By STACY WOLFORD
Managing Editor
From heartbreaking tragedies to feuding elected officials, this year has been unlike any other in the Mon Valley. As 2018 draws to a close, the Mon Valley Independent’s newsroom has rounded up the top 20 local stories.
The expansion of several manufacturing facilities, a handicap accessible park in North Belle Vernon and controversy surrounding a gas power plant captured the attention of Valley residents, while other stories, including the unprecedented absence of Monessen’s mayor and a councilman continue to dominate headlines.
As we look ahead to the New Year and new beginnings, here’s a look at some of 2018’s most influential and controversial stories of the year.
Monessen: A year of chaos and no mayor
The City of Monessen began 2018 with the hope of better days to come as newly elected Mayor Matt Shorraw (the youngest ever in the city) and Councilman Gil Coles were sworn into office.
Fast-forward midway into the year and chaos once again rules city politics. Following a vote of confidence in Shorraw May 10, the mayor stopped going to meetings and began governing via social media.
He ended 2018 missing 21 meetings, while Cole — who has given no reason for his absences — has only attended one meeting since Feb. 10. Since Shorraw and Cole’s departure from city government, rookie Councilmen Anthony Orzechowski and Dave Feehan and newly appointed Councilwoman Lois Thomas have been dealing with budget and contract negotiations, crumbling infrastructure and dilapidated buildings.
They recently passed a hefty property tax increase and dealt with a state auditor general audit report July 12 outlining concerns with the procurement process used in selecting Fusion Investment Group as the city’s new pension fund manager — a quick change made late last year.
Those we lost
Dr. Karen Polkabla — The Ringgold School District and Donora communities mourned the sudden death Feb. 15 of longtime educator, superintendent and Donora councilwoman Dr. Karen Polkabla. Polkabla who planned to retire in June. Over the years, she developed a reputation for two things — putting students above all else and fighting for what was right.
Ron Chiaravalle — Monessen officials mourned the loss of longtime public servant Ron Chiaravalle Sr. on May 28. He was 70. Prior to being elected councilman, Chiaravalle served two terms on the Monessen School Board.
Ron Large — Fallowfield Township Supervisor Ronald Large, 65, passed away suddenly July 30 after an accidental fall. He was seven months into his first term in office with the board of supervisors and spent more than 20 years with the road department and previously served as the township’s zoning and assistant code officer. He was formerly a volunteer with the Fallowfield Township Fire Department.
Shelby Ferguson Sr. — Funeral director and lifelong firefighter Shelby Ferguson Sr., 94, died April 18 in his North Belle Vernon home. He went into the funeral business, first in Monessen in 1948, and then purchased his own funeral home in North Belle Vernon in 1956. Shelby Sr. retired in 2001 and sold the family business to his son.
K-9 Beny — When Monongahela police Officer Larry Maraldo was asked about becoming a K-9 officer more than a decade ago, there was only one stipulation: that when his partner retired he would stay at home with the Maraldo family. With his retirement approaching, Beny passed away at home Oct. 26 after working a midnight shift, leaving his family, police department and the community in mourning.
Michael Godzak — Longtime Rostraver Volunteer Fire Department No. 1 (Webster) First Captain Michael Godzak, 59, died in the line of duty April 29.
He was driving a fire engine back from a routine fire alarm call shortly before 6 p.m. when he suffered a medical emergency, said Fire Department President Rich Painter.
Painter said Godzak had joined the fire department as a junior member at 12, and became a full member in 1976 when he turned 18. He’d held every rank since then, including nine years as fire chief in the 1980s and early 90s, along with various positions in the department’s executive board.
To many he was a mentor and teacher, including Painter, who joined in 1979.
Donora: Bickering and battling
Donora council spent much of 2018 fighting, yelling and slinging insinuations. Council has battled over everything from police contract negotiations, new hires, salaries, alleged nepotism and personal conflicts over the course of the year.
The arguing has led to outbursts by fellow council members and even members of the public.
On a positive note, council met Friday night and quietly — and calmly — passed the 2019 budget which calls for no tax increase.
McKeesport hosts The Wall That Heals
Thousands of people visited McKeesport this summer to visit The Wall That Heals, the official Vietnam Veterans Memorial Replica and Mobile Education Center, which was on display Aug. 9 to 12 at McKeesport’s Jimmy Long Field in Renziehausen Park.
McKeesport native Walt Yager of North Huntington facilitated the effort to display the memorial in the city. The Wall honors more than 3 million Americans who served in the U.S. armed forces in the Vietnam War, and it bears the names of 58,318 men and women who died during the conflict, including 24 from the McKeesport area and around 150 people from the Mon Valley.
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