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Kelly Park Renovations Coming: Ownership of Kelly Park on Walnut Street is being transferred to the city.

At last week's meeting, city council accepted ownership of the park from the Redevelopment Authority of the City of McKeesport.

The park, named for prominent local doctor J. Clarence Kelly, is bounded by Sixth Avenue, Shaw Avenue and Tube Works Alley. It's best known as the location of the last remaining railroad "watchtower" that guarded street crossings when the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad's tracks cut through the heart of Downtown.

The property was taken over by the Redevelopment Authority after the tracks were removed in 1970.

Currently home to a picnic pavilion and benches, the park is slated for renovation with the help of a grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. City officials said transferring ownership of the land was necessary before the funding could be released.

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Emergency Crews Honored: A police officer and four emergency medical technicians were honored for their service in two recent serious fires.

Mayor Jim Brewster last week presented proclamations to medics from McKeesport Ambulance Rescue Service who responded to the July 11 fire that gutted one of the buildings in the Hi View Gardens apartment complex on Coursin Street.

The MARS personnel were unable to attend a ceremony at September's council meeting, when city police and firefighters were similarly honored.

Also recognized was police Sgt. Michael Ridzick, who was off-duty when he responded to a fire at a restaurant in the East End on Aug. 2, helping to rescue one of the trapped occupants of an upstairs apartment.

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New Tools: City firefighters have some new tools, thanks to some timely donations. Fire Chief Kevin Lust said last week a $5,000 state grant obtained by state Sen. Sean Logan, D-Monroeville, allowed the city to purchase new Hurst Model O Cutters for use in extracting victims of car crashes.

In addition, the Liberty Borough Volunteer Fire Department has given the city unneeded five-inch fire hoses, Lust said: "It was like new."

Meanwhile, four new police cruisers are on the streets. Three Ford Crown Victoria prowl cars and an unmarked Ford Explorer have joined the city's fleet, according to police Chief Joe Pero.

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TL Sound Back on Air: Former WMCK, WIXZ and WIIC-TV personality Terry Lee Trunzo is going back on the air.

Trunzo, a legend in local radio circles, announced on his new blog that tapes of his syndicated oldies shows from the 1980s will begin airing on Scottdale-based WLSW-FM (103.9) this weekend.

The shows --- which never aired in the Pittsburgh area during their original run --- will be broadcast from 10 p.m. to 12 midnight Saturdays over WLSW, which can be heard through most of the Mon-Yough area. Other weekend programming includes oldies shows hosted by longtime local DJ the Rev. Charlie Appel, former pastor of Liberty Borough's Good Samaritan Episcopal Church.

Trunzo recently emerged from semi-retirement in Ohio to begin selling CDs of his WIXZ, WMCK and syndicated shows via eBay and his website.

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Penn State Hosts Open House: Penn State's Greater Allegheny Campus in McKeesport will host an open house for prospective students on Saturday, Oct. 25, beginning at 10 a.m.

Both current high school students and adults returning to college are welcome. Campus representatives will be available to discuss degrees, the admissions process and financial aid.

Advance registration is suggested. Call Debbie McKeever at (412) 675-9010 or visit the Penn State website.