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Many in Mon Valley made news as area prepared for past holidays

Another extended holiday weekend will begin tomorrow as we reach the unofficial midway point of summer with an abundance of Fourth of July celebrations.

With that thought firmly in place, let's take a look at some of the names and events that drew attention in preparation for Independence Day on this day in history in the past – courtesy, as always, of the archives of The Valley Independent, The Charleroi Mail, The Monessen Daily Independent and The Daily Republican of Monongahela.

70 YEARS AGO Monday, July 2, 1945

A strike by CIO United Steelworkers of American Local Union 1187 at the Allenport Plant of Pittsburgh Steel Company idled between 800 and 900 men and interrupted production of Rocket tubing vital to the U.S. Navy. The walkout is not against the company; rather, it is a protest to a War Labor Board ruling involving readjustment rates for 64 men at the No. 3 Mill.

First Lt. Gail P. Gee, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Gee of California has been awarded the Bronze Star medal and citation by order of the President, it was announced by Headquarters, 104th Infantry Division, U.S. Army. Lt. Gee, a motor platoon leader, was honored for meritorious service in combat in connection with operations in Belgium, Holland and Germany from Oct. 23, 1944 to April 10, 1945.

Dr. John Krosnoff of Bentleyville was the medalist in the first round of the Johnny Capebianco Golf Tournament at Nemacolin Country Club by defeating Art Hirsch 5 and 4.

60 YEARS AGO Saturday, July 2, 1955

Stephen Wisyanski, staff representative of District 13 of the United Steelworkers of America, has been appointed chairman of the Monessen Community Chest fund drive, it was announced by John R. Abernathy, Community Chest president.

The Cro-Ams rolled over ULBA 12-2 in Monessen City League action. Steve Rockovich's pitching and hitting led the winners, as

he doubled and tripled and limited ULBA to three hits. “Shoes” Stancato and “Beaver” Nelson had three hits apiece including home runs for the Cro-Ams, who also got a home run by Dick Saftin.

Bill Lutes socked three home runs to lead Fayette City American Legion to an 11-8 conquest of Colonial Three in the Big 10 Baseball League. Lutes, a former Charleroi High School standout who played in the New York Giants' farm system, knocked in seven runs. Eddie Hughes (double, two singles) and Tinse Manown (three singles) also had big days at the plate for the Legionnaires (17-5).

50 YEARS AGO Friday, July 2, 1965

Reconstruction of Cemetery Hill (Route 88) in Monongahela and the proposed Donora-Monessen Bridge are the top items of local interest on a $3.4-billion six-year road building program requiring an additional $30-million in state revenues proposed by the State Highway Commission.

A huge fireworks display will be presented Monday at Memorial Park at The Mounds in Monongahela. The event is sponsored by Sutman-Yohe Post 1409 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, with William Urban, Cy Pizzutelli and Charles Chattaway as co-chairmen.

United Press International reported that the “generous General Assembly” of Pennsylvania began a two-week recess today to give its members a rest “from the whirlwind pace set this week in dealing with hefty pay and pension increases to themselves and a top to bottom assortment of state workers.” The lawmakers received a $3,000 compensation boost including an $1,800 expense account hike and $1,200 in their annual salaries and also a 50 percent increase in pension benefits.

Tackles Jay McCune of Monongahela and Bill Urbanik of Donora have been named to the Pennsylvania team that will face Texas on August 14 in the annual Big 33 football game at Hershey Park.

Stauffer Chemical overpowered Bartolotta's Red and White in Carroll Little League action at Victory Hill. Dave Barbe led Stauffer's offensive attack with three hits including two for extra bases. Winning pitcher Greg Podany went the distance and belted a triple.

A formal agreement signed yesterday at Mon Valley Community Health Center in Monessen by officials of the American National Red Cross and Monongahela Valley Hospital, Inc. will implement a program to provide year-round coverage of blood protection for district residents.

“This is an historic moment, because it assures access to blood and blood products, total blood needs met not only here but throughout the nation and some parts of the world,” said Dr. Joseph M. Dudas Jr., president of the Board of Directors of Mon Valley Health and Welfare Council.

The program is a result of a two-year study. The Red Cross requested that the Health and Welfare Council conduct the study to determine the .feasibility of establishing a unified blood program for the Valley. At that time, there were four separate programs. Dr. John M. Brandon and Dr. Herbert J. Levin were co-chairman of the Task Force that made the study.

Dr. Donald A. Celaschi has begun his duties as the new superintendent of the Charleroi Area School District. A native of Charleroi, Dr. Celaschi returned to his alma mater after serving as an administrator the past 11 years in Montgomery County Schools in Maryland. Among those welcoming him to his new duties were Bill Cominsky, school board president, and administrative office secretaries Josephine Youngman, Margaret Urda, Dorothy Hyk and Sophia Nazinski.

30 YEARS AGO Tuesday, July 2, 1985

State welfare and employment offices in the Mon Valley remained open despite the presence of pickets from two striking state employees unions. The strike evolved after the Pennsylvania Social Services Union and the Pennsylvania Employment Security Employees Association failed to reach agreement on a new contract with the Thornburgh administration.

Patricia A. Angelo was appointed president of North Belle Vernon Borough Council. She replaces John P Biggins, who stepped down from the post on June 30 but will remain on council. Julius J. Perry was elected vice president to succeed Ms. Angelo, who is in her first term on council.

Leading the holiday entertainment in the area tomorrow are Gigolo and DJ Ralph Dolfi at the Brass Saddle near Smithton and Floyd Beck and his band and DJ Bobby Carroll at the Lower Level in Charleroi.

20 YEARS AGO Monday, July 3, 1995 (July 2 was a Saturday)

Everything is in readiness for the annual Dunlevy Community Day celebration on Sunday, July 9. Highlighting the event will be the dedication of a memorial honoring the late soccer standout Roger Rossi. Disc jockey John Vargo will provide music throughout the day.

Fireworks are scheduled tomorrow night at Hills department store in Tri-County Plaza, Rostraver; the Charleroi Area High School football stadium, and the Noble J. Dick Aquatorium in Monongahela. The New Orleans River Band will entertain in Monongahela, while the Charleroi lineup includes the Mon Valley Superstars, the CAHS majorettes, Cougarettes and color guard, the Sonny Sky Orchestra and the Darla Kash Dancers.

The St. George Junior Tamburitzans of Cokeburg Fraternal Union 304 have been chosen to participate in the Junior Tamburtiza Festival on July 7-9 in Kansas City, Mo. Marlene Luketich Kochis is the group's musical director and is assisted by her husband Dan, her sister Bernadette Luketich Sikaras and Robert Sestili. Ivo Sina of Zagreb, Croatia is the choreographer.

10 YEARS AGO Saturday, July 2, 2005

Many people in the Mon Valley were in the dark last night as a large tree toppled and knocked out electricity on the way down. Some 2,000 Allegheny Power customers in Fayette City, Rostraver and the Eastgate section of Monessen lost power around 9 p.m. when the tree fell along Johnson Hollow Road near Tyrol Boulevard.

The Webster Honor Roll will be rededicated Tuesday at 10 a.m. The memorial honoring men and women of Webster who served in World War I and World War II was originally dedicated on July 5, 1919,by Dr. Craig Byers and was rededicated on July 6, 1942, again by Byers with help from Merico Dolfi. Jerry Dran, historian and collector of military memorabilia, is leading this year's rededication.

Southpaw Neil Pascarella pitched a three-hitter as Charleroi blanked Belle Vernon 9-0 in the Fayette County American Legion Baseball League. Pascarella, who struck out 10 and issued only four walks, helped his own cause with two doubles and a single. Teammates Chris Chacko (two singles and a double), Sam Manna (triple) and Nico Smolec (triple) also came up big for Charleroi (10-8.)

(If you have memories to share or a story idea, contact Ron Paglia at ronpaglia@verizon.net or c/o The Valley Independent, Eastgate 19, Monessen, PA 15062.)

Ron Paglia is a freelance writer for Trib Total Media.