Patrick Varine stories, Page 109
Commonwealth Court judge recuses himself from Murrysville fracking appeal case
A Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania judge whose previous career included helping craft state fracking legislation has recused himself from a case involving local fracking laws. Judge J. Andrew Crompton issued an order Monday granting the Murrysville Watch Committee’s request that he recuse himself from the panel adjudicating its appeal. The...
Police: Drug investigation into Delmont home leads to arrests
A months-long investigation into drug activity at a Delmont home led to charges this week against a 29-year-old woman, who is accused of leaving crystal methamphetamine and needles out in the open around two young children. Courtney N. Cline, who has a Penn Township address according to court records, is...
TSA: West Virginia man ‘forgot’ he had loaded gun in baby stroller at Palmer airport
A West Virginia man told Transportation Safety Administration agents he forgot to remove a loaded handgun from his child’s baby stroller when he brought it through a security checkpoint Thursday at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity. “Our TSA officers physically inspect strollers when they are too large to sit...
Murrysville library program will focus on Turtle Creek’s history, recovery
In the 1970s, anyone living in the vicinity of Saunders Station near the Murrysville-Monroeville border is likely to have known Turtle Creek by another name: “Sulfur Creek.” It was a far cry from the waterway’s earliest known name, “Tulpewi Sipu,” which translates from the native Delaware Algonquian as “turtle stream.”...
TribLive Taste Test: Wendy’s brand-new spicy black bean burgerVideo
When the intrepid TribLive Taste Test team set out to try plant-based burger offerings from the major fast-food chains, Wendy’s was not among them. Not to be outdone, the restaurant will debut a Spicy Black Bean Burger on June 28. The black bean burger has been around before. Wendy’s test-marketed...
On the move in the Murrysville area for the week of June 24, 2021
Here are just a few of those in the Star’s coverage area who are “on the move” in one way or another. Submit listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Courtney Brenner of Murrysville was recently inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi honor society at Duquesne University. She is among approximately 30,000 students, faculty,...
News and briefs in the Murrysville area for the week of June 23, 2021
Here are just some of the things happening in the Star’s coverage area in the coming weeks. To submit an event or a news brief, email pvarine@triblive.com. Bike maintenance event at Delmont library The Delmont Public Library and Delmont Visionary Committee will host a July 10 bicycle maintenance event at...
TribLive Taste Test: What’s the best beef jerky for your summer road trip?Video
It’s summer, and that means road trips. That means that you probably have a large grocery bag filled with snacks, and one of those snacks is likely to be beef jerky. Inspired by an extremely unique product from the Manly Man Co., we decided to compare several of the major...
State police seek Altoona man who led them on a 130-mph chase down Route 22
State police from Ebensburg are seeking information on an Altoona man who fled a Route 22 traffic stop on Tuesday at speeds of almost 130 mph, according to police. An arrest warrant was issued for Johnnie Ray Weaver, 46, of Altoona, after police said he led them on a pursuit...
Delmont librarian interviewed on American Library Association podcast
The Delmont Public Library was among several subjects discussed on the American Library Association’s “Call Number with American Libraries” podcast on Tuesday. Librarian Denni Grassel was interviewed by host Phil Morehart about the library’s brand-new Outdoor Learning Center. Having hosted an open house for the center on June 7, Grassel...
3 more Western Pa. residents, including Scottdale man, charged in Capitol riots
A Westmoreland County man and two others from Beaver County are among the latest to face charges related to the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol. Samuel C. Fox of Scottdale, Mitchell P. Vukich of New Brighton and Nicholas Perretta of Baden all face charges related to the incident,...
Mike Reese Memorial 5K will help establish foundation in late lawmaker’s memory
Before state Rep. Mike Reese died unexpectedly in January, it wasn’t unusual to see him out running with his friend David Keefer on Sundays near Mt. Pleasant Township’s Mammoth Park. “It wasn’t really about where we went,” said Keefer, who had been friends with Reese since high school. “We both...
Franklin Regional’s 2021-22 budget includes maximum allowed tax hike
Franklin Regional school directors approved a 2021-22 budget with a tax hike of just over 3 mills Monday night. The $63.6 million budget includes $375,000 from a district fund dedicated to state-mandated pension contributions, and just over $1 million from a fund being used to gradually phase in debt service...
Juneteenth celebrations roll right into Black Music Festival this week in Pittsburgh
For hip-hop music fans who have been around since the genre first got its start in the late 1970s, the WPA Juneteenth concert on June 19 was quite the event. The evening saw two icons of early hip-hop — Rakim and Big Daddy Kane — taking the same Steel City...
Devout Brewing in Penn Township expands outdoor seatingVideo
It doesn’t typically get loud and rowdy at Devout Brewing in Penn Township. But if it did, co-owner Matt Joseph wouldn’t have to worry about complaints from the neighbors. Situated in the Bushy Run Corporate Park off Mellon Road, all of Joseph’s neighbors are pretty well cleared out by 6...
Food, music fill the air at Westmoreland Fair grounds this weekendVideo
The smell of burgers and barbecue smoke was in the air Friday night at the Westmoreland County Fairgrounds during the Food & Music Festival, the first time fair organizers have promoted their own food-truck event. “It’s great to be out serving food for the public,” said Jason Frye of Pleasant...
Donora man, 66, dies after jumping from Rostraver bridge
A man seen jumping from the Donora-Monessen bridge Friday afternoon died as a result of his injuries, according to the Washington County coroner. Thomas B. Matsick Jr., 66, of Donora was reportedle seen jumping from the eastbound side of the bridge, which carries traffic over the Monongahela River between Donora...
Covid forced Murrysville church to postpone bicentennial, will now celebrate 201 years
The congregation at Emmanuel Reformed Church of the United Church of Christ has plenty to celebrate, especially at a time when, according to Gallup polling, a majority of Americans say they do not belong to a church, synagogue or mosque. Results from the March survey marked the first time in...
Fayette undersea warfare systems company will expand in North Union, add 36 new jobs
A Fayette County manufacturer of undersea warfare systems will add more than 30,000 square feet to its North Union facility and add nearly 40 jobs, state officials announced Thursday. Advanced Acoustic Concepts, which provides undersea warfare, or USW, solutions for USW systems, sensors, weapons and trainers including the U.S. Navy,...
News and briefs in the greater Murrysville area for the week of June 17, 2021
Here are just some of the things happening in the Star’s coverage area in the coming weeks. To submit an event or a news brief, email pvarine@triblive.com. Murrysville enters into new trash contract Murrysville council voted 6-0 on June 16 to enter into a new five-year hauling and recycling contract...
Medic One among ambulance companies providing vaccines to homebound residents
When Excela Health, the Westmoreland County Department of Public Safety and the United Way began implementing a program to bring the coronavirus vaccine to homebound adults, Murrysville Medic One officials jumped in with both feet. “The medics have to be trained on how to do them and complete the paperwork,”...
History-buff dads can spend Father’s Day exploring Washington County museums for free
Does your dad like whiskey? If so, he can learn all about it — and the rebellion it engendered in Pennsylvania — for free on Father’s Day. The Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency and Washington County Heritage Alliance announced Free Museum Day on Sunday. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.,...
Westmoreland County Food Bank doubles number of Summer Food Service program sites
The Westmoreland County Food Bank had a ground-level picture of how the covid-19 pandemic affected food security for families in the region. Its staff members worked food distribution centers where people waited hours lined-up in cars to receive a box of food. That is a big part of why the...
Philips issues voluntary recall for CPAP machines, ventilators
Medical equipment company Philips has issued a recall on some products to address possible health risks associated with a foam component meant to help reduce noise. The polyester-based polyurethane foam in its Bi-Level Positive Airway Pressure (Bi-Level PAP), Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), and mechanical ventilator devices could “degrade into...
Franklin Regional School Board to vote on 2021-22 budget next week
Franklin Regional School Board members will vote tonight on a 2021-22 budget with a bit less spending and a little more revenue, but not enough to stave off a proposed property tax hike to the state limit of just over 3 mills. As the board prepares for its final meeting...
