Kellen Stepler stories, Page 55
Woman offers gas imaging camera service to Rustic Ridge residents
A certified thermographer said Thursday she hoped to give residents in Plum’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood some peace of mind by volunteering to use hydrothermic technology to look for possible gas leaks in homes. Christina Digiulio of Chester County visited Rustic Ridge and offered to use a hydrocarbon imaging camera to...
Part of former Springdale plant pulled down; more demolition planned in late September
Part of the former Cheswick Generating Station’s boiler building in Springdale was pulled down Monday night, making way for the rest of the building’s demolition next month. Scott Reschly, vice president of operations for the property owner, Charah Solutions, said the selective catalytic reduction portion of the plant is what...
5th gas well pad planned in Frazer
Plans for a fifth unconventional fracking well pad in Frazer are underway. Lori Ziencik, township secretary and supervisor, said Range Resources received permitting July 20 for the Drape James well pad, which would be located at 60 Kenny Lane. “It’s a permitted use in that zoning district, which is rural...
Lane shifts on Greensburg Road in Plum end
Lane shifts on Greensburg Road in Plum have ended earlier than expected, Allegheny County’s department of public works announced Tuesday. The lane shifts began March 13 and were originally expected to last into December. They were required for the replacement of Pucketa Creek Bridge No. 5, which carries Lincoln Beach...
Riverview selects Ernie Tillman, Kareem Gahed to fill vacancies on school board
The Riverview School Board tapped a former director and a newcomer to fill two board vacancies. School directors selected Ernie Tillman and Kareem Gahed to fill board spots vacated by Jeanine Hurt-Robinson and Jane Miller. The appointments are effective until the term ends at the board’s reorganization meeting in December....
Monroeville man crowned Pittsburgh’s ‘ultimate zombie’ at ScareHouse
Pittsburgh Mills mall went to the zombies Monday night. As they moaned, groaned and shambled their way through the ScareHouse — the Frazer mall’s former H&M store — a panel of local celebrity judges examined the three contestants’ acting and their wardrobes, ultimately crowning Jarrod Joos, 32, of Monroeville, Pittsburgh’s...
Butler County leaders get a close look at agricultural issues — and an elk farm — on tour
To say Bill Duncan is busy man probably would be an understatement. Duncan, his wife, Jean, and their son, Jim, own and operate an elk farm at their Clinton Township property. The unusual form of agriculture was the spotlight of a recent Butler County Farm Bureau legislative tour, during which...
Public to weigh in on proposed Leto compressor station in West Deer
West Deer supervisors have set a Sept. 26 public hearing date on a proposed compressor station on the Leto well pad property. The hearing will be held at St. Victor Church, Our Lady of the Lakes Parish. Vice chairwoman Shirley Hollibaugh said during the board’s recent meeting that the township...
Building the Valley: La Vite Ristorante provides fine Italian fare in Russellton
La Vite Ristorante is a big restaurant with even bigger goals. “I want this to be Pittsburgh’s Italian restaurant spot,” said owner, Eric Capozzi, 56, of McCandless. “I want everyone to come in, enjoy themselves and have fun.” La Vite, located at the No Offseason Sports complex at 942 Little...
Allegheny Valley unveils full-day pre-K program
When Katlyn Davis of Cheswick learned the Allegheny Valley School District was starting a full-day pre- kindergarten program this school year, she immediately enrolled her 4-year-old daughter, Emerson. “I think the full-day program works much better for our schedules than what they had for the half day,” Davis said. This year,...
Proposed electronic sign facing Hulton Bridge rejected by Harmar zoning board
Harmar’s zoning hearing board upheld a 2021 decision rejecting an outdoor advertising company’s request to make a billboard facing the Allegheny River near the Hulton Bridge electronic. The zoning hearing board on Thursday formally denied the request from Kenjoh Outdoor Advertising to convert the side facing the Allegheny River toward...
3 hospitalized in Route 28 crash in East Deer
Three people were taken to local hospitals as a result of a crash Monday on Route 28 in East Deer that snarled traffic in the northbound lanes for nearly two hours. At 3:24 p.m., officers responded to a single-vehicle crash in the northbound lanes of Route 28 in East Deer,...
ScareHouse at Pittsburgh Mills to hold ultimate zombie dress-up competition
Those who think they have what it takes to be “Pittsburgh’s ultimate zombie” should shuffle their way to the Pittsburgh Mills mall Monday night. The ScareHouse is seeking people to dress up like zombies and compete for the title of Pittsburgh’s ultimate zombie Monday at 8 p.m., with entry beginning...
Harrison girl plans ice cream social to raise money for Lower Burrell’s police dog, Buc
A Harrison girl known for raising money for area police departments is coordinating an event for Lower Burrell’s police dog, Buc. Kaley Bastine, 11, will be holding an ice cream social to raise money for Buc from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Mogie’s Irish Pub, 3210 Leechburg Road. “It’s...
Allegheny Valley School District renews Superintendent Pat Graczyk’s contract through 2029
Patrick Graczyk will lead the Allegheny Valley School District through the 2028-29 school year. The school board Aug. 15 approved Graczyk’s contract for a term effective July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2029. He will receive a base salary of nearly $182,000 for the 2024-25 school year, according to the...
Springdale promotes 2 police officers to sergeant
Two Springdale police officers soon will be referred to as sergeants. Council approved the promotions for Paul Perriello and Fred Hockenberry at its meeting Aug. 15. “I’m just happy that I have a supportive mayor and council. I look forward to bolstering our department and continue to grow it for...
West Deer, Deer Lakes schools renew police agreement
West Deer’s police department will continue to station officers at Deer Lakes schools. Township supervisors and the school board approved a memorandum of understanding between the two bodies for policing at Curtisville Primary Center, East Union Intermediate Center and Deer Lakes Middle School. Police Chief Robert Loper told supervisors Deer...
Deer Lakes welcomes 6 new teachers — and a therapy dog — for 2023-24 school year
Deer Lakes School District is welcoming several new initiatives and staff members when classes begin Wednesday. Spokesman Shawn Annarelli said the district will implement its Portrait of a Learner initiative this year, after it being in the works for about a year. The implementation won’t change the curriculum, but rather...
Penn State athletes take to downtown New Kensington for community service project
Penn State New Kensington students welcomed themselves to the community by giving back to it. About 120 student-athletes and their coaches took to downtown New Kensington on Friday afternoon to clean up the community as part of a back-to-school community service project. Assignments included cleaning Fourth Street and the outside...
New Acmetonia Elementary School playground could be a reality
The wheels are starting to turn on a proposal for a playground at Acmetonia Elementary School in the Allegheny Valley School District. The school board will vote on approving funds for a playground at Acmetonia during its Sept. 12 meeting. School board member Amy Sarno and Acmetonia’s PTA have been...
Therapy dogs provide comfort in Plum’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood
Gloria Frick says everyone knows the power dogs can have on a person’s well-being. On Thursday, Frick and other members of the Alliance of Therapy Dogs brought some four-legged comfort to Ridge Top Park in Plum’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood, where six people were killed in a home explosion Saturday. Those...
Rustic Ridge residents meet with Plum officials as community begins to recover
Plum, Allegheny County and American Red Cross personnel shared resources to help residents in the borough’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood during a meeting Thursday night, in the wake of a house explosion in the neighborhood Saturday that killed six. “We want you to know that there’s a large community here that’s...
East Deer zoning board recommends approval of 3 billboards; decision pending on a 4th
East Deer’s zoning hearing board found the township’s zoning ordinance is exclusionary regarding billboards and recommended, for now, approval of three of four billboards proposed by America First Enterprises. The board held a public hearing on America First Enterprises’ proposal for four billboards in the township June 29. The company,...
Springdale High School to establish Mabel C. Pratt scholarship fund after late music teacher
An Alle-Kiski Valley music teacher’s legacy will be remembered now in the form of scholarships. Allegheny Valley school directors on Tuesday accepted a distribution from the estate of Mabel C. Pratt for $10,000 to create the Mabel C. Pratt Music-Arts Scholarship Fund. The move is in accordance with Pratt’s will....
Springdale formally joins Riverview in 3 sports
Springdale and Riverview will put the rivalry aside — at least in three sports. The Allegheny Valley School Board on Tuesday gave final approval to a cooperative agreement that allows the schools to have partnerships in wrestling, softball and golf. Board member Paula Moretti said the schools have had an...
