Kellen Stepler stories, Page 18
Chartiers Valley boys lacrosse alumni game aims to connect current, former players
Things came full circle when Kyle Kelsch, who played lacrosse at Chartiers Valley from 2008 to 2011, became the assistant varsity coach of the team this year. Now, he’s asking other alumni to get together and give back to the boys lacrosse program with its first-ever alumni game at 3...
‘Gallop of the Graduates’ takes Chartiers Valley seniors down memory lane
Stacie Vaughan joined her students and colleagues lining the hallways of Chartiers Valley Intermediate School ready to welcome and celebrate this year’s graduating class. She had with her a green piece of paper. That paper had a printed book cover of Shel Silverstein’s “The Giving Tree.” It’s a book Stacie’s...
New Huston Middle School courses to be hands-on, engaging for students
Music production, baking and hospitality, and an exercise dance are some of the courses seventh and eighth grade students at Huston Middle School in Lower Burrell may be able to take next year. The school will be rolling out its new “studio” model of elective courses next year, said Principal...
Burrell teacher among few headed to U.S. Supreme Court training
A Burrell High School teacher is one of 60 nationwide who will get firsthand training to help teach students about the United States judicial system. Amanda Pagnotta will travel to Washington, D.C., in June to attend the Supreme Court Summer Institute, which aims to give teachers the opportunity to study...
‘Something we value’: Community beautifies Bridgeville’s butterfly pollinator garden
A love for the community and gardening made a perfect Saturday morning for Alison Thomas and her family. The Thomases, of Bridgeville — Justin, Alison and their children Hannah, 6, and Max, 4 — were among about 25 Bridgeville-area residents beautifying the new Baldwin Street butterfly pollinator garden May 17....
No tax increase anticipated at Carlynton
Property owners in the Carlynton School District likely will not see an increase in their taxes next school year. The district’s proposed budget for 2025-26 totals $37.1 million and maintains the current millage rate of 28.5083 mills. “This budget allows us to continue supporting our outstanding academic programs, extracurricular activities...
Penn State clashes with its land-grant mission as it mulls branch campus closures
As the discussion continues over Penn State’s recommendation to shutter seven branch campuses, much of the debate has turned to whether the closures would allow Penn State to continue to fulfill its mission as a land-grant university. But what exactly is a land-grant university? In 1863, Penn State was designated...
Stewart School’s final history to be told by one of its last students
The beginnings and the ends of Stewart Elementary School are coming together for Teddy Heberling’s project about the nearly century-old Lower Burrell institution. “I knew it was old, but I didn’t know it was 90 years old,” said Teddy, 10 and a fifth grader at Stewart. “It’s cool to me...
‘Linda Louise Foundation’ to promote New Kensington youths, basketball with tournament
An upcoming event in New Kensington aims to showcase the positive in the city through basketball and provide a boost to city organizations. On June 1, the newly-founded Linda Louise Foundation and Kings & Queens of the Court will host the “Battle on Barnes,” a 3-on-3 basketball tournament and event...
Burrell schools budget would raise taxes 3.8%
The Burrell School Board next week will consider moving forward with a proposed budget that would raise taxes 3.8%. The proposed budget totals close to $37.7 million, which is a 3% increase from this school year’s budget, Business Manager Jennifer Callahan said. The real estate tax increase included in the...
Possible PSNK closure a blow to area school districts, but they’ll continue to promote the option
Nine students from last year’s graduating class from Kiski Area High School intended to attend Penn State New Kensington. But, so far, only two students from this year’s graduating class plan to do so. And Superintendent Jason Lohr can’t help but think that press coverage surrounding Penn State’s announcement of...
Bethel Park counselor moves practice to Scott, strives to empower people
Being a counselor is something Paula Kauffman Oberly always knew she wanted to do. It started with helping children, she said, “and when you help kids, you’re helping families.” Fourteen years ago, she started PKO Counseling Services and over the winter, she moved her practice from downtown Pittsburgh to Scott...
Hunt Elementary students write, advertise for Animal Protectors’ shelter dogs
Reagan Bondra and Sloane Matthews listened intently as their classmates at Roy A. Hunt Elementary School in Arnold asked questions about the dogs being paraded outside of the school. Is the dog docile? Does the dog do well in storms? What’s life like for a dog in a shelter? Ultimately,...
Meeting on Penn State campus closures scheduled next week
The fate of seven Penn State branch campuses — including New Kensington and Fayette — could be determined next Thursday. The board of trustees will meet virtually 5 p.m. May 22 to consider the recommendation to close the New Kensington, Fayette, DuBois, Mont Alto, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre and York campuses, according...
‘Global Scholars’ recognized at Chartiers Valley High School
Six Chartiers Valley High School seniors have been recognized for their efforts in learning a foreign language and global education. This year’s “Global Scholars” students at Chartiers Valley are Brady Baranowski, Mikayla Diyanni, Aislinn Myrah, Natalia Palumbo, Sky Schmidt and Sydney Trainor, said advisor and 26-year Spanish teacher Rochele Reitlinger....
35-year police veteran takes reins as Bridgeville police chief
Bridgeville officials didn’t have to look far to find the borough’s next police chief. Council on Monday, May 12 appointed Sgt. Gary James, a 35-year veteran of the borough’s police department, as chief. “It’s a great honor to be able to represent this community as chief of police,” said James,...
Faces of the Valley: Lower Burrell welder, 90, has ‘never worked a day in his life’
If it’s broken, Dale Wolfe tries to fix it. That’s been the 90-year-old’s motto since 1952, when he started welding in the Lower Burrell and New Kensington areas. “I’ve had a great life,” said Wolfe, who now works for his son Kevin at Wolfe Metal Fab Inc. in Braeburn Heights....
3 Democrats vying for 2 New Kensington Council seats in primary
Three men seeking two Democratic Party nods in the New Kensington Council primary say they want to continue the business growth and development in the city. Nicholas DiCarolis, Randi Shank and Phillip Toney are the Democratic candidates in the May 20 primary. The top two vote-getters will face off against...
Report details Penn State New Kensington, Fayette’s plights as campuses recommended for closure
Penn State New Kensington has “struggled to maintain relevance and scale” in the Pittsburgh region’s competitive higher education environment. And Penn State Fayette has enrollment, demographic and operational challenges that make it unsustainable. That’s the reasoning behind the Penn State administration’s recommendation to close those two campuses — and seven...
Lower Burrell Fire Co. 3 excited for future with new rescue-engine
A custom-made rescue engine for Lower Burrell Volunteer Fire Company No. 3, once deployed in 2028, will lower the number of vehicles in the company’s fleet but increase efficiency of emergency responses, its fire chief says. Company leaders last week signed a contract with Ohio-based Sutphen Co. to build a...
Penn State trustees to meet Thursday, but no vote on campus closures expected
Penn State’s trustees will meet Thursday morning, but a decision on branch campus closures will not be made then, according to a university spokesman. The board of trustees tentatively scheduled a public meeting Thursday to discuss President Neeli Bendapudi’s recommendation regarding the possible campus closures. University administrators in February announced...
New Kensington’s Re:Build to boost U.S. production capacity for renewable hydrogen
A new partnership at New Kensington’s Advanced Manufacturing Park will put the city in the heart of the country’s growing hydrogen economy, area business leaders say. New York-based Ecolectro, a hydrogen production manufacturer, announced last week it has partnered with Re:Build Manufacturing to build next-generation electrolyzers. Ecolectro Chief Commercial Officer...
Bethesda Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lower Burrell celebrating 175 years
Nancy Sweetland believes Bethesda Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lower Burrell has made it to 175 years because of the “spirit of the church.” “It’s been through so many different stages,” said Sweetland, who has played the organ on and off for a total of 50 years at Bethesda and has...
History group investigating old pioneer cabin in Upper Burrell — if it even existed there
To Millie Pipman, the key to a missing piece of area history lies within a pioneer cabin in Upper Burrell. If it was even there in the first place. Pipman, a member of the Massy Harbison-Fort Hand Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, is working with the Tri-City...
Last plea? PSNK professors ask for moratorium, task force on campus closures
In what might be its final plea, some Penn State New Kensington professors are asking the university’s board of trustees to temporarily pause any decisions to shutter branch campuses and to establish a task force to try to resolve any demographic and financial issues at the satellite colleges. “We urge...
