Towns

Dormont

Councilman Tim McCoy announced Monday that the borough swimming pool, opened late last year after repair work, will open on Memorial Day.

Manager George Zboyovsky said there would be more repairs at the landmark pool, involving replacing piping, adjusting valves and caulking minor leaks. He expected it to be finished by the end of March. The cost is $15,000.

Council said it would invite two developers to make public presentations on the pool.

Council President Linda Kitchen told an audience of more than 30 people that rumors that the borough planned to sell the swimming pool and park to developers were false and said it could not happen because the parcels are public property.

Council said it was considering resurfacing parts of Hillsdale, Pinehurst, Annex and Wisconsin avenues this spring.

Scott

People now have another way to recycle newspapers and glossy magazines and catalogs. Commissioners agreed last week to let Abitibi Consolidated place recycling bins at the public works building on Lindsay Road. Scott will continue to pick up newspapers as part of its own recycling program, but glossy products are not accepted.

Commissioners agreed to spend no more than $400 for the preparation of a GIS map of voting districts, which will be placed on the township Web site, www.scott-twp.com, to help people determine their wards.

Scott engineer Larry Lennon's office will prepare the map.

The board voted to advertise that all committee meetings, which are open to the public, will be held at 7 p.m. the first Monday of each month this year.

Proclamations were approved for Robert F. West Jr., who retired as commander of American Legion Post 290, and Gloria Jozwiak, who retired as principal of Our Lady of Grace School.

Whitehall

Police Chief Don Dolfi announced that training for Kella, a 15-month-old female Belgian Malinois donated to the department in April by the Allegheny County's Sheriff's Department, will begin Feb. 5.

Officer Korey Hinkle will be her handler. If the dog passes the training, a graduation ceremony will be held in April, with official recognition as the borough's new K-9 officer, to be held at a council meeting.

Alex, another Belgian Malinois who served almost 11 years as the borough's first police dog before retiring last summer, died in November at the age of 12. His handler was Officer Will Hudson.

The police chief said a police dog is a valuable asset to the department and the community and that he was looking forward to having another canine team.

Peters

Registration for girls softball and boys baseball will be accepted at the Community Recreation Center at Peterswood Park from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. Copies of birth certificates are required for first-year participants.

Both recreational programs are to begin in the spring. Baseball leagues operate for age 5-18; softball, for grades 1-12.

Anyone age 13 or older who is interested in working as a softball or baseball umpire or coach should register on the same dates.

Registration after this date is not guaranteed and is subject to additional fees.

Schools

West Mifflin Area

Teachers voted this week to accept a contract extension offered by the school board through June 2011. The previous contract would have expired in June.

Highlights of the contract extension include:

An average yearly raise of $2,000

An extra stipend for teachers who earn national board certification

A cash buyout for teachers who opt out of health benefits. The buyout provides an incentive, offering teachers an opportunity to reduce their health insurance co-pay, while producing financial savings for the district.

Two new department heads: art and kindergarten

A change in the calendar to allow for early dismissals the day before spring break, Thanksgiving and winter break

Superintendent Patrick Risha called the extension "a win-win situation for staff, students and the community."

South Park

The district will implement a 10,000-steps-a-day program and contest at all three district schools starting on Valentine's Day and ending March 14.

The walking program is not mandatory, but administrators urged staff and teachers to participate.

Participants will be given $5 to defray the cost of a pedometer to measure the number of steps each walks a day.

The school that has the highest average gets an award, and each member of the winning group will receive a free lunch.

Grants from the Allegheny County Health Consortium and Pittsburgh Plate Glass fund the program.

Football coach Tom Loughran and eight members of his football staff will attend Saturday's Kickoff Clinic in Hershey.

Mr. Loughran is one of the coaches selected for the Big 33 game in Hershey this summer. The game will be played by seniors from Pennsylvania and Ohio.

The high school baseball team got the OK to travel to Sumter, S.C., March 21--25.

Four Duquesne University students -- Kelly Reed, Gemma Pantanella, Brittany Waltmire and Gina Pallotta -- are student teaching at the Elementary Center through April 18.

Newly elected school board officers are President John Innocenti; Vice President Frank Gill; Assistant Board Secretary Ray Stasny; Treasurer Terry Vietmeier; and solicitor, Andrews and Price.

Committee appointments include Frank Gill and Dan McBride.