McKeesport is readying city streets for the 44th annual Salute to Santa Parade.

Thousands of McKeesporters and their Mon Valley neighbors are expected to line Fifth Avenue Saturday for the noon procession, which begins at Market Street and continues to Huey Street.

As the city put finishing touches on parade preparations Thursday, Mayor James Brewster said McKeesport officials were working hard to take over the time-honored Downtown McKeesport Association tradition.

"I want to thank Dennis Pittman, our city administrator, and Jim Brown, our special projects coordinator, for taking over the parade," the mayor said. "The DMA was unable to coordinate the parade this year, and it will now be the responsibility of the city going forward."

Brewster said the parade will be a success thanks to those who have been part of the program for many years.

"I want to thank the volunteers, many of whom worked with the DMA who are continuing to stay with the parade. Michele (Matuch), Sue Anthony, Skip Pierce, Tom Deneen, Ron Liberatore," he said. "We want to thank them because they're helping out."

Brown said Saturday's parade has more business participants than in recent years.

Shriners Clowns will stir up the crowd as the line of community leaders, organizations and businesses begin their march. Next will be Allegheny County police on horseback and McKeesport police.

Officially leading the parade will be Grand Marshal Richard M. Scaiffe, chairman of Trib Total Media and The Daily News. He'll ride alongside Brewster and will be accompanied by members of LaRosa Boys & Girls Club dressed in period clothing as newsies.

Next will be Daily News General Manager Robert Hammond and other staff members, Meg Pero of McKeesport Hospital Foundation, Kelly Frey of WTAE-TV and McGruff the Crime Dog.

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The quenching of a West Mifflin coal pile fire could begin today.

"There is some of the landowner's property to move," including a shed, project manager Bill Ehler of the federal Office of Surface Mining said Tuesday. "(The contractor also) has to remove trees and clear the site."

Ehler said a Washington County firm was awarded a $60,000 contract for the work along the 3500 block of Homestead-Duquesne Road.

"We will excavate it, quench it, then we put it back as best we can," Ehler said.

A crew from Courtney Contracting Inc. of Venetia had an earth mover on the scene Tuesday afternoon.

"There is a huge machine there," Mayor John Andzelik told West Mifflin council Tuesday night.

Courtney was one of eight firms invited to bid on the work necessitated by a fire discovered 10 days ago. Not all eight firms submitted bids.

"We've given the contractor (a deadline) to be all done within a month, but the fire should be quenched within the week," the OSM project manager said.

The coal pile fire affects two residences and three businesses. Authorities said the homes and at least two businesses are having to cope with carbon monoxide.

"The level of the gas has gone down tremendously on their properties," Andzelik said.

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