Filed Under: Announcements || By Webmaster
Category: Announcements || By Webmaster
I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me. All I ask is that you respect me as a human being. Jackie Robinson #McKeesportMessage
— Tube City Tiger (@tubecityonline) January 31, 2013
Category: Commentary/Editorial || By Jason Togyer
Due to circumstances beyond our control, we are forced to dip into the Tube City Almanac archives and reprint some "classic" (?) columns this week. This article originally appeared on Tube City Almanac (then known as Tube City: The Blog) on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2003.
Postscript: At the end of this column, I suggested that the bank in question was run "by morons, thieves, or a little bit of both." It turns out that the correct answer was "thieves" ... a few years after this column appeared, reports surfaced that this bank was laundering money for drug cartels and terrorist organizations.
. . .
Originally appeared on "Tube City: The Blog" on Aug. 6, 2003.
I had a Mastercard payment due Tuesday. On Saturday, I logged onto the website to make the payment electronically.
"Your account balance is $0.00," the website said. (It didn't actually say it, I had to read it.) "Your current payment due is $0.00."
Hmm, I thought, that's odd. I checked my account status.
"You have been upgraded to a Platinum Mastercard," it said. "You must enter your new account number to activate your account. Your new card will arrive by mail within seven to 10 days."
I called the bank's toll-free computerized number. "You have no payments due at this time," the computerized voice said.
Fine. I'll wait until the next statement, I figured.
As of today, however, I hadn't received the new card, and I was a little worried, so I called the bank this afternoon.
"I want to make sure I didn't have a payment past due," I said.
"Your payment was due yesterday," the operator said. "You owe a late fee of $29."
Category: Announcements || By Webmaster
If you treat people right they will treat you right, 90 percent of the time. ―Franklin D. Roosevelt (born this date in 1882) #respect #McKeesportMessage
— Tube City Tiger (@tubecityonline) January 30, 2013
Category: Announcements || By Webmaster
Respect for right conduct is felt by every body. Jane Austen #McKeesportMessage
— Tube City Tiger (@tubecityonline) January 29, 2013
Category: Announcements || By Webmaster
Love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Romans 12:10#McKeesportMessage #respect
— Tube City Tiger (@tubecityonline) January 27, 2013
Category: Announcements || By Webmaster
Love and respect are the most important aspects of parenting, and of all relationships. actress Jodie Foster #McKeesportMessage
— Tube City Tiger (@tubecityonline) January 25, 2013
Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report
State transportation officials have asked residents not to shovel snow onto public roads after storms.
A district PennDOT spokesman in Uniontown said people who shovel or plow snow onto a road or highway can be held liable in the event of an accident.
"State law requires citizens to use and maintain their property in ways that avoid creating hazardous road conditions for others, including not obstructing highway lanes and drainage facilities with snow and ice," spokesman Jay Ofsanik said. "Fines can be as high as several hundred dollars."
Category: Commentary/Editorial || By Webmaster
"Knowledge will give you power, but character (will give you) respect." Bruce Lee #McKeesportMessage
— Tube City Tiger (@tubecityonline) January 24, 2013
Category: News || By Jennifer Sopko
The rumors circulating around McKeesport for the past several weeks are now confirmed: George Smith will resume his former position as McKeesport Area High School's head football coach, continuing the winning career he built coaching the Tigers for almost three decades.
The school board officially rehired Smith as head football coach for the 2013-14 school year by a unanimous vote on Wednesday night. School Director Mark Holtzman was absent.
The 63-year old MAHS alumnus hopes to add more Tiger victories to his successful record, which includes 197 wins. Under his direction, the McKeesport Tigers won two district 7 WPIAL championships and two Pennsylvania state championships in 1994 and 2005. He was inducted into the Pennsylvania Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2006.
After 28 years coaching the Tigers, Smith resigned and was replaced by former Yough coach Jim Ward, who resigned after only three seasons.
Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report
Michael Vicaro will present "Starving for Speech: Hunger Striking as Political Speech from Northern Ireland to Guantanamo Bay" at 12:15 p.m. Thursday in the Ostermayer Room of the Student Community Center at Penn State Greater Allegheny.
Vicaro is an instructor of communications at Penn State Greater Allegheny. His research focuses on communicative interaction in hostile environments. He is currently completing a doctoral dissertation at the University of Pittsburgh on detention and interrogation policy in the global war on terrorism. His work has been published in the journal Rhetoric and Public Affairs.
This program is sponsored by Teaching International, which began in 2004 to promote greater awareness of global trends and civic engagement and to broaden students' understanding of intercultural and international issues.
This year's focus is on the Celtic Nations, defined as Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Isle of Man and Cornwall. The accompanying theme for the year is water, which not only is related to sustainability issues, but to broader themes such as human rights.
Category: News || By Submitted Report
Grants of up to $4,500 are available for landlords in McKeesport who want to update their rental properties for tenants who are living with a disability.
These grants could be used for projects such as a wheelchair ramp, accessible toilet or shower, handrails and grab bars, and other "small but useful" modifications, says Angelia Christina, the city's fair housing officer.
The grants, provided by Allegheny County's Affordable Housing Trust Fund, are being administered by the non-profit McKeesport Housing Corp.
"Both a landlord and a tenant have to complete the application," Christina says. Landlords have to provide proof of insurance, and must be up-to-date on all taxes and municipal service fees. Tenants will have to show proof of income, and some restrictions apply.
Up to 10 grants will be made. The deadline for applications is June.
Category: Commentary/Editorial || By Webmaster
I cannot conceive of a greater loss than the loss of one's self-respect. Mohandas Gandhi #McKeesportMessage
— Tube City Tiger (@tubecityonline) January 23, 2013
Category: News || By Submitted Report
State Sen. Jim Brewster has been reappointed chairman of the board of the McKeesport Housing Authority.
The announcement was made this week by Brewster's office.
"There are so many issues to address and so much work yet to do," Brewster said. "We have had great success in developing new initiatives and formulating solutions because the board works together to solve problems. That is a credit to the dedication of the board members and those who are served by the programs offered by the authority."
In addition to operating the Harrison Village and Crawford Village housing complexes, the authority also provides apartments for the elderly and oversees the federal Section 8 program within McKeesport.
Category: Commentary/Editorial || By Webmaster
It is the greatest thing in the world to respect yourself and respect other people. Little Milton, blues singer #McKeesportMessage
— Tube City Tiger (@tubecityonline) January 22, 2013
Category: Cartoons || By Jason Togyer
Category: Another Viewpoint || By Letter to the Editor
I hesitated printing this letter. But maybe it needs to be said. I've often told people that the rest of the world views Pittsburgh the way Pittsburgh views McKeesport, but with Pittsburgh getting attention as an "up and coming city," maybe that's not true any more.
And maybe if this were a football game, this would be the letter that the coach posted in the locker room, to fire up the team.
A reader, "Martin," from Seattle, Wash., writes:
I was born and raised in the Tube City, McKeesport, Pa., 65 years ago.
Moved out due to being drafted into the Army while working at the Hays Army Ammunition Plant in Pittsburgh. So, we packed up and moved back out to the Seattle region.
I was back to McKeesport last summer after 42 years being away.
I was ashamed, embarrassed and scared! But did carry my protection with me on my cross-country trip!
All I saw was blight and corruption, along with a crumbling city that I had once loved and called home, of which will never return back to the days when the mills were up and functioning with a population of 25,000! I read a report in a local publication from Pennsylvania just a few years ago, that the town is past the point of no return!
Category: Commentary/Editorial || By Webmaster
Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that. MLK #McKeesportMessage
— Tube City Tiger (@tubecityonline) January 21, 2013
Category: Commentary/Editorial || By Submitted
If we lose love and respect for each other, this is how we finally die. Maya Angelou #Respect #McKeesportMessage
— Tube City Tiger (@tubecityonline) January 18, 2013
Category: News || By Jason Togyer
Category: News || By Submitted Report
Police are seeking a 32-year-old man with connections to Pittsburgh's Hill District and North Side in connection with a fatal shooting at a bar on Sixth Avenue, Downtown.
Allegheny County police today obtained an arrest warrant for Mark Leonard on charges of homicide and weapons violations.
Leonard is described as a black male, 5-feet-11 and 175 pounds, with hazel-colored eyes and tattoos on both sides of his neck. He was last seen with a bald head and beard, police said.
Category: Commentary/Editorial || By Submitted Report
If you disrespect anybody
That you run into
How in the world do you think
Anybody's supposed to respect you?
If you don't give a heck 'bout the man
With the Bible in his hand,
Just get out the way
And let the gentleman do his thing.
You're the kind of gentleman
That wants everything your way
Take the sheet off your face, boy
It's a brand new day
If you're walking 'round thinking that the world
Owes you something 'cause you're here
You goin' out the world backwards
Like you did when you first come here
Respect yourself
Respect yourself
Respect yourself
If you don't respect yourself
Ain't nobody gonna give a good cahoot about you
--- Luther Ingram and Mack Rice, "Respect Yourself"
Category: News || By Submitted Report
State Rep. Bill Kortz is urging Dravosburg residents to attend a meeting about possible closure or elimination of the borough's post office.
The meeting will be held at 7 tonight at the Dravosburg Borough Building, 226 Maple Ave. Officials from the U.S. Postal Service will also attend.
"I'm encouraging residents, business owners, and members of the local community to attend," said Kortz, a Dravosburg Democrat. "We need the community to rally around our post office."
Several members of Dravosburg Borough Council and other community leaders will deliver a petition supporting the post office, Kortz said.
Category: News || By Jason Togyer
Update, 6:58 p.m.: Police announced Wednesday night that they had located a vehicle and a driver.
Update, 7:03 p.m.: The victim has been identified by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office as Lorraine Wilkes, 56.
City police and county homicide detectives are seeking the driver of a Jeep Cherokee that struck a female pedestrian on Lysle Boulevard this morning, then fled the scene.
Police were called to the 600 block of Lysle Boulevard --- near Senior Care Plaza and not far from the Port Authority transit terminal --- at 4:47 a.m. for a report of a woman lying on the sidewalk.
The victim was apparently struck and thrown onto the sidewalk near a flower bed, which may have prevented passersby from seeing her, said Allegheny County homicide Lt. Andrew Schurman in a statement, adding that the accident is believed to have happened sometime after 4 a.m.
Debris left at the scene matches a 1997 to 2001 Jeep Cherokee, police said, and detectives are reviewing surveillance camera footage from a neighboring business.
Category: News || By Gladys Hunt-Mason
Members of McKeesport-area churches and ministries will join at 4 p.m. Sunday for an interfaith celebration to mark a Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
The public is invited to the celebration, to be held at the Auberle Chapel, 1101 Hartman St., a spokeswoman said. The guest speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Darrell Knopp.
Special music during the worship service will be provided by Marilyn Baldwin and the local gospel group Chalice. A free-will offering will benefit the Select Committee on Crime and Violence.
A buffet reception will be served immediately following the worship service.
Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report
Traffic will be restricted this week on the Jerome Avenue Bridge while Equitable Gas crews perform maintenance on a gas line.
The right lane on the westbound side of the bridge (from McKeesport toward Glassport) will be closed as needed between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., said Jim Struzzi, district spokesman for the state Department of Transportation.
PennDOT is not involved in the work but is providing the announcement as a public service, he said. The Jerome bridge connects West Fifth Avenue in McKeesport's 10th Ward with Lysle Boulevard, Downtown.
Category: News || By Submitted Report
Long-awaited repairs begin next Monday to Westinghouse Avenue in North Versailles Township.
Jim Struzzi, district spokesman for the state Department of Transportation, said crews from Allison Park Construction will work to repair a slide or cave-in that has closed one lane of the road between East Pittsburgh-McKeesport Boulevard and Route 148.
The work will require Westinghouse Avenue to be entirely closed to through traffic until mid-May.
About 13,621 vehicles use this area of Westinghouse Avenue on an average day, Struzzi said.
Category: Announcements || By Jason Togyer
Category: Announcements || By Jason Togyer
A 2007 article about McKeesport's former Fort Pitt Steel Casting Co. incorrectly stated that the company was taken over by Connecticut-based Conval.
In fact, according to Frank Siver of Conval Inc., Fort Pitt was taken over by a Connecticut-based company called Condec Corp., which tried to market its products as "Conval" valves.
"We, in fact, took legal action against Condec over the use of the name 'Conval,'" he says. Conval Inc. was incorporated in 1967 by Mr. Siver's father, Chester A. Siver, to make valves for the world's power generating utilities. Conval remains independent and has no connection to the former Condec Corp., or to Fort Pitt Steel.
Tube City Online regrets the error and appreciates the opportunity to correct it.
Category: News || By Jason Togyer
(* Updated Jan. 9.)
Today was garbage day on Jenny Lind Street, and trash cans filled to overflowing were parked in front of several houses this morning. Cardboard boxes --- many probably left over from Christmas gifts --- were stuffed inside some trash cans.
City officials want to cut down on those overflowing garbage cans and route glass, metal, plastics, paper and cardboard into recycling bins instead --- both to trim McKeesport's trash-hauling bills and to bring the city into compliance with state and federal guidelines.
This month, McKeesport moved to so-called "single-stream" recycling, in which all items can be recycled in the same bins or bags, without separating cans from bottles. In addition, city residents may finally recycle most kinds of plastic, paper and cardboard.
"It's not only better for the environment, it's also going to save us on landfill costs when it comes to collecting garbage," Mayor Mike Cherepko says. Recycling collections, until now handled by the city's public works department, have been switched to McKeesport's contracted trash hauler, Nickolich Sanitation of Clairton.
The first recycling pickup under the new system was last week. The next pickup city-wide will be next week, Jan. 14 to 18. Recycling collection will continue every other week through the remainder of the year.
There are no more "yellow" and "green" collection days, and all recycling will be picked up city-wide on the designated weeks.* Calendars showing weeks when recycling is scheduled may be downloaded from the city's website.
Residents should put out their recycling during their regular trash collection day during the highlighted weeks, officials say. They can use their existing recycling bins or any large container clearly labeled "RECYCLING."
Category: Another Viewpoint || By Submitted Commentary
City resident Brian Evans writes in response to yesterday's commentary:
I would maintain that there is no place in as much ruin in southwestern Pennsylvania as McKeesport, at least not on such a large scale.
I grew up in New Kensington and can say for certain that New Kensington is nothing like McKeesport. The sheer number of abandoned homes --- no, whole city blocks --- is shocking. And not only blocks of homes, but the streets themselves are nearly abandoned; some are grown over completely with brush and trees.
More importantly, if we were to see such poverty, suffering and squalor occurring in another nation, we would be sending in relief workers and billions of dollars in foreign aid.
Those who know me know that I chose to move into the city of McKeesport because it is a community in need of residents willing to work for positive change, even if that means taking on great personal and financial risks. But one thing that must be overcome is the attitude of denial in this city.
Things are bad here --- very, very bad --- and extreme measures need to be taken to save this community from abandonment, ruin and violence. We must have strong community spirit and truly believe that things can change for the better, but we also cannot deny reality.
I agree with much of your assessment of "ruin porn," but the problem here is, I think, that those who have realized how bad things have left, and too many of those who still live here (and could leave) remain because they are in denial.
Category: Commentary/Editorial || By Jason Togyer
Someone wants to know what I think of a blogger at the Huffington Post, who recently came to McKeesport, took pictures of a bunch of vacant storefronts, and concluded that "the city looked like it had been evacuated in 1979."
First of all, I'm not linking to the Huffington Post. The Huffington Post makes its money by selling advertising and not paying its contributors, or else paying them fractions of a cent per word. So I avoid reading the Huffington Post if at all possible.
Second, this kind of thing is called "ruin porn." It's the equivalent of staring at a car accident, or watching "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo," and "oohing" and "aahing" at the carnage or cracking morbid jokes about the people depicted.
Some may say "ruin porn" highlights the problems faced by communities such as McKeesport. But what solutions do galleries of abandoned storefronts offer? None. It's just gawking.
Category: Commentary/Editorial || By Jason Togyer
One in an occasional series ...
. . .
Over the holidays, I had to buy a new power drill. Would you believe the only drill that I could find made in the U.S. was from Makita --- a Japanese company? As for the "American" brands you're likely to find on the shelves at your local big-box retailer ...
Category: News || By Jason Togyer
New fees and rules have been adopted for renting pavilions in the city's Renziehausen Park.
Rental of Jacob Woll Pavilion by Allegheny County residents goes from $300 to $400, with a $200 security deposit now required. Rental of other pavilions stays the same, though a $100 security deposit will be required on all pavilions.
Under new rules approved this week by 6-0 vote of city council, renters will be forced to vacate the Jacob Woll Pavilion at 10 p.m. or else pay another $100, and applications will be reviewed by the mayor's office and the chief of police. Renters may also, at the city's discretion, be required to have police on hand to provide security.
The new rules are in part a reaction to the fatal July 28 shooting of Mario Berry, 35, of Duquesne during a family gathering at the Jacob Woll Pavilion.
Groups or individuals wanting to rent the Woll pavilion --- which is being re-named the Jacob Woll Social Hall --- also will be required to provide more information to city officials, as well as a photo ID.
Category: News || By Jason Togyer
A payday windfall for city police officers? Not exactly. The city's 2013 budget has been amended to correct salary figures for rank-and-file full-time and part-time sworn personnel in the police department.
Mayor Michael Cherepko said the budget adopted in December used the 2014 salary numbers, not the correct 2013 numbers. Council on Wednesday by 6-0 vote adopted an amended budget ordinance using the correct, lower figures. Councilman Dale McCall was absent due to illness.
The new salary figures boost the wages for most full-time police officers by about $2,000 per year, and part-time officers 51 cents per hour. Those figures are the same as those for city firefighters.
"Essentially, it was a typographical error," Cherepko said.
City police are represented by Teamsters Local 205, while firefighters are members of International Association of Fire Fighters Local 10.
Category: News || By Submitted Reports
McKeesport police and Allegheny County homicide detectives are seeking suspects in two separate shooting incidents in the city.
An arrest warrant has been obtained for Dashawn Shaquiell Reid, 19, in connection with the Dec. 6 murder of Jesse Thornton. Thornton was shot at the Hi-View Gardens apartment complex.
Police described Reid as a black male, approximately 5-feet-8 and 140 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes and a dark complexion. Anyone with information was asked to call Allegheny County police at (412) 473-3000 or city police at (412) 675-5015.
. . .
Separately, police announced they are looking for 20-year-old Julian Sims in connection with a shooting at a home on Versailles Avenue early on Jan. 1.
Sims is described by police as a black male, approximately 5-feet-7 inches and 145 pounds, with a light complexion, freckles and a large tattoo on his neck that reads "Bridgette."
Police have identified Sims as the man suspected of shooting four people at a New Year's Eve party. He is charged with attempted homicide, reckless endangerment, aggravated assault and related firearms violations.
Category: News || By Jason Togyer
North Versailles Township commissioners are considering a legal challenge to a "host fee" imposed on McKeesport's sewerage authority by the city of McKeesport.
According to a story by Anne Cloonan in the Post-Gazette, township commissioners last month authorized solicitor Greg Evashavik to work with Jack Cambest, attorney for North Versailles' sanitary authority, to work on a potential court challenge to the $1 million host fee approved in December by McKeesport city council.
City officials have said the host fee was designed to reimburse McKeesport taxpayers for expenses incurred on behalf of the Municipal Authority of the City of McKeesport, as well as for the lost tax revenues caused by expansion of the sewerage authority's 10th Ward treatment plant and associated lines.
Losing the $1 million host fee would take a substantial bite from the city's $17 million budget. Besides McKeesport and North Versailles, the city's sewage treatment plant also treats wastewater from communities such as Port Vue, Liberty and Lincoln, and will soon be connected to Elizabeth Township as well.
"There have been increases in their rates, and they're very upset, and I can understand why," City Council President Darryl Segina said Wednesday. He voted against the host fee and has been its most outspoken critic. "I think the administration should have some sort of a backup plan," Segina said.
Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report
Allegheny County residents can drop off old Christmas trees at White Oak, Round Hill and other regional parks through Jan. 19, a spokeswoman said.
The county's Department of Parks will grind up the trees for mulch to be used in the parks. All lights, decorations, tinsel and stands must be removed before the trees are dropped off.
It's the fifth year that Allegheny County has offered the tree recycling program. Trees may be dropped off in Round Hill Park, Elizabeth Township, at the parking lot between the Meadow and Alfalfa shelters or in White Oak Park at the parking lot by the Poplar shelter. Trees may only be left during daylight hours.
Drop-off points are also available in seven other regional county parks, including Boyce and South parks. Visit the county's website or call (412) 350-7275 for more information.
Category: Commentary/Editorial || By Jason Togyer
The editor took a few days off for the holidays. It seemed like a good time for a break. (Anyway, readership of Tube City Almanac plummets during the weeks of Christmas and New Year's Day, which implies a lot of you are reading during working hours!)
I have to confess that I am really, really tired of pushing this boulder uphill every week, mostly by myself. And I am trying to decide what future direction, if any, this website is going to take.
Short and sweet: If I don't get some real, tangible help soon, I am going to consider closing up the tent, or at least curtailing some of the work I do here.
I'm not looking for sympathy. I'm looking for help.
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