Allegheny County News category, Page 52
Tiny chemical safety board, battling to keep funding, launches probe of Clairton explosion
The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board’s probe into the deadly explosion at the Clairton Coke Works could take a year or more and will include worker interviews, careful examination of daily operations and a cinematic recreation of the blast. The aim is to trace events leading up to the...
U.S. Steel early findings pinpoint gas valve failure as cause of fatal Clairton Coke Works blast
U.S. Steel on Friday pinned blame for the deadly explosion Monday at the Clairton Coke Works on a valve failure that led to coke oven gas igniting, according to the company’s preliminary findings. “Preliminary indications lead us to believe that the explosion happened when flushing a gas valve in preparation...
Here are some things to know as students in the Shaler Area School District start new year
Shaler Area students return to classes on Aug. 19. • Holiday breaks: Labor Day, Sept. 1; Thanksgiving, Nov. 26-28 and Dec. 1; holiday, Dec. 19-Jan. 2; spring, March 30-April 3; Memorial Day, May 25. • Enrollment: 3,751 • Lunch prices: Primary and elementary, $2.15; middle and high school, $2.40, each...
Fox Chapel estate built to house late owner’s art collection lists for $4.5M
The late Charles G. Pauli was an art, furniture and antique collector who amassed such an extensive collection in his 50 years of traversing the globe that he designed an English-inspired manor residence in Fox Chapel large enough to showcase his collection. Pauli died in 2016 at the age of...
Sharpsburg-based Frankie’s Sausage shutters retail store to focus on wholesale demand
Two relatives with a passion for fresh, never-frozen sausage are making adjustments to their business operations in Sharpsburg. Brothers-in-law Michael Conte of O’Hara and Frankie Marckisotto of West Deer founded Frankie’s Sausage in 2022. Business has doubled in the past year, and, in an effort to focus on expanding the...
Art appreciation: Ohio Township woman colors the world
Among the pages of the textbook “Art Through the Ages” by Helen Gardner, Carolyn Brahney learned to appreciate art and inspire others to embrace their creativity. A 1962 graduate of Youngstown (now State) University with a Bachelor of Arts in fine arts and education, Brahney began teaching junior high school...
Shaler Area accepts business manager’s resignation, arranges high school leadership
The Shaler Area School District will be looking for a new business manager. The school board accepted the resignation of Jennifer Tressler, director of finance and operations, at its Aug. 13 meeting. It is effective Sept. 24. Tressler is leaving Shaler for the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, where she will start...
Allegheny County steps up pollution checks after Clairton blast
Regulators are temporarily stepping up pollution monitoring in the Mon Valley after a deadly explosion at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works on Monday sparked worry about the release of toxic gases. The Allegheny County Health Department announced Thursday it’s deploying two air quality monitoring vans provided by the Pennsylvania Department...
Deadline looms for signatures to study possible adoption of home rule charter in Franklin Park
Franklin Park residents only have until Aug. 26 to collect the 164 signatures required to be placed on the next election ballot to serve on a commission to study the pros and cons of possibly switching to a home rule charter. The borough needs to have seven residents on the...
Authorities identify 2nd person killed in Clairton Coke Works blast
A second Westmoreland County man was identified as the other victim who was killed Monday in an explosion at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works. Steven Menefee, 52, of the village of Tarrs in East Huntingdon, was pronounced dead at 7:26 p.m. at the scene of the blast, the Allegheny County...
Among NA’s new faces are assistant principal at Franklin, special education/gifted coordinator, basketball head coach
North Allegheny held its first school board meeting after a short summer break on Aug. 6, marking the occasion with two new hires, including a new assistant principal for Franklin Elementary School. Audra Meehan joins Franklin, one of North Allegheny’s seven elementary schools, replacing Tommie Guess, who now is the...
Edgewood Elementary to start late due to ongoing building renovations
Woodland Hills School District students are sharpening their pencils and putting together their backpacks for the first day of school, but not everyone will be back in the classroom as expected. Edgewood Elementary school students will now have late start to the 2025-26 school year. Building renovations are still underway....
Quaker Valley School District officials, staff prepare for start of 2025-26 school year
Quaker Valley School District officials and staff are eager to welcome nearly 1,830 students at the start of the 2025-26 school year. Students in kindergarten through ninth grade are expected to report Wednesday, Aug. 20, and all students will be in schools the following day. Staffers are to report Thursday,...
Latrobe man sues bar, driver over brother’s death in DUI crash
The brother of a motorcyclist killed in Jefferson Hills in March by an allegedly drunken driver is suing the motorist and the bar that served him that afternoon. John J. Wobrak, 69, of West Mifflin, was fatally struck in Jefferson Hills on March 14 — just three minutes after driver...
Registration open for Pittsburgh airport terminal tour
Registration to attend Pittsburgh International Airport’s open house of the new terminal opened to the public Friday. The $1.7 billion modernization project began in 2019 and is offering 10,000 people a first look at the terminal’s updated features on Oct. 11 from noon to 7 p.m. “We’ve said from the...
The Olive Branch, a fair-trade store in Pine, marking 50 years with special celebration
The roots of The Olive Branch reach back 50 years, when the fair-trade store, now located in Pine, began with just $250 in seed money and a motivation to help others. To celebrate, the store is hosting a 50th anniversary event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 6 at...
Police: Man in critical condition after being shot in McKeesport
A man has been hospitalized in critical condition after being shot late Wednesday in McKeesport. Allegheny County Police said officers were notified of a shooting around 9:30 p.m. along the 700 block of Sixth Street. First responders found a man suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to local hospital...
PitCare’s Meals on Wheels still going strong after 54 years
Dan Casey describes the food he prepares at PitCare’s Meals on Wheels program as “homestyle, with a restaurant quality.” And it’s no wonder, since Casey has worked in the food industry since graduating high school — he was a chef at the Wooden Nickel and Houlihan’s in Monroeville, and many...
Corndogs, donuts and boba tea: Moochi & You to open in Bellevue
Mochi is a Japanese-style dessert made of sweet rice flour. It is described as light and airy and will be available at the newest spot in Bellevue — Moochi & You, which is set to open on Friday. The shop, located in the heart of the neighborhood, will feature donuts...
Shaler’s Undercliff fire department suspends 5 members suspected of answering call impaired
Five volunteer firefighters in Shaler are accused of responding to a call under the influence of alcohol, officials with the township and Undercliff Volunteer Fire Company confirmed. The fire department suspended the five members on Aug. 8, Undercliff President John Klocko Sr. said. The department is accelerating its internal review...
Shaler names assistant manager, longtime employee Judith Kording as new township manager
A familiar face is taking over as Shaler manager, but she doesn’t plan to keep the job for very long. At their Aug. 12 meeting, Shaler commissioners promoted Assistant Manager Judith Kording to manager, effective that day. Her salary was set at $155,000, up from $126,000. Kording, 64, of McCandless...
North Allegheny installs new bocce courts to help boost unified team
United Bocce at North Allegheny is upping its game this year. Two new bocce courts, located at the senior high campus off Perry Highway in McCandless, were built this past summer, complete with the official bocce regulations, even down to crushed oyster powder at its base. This will be the...
Clairton Coke Works employees stay focused despite deadly blast
Richard Tikey stood by anxiously until every last one of his colleagues was accounted for after a deadly blast Monday morning at the Clairton Coke Works. He felt it was his duty as vice president of the plant’s union local to stay on scene, assist emergency responders and field concerns...
‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ to remain optional novel for Pine-Richland academic English 9 students
The 1960 novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” will be available for Pine-Richland High School’s English teachers to use in ninth grade classes, but they won’t be assured of reading it. After lengthy discussions over multiple meetings, the school board voted 6-2 on Aug. 11 to approve curriculum for academic English...
Richland celebrates 31st annual Community Day
Richland celebrated its 31st annual Community Day on Aug. 9. The Pine-Richland Marching Band kicked off the event at 4 p.m., providing the accompaniment for the national anthem sung by Claire and Raegan Dosch. Capping the affair was Zambelli fireworks at 10 p.m. The day was packed with food, games,...
