Patrick Varine stories, Page 83
Export mayor breaks tie in contentious vote to raise sewage ratesVideo
Export Mayor Joe Zaccagnini had to break a 3-3 vote this week as council approved a $5 increase in local sewage rates, passing along a roughly 8% rate hike by the Franklin Township Municipal Sanitary Authority that goes into effect in August. “We have to pass on the cost that’s...
Bigfoot — the truck — coming to Export Tire this weekend
You can spot Bigfoot in Murrysville this weekend. But it’s not the mythical forest ape — this Bigfoot is the kind that crushes cars, which is exactly what it will be doing July 9 at Export Tire’s customer appreciation event. “We’d done the same thing when we had our grand...
Historical marker to be dedicated to 1902 Rolling Mill Mine disaster in Johnstown
On the night of July 10, 1902, James E. Roderick, who was then chief of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Mines, had recently arrived in Atlantic City, N.J., when he heard a newsboy on the boardwalk shouting about a mine disaster in Johnstown. “I heard the newsboys crying out, ‘Night extra!...
Murrysville Export Emergency Management Agency provides support network for first responders
When it comes to large-scale emergencies, preparation is the key to a proper response. When something such as a ruptured gas line or a late-night power outage at a senior assisted living facility happens, first responders need to be able to do their jobs and rely on a support network...
Pittsburgh native Gene Stovall returns from overseas for hometown performancesVideo
From performing onstage at age 12 in a Pittsburgh Public Theater production of “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone,” to winning talent showcases as a teenager, to moving across the Atlantic Ocean to pursue music full time, Gene Stovall has a passion for performance. “I’ve been wanting this for my whole...
Delmont librarian announces retirement at end of 2022
When Louisa Fordyce first got involved volunteering at the Delmont Public Library, she didn’t have a lot of contact with director Denni Grassel. “But I knew how active she was and how much work she put into the library,” Fordyce said. Today, Fordyce is a member of the library’s board...
Murrysville area: Inline hockey lessons, sewing sale, Delmont Daze, more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Inline hockey lessons at Palmer Imaging Arena Palmer Imaging Arena will host a weekly series of classes teaching children how to play inline hockey. The sessions will be from 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at the arena, 100 Center Ice Drive in Salem. The...
Pittsburgh-area boxers back in action Saturday at Washington County fairgrounds
Pittsburgh-area fighters will be back in the ring Saturday for a full night of boxing at “Battle at the Fairgrounds II” in Washington County. “We’re excited to return to the Washington County Fairgrounds for the third time,” said Monroeville promoter Derek Gionta. “We have a nice trio of professional fights...
FTMSA work closes part of Meadowbrook Road in Murrysville
Franklin Township Municipal Sanitary Authority work has closed a section of Meadowbrook Road in Murrysville that officials expect to reopen Wednesday afternoon. An FTMSA field supervisor said workers were extending a main sewage line and connecting laterals to properties along Meadowbrook between Haney Court and McWilliams Drive. Work crews expect...
Westmoreland motorcycle ride will benefit nonprofit Amanda’s Heart Foundation
During Amanda Ooten’s struggle as a quadriplegic affected by cerebral palsy, her mother Linda said it seemed like whenever the family needed help, someone was there to provide it. “I’ve always felt like those who give, get double back in blessings,” said Linda. Linda and Ooten, 27, of Wall, used...
No injuries in gas-tanker fire in Murrysville
No one was injured when a gas tanker tanker truck caught fire Tuesday morning along William Penn Highway in Murrysville. Fire crews were called to the 6000 block of Route 22 near Buena Vista Drive around 8:45 a.m., according to a county 911 supervisor, and were cleaning up less than...
Public, private sectors cooperate to try to boost apprenticeship numbers in Pennsylvania
In the years leading up to his graduation from Hampton Township High School in 2019, Nic Michielli discussed his future with district staff. “When I told my high school guidance counselor that I probably wasn’t planning to go to college, the conversation pretty much ended there,” Michielli said. With a...
Uniontown woman dead following shooting outside bar
A Uniontown woman was shot and killed outside a city bar on Thursday night, according to police. Officers responded to the 200 block of North Gallatin Avenue outside McPatton’s Pub around 10:20 p.m., where they found Samantha Harden, 34, with a single gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead a short...
Turnpike interchange at I-79 and Southern Beltway now fully open
The Pennsylvania Turnpike interchange connecting Interstate 79 and the Southern Beltway will open fully on Friday. The 19-mile Southern Beltway links I-376 near the Pittsburgh International Airport to I-79 at the line between Allegheny and Washington counties. The $800 million project was undertaken with the goal of easing congestion on...
No injuries reported in Brentwood fire
A section of Brownsville Road in Brentwood was closed early Friday as crews battled a fire on Kaufmann Avenue. An Allegheny County 911 supervisor said Brownsville Road was closed between Towne Square Way and East Willock Road as fire crews worked to put out the residential fire. No injuries were...
Police seek information on teen missing from West Mifflin area
Allegheny County Police are seeking the public’s help in locating a missing 13-year-old girl. Police said Tamir L. Nelson, 13, was last seen in the area of 118 Glenburn Drive in West Mifflin on June 23. Nelson is Black, 5 feet, 2 inches tall with black hair. Anyone with information...
Murrysville area: Otter program, family fun night, more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. ^ ‘All About Otters’ at Murrysville library Pennsylvania game warden Mike Papinchak will join Plum naturalist Sue Miller for a presentation about river otters as well as the purple martin at the Murrysville Community Park wetlands, 4056 Wiestertown Road. The program will...
‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ turns a low-stakes fight into an emotional series finale
Contains spoilers for the first season of “Obi-Wan Kenobi.” I have to give it up to the folks at Disney+ who put together the “Obi-Wan Kenobi” show. Once we got a good look at where it would be situated within the “Star Wars” universe — a decade after the events...
No injuries in early-morning fire at Tarentum high-rise
Residents at Golden Towers in Tarentum returned to their apartments shortly before 6 a.m., following a three-alarm fire reported early Thursday. Residents were partially evacuated following the fire, which was reported shortly before 4 a.m. at the apartment complex on the 200 block of Allegheny Street. “It took about 40...
Water main break closes part of Carnahan Road in Banksville
Part of Carnahan Road in Pittsburgh’s Banksville neighborhood remainds closed on Wednesday following a water main break. Pennsylvania American Water spokesperson Jill Greenwood said 58 customers were affected by the 8-inch main break. “The water is off right now, repairs are being made, and we expect service to be restored...
Severe thunderstorms heading into region, possible hail
A spate of hot weather will once again be interrupted by rain, as National Weather Service meteorologists call for scattered severe thunderstorms across the area on Wednesday afternoon. A hazardous weather outlook issued early Wednesday morning calls for severe storms this afternoon and early evening with a crossing cold front....
‘Difficult’ 4-alarm South Side fire considered suspicious
Firefighters battled a four-alarm blaze early Wednesday on Pittsburgh’s South Side. Crews were called to the 1900 block of East Carson Street shortly before 4 a.m. for a report of a commercial fire. Pittsburgh Public Fire Chief Darryl Jones told told Tribune-Review news partner WPXI that the building in which...
Belle Vernon student’s history project showcased by White House Historical Association
In the spring of 1918, as German troops were massing near the Marne River in France to mount a second spring offensive during World War I, more than two dozen delegates representing the Slovak League of America, the Czech National Alliance, the Union of Czech Catholics and other ethnic alliances...
Popular pierogie business prepares to open distribution center in Unity
In 2001, Terry Smith-Rawecki, her husband, Jan, and her mother got together to make about 30 dozen handmade pierogie to take to the farmers market in Ligonier. Gosia’s Pierogies sold out that afternoon, and by the end of that summer, they were bringing 90 dozen pierogies to the popular market....
Franklin Regional School Board raises taxes by 2.75 mills
Franklin Regional officials adopted a 2022-23 school budget this week with a 2.75 mill tax increase that would amount to an additional $95 in taxes for the average district homeowner. It is the first time in five years that the district has opted for a tax hike significantly lower than...

