Kellen Stepler stories, Page 50
Alle-Kiski Valley natives find joy through skydiving
Andrew Kenny finds peace of mind among the clouds. It’s just that it comes while jumping out of an airplane and descending to Earth as a competitive skydiver. “It was just something I had always wanted to do,” said Kenny, 34, a Plum native. Some 2,300 jumps after his first...
Chill Mobile RV headed to Deer Lakes’ East Union Intermediate School
The Chill Mobile will be coming to Deer Lakes. The program, sponsored by Allegheny Health Network and Pirates Charities, will make stops at Deer Lakes’ East Union Intermediate School this year. The customized RV travels to school districts across the Pittsburgh area. Behavioral health specialists from AHN teach students skills...
Lower Burrell officials see momentum in business growth, but there’s still more work to do
What once was an empty building in the Burrell Plaza could now be home to businesses that will reap nearly $35,000 in tax revenue for Lower Burrell. Schaedler Yesco, a Harrisburg-based wholesale electrical distributor, will host its grand opening at the Burrell Plaza in the coming months. The store already...
Frazer police agreement includes 3% increase for officers
Frazer police officers will see a 3% annual increase in hourly wages for the next three years as part of an agreement between township supervisors and the Frazer Township Police Association. Supervisors earlier this month approved a collective bargaining agreement between the township and the Frazer police association through the...
Attorneys spar over ‘forgotten’ notebook of pictures from Springdale power plant visit
It appears neither party in the Springdale power plant injunction case is budging from its stance regarding a “forgotten” notebook of pictures from a site visit of the former power plant. Residents seeking the injunction say the notebook of photographs from an on-site inspection are a valid piece of evidence...
Sewage, refuse rate increases proposed in Cheswick budget
Cheswick taxpayers won’t seen an increase in their property taxes or water rates next year, but they can expect their sewage and garbage collection rates to increase. The borough is eyeing a $2.7 million budget for 2024. About $1.55 million of that is earmarked for the borough’s general fund, about...
West Deer approves Leto compressor station despite resident pushback
West Deer residents opposed to a gas compressor station in the Bairdford section of the township say they’re “exploring options” after supervisors approved the project last week. Supervisors on Nov. 15 approved the compressor station on the Leto well pad property, located off Oak Road. Hyperion Midstream, a subsidiary of...
Attorneys say there’s no basis to remove ‘forgotten’ notebook in Springdale injunction case
Attorneys representing the Springdale residents seeking to stop an implosion of the boiler house at the former Springdale power plant question why the property owner’s legal counsel wants to prohibit photographs taken during a site visit as evidence to be considered in the hearing. Attorney John Kane, who represents the...
Lower Burrell looks to establish rules for medical marijuana businesses
Lower Burrell is considering new rules to designate where medical marijuana dispensaries, and growers and processors, could set up shop in the city. Council approved preliminary readings of the proposal this month. A final vote is expected Dec. 11. Councilman Chris Fabry said the proposal was brought before council about...
Alleged ‘forgotten’ notebook latest disagreement in Springdale injunction case
Attorneys representing the property owner of the former power plant in Springdale are calling into question a “forgotten” notebook with “hundreds of photographs” from a site visit in October and are asking the judge presiding over the case to not allow them to be used in the hearing. Attorneys Dave...
Visit with therapy dog a treat for Acmetonia fourth graders who display positive behavior
A four-legged friend visited Acmetonia Elementary School on Friday morning as part of a new initiative to reward students’ positive behavior. Elizabeth Newill, a fourth grade science teacher, has started bringing Finnegan, her 7-year-old English springer spaniel, into her classroom every two weeks as part of a positive behavior reward...
No property tax increase in Frazer’s proposed budget for 2024
Frazer will hold the line on real estate taxes next year. The township’s proposed 2024 budget amounts to $1.13 million, about $148,000 less than this year , said Frazer Township Secretary and Supervisor Lori Ziencik. The millage rate remains at 3.5 mills. The average property tax assessment for a home...
Springdale power plant implosion ruling could come next month
A ruling on whether the former Cheswick Generating Station in Springdale can be demolished via implosion could come as early as the first week of December. Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge John T. McVay Jr., who is presiding over a court case seeking an injunction to stop the implosion, gave...
DEP fines companies involved in implosion of smokestacks at former Springdale power plant
Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection announced Thursday a civil penalty in connection to the June 2 implosion of two smokestacks at the former power plant property in Springdale. According to the DEP, Cheswick Plant Environmental Redevelopment Group, Controlled Demolition Inc. and Grant Mackay Co. violated the state’s Solid Waste Management...
Defense attorneys seek to dissolve injunction in Springdale power plant demolition case
Attorneys representing the demolition contractor in the Springdale power plant demolition case case filed a motion Wednesday to dissolve an injunction, filed by 16 borough residents in September to block an implosion of the boiler house. In court Wednesday, attorney Julie Brennan, who represents Grant Mackay Co., told Allegheny County...
Former Valley math teacher named assistant principal of Deer Lakes High School
A former Valley High School math teacher is now the assistant principal of Deer Lakes High School. Joshua Tysk started his new role today. The Deer Lakes School Board approved Tysk’s hiring at its October meeting. He will be paid $86,000. “My excitement to be a part of the Deer...
Toxicologist continues testimony in Springdale injunction proceedings
A Texas-based toxicologist testified Tuesday that health complaints reported by some Springdale residents following the June implosion of two towering smokestacks at the former power plant there are consistent to exposure of materials and fibers from the implosion. But the defense attorneys for the landowner and demolition company attempted to...
‘It’s not just everyday house dust’: Expert testifies as effort continues to halt implosion of boiler house in Springdale
A toxicologist and a safety consultant were the latest two individuals to testify in the injunction case where 16 Springdale residents are seeking to block an implosion of the boiler house at the former Cheswick Generating Station. S. Thomas Dydek, a Texas-based toxicologist, and Jon Pina, a consultant with Evergreen...
Upper Burrell eyes $1.25 million budget with no tax increase
Upper Burrell’s $1.25 million proposed budget for 2024 does not include a tax increase for residents. “We have a balanced budget,” Supervisor Mike Conley said. “There’s no tax increase. We’re holding the line.” The proposal is similar to this year’s budget, Supervisors Chairman Ross Walker said. An average township home...
Penn State and NFL standout LaVar Arrington, others honor veterans and highlight needs at Springdale ceremony
Penn State football and NFL great LaVar Arrington has a long list of accomplishments and accolades from the field. But what he wants to be remembered for is his advocacy for veterans and first responders. In front of a group of veterans Friday morning at the Springdale Veterans Association, Arrington,...
Former power plant and Springdale attorneys to meet over overlay proposal
A meeting among attorneys is in order before the Springdale Planning Commission can make a recommendation on a proposed zoning overlay in the borough. Planners met Wednesday to consider the overlay. The commission, which only serves in an advisory role to borough council, tabled the proposal in September. The idea...
Former St. Alphonsus Church in Springdale supplies Pittsburgh’s official Christmas tree — again
Pittsburgh’s 108th Christmas tree once again will hail from Springdale. While the approximately 40-foot blue spruce won’t be cut down until Saturday, crews from the city’s public works department were at the former St. Alphonsus Church on Thursday to cut down another tree on the property. Officials intend to use...
Brannock, Suchevits win Harmar supervisor seats
In a race where only 29 votes separated the four candidates, Erik Brannock and Robert Suchevits were able to claim two Harmar supervisor seats. According to unofficial but complete results from the Allegheny County Elections Division, Brannock, a Democrat, led all vote-getters with 437 votes, or 25.93%. Suchevits, a Republican,...
Frey, Hollibaugh, Wiegand win West Deer supervisor seats
An incumbent and two newcomers won four-year supervisor seats in West Deer. John Hollibaugh and Jo Resciniti were on the ballot for a seat representing District 3, and Josh Wiegand and David Harrison were on the ballot for a seat representing District 4. According to complete but unofficial results from...
Conley retains Upper Burrell supervisor seat
Mike Conley will serve another six years on Upper Burrell’s board of supervisors. Conley, 60, had 438 votes, or 62.48%, compared to 263 votes, or 37.52%, from challenger Cari Armstrong, 40, according to unofficial but complete vote tallies from the Westmoreland County Elections Department. “I certainly appreciated all the support,”...
