Patrick Varine stories, Page 177
African penguin wows Mother of Sorrows students in Murrysville
National Aviary officials brought their “Penguins Are Cool” program to Mother of Sorrows School in Murrysville on Monday as part of Catholic Schools Week. Students learned about the world’s 18 species of penguin and had a chance to meet an African penguin as they learned about its special adaptations and...
Greensburg teacher ‘made you feel like the most important person in the room’
Ryan Soisson never had his mother as a teacher in school. But he isn’t sure it would have mattered. “She was a great teacher all the time,” he said. Kathryn N. Soisson of Greensburg died Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019. She was 52 years old. Mrs. Soisson was born July 12,...
Boil-water advisory issued for Raccoon, Potter in Beaver County
The Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa has issued a boil-water advisory for customers in Raccoon and Potter in Beaver County following a water line break. An 8-inch water line along Green Garden Road broke Saturday, resulting in pressure loss in both townships. The Raccoon water storage tank also emptied following...
Organ concert will feature composers from Minnesota and Pa., including Greensburg
The music of Pennsylvania and Minnesota is the latest theme for an organ concert series that blends genres and styles to broaden the appeal and interest in an instrument that most people simply associate with Sunday-morning hymns. The free concert will be at 4 p.m., Feb. 17 in the sanctuary...
Morning Parkway East crash shut down highway for about an hour
The eastbound lanes of the Parkway East near Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood are back open following an early-morning closure due to a crash. PennDOT officials reported the crash around 6:45 a.m. on Route 376 near the Forbes Avenue/Oakland exit. Trib news partner WPXI reported that a damaged pickup truck was towed...
State police: Dead dog left in carrier near Fayette County lake
State police are trying to determine who left a dead dog by a dumpster near a Fayette County lake. Police responded Feb. 1 to the area of Dunlap Lake in Menallen Township, where they found a dead Yorkie mix in a dog carrier next to a dumpster. Police do not...
Pittsburgh woman dies in Derry Township crash
A 59-year-old woman from Pittsburgh’s Greenfield neighborhood died after she was ejected from her vehicle Saturday morning in Derry Township. Westmoreland County Coroner Ken Bacha said Mary A. Mastriano was the front passenger in a Dodge Caravan headed west on Route 22 around 10 a.m., when the van traveled off...
Police: 2 men dead in Apollo in murder/suicide
An unidentified Apollo man shot another man dead early Saturday and then committed suicide, state police said. Police did not identify either man by name. They said the suspect was a 33-year-old resident of the home in the 500 block of Terrace Avenue. The victim, who was shot twice, was...
Woman pinned beneath vehicle following Derry Township crash
Emergency crews are on the scene of a crash on Route 22 near its intersection with Rushwood Road in Derry Township, just east of New Alexandria, where dispatchers say a woman is pinned beneath her vehicle. The crash was reported shortly after 10 a.m., and emergency officials also reported that...
Chili cookoff will benefit Delmont Recreation Committee
The Delmont Recreation Committee will host a chili cook-off this month at Yellow Bridge Brewing. The cost is $10. Attendees will vote for their favorite chili, and proceeds will benefit the recreation committee’s activities and events. It will be at 12:30 p.m., Feb. 17 at Yellow Bridge, 2266 Route 66,...
Police identify victim of fatal shooting early Saturday in Homestead
A 22-year-old man has died after he was shot early Saturday morning in Homestead. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identifed the victim as Tre-quan Embry of Homestead. Police were called to the 300 block of East 17th Avenue at 12:37 a.m. on Feb. 2 for a report of shots...
Gospel singer Johnathan White to perform at Westmoreland churches
Gospel singer Johnathan White will play two Westmoreland County concerts on Feb. 17, in Murrysville and Sutersville. White has performed at the Grand Old Opry as well as the Bill Gaither Homecoming Concert Series. He will perform at 10:15 a.m. at The Church of Sutersville, at 1683 Mars Hill Road....
Black History Month brings ‘Black Panther’ back to theaters for free
In celebration of Black History Month, the Walt Disney Company will bring Oscar- and Screen Actors Guild-nominated film “Black Panther” back to theaters through Feb. 7 at 250 screens across the U.S. In the Pittsburgh area, it will be shown at the AMC Waterfront theater in West Homestead. The movie...
Arrest warrant turns up marijuana growing operation in Indiana County
State police serving an arrest warrant in Indiana County ended up discovering more than 80 marijuana plants and 13 gallon bags of marijuana at an Armstrong Township home. Troopers initially responded Jan. 31 to a home on the 1000 block of Route 156 to serve an arrest warrant for Scott...
Amplify Church’s ‘vision’ includes establishing three new campuses across Pa.
Jan. 27 was “Vision Sunday” at Amplify Church campuses in Plum and Pittsburgh’s Strip District, and that vision seeks to grow the church by leaps and bounds. Church officials announced plans to more than double Amplify’s footprint in Pennsylvania, working toward the establishment of campuses in the North Hills, South...
Westmoreland organizations seek to provide shelter for homeless during cold snap
It can be difficult to get an accurate picture of homelessness in Westmoreland County, but local officials and service organizations want to make sure those who found themselves in such a situation had a place to go amid this week’s frigid weather. “A lot of times they’re elusive and don’t...
Franklin Regional cancels Thursday classes
With frigid temperatures hanging around for at least one more day, the Franklin Regional School District will again be closed on Thursday, Jan. 31. Athletes will be notified by their coaches about practices and scheduled events. The school day will be made up on April 23. For more, see FranklinRegional.k12.pa.us....
AAUW meeting in Murrysville will focus on eliminating household toxins
A Murrysville doctor will discuss eliminating household toxins for healthier living at the next American Association of University Women meeting, set for Feb. 14 in Murrysville. Dr. Rob Brown is the author of “Toxic Home, Conscious Home.” He wrote the book after a series of nosebleeds, which he ultimately traced...
State police seek 4 men suspected of $4K Walmart theft in White Township
State police in Indiana County are seeking information on four men suspected of stealing $4,000 in merchandise from a Walmart in White Township. Police said that after loading shopping carts and leaving the store without paying on Jan. 26, the four suspects fled in a silver Infinity QX80 shortly after...
Franklin Regional youth wrestlers take back-to-back dual-meet championships
The Franklin Regional JO wrestling dual team continued its undefeated season with back-to-back wins over the weekend. The team came away with first-place finishes at both the Dead of Winter and Kiski Area Youth dual meets on Jan. 26 and 27, respectively. Head coach Dan Megaludis said taking the program...
Simple bench helps teach Mother of Sorrows students about HolocaustVideo
Teaching sixth-graders about the Holocaust is not an easy task. “At the sixth-grade level, you have to be very careful in what you expose kids to,” said Patty Weisser of Murrysville, a teacher at Mother of Sorrows School. “My spin on it is to focus on the tolerance we should...
Grant for homeless placement comes at the right time for Feeding the Spirit in Greensburg
A $10,000 grant from Dominion Energy could not have come at a better time for Greensburg nonprofit Feeding the Spirit. With subzero temperatures on the way Wednesday and Thursday, President Debbie Thackrah said group members had already spoken with eight people about finding them a place for relief from the...
Murrysville police will have a warming center ready if needed during the cold snap
Murrysville police have notified municipal residents that a warming center will be ready, should they need it, as frigid temperatures begin moving into the area into Wednesday. Murrysville Alliance Church on Old William Penn Highway will serve as a warming center on an as-needed basis Wednesday and Thursday, according to...
Don White, GOP state senator, leaving seat in middle of term
State Sen. Don White said that when he came to the Pennsylvania Legislature, he was 50 years old but felt like he was 30. “I was full of energy, anxious to do a good job,” he said Tuesday in a video posted to his website. These days? “Now I’m 69...
FR cancels school Wednesday; make-up date set for Feb. 18
Due the extreme cold blowing into the Pittsburgh area, the Franklin Regional School District will be closed on Wednesday, Jan. 30. Athletes will be notified by their coaches about practices and scheduled events. The school day will be made up on Feb. 18, the President’s Day holiday. For more, see...
