Kellen Stepler stories, Page 12
Conservative college student organizations more empowered to share views
Julia Cassidy says she has always felt confident expressing her conservative political views at the University of Pittsburgh, even though they aren’t shared by most of her peers. Since Donald Trump regained the Oval Office, though, Cassidy, president of Pitt’s College Republicans, says she has noticed more students sharing conservative...
Bridgeville’s new police chief, Gary James, sworn-in
Gary James was officially sworn-in as Bridgeville’s police chief at a recent council meeting. James has worked in the Bridgeville Police Department for more than 35 years, first as a patrolman, then as a sergeant and now as chief. “His dedication, leadership and deep roots in Bridgeville make him the...
Facebook Marketplace scam has Allegheny Township police charging Maryland woman
Dan Sevic believed something was off after his business, Sevic Landscaping and Supply in Allegheny Township, took an order for concrete block back in March. Little did he know that transaction would be linked to an alleged scheme that police say used stolen credit cards to buy the blocks, sell...
New Kensington-Arnold hikes pay rate for substitute teachers
New Kensington-Arnold School District officials hope a $30 per-day pay increase will attract more day-to-day substitute teachers to the district. School directors this week set the substitute teacher rate at $130 per day. Previously, substitute teachers made $100 daily for the first 30 days they worked. That would increase to...
Burrell schools beef up, add layers to disciplinary protocols
Burrell’s high school and middle school will be adding another layer to their in-school suspension protocols. Burrell High School and Charles A. Huston Middle School will establish an Alternative Learning Center this school year that’s located within the school buildings but away from other classrooms, said Carla Roland, assistant high...
More than 700 motorcycles expected for 8th annual Shaw Ride
The largest charity motorcycle ride in Western Pennsylvania returns to the Alle-Kiski Valley this weekend. The eighth annual Brian Shaw Ride is set for Saturday. Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Pittsburgh Shrine Center, Harmar, and kickstands go up at 10 a.m. The ride is in memory of Officer...
Vape sensors to be installed at Valley Jr.-Sr. High School
Vape sensors will be installed in restrooms and common areas at Valley Jr.-Sr. High School in New Kensington. The New Kensington-Arnold school board this week approved buying and installing vape sensors at Valley at a one-time cost of $12,800, said Superintendent Chris Sefcheck. There is an ongoing annual maintenance fee...
Card skimmer found at New Kensington Giant Eagle
Giant Eagle says some of its customers who swiped a credit card at the New Kensington store in June might have fallen victim to a card skimmer. A legal notice, published by Giant Eagle this week, states a payment card skimmer was installed on a checkout lane’s PIN pad between...
Grand opening celebration set for new Allegheny Township Shoe Sensation
A new shoe store in Allegheny Township will have a grand opening celebration next month. Shoe Sensation, located in the Hyde Park Plaza, 451 Hyde Park Road, will hold the celebration Sept. 12 to 14, according to the Indiana-based company. “We’re bringing so much more than just your favorite name...
HVAC project at Burrell High School comes in $1M over budget
Bids for a proposed heating and cooling project at Burrell High School came in about $1 million more than what school district officials were expecting. Superintendent Shannon Wagner told the school board this week that bids for general construction, HVAC and electrical improvements at the high school came in at...
Allegheny Township to pay workers’ compensation for firefighters from fire tax
Allegheny Township will use revenue from the township’s fire tax to pay workers’ compensation insurance premiums for volunteer firefighters. The township supervisors on Monday did not take up a motion by Supervisor Michael Korns that, according to the motion, would “return the fire tax funds removed from the (Allegheny Township...
Man taken to hospital following vehicle, e-bike crash in Arnold
A man was taken to a hospital after he was riding his e-bike and was hit by a Jeep in Arnold on Tuesday night, police said. At around 9 p.m., first responders from Arnold and New Kensington responded to the intersection of Constitution Boulevard and Drey Street in Arnold, near...
Burrell’s Project Discover orientation revamped following district reconfiguration
Burrell School District will undergo some changes this year, and that means its annual, Project Discover orientation will look a little different, too. “We want to make it more engaging and interactive to start the school year and, hopefully, we continue to engage (students and families) throughout the school year,”...
Data center tenant could be announced at new Upper Burrell site within weeks
Signatures between a tenant and TECfusions, a data center company with a new location at in Upper Burrell, could happen within the upcoming weeks, a company spokeswoman said Friday. “We are in discussions and negotiations with some tenants,” said Melissa Farney, TECfusions spokeswoman. “I expect to be able to announce...
Teaching safety, developing culture keys to Alle-Kiski Valley youth football success
Youth football teams in the Alle-Kiski Valley are chugging along, even expanding, despite growing competition for kids’ time and expanding football programs at area public schools. The Rams Youth Football Organization, which takes in kids from the Highlands School District, is fielding three teams this year: 8-and-under, 10-and-under and 12-and-under....
Vote on Upper Burrell injection well rules could come soon
A decision on Upper Burrell’s proposed injection well ordinance could come within the next month, said township supervisors Chairman Ross G. Walker III. “There’s more information we want to consider,” Walker said. “We’ll take most everything into consideration if it’s positive and if it keeps us from passing an ordinance...
After 75 years, New Kensington native Pfc. Roland Bowser laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery
For 75 years, Paul Bowser’s had the same last memory of his older brother, Roland. It was in 1950, when Paul was 13. Roland marched down the front steps of his family home in Mount Vernon, New Kensington, hopped in a coupe with his girlfriend, Ruthann, and left to serve...
Building the Valley: New Lower Burrell dance studio aims to build students’ confidence
Tara Crowe remembers being asked why children should sign up for dance lessons. Her answer? For them to have fun, grow and have positive experiences. A lifelong dancer, Crowe hopes to do just that at her new studio, TC Dance Collective, which opened this summer at 3012 Leechburg Road in...
Beloved North Apollo woman’s legacy to be carried on through inaugural scholarship
Gillian Tones was a giver. When her brother, Dillon Tones, remembers his sister, he’s reminded of her selfless nature, putting others before herself, all with a radiant personality. That’s why the Tones family of North Apollo is paying it forward to the community with an upcoming golf outing and scholarship...
New Kensington bustling 5 years into revitalization plan
Mike Malcanas took the advice he got years ago at a business convention to heart. “Everybody — no matter where they were from — said the day a brewery came into town, the attitude started to change,” said Malcanas, operator of New Kensington’s Voodoo Brewing and founder of Olde Towne...
Roots Natural Kitchen debuts in Scott
What was once Bruegger’s Bagels in Scott Township is now a new, fast-casual, healthy-food restaurant. Roots Natural Kitchen opened at 1644 Cochran Road in late July. The Scott location has a drive-thru window; dining room; and delivery, catering and pickup options. “Roots Natural Kitchen is a fast-casual, salads and grain...
School start times pushed back for Valley High School students
Valley Jr.-Sr. High School students can hit the snooze button a few more times before heading off to school. The New Kensington-Arnold School District announced a new start time — 30 minutes later — for Valley Jr.-Sr. High School students for the upcoming school year. Buses will begin arriving at...
Fire convention returns to New Kensington: Here’s what’s planned
The history-rich, Western Pennsylvania Fireman’s Convention returns to New Kensington next week. The five-day annual convention, which includes services, a parade and the infamous Battle of the Barrel, starts Thursday evening and runs until Monday, said Ed Saliba Jr., New Kensington fire chief. “It would be nice for the public...
New Kensington man charged in connection to sex assaults against woman, girl
New Kensington police filed charges against a 30-year-old man accused of inappropriately touching and assaulting a woman and a girl over a two-year period. Joshua Daniel Large, of New Kensington, faces charges of aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, criminal attempt at indecent assault, corruption of minors and harassment. On Dec....
Is a grocery store on tap for downtown New Kensington?
The new owner of Central City Plaza in downtown New Kensington hopes to fill vacant space there by the end of this year and to get a grocery store operational next year. “We’re pretty confident we can better manage the property, and we saw a lot of potential in the...
