Kellen Stepler stories, Page 32
Student representatives join Chartiers Valley School Board
Two Chartiers Valley High School students joined the school board to provide updates on student affairs. The board on Sept. 24 welcomed Layla Asbury and Brady Baranowski. Asbury, 16, of Bridgeville, is a junior. She is involved in school theater and is the social chair of Student Council. “Due to...
‘This is a lot worse’: Red Cross volunteers bring experience to help Helene victims
Dennis Bayne and Paul Stillitano have no idea what they’ll be getting into for the next two weeks. The American Red Cross volunteers deployed Thursday morning in an emergency response vehicle from Pittsburgh, headed to North Carolina to help the victims of Hurricane Helene. They won’t know their specific assignments...
Experts say focus on mental, behavioral health paramount in combating school threats
Eli Majocha knows firsthand the strain a school threat can have on students’ mental health. The 2023 Highlands High School graduate remembers how news of threats against his school or a nearby school made him feel. “It’s unpredictable in nature,” he said. “When (it happens), you sit back and put...
Cleanup of Springdale’s Pittsburgh Street requires 2nd day; more help sought
Cleaning up Pittsburgh Street in Springdale appears to be a bigger task than anticipated. In response to concerns raised over the upkeep and maintenance of the borough’s main drag, a group of roughly 25 Springdale residents, borough officials and high school football and Key Club members took to the street...
County moves polling place out of Chartiers Valley Intermediate School after district’s plea
Chartiers Valley Intermediate School won’t be used as a polling place, after all. The school board had requested that the Allegheny County Elections Division relocate the polling place out of the Intermediate School in a letter dated Sept. 12. About 1,050 voters in two precincts in Scott Township used the...
Cheswick residents cite fishing, amenities as renovation ideas at Rachel Carson Park
Jacob and Devin Abramson of Springdale think there’s potential to make Rachel Carson Park in Cheswick special. “This area is beautiful,” Devin said. “I never realized how close it is to the river.” “It has good bones,” Jacob said. “If they do some fishing stuff, that would be great, too.”...
Mail-in ballots mean many will have voted long before election day
After a flurry of visits to Western Pennsylvania, presidential candidates are running out of time to sway many voters. Pennsylvania election offices already are taking applications and preparing to send out mail-in ballots. Abigail Gardner, Allegheny County spokeswoman, said the county already has processed 160,000 mail-in applications. She said the...
Charges pending against Burrell student over threat that forced lockdown
A second juvenile from the Alle-Kiski Valley is expected to be charged in connection with an unfounded threat against a local school district. Lower Burrell police said they plan to file charges against a Burrell School District student who they say made a threat on social media that prompted officials...
Alcoa seeks temporary parking spaces at Upper Burrell site
Alcoa is asking Upper Burrell’s zoning board to make way for temporary parking spaces off White Cloud Road. The zoning hearing board meets next week to consider the proposal. “They need extra parking,” said Supervisors Chairman Ross G. Walker III. According to Alcoa’s application, the company currently leases parking spaces...
‘Dangerous’ playground equipment removed from Lower Burrell park
Dangerous playground equipment at Lower Burrell’s Braeview Park has been removed. The equipment, deemed dangerous by a certified playground inspector, was taken away by public works crews three weeks ago, said Greg Primm, city manager. “As soon as someone tells us there’s a liability, we need to do something about...
Authentic, transparent and timely school communication crucial during threats, expert says
Years ago, when there was an emergency at a school, the incident was addressed sequentially. The incident would occur, schools and law enforcement officials could investigate, handle the situation, and then communicate what happened to students’ families. Now, with the internet and social media, much of that has to happen...
Apollo 5K aims to raise awareness of human trafficking
It might come as a surprise to many just how prevalent human trafficking is in Westmoreland County. The county is ninth in the state for human trafficking incidents, said Kristen Malone-Bodair, education outreach program manager for the Blackburn Center. The Blackburn Center coordinates the Westmoreland Human Trafficking Task Force, whose...
Route 28 closure caused by downed power line
A downed power line was to blame for traffic snarls late Wednesday morning along Route 28 and Freeport and Burtner roads in Harrison. The line was reported down across all lanes of the highway shortly after 11 a.m. State and local police had to close the highway between Burtner Road...
Cybersecurity system eyed for Springdale water treatment plant
In an effort to stave off cyberthreats to its water treatment plant, Springdale is considering the installation of a cybersecurity system. Dan Copeland presented fellow council members with two proposals from Gannett Fleming for a cybersecurity system at the water plant. One costs $11,500 and the other costs $19,000. “I...
Highlands threats lead to charges against juvenile, police say
A juvenile has been charged in connection with threats made against the Highlands School District on Tuesday, according to Harrison police. The threat, made on social media against the district, was investigated by Harrison police and deemed unfounded, according to the school district. Because the suspect is a juvenile, and...
With school threats increasing, school resource officers patrol the front lines
Rob Acquaviva has eyes all over Burrell School District. The five-year school resource officer serves the district’s four school buildings and works as a law enforcement officer, public safety educator and informal counselor/mentor to students. “The hope of the school resource officer is, if something were to happen, the kids...
Carlynton School Board votes to create school police officer position
A school police officer is slated to join the ranks of the Carlynton School District. The school board agreed to create the position during its meeting Sept. 17, said Superintendent John Kreider. “This is an important step in the district’s continued efforts to foster a safe, secure and positive learning...
Lower Burrell, Highlands, Fox Chapel deal with threats at schools
Lower Burrell police are serving search warrants following threats made Monday against Burrell High School on social media platforms, Chief John Marhefka said. “We are conducting a thorough investigation, which takes time,” he said. Superintendent Shannon Wagner said students received and reported the social media posts Monday, and all district...
Allegheny County considers moving polling place from Chartiers Valley school building
Allegheny County elections officials might move a polling place from Chartiers Valley Intermediate School to another location in Scott Township, a county spokeswoman said Tuesday. Chartiers Valley School Board on Sept. 12 sent a letter to the county requesting that the Intermediate School, located off Swallow Hill Road in Scott,...
Burrell and Fox Chapel Area schools implement 2-hour delay, virtual learning after social media threats
Safety concerns have prompted a “flexible instruction day” Tuesday for students in the Fox Chapel Area and Burrell school districts. A delayed start for students will be in effect at both districts. A “concerning social media post” reported Monday by students prompted the virtual instruction and a 2-hour delay at...
Remediated industrial property in Springdale Township could make way for new municipal complex, educational opportunities
Former industrial land in Springdale Township has the potential to reconnect and help revitalize the area, political leaders and Duquesne Light officials said last week. Duquesne Light unveiled a natural wetland on industrial property near the former Cheswick Generating Station in Springdale. John Bigi, the company’s environmental lead, said the...
Lower Valley first responders get boost for infrastructure, vehicles
A new patrol vehicle for the Springdale Police Department is one of three upgrades coming to first responders in the lower Allegheny Valley. State funding will assist the police department, Springdale Volunteer Fire Department and Lower Valley Ambulance Service in obtaining equipment for their agencies. The police department was awarded...
Frazer sues Pittsburgh Mills mall owner over potholes, lack of maintenance
Pothole-riddled roads near the Pittsburgh Mills mall are the result of negligence by the mall’s owner and would cost Frazer $4.5 million to fix if the mall owner doesn’t. That’s according to a lawsuit filed by the township against the Mills’ property owner — identified in court records as Pitt...
Burrell requests specifications on potential construction projects at 3 district schools
Burrell School District is moving ahead with preparations to handle renovations at three of its schools should it go through with closing Stewart Elementary. The school board this week revised its agreement with HHSDR Inc. for the Pittsburgh-based architect to map out proposed construction projects that include renovations at Burrell...
With no agreement on use of Veterans Memorial Field, Allegheny Valley eyes converting soccer field on school grounds
The Allegheny Valley School District and Springdale officials can’t seem to come to an agreement over Veterans Memorial Field, so school officials are reviewing the possibility of having a football field on the district’s grounds. Superintendent Pat Graczyk said Tuesday that despite the district’s work with the borough “demonstrating the...
