McKeesport

Members of the community have held a candlelight vigil to remember six people killed in a suburban Pittsburgh house fire and to pray for critically injured sole survivor.

About 250 people raised lit candles into the air and sang "Amazing Grace" Sunday night outside the McKeesport house where a woman, her four young children and her disabled father-in-law died early Saturday.

Often discussing a student’s attendance is a negative conversation or one that leads to disciplinary action.

But early Wednesday morning, teachers and community members rallied around McKeesport Area School District students as they were dropped off at the front door. As school bus engines rumbled, volunteers holding welcome signs cheered, pinned stickers on students and handed them school supplies.

“I’m glad you’re here today,” and “It’s important to come to school,” the volunteers repeated to the students.

Shawnda Little-Dreher and Timothy Dreher were handed the keys to their new McKeesport residence Friday, becoming the 74th local family to receive a home through Habitat for Humanity.

“It’s blessing and we are very excited,” Shawnda said. “We’ve been waiting for a long time.”

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded the McKeesport Housing Authority $250,000 to address emergency, safety and security needs at its public housing properties.

“The grant was specifically earmarked for security upgrades,” said Housing Authority Director Steve Bucklew. “Physical costs like cameras, digital videos recorders, fences, lighting and that kind of stuff, that’s what we applied for.”