Patrick Varine stories, Page 14
Norwin school board to consider maximum allowed tax hike under state index
Norwin school board members will vote later this month on a preliminary 2025-26 district budget that could include a 4.67-mill tax hike. At the board’s non-voting meeting Monday night, President Bill Bojalad requested that finance director Ryan Kirsch prepare a version of the new budget that includes the tax hike,...
Rostraver convenience store sells $3 million winning scratch-off
The Pennsylvania Lottery said Monday a $3 million winning ticket in the “3’s a Charm” scratch-off game sold recently in Rostraver. The winning ticket was sold at the Exxon station on Rostraver Road, lottery officials said. The store will receive a $10,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket. “3’s a...
Murrysville library getting ‘giant facelift’ in 2026 to promote broadband upgrades
The Wi-Fi speed at the Murrysville Community Library doubled in early May, and library officials are planning renovations aimed at getting more people through the doors to take advantage of it. “We’re purchasing new furniture to promote the library and broadband usage in and outside the library,” said director Kat...
Work will start in Murrysville to make temporary Route 380 light permanent
Construction work at the intersection of Route 380 and Saltsburg Road in Murrysville will begin May 19, Murrysville officials said at their monthly council meeting Wednesday night. Canonsburg-based Olympus Energy funded temporary traffic improvements last year as part of its Hermes fracking well pad project, built nearby on the Murrysville-Plum...
Mutual Aid medical director, Delmont resident receives statewide EMS award
Dr. William Jenkins is used to seeing ambulances pulling into the emergency room bay at Independence Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg. He wasn’t expecting was to see his 4-year-old grandson Tyler bounding up the driveway Thursday to give him a hug. Nor was he expecting family, Mutual Aid staff and state...
Murrysville area: Route 380 work, Symphony East and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Temporary Route 380 light will become permanent Construction on the intersection of Route 380 and Saltsburg Road will begin May 19. Canonsburg-based Olympus Energy funded temporary traffic improvements as part of its Hermes fracking well pad project, built nearby on the Murrysville/Plum...
Delmont council has 2 candidates for 4 open seats in primary
Write-in votes could play a role in shaping the next Delmont Borough Council, with only two candidates filed to run for four open seats in the upcoming primary election. Council incumbents Pam Simpson, Jeff Cunningham and Stan Cheyne did not file for reelection. Council president Andy Shissler and first-time candidate...
Franklin Regional multimedia students earn 9 awards at regional competition
Franklin Regional students had one of their best performances in recent years at the annual Digital Media Arts Consortium competition, held at Robert Morris University. Students in the high school’s broadcasting and journalism classes won nine DMAC awards including the coveted Best In Category award for the FRHSTV news show....
Monroeville area: Camp Invention, Carson Scholars, cheer camp, more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Camp Invention events Students in kindergarten through sixth grades are invited to take part in Camp Invention, a nationally recognized summer enrichment program, which will be held at several locations this summer in Monroeville. Each year, the program features curriculum inspired by...
Some Route 48 traffic signals will be synchronized in Monroeville
Traffic lights along Route 48 in Monroeville have been approved for inclusion in the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission’s SINC-UP project, which provides upgrades to traffic signals to increase efficiency. Monroeville officials announced the project at their council work session on Tuesday. It’s the latest in a series of initiatives aimed at...
Canonsburg man sentenced for embezzling nearly $7M from Hillandale Farms
A Canonsburg man who police said embezzled nearly $7 million from Hillandale Farms Co. has been sentenced to more than two years in prison. Jonathan A. Weston, 60, was sentenced to 27 months in prison and ordered to pay $6.87 million in restitution to Hempfield-based Hillandale Farms, as well as...
Monroeville Mall restaurant Sarku Japan ordered closed due to wastewater backup
Sarku Japan restaurant in Monroeville Mall was ordered closed after a May 5 inspection revealed five health code violations. Allegheny County health inspectors said a wastewater backup at one of the kitchen grease traps warranted the closure at the restaurant, located in the food court at the Monroeville Mall. County...
School districts showcase STEM with ‘Remake Learning Days’ events
If Greensburg Salem’s STEAM Carnival sparks a desire to learn in even just one student, teacher Michelle Wiltrout will know she did her job. The carnival, a decade-long tradition at the district’s Hutchinson Elementary, is one of more than 200 “Remake Learning Days” activities in Southwestern Pennsylvania aimed at inviting...
State attorney general charges 9 with organizing multi-county drug ring
The state Attorney General’s Office has charged a Beaver County man with heading up a drug operation spanning multiple counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Korrtezz M. Martin, 34, of Rochester, was charged with racketeering, conspiracy, weapons violations, multiple counts of drug possession, manufacturing and delivery, in connection with an illegal drug...
Franklin Regional school board meeting rescheduled
The May 5 meeting of the Franklin Regional school board has been rescheduled. Monday’s committee-of-the-whole was canceled due to an unexpected issue that prevented the meeting from being broadcast, school officials said. It will be combined with the monthly voting meeting, which will begin at 7:30 p.m. May 12 at...
Delmont history group will dedicate National Register of Historic Places markers
National history will be recognized in Delmont this month with the dedication of plaques honoring a gunsmith who helped cement the rifle’s place in American history and one of the borough’s enduring landmarks. “The National Register of Historic Places designation officially happened back in the ‘80s, but there was never...
Greensburg native, Juilliard grad will perform senior recital at hometown churchVideo
A piano sounds like a piano. A trumpet sounds like a trumpet. A big old church organ is another matter. A talented organist, using all of the instrument’s stops, levers and pedals, can make it sound like just about anything he or she wants. “I love that the organ can...
Derry native donates to IUP’s proposed osteopathic medicine college
A Derry native and veteran has made a $50,000 donation to the proposed osteopathic medicine college at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Lt. Col. Barry Gasdek, a 1964 IUP graduate, offered the donation, which is part of $32 million the university has collected in private and government funding to develop the...
5 candidates compete for 4 seats on Murrysville council
The five Republicans who will compete for four open seats on Murrysville council are all casting an eye toward the municipality’s future — in particular, how it will grow. “One of the biggest challenges is maintaining our infrastructure while thoughtfully and conservatively managing growth,” said incumbent Jason Lemak, 47. “I’ll...
Murrysville area: Live music, local blood drive and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Live music at Joey’s the Edge Joey’s the Edge in Export will host a summer concert series. Shows will take place from 7-10 p.m. This season’s schedule is: • Paxton Spangler Band: May 9 • David Tauberg Trio: May 10 • Johnny...
Monroeville area: Scottish Heritage Day, Cross Roads yard sale, car show, more
Scottish Heritage Day Hillcrest United Presbyterian Church will host a Scottish Heritage Day on May 4. The all-ages event is open to the public and will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the church, 1622 James St. in Monroeville. The day will kick off with a worship service...
White House and Amazon go back and forth over tariff pricing on website
White House officials have blasted a reported proposal by Amazon — which the company has denied — to begin including information on its website about the amount of tariffs being applied to goods it sells. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who stepped in to respond to a question directed...
Eastern Gas to host Murrysville open house on infrastructure additions, upgrades
Officials from Eastern Gas Transmission and Storage will host an open house Tuesday in Murrysville for the Appalachian Reliability Project, which will add pipeline and carrying capacity in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The project involves updates to existing compressor stations and other natural gas facilities in Westmoreland, Armstrong and Greene counties, including...
5 candidates compete for 4 open seats on Franklin Regional school board
The Franklin Regional school board will see at least two new faces next year, with incumbents Mark Kozlosky and Traci Eshelman Ramey declining to run for reelection. Five candidates will compete in the May 20 primary election for four open seats on the school board. Members serve a four-year term....
83-year-old Greensburg woman identified by police as wrong-way driver in Route 30 crash
State police have identified an 83-year-old Greensburg woman as being the wrong-way driver who caused a multi-vehicle crash Wednesday on Route 30 in Hempfield. Nancy Duva entered the eastbound lanes of the divided highway going west in Subaru Crosstrek around 5:15 p.m., causing the crash just past the Cedar Street...
