Kellen Stepler stories, Page 4
Dual enrollment surging at PennWest; top high school is in York County
Pennsylvania Western University officials are optimistic with spring enrollment trends, particularly with dual enrollment students. Total headcount at PennWest — which includes the California, Clarion and Edinboro campuses — is at 10,121 students, 2.43% above its target of 9,881. But that’s still less than its fall enrollment of 10,548. Dual...
Pitt’s spring graduation to be held at Acrisure Stadium
A larger graduation class means a larger venue for the University of Pittsburgh’s spring commencement. Pitt’s universitywide undergraduate spring commencement ceremony will be held May 3 at Acrisure Stadium on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. “This venue change will ensure every eligible graduate can participate and receive an appropriate number of tickets...
Improvements eyed along Route 50 at Bridgeville, Collier border
In an effort to eliminate the bottleneck at their border, Bridgeville and Collier are studying what it would look like to widen Route 50 between Mayer Street in Collier and Bower Hill Road in Bridgeville. Bridgeville Manager Joe Kauer said the municipalities are looking to enhance plans presented in 2015...
Boot Barn opens in Collier
A little bit of Western flair has moved to Collier. Boot Barn, a national retail chain selling western and work-related footwear, apparel and accessories, opened at the Great Southern Shopping Center, 1155 Washington Pike, on Feb. 13. The South West Regional Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting for the store...
Former baseball coach threatens Kiski Area with lawsuit
Attorneys representing a former Kiski Area middle school assistant baseball coach say they plan to file a lawsuit against the school district after the former coach was not rehired for the job over what they say is political retaliation. Attorney Amanda Shields said Tuesday her firm plans to file a...
Carnegie trail extension receives $850k boost
Federal funding will help a project proposed to expand the Panhandle Trail into Carnegie. Allegheny County was awarded $850,000 to support the purchase of part of an unused railroad line in Carnegie to extend the Panhandle Trail. “We’re thrilled (with U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio’s) support for the Panhandle Trail extension...
1st Valentine’s Day Dad-Daughter social a hit in Collier
Troy Riddle and his daughter, Everly, 5, had the same answer when asked their favorite part of attending the daddy-daughter event on Valentine’s Day at the Collier Community Center: spending time with each other. “It’s a good time,” said Troy, who is also Collier’s EMS Chief. The Riddles were one...
New Kensington-Arnold: More space needed in district buildings
As New Kensington-Arnold School District officials consider realigning district buildings, they’re also considering an addition to Martin Elementary School. But how an addition there might look like is still under review. “This is obviously a large project that takes into (account) many different aspects of the district,” said School Director...
Valley students learn life skills, find success at business competition
The subject of Hotel and Lodging Management was something that found Kamryn Graham. “I didn’t pick it,” said Graham, a Valley High School junior and member of the school’s Distributive Education Clubs of America, or DECA, a business education club. “As I read about it, it was interesting, so I...
Valentine’s Day activity between Valley students, Harrison seniors a lesson in cross-generation bondingVideo
A 62-year age gap didn’t stop a good time between Presley Staraniec, a student at Valley Jr.-Sr. High School, and Kathy Kapustik, a resident at the Riverview Senior Living apartments in Harrison. “I’ve always liked going around and meeting new people,” said Presley, 14, as he played games, made Valentine’s...
New manager takes reins in Allegheny Township
Allegheny Township’s new manager is a township resident and was a longtime employee of New Kensington’s municipal authority. Supervisors this week hired Marci Bigley as township manager at an annual salary of $87,500, said Supervisors Chairman Jamie Morabito. Bigley started the role Tuesday, Feb. 10. Her contract is for two...
Feds: Carnegie Mellon receives 2nd most foreign funding of any U.S. college
Federal data released this week shows Carnegie Mellon University receives the second-highest amount of foreign funding among U.S. universities. The data, which spans 1986 to 2025, shows CMU disclosed $3.9 billion in foreign gifts and contracts, according to the U.S. Department of Education. CMU trailed only Harvard University, which received...
Here are the numbers behind the Stewart School sales agreement
Burrell School District officials believe the $1 redevelopment sales agreement of the former Stewart Elementary School property is the most fair and reasonable price for the property, and it will generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax revenue for the district moving forward. The school board Tuesday approved a...
Bridgeville’s Sarah Street, Missouri Avenue eyed for paving
Bridgeville officials hope to be able to pave Sarah Street and a portion of Missouri Avenue this summer. Council on Feb. 9 authorized its engineer to prepare specifications and bid its road paving program that will include Sarah Street and Missouri Avenue as the base bid. Alternate bids include Charlet...
Bon Air Elementary construction bids still over budget
Project bids for a heating and cooling project and kitchen addition at Burrell’s Bon Air Elementary School are over budget again. Superintendent Shannon Wagner said bids for the Bon Air project are a little more than $10 million, the amount budgeted by the district. “The architect is taking a look...
‘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...
