Firefighters get tested

City of Pittsburgh and union officials have agreed that as a part of a new five-year contract, city firefighters will now be randomly drug tested and if they fail, they could be fired. The contract also gives the more than 600 city firefighters a substantial bonus next year, a 2 percent raise in their salary each year through 2014 and a raise in their pension.

The contract was signed earlier this week by Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.

Somewhat quietly, Pentecostal Temple Pastor Loran Mann, was steadily going about the business of expanding the capabilities of the church’s New Kensington radio station, when WAMO was sold and silenced. Since then, Mann’s pace has steadily increased.

He is currently installing a new dish on the roof of the WGBN 1150 studio, which should double the station’s daytime operating power to more than 2,000 watts.

MANN AND HIS MUSIC—Rev. Loran Mann holds “The Gospel Music Workshop of America Mass Choir” album, which is a part of his collection.

He plans to fill some of the hole in the market left by WAMO’s demise, and as a step in that direction, he will begin broadcasting Bev Smith’s syndicated talk show every weekday.

At an annual fund-raiser for Jerome Bettis’ The Bus Stops Here Foundation, the former Steeler running back honored the Rooney family, who he said first sparked his commitment to the community.

“The Rooney family has been very influential in everything I have done,” Bettis said. “A lot of people think it’s important to give money but I think it’s important to give time.”

A LEGACY OF GIVING—Jerome Bettis presents Pittsburgh Steelers President Art Rooney II with the 2009 Jerome Bettis Humanitarian Award.

Bettis told the story of how he was first inspired to give back to the community when his team was approached by then owner Dan Rooney, to donate to the United Way campaign.  Currently the team is involved in over 30 community outreach programs with local non-profit organizations and foundations.