Deer
After a nearly three-year hiatus, a convenience store/gas station is returning to East Deer. A Par Mar convenience store will take over where Sheetz once was, at 899 Freeport Road and the Crawford Run Road intersection, in the township’s Creighton neighborhood. The store plans to open at 6 a.m. Friday,...
Lower Burrell recognizes firefighters, police, resident for heroism during June house fire
The heroic and self-sacrificing actions of Lower Burrell firefighters, police officers and residents during a June house fire in the city were recognized by city council. On June 18, crews across the Alle-Kiski Valley were dispatched to the 170 block of Jefferson Drive in Lower Burrell for a house fire...
