Patrick Varine stories, Page 57
Just how many loose alligators are there around here anyway?Video
How many loose alligators do we have around here anyway? Alle-Kiski Valley residents with frontage along the Kiski River can breathe a little easier this week, after news that the alligator seen several times over the past week was caught by kayakers Sunday and turned over to humane officers. But...
Worst of severe thunderstorms likely to miss Western Pennsylvania
Monday morning may have been overcast and rainy in the Pittsburgh region, but National Weather Service alerts about possible severe thunderstorms with the potential for hail and isolated tornadoes are likely to miss the region, meteorologists said. “We have some thunderstorm activity northwest of Pittsburgh at the weather center office,...
Murrysville council continues fine-tuning short-term rental ordinance
There is only one short-term rental unit currently listed in Murrysville on the AirBnB website. But municipal officials want to ensure that if that number grows, they have some local controls in place. Council continued working to hammer out the finer points of the ordinance at its Aug. 2 meeting,...
Morning Roundup: Dog dies of gunshot wounds in West Mifflin
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, Aug. 7: Dog dies of gunshot wounds in West Mifflin A dog that was found shot twice Sunday in West Mifflin has died of his injuries, according to staff at Sable Kennels in McKeesport. The dog, Marshmallow, was...
Turtle Creek coach inducted into Professional Skaters Association Coaches Hall of Fame
Bob Mock feels like the luckiest guy in the world. “Every day I get to go to a great place and try to impart my knowledge to the next generation of skaters,” said Mock, 72, of Turtle Creek who has been coaching ice skaters for nearly a half-century. He was...
Export dance studio brings home 2nd consecutive World Dance Championship title
Last year, the 8-and-under team from DeStella Dance Centre in Export came home with a Star Dance Alliance World Championship title for its “Disco Fever” routine. In late July, they did it again, earning a Level I World Championship title for their “Mister 305” routine, a medley of songs by...
Murrysville man charged with giving Adderall, testosterone to high school son
A Murrysville man and former detective with the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office has been charged with giving testosterone and Adderall to his juvenile son in 2019, according to state police. Raymond W. Bonacci, 57, of Murrysville was charged with two felony counts of drug delivery in mid-July. State police...
Murrysville lays out $4 million in capital projects for next year
Murrysville will spend about $4 million next year on capital improvement projects, including about $500,000 in park improvements. The figures were presented during a public hearing for Murrysville’s four-year capital improvement program, a rough road map of larger-scale projects and expenditures between 2024 and 2028. In the short and long...
Murrysville area: School open-house tours, local community festivals,
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Franklin Regional open house tours Franklin Regional school officials will host open house tours of its school buildings in August for all students. They will take place on the following dates: • Senior high school: 6:30-8 p.m. Aug. 17, 18 and 21,...
Murrysville SportZone marks 10th anniversary, brings new general manager on board
Despite being a sizable building located just off the main commercial corridor in Murrysville, Jennifer Free said not everyone knows about the Murrysville SportZone. “Almost every day, at least one person will come in and say, ‘I had no idea this place was here,’” Free said. As the new general...
TribLive Taste Test: Ginger beerVideo
You don’t usually see a lot of ginger beer with sediment — a lot of sediment — sunk down at the bottom of the bottle. But that didn’t stop the TribLive Taste Test squad from trying Uncle Waithley’s “Vincy” Brew Ginger Beer, along with several other varieties of ginger beer,...
Westmoreland Conservancy adds 10th reserve in Murrysville
With the tranquil setting, beautiful horse stables and stately trees, there is plenty to like about the Westmoreland Conservancy’s 10th and newest nature reserve. Conservancy director Shelly Tichy’s favorite part, however, is that the property was already paid for and ready to donate. Tichy and other conservancy members helped to...
Penn Hills man Tased, arrested after fighting with officer
A Penn Hills man was Tased by police on Aug. 2 after he attempted to change vehicles and fight an officer after being pulled over on Saltsburg Road. Police initiated a traffic stop just before 7 p.m. on Mark A. Turner, 49, of Stotler Road, who they said was driving...
Former police chief takes on new public-service role as Rotary district governor
John Hartman is no stranger to public service, having spent a career in law enforcement including a stint as chief of the Southwest Regional Police. But outside of his police uniform, Hartman has also lived a life of volunteering the past eight years with the Murrysville-Export Rotary Club, where he...
Export VFD chief says cost of new fire truck could rise to $1M
The good news is that the Export Volunteer Fire Department recently was awarded a $545,000 grant to put toward a new fire truck. The bad news is that, even with the Federal Emergency Management Agency grant in hand, they’re still hundreds of thousands of dollars away from their goal. “In...
Murrysville Rep. Cooper proposes pay suspension for Pa. legislators if they don’t pass budget on time
The longer the Legislature goes without passage of a budget for Pennsylvania, the more likely it is that services which depend on its annual funding appropriations will be disrupted. State Rep. Jill Cooper, R-Murrysville, is of the mind that legislators should be feeling that same disruption. “By law, we’re supposed...
PennDOT seeks applicants for Young Ambassadors program
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is seeking applicants entering grades 10 to 12 for its Youth Ambassadors of Pennsylvania program. Youth ambassadors help instill civic responsibility and pride by helping to keep Pennsylvania clean and beautiful. It also provides opportunities to train and network with industry leaders, state agencies, local...
Westinghouse retirees’ group donates to more than 20 food pantries, food banks, Meals on Wheels programs
Lynn Staab was plenty familiar with serving the community before retiring from Westinghouse and getting involved with its Service Uniting Retired Employees (SURE) program. Staab had been involved with Murrysville Meals on Wheels, providing a hot lunch and cold dinner to more than 50 clients in the area. Former SURE...
Westmoreland County community festivals feature local musicians
The Westmoreland County region’s musical and culinary talent will be on display at several upcoming community festivals — all free and open to the public. All of the festivals will include food and vendor areas along with special events and entertainment for children. • Delmont Daze, noon to 7 p.m....
Massive mural completed at Greensburg Shop ‘n Save
If any regular customers of the Greensburg Shop ’n Save on East Pittsburgh Street haven’t stopped by this past week, their next visit is likely to be a whole lot more colorful. About 4,600 square feet more colorful, to be exact. “I’ve been wanting to do it for about a...
Franklin Regional swimmers make All-American list, including first mother-son duo
Four Franklin Regional swimmers have been named to the 2022-23 National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association’s high-school All-American list, placing them among the top 100 in the nation in four categories. “We had a very good season,” said FR swim coach Vic Santoro. “Our medley relay were state champions, and our...
Fayette man accused of trying to lure children into his truck at Whitsett Park
A Fayette County man was charged with two counts of luring a child after police said he asked two children at Whitsett Park to get into his truck. State police from Belle Vernon were contacted about 7:30 p.m. July 27 for a report of a shirtless man who called two...
Delmont boy’s fatal injuries were ‘diagnostic of torture,’ doctors say
A 5-year-old Delmont boy who liked to sing country music and play with monster trucks died a torturous death at the hands of his adoptive parents, authorities said Friday. Lauren E. Maloberti, 34, and Jacob N. Maloberti, 33, of Delmont are being held without bail on homicide charges in the...
Murrysville area: Franklin Regional parking passes, emergency services speaker, summer festivals and more
Email news briefs and event information to pvarine@triblive.com. Franklin Regional parking passes Franklin Regional school officials have mailed student parking-pass applications, which can be completed and returned to the high school office by Aug 9. Forms can be placed in the front-lobby drop box. Parking passes are currently available to...
Steelers fans trek to Saint Vincent College for opening day of training camp
Mike Franciscus grew up in Penn Hills but he had to travel all the way from Arizona to attend his first Pittsburgh Steelers training camp. “I have family here, plus it’s kind of a bucket list thing for me,” said Franciscus, who arrived with Belinda Rhodes, a friend from Sacramento,...
