Home » Articles

Articles

7/16/10
Overspending

Bellevue has overspent -- by more than $50,000 -- on three budget line items, according to one council member.

After reviewing the monthly budget report, council member Jane Braunlich said at Tuesday's workshop meeting that she was puzzled about how the over-spending had occurred, particularly in one category where the exopenditure exceeded the budget by $37,000.

"I don't understand how things get paid when there's no money in the line item," Braunlich said. "We need to fix that."

7/16/10
Park clean-up

Clean-up efforts in the cinder lot section of Bellevue's Memorial Park are continuing.

Bellevue received notice last year from Ross Township -- where the property is located -- that building materials and miscellaneous debris needed to be cleared from the lot, which borders a Ross residential area.

7/16/10
Pool closed

Bellevue's Memorial Park swimming pool was closed for two days recently due to equipment problems.

Public works supervisor Tony Barbarino told council members Tuesday that the water level in the pool dropped about three feet overnight due to equipment failure. Repairs were made to get the pool open again, but the borough should expect to replace aging equipment in the near future, he said.

7/16/10
Street insurance

Emsworth Borough's solicitor has been authorized to draft an amendment to the street opening ordinance that will offer some protection to newly-paved streets.

Council voted Wednesday to prepare a new regulation that would require anyone digging up a street paved within the prior five years to mill and re-pave, from curb-to-curb, and area measuring 50 feet on each side of the opening.

7/16/10
Street paving on hold

Emsworth officials will take another look at the street project planned for this summer after bids for the work came in "substantially higher" than estimated.

The borough hoped to repave Pennsylvania, Eicher and Cliff this year. Council member Paul Getz said at Wednesday's council meeting that officials will review the bids in an effort to "bring the costs into line."

7/9/10
Avalon Police News

Police were called to a South Birmingham Avenue apartment building on July 4 when two people were reported to be in an unoccupied apartment. Officers found that the door to the apartment had been kicked in, and caught two people climbing down a fire escape. Charged with criminal mischief were Joseph Kastory, 31, of Center Avenue, and Sherry Pogany, 26, of Florence Avenue.

Witnesses told police on July 1 that they had observed a man urinating on the wall of the church near the borough hall on California Avenue. Daniel Starkey, 46, of California Avenue, was charged with disorderly conduct.

7/9/10
Bellevue man throws self into traffic

A Bellevue man faces multiple felony charges after he attempted to outrun police on a motorcycle, then threw himself into oncoming traffic.

Police say that David Davis, 35, may have become agitated after being served with a Protection From Abuse (PFA) no-contact order earlier Wednesday night. About 1 a.m. Thursday, he was observed on a motorcycle on Ohio River Boulevard in Emsworth, where police say he ran the red light at Camp Horne Road.

7/9/10
Northgate School Board VP dies

Longtime Northgate School Board member Charles Miklos died last weekend.

Miklos, 81, of Bellevue, died Sunday, July 4, 2010 while with family on vacation.

Vacations were never something that stopped Miklos from participating in Northgate School Board business during his 26-year tenure. For many years he made sure to call in from his vacation home in Conneaut so he could be a part of meetings.

7/9/10
Obituaries 7-9-10

Aloysius Gallagher Aloysius M. Gallagher, 70, of Allison Park, died Tuesday, June 29, 2010. Mr. Gallagher worked as a consultant in human resources. He was a lector at St. Ursula Church in Allison Park and a volunteer and member of the Renew Group. He taught at the Heinz School of Carnegie Mellon University, St. Francis University, LaRoche College and Butler County Community College.

7/2/10
Avalon P.D. flying in new directions

Tom Kokoski has been a police officer for 12 years, but barely a month on the job as chief of the Avalon Police Department and he’s finding himself going in new directions.

Like straight up.

7/2/10
Avalon Police News

An Avalon man stopped for having the music in his car too loud ended up cited for disorderly conduct on June 27. Police say that Bruce Brown Jr., 20, of Clive Street, became hostile and shouted profanities at officers and passing motorists.

A driver whose vehicle malfunctioned ended up hitting a street sign on Jackman Avenue on July 1, then her vehicle continued along the sidewalk, hitting three parked cars. No injuries were reported.

Thomas Ochaba, 18, of California Avenue, was charged with underage drinking at Anthony’s on Ohio River Boulevard on June 25.

7/2/10
Bellevue Police News

A Bellevue man was scheduled for a preliminary hearing yesterday after being arrested in connection with a shooting in Wilkinsburg.

David Hickman, 50, of Washington Avenue, was taken into custody June 12 by Bellevue Police. He was being held in the Allegheny County Jail on a $50,000 bond after being charged with aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and terroristic threats.

7/2/10
Letters to the Editor

Editor:

In the June 25 Citizen’s “This Week in Review” 25 years ago, you mentioned a scene being”....shot on Keswick Avenue...” in 1985 for the TV movie “Silent Witness.” Actually there were several scenes.

7/2/10
Letters to the Editor

Editor:

Following the June 22 meeting of Bellevue Council the mayor and I had a chance to chat. Mr. [George] Doscher wanted to clarify some things with me. The mayor made it clear that he is not in favor of new recreational burning restrictions in Bellevue. He told me he is satisfied with the way things are now. Mr. Doscher previously stated before council that he enjoys burning in his own yard and that “just a few” can spoil things for everybody else in the community.

7/2/10
Obituaries 7-2-10

W. Kirk Saylor William Kirk Saylor, 78, of Bellevue died Wednesday, June 23, 2010 in Forbes Hospice. Mr. Saylor was an active, longtime member of Greenstone United Methodist Church in Avalon. He was a 32nd degree Mason.

7/2/10
Ohio Twp. Police News

Several arrests for disorderly conduct were made recently by Ohio Township Police.

David Schultz, 20, and David Lawson, 18, both of Ross Township, were cited following a traffic stop on Camp Horne Road on June 25.

Brandon P. Durler, 20, of Bellevue, was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia after he was discovered in Avon Park after hours on JUne 29.

Eric Wright, 36, of Verona, also was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia during a traffic stop on Camp Horne Road in Kilbuck Township on June 30.

7/2/10
On Broadway...
6/25/10
"The Arrow Advantage"

Buying and selling a home are two of the most important decisions many people will make. When it comes time to make that decision, you want the help of a realtor who knows the business, knows the market, knows the neighborhood.

That's where Arrow Real Estate comes in.

The office at 201 Center Ave. in Emsworth may be new, but the people inside are anything but new to the real estate business, or to the community.

6/25/10
Avalon Police News

A Chestnut Avenue woman came close to being scammed by a caller before her husband stepped in and ended the attempted theft by deception.

Police say that the woman received a call from someone who pretended to be her grandson. He claimed to have been arrested and said that he needed her to wire him $2,000 to get out of jail. The woman’s husband took the phone and began asking the man questions, at which time the caller hung up.

6/25/10
Bellevue personnel

The hiring of additional pool personnel and another meter attendant were approved by Bellevue Council at its June 22 meeting.

Council originally hired two people to work as cashiers at the Memorial Park swimming pool, although the hirings were contingent upon the parks and recreation committee finding enough money in the budget to pay for the positions.

6/25/10
Bellevue to ban winter sweeping

Public concern about extending street sweeping parking restrictions year 'round in Bellevue has led to a proposal to amend the borough's ordinance to make sure the current schedule is maintained.

6/25/10
Board endorses nepotism policy

The Avonworth School District will maintain a strong anti-nepotism with regard to hiring.

Confusion over who is covered by the policy arose at the June 14 school board meeting when the board considered a motion to hire one of board member Eric Templin's sons for a summer custodial position.

6/25/10
Crafton manager hired as DAS

Bellevue's new director of administrative services got to watch his new bosses in action as a member of the audience at the June 22 council meeting.

Douglas Sample will not begin work as Bellevue's DAS until July 19, but took the opportunity to get a leg up on the job by attending the recent council meeting.

The Ross Township resident has a master's degree in public administration from the University of Pittsburgh, where he also earned his undergraduate degree in political science and history.

6/25/10
Letters to the editor

Editor: I don't often take a bus, but several years ago had to do so. I barely had time to sit down, when the driver abruptly started, then slammed on his brakes, allowing a breathless latecomer to board. The driver yelled at him, "If it weren't for you people, I might be on time!" I laughed and said to my companion, "It's just like it was in nursing. If it weren't for the patients we could get our work done. I always thought it was a joke!"

6/25/10
Letters to the editor

Editor:

In regards to Carol A. Wivel's two letters' to the editor about "wood burning":

I have had a fire pit for over five years and know countless people that do. Those who are simply spending time with their family and friends, follow all current ordinances and restrictions, and take the time to make sure they are following the rules and spent money to purchase a "legal" fire bowl should be respected.