Kellen Stepler stories, Page 5

A Burrell alumna is passing the baton of coordinating a 5K race to six high school students. Grace Nesko, now a freshman at Shippensburg University, managed the 5K wellness run and walk the past two years at K-9 Officer Derek Kotecki Park in Lower Burrell. The race raises awareness and...

Alle-Kiski Valley lawmakers are hoping the combination of political pressure — and even legislation — can help keep Penn State New Kensington off the chopping block when the university considers the closure of branch campuses. “I am in the process of putting out a letter to the university president in...

The Pittsburgh Brewing Co. is getting ready to paint East Deer green for the second year in a row. The brewery’s Irish City St. Patrick’s Day Celebration will take place Saturday, March 15 at Pittsburgh Brewing, 150 Ferry St. in the township’s Creighton neighborhood. The event is for people 21...

Thirty-five weapons were intercepted before they could be used to commit acts of violence in Pennsylvania schools last school year, as officials credited the anonymous safety reporting system Safe2Say Something for preventing catastrophes. Since the program’s inception six years ago, at least 123 weapons — including guns and knives —...

What’s hopefully the last attempt at pulling down the boiler house at the former power plant in Springdale is scheduled for Saturday morning. The demolition — which was about 70% completed last weekend — is anticipated to occur between 9 and 11 a.m. Saturday, according to Allegheny County Police. CPERG,...

While one Springdale structure is having some trouble coming down, another — the former Colfax Upper Elementary School building — should be demolished this month. “The demolition of the original building has already begun,” said Jan Zastawniak, spokeswoman for the Allegheny Valley School District. “The contractor anticipates the entire original...

People who attend events at Lower Burrell city parks may be able to enjoy an alcoholic beverage under a proposal from city council. Mayor Chris Fabry said the city will draft a proposal that would allow alcohol in city parks during events only. He intends for the proposed rules to...

Chartiers Valley’s high and middle school campus will be staffed with security personnel. According to Superintendent Daniel Castagna, once students enter the buildings for normal morning arrival, the security booth’s arm — located on the driveway to the schools from Thoms Run Road — will be lowered, and all visitors...

Mackenzie Livingston played basketball in college, but if flag football had been an option, things might have been different. The nonstop action is something that has always drawn her to the game. “You are constantly doing something — pulling flags or going out for routes — it’s always something,” said...

Two new hotels soon will be added to Harmar’s landscape after approvals from township officials this week. Plans call for razing the Days Inn hotel, off Landings Drive, to make way for a Home2Suites and a Fairfield Inn at the site. Township supervisors approved the land development plans for the...

Lorraine Parks of Springdale was quick to answer when asked her thoughts about the upcoming demolition of the boiler house across the street from her house. “I just want it over,” said the Porter Street resident. After plans and legal back-and-forths spanning about a year-and-a-half, the demolition of the boiler...

Three months of planning and reviews of reconfigured buildings at Burrell’s Bon Air Elementary and Huston Middle schools for next school year has come to a close. Superintendent Shannon Wagner said schedules at Bon Air Elementary School were approved by the task force “by a majority vote.” Since the school...

Lower Burrell residents who use Shank Waste Service for garbage collection will have to make sure all of their trash fits into the new cans they’re getting — and they won’t be alone. The Lower Burrell-based waste hauler is moving to automated collection, with garbage trucks that use a mechanical...

Faced with a looming $9 million budget deficit next school year, the Chartiers Valley School Board voted to slash jobs districtwide. Directors voted 6-3 at a contentious meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 25, during which they approved two measures that eliminate 30 teaching positions and a handful of secretaries and support...

The boiler house at the former power plant in Springdale will have to wait one more day to meet its fate. Springdale announced the boiler house demolition, originally slated for Saturday, now is planned for Sunday at a time yet to be announced. The delay is because inclement weather is...

A focus group charged with recommending proposals to a reconfigured Charles A. Huston Middle School next year landed on a schedule administrators say prioritizes academic time and maintains integrity for each grade level. The middle school task force — a group of parents and teachers that have met over the...

Burrell’s Unified Bocce team got a fine sendoff from first responders and Bon Air Elementary youngsters while en route to a playoff match Monday at North Allegheny High School. Their bus was escorted between Lower Burrell and Upper Burrell fire departments, and Lower Burrell police, as it made its way...

New principals are taking the reins at Carlynton School District’s Carnegie and Crafton elementary schools. Tyler Roberto, 41, of Emsworth was named principal of Crafton Elementary. She started Feb. 11. “What brought me to Crafton was a desire to work closer to home and to return to elementary education,” Roberto...

A one-stop shop for all things community and school is returning to Burrell’s Charles A. Huston Middle School this spring. The Community Connections event — which had nearly 64 organizations and businesses and 1,000 guests last year — will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. May 6. “The middle...

Dick Pesci jokes that when he starts his car each morning, it already knows where to go. After all, he’s been making the same trip from his Natrona Heights home to Golden Dawn in New Kensington for decades. And the 10-minute commute to get to work by 5 a.m. is...

The Allegheny Valley School District is moving forward with its plan for a proposed multipurpose turf field and track at the high school. The board this week authorized Field Turf USA to proceed with construction drawings and permitting for the proposed turf project at the soccer field, which is across...

Two buildings in the Burrell School District could have air conditioning for the first time if the district moves forward with up to $24 million in projects to upgrade its schools. Burrell High School and Bon Air Elementary, both targeted for improvements, would be slated for new heating and cooling...

The state Department of Environmental Protection plans to cite the operator of Braeburn Alloy Steel in Lower Burrell following a hydraulic oil spill at the site this month. DEP spokeswoman Lauren Camarda said the state agency has not determined yet whether any fines or other sanctions are warranted as its...

A Bridgeville author’s new book strives to have people step into the world of genetic experimentation, government conspiracies and an unusual antagonist. Mark Berton, 48, released “Aroughcoune” on Feb. 19. The story revolves around a giant, military-bred, genetically modified raccoon that escapes from a secret lab and wanders around Western...

Schedules at Burrell’s Bon Air Elementary and Charles A. Huston Middle schools are close to being finalized. This week, the Bon Air and Huston task forces — groups of about 20 parents and staff providing feedback on schedules and plans for reconfigurations at the schools next year — continued to...