Patrick Varine stories, Page 26
Incumbent Jill Cooper retains seat in Westmoreland state House race
With 100% of precincts reporting, incumbent Republican Jill Cooper will retain her seat in the state House. With more than 38,000 votes cast, Cooper beat out Democratic challenger Davon Magwood, 67% to 32%, in the 55th District race in northern Westmoreland County. “I’m grateful for the trust that people have...
Here’s your Election Day playlist, from the ‘Animaniacs’ to WilcoVideo
It’s Election Day, and if there’s one thing we can all agree on — an increasingly difficult concept these days — it’s a collective sense of relief that, no matter the result, it’s going to be over soon. But not yet — which is why we’ve compiled this list of...
Consent order updates eliminate 4M gallons of water flow during Franklin rainstorms
Just under three years ago, the Franklin Township Municipal Sanitary Authority delivered a model to state environmental officials mapping out the flow of sewage through its 330-mile system. It was among the mandatory goals in a 2019 consent order entered into by FTMSA as well as its client communities, with...
Franklin Regional opens Panther’s Den, consolidates merchandise under 1 vendor
Franklin Regional officials and Unity Printing held a grand opening Friday for The Panther’s Den, a brick-and-mortar store inside Unity’s Fancy Fox Embroidery & Silkscreen in Murrysville. The shop and its attendant website will be the exclusive home to merchandise using logos the school district created and trademarked. The school...
Franklin Regional Athletic Association competitive cheer team off to a hot start
The Franklin Regional Athletic Association isn’t wasting time in building on its first successful year with a cheerleading squad. This year they added a competitive cheer team, and its members just brought home a first-place finish in the 12U division at the HACC Cheer Fest, held Oct. 27 in Hempfield....
Game commission releases 500 antlerless tags for new chronic wasting management area in Armstrong
In response to the detection of new deer populations hosting chronic wasting disease, the Pennsylvania Game Commission has issued 500 additional antlerless tags for a newly established hunting area in Armstrong County. Hunters can purchase additional tags for Deer Management Assistance Program unit 7305, roughly 25,000 acres including part or...
Western Pennsylvania’s importance in presidential election evident in both Harris, Trump coming Monday
Pittsburgh will be the center of the American political universe the night before Election Day, when both candidates for president hold Downtown rallies less than 2 miles from one another. And you thought Steelers traffic was bad. Former President Donald Trump will be at PPG Paints Arena. But just a...
Allegheny Township car fire snarls rush hour traffic
A car fire backed up rush hour traffic Friday night in Allegheny Township. Westmoreland County 911 officials said it was reported shortly after 5:30 p.m. in the 4000 block of Leechburg Road, between White Cloud and Shearsburg roads. Markle Volunteer Fire Department crews responded and extinguished the fire. Traffic was...
$1M in gambling revenue will help Southwest Greensburg build new public works complex
Southwest Greensburg will spend about $1 million in state gambling money to build a new public works garage. The borough was awarded $1 million from the state program that distributed the revenue generated from Live Casino Pittsburgh to communities in the region. “It’s huge,” said Mayor Carol Palcic of the...
Murrysville area: Used book sale, 5K fundraiser, cantata concert and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Used book sale The American Association of University Women will host their annual fall used book sale at the Murrysville Community Library. It will be from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 14-16 at the library, 4130 Sardis Road in Murrysville. A...
5 things to do in Westmoreland this weekend: Nov. 1-3
Spooky season has ended, but there’s plenty autumn left to enjoy the crisp weather and beautiful scenery before it starts to turn cold for the winter. Here are some events taking place across Westmoreland County this weekend. Pumpkin pitchin’ Devout Brewing in Penn Township will host its second annual “pumpkin...
Mt. Pleasant councilman earns independent music awards 4 years in a rowVideo
Andy Davis may want to consider a standing airline reservation for Nashville each fall. For each of the past four years, the Mt. Pleasant resident has headed south to accept one — or more — Josie Independent Music Awards. The Josies are the country’s largest independent music awards ceremony, given...
Franklin Regional won’t use Boston education tech company to survey students, staff and parents
Franklin Regional school board members decided not to move forward with a grant-funded, multi-year survey of students, staff and parents aimed at improving communication among all parties. The board voted 4-3 to reject a proposal that would make use of a “school climate survey” with questions developed by Boston-based Panorama...
Eastbound Route 30 reopens following North Huntingdon crash
The eastbound side of Route 30 reopened shortly before 8:30 p.m. in North Huntingdon following a motorcycle crash Friday evening. Westmoreland 911 officials said the crash, between a motorcycle and another vehicle, was reported just before 5:15 p.m. on Route 30 near Colonial Manor Road. Information on injuries from the...
Lee, Hayes have different priorities for Pennsylvania’s 12th District
Each of the candidates vying to represent Pennsylvania’s 12th District in Washington, D.C., have different priorities. Incumbent Democrat Summer Lee wants to focus on infrastructure along with environmental and economic justice. Republican challenger James Hayes honed in on supporting the energy industry, supporting law enforcement to create safer communities and...
Monroeville officials lease convention center to tourism agency
After purchasing the Monroeville Convention Center earlier this year, Monroeville Council voted this month to enter into a 25-year lease agreement that will keep the center’s operations largely the same. Council voted to lease the space to Visit Monroeville, which was formed in 1987 and promotes both the center and...
Murrysville area: Experimental artist presentation, Delmont Pilgrimage volunteers, Wreaths Across America and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. East Suburban Artists League meeting The East Suburban Artists League will welcome experimental artist Susan Schwarz as the featured speaker for its Nov. 7 meeting. Schwarz’s uses watercolors, acrylics and different kinds of paper, assembling them in creative and unique collages on...
Monroeville area: Cross Roads concert, club meetings, Thanksgiving dinners and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com or bpoole@triblive.com. Election Day spaghetti dinner The Garden City United Methodist Church is hosting an Election Day spaghetti dinner Nov. 5. It will be from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the church, 500 Laurel Drive in Monroeville. Dinners are takeout only....
Monroeville officials lease convention center to tourism agency
After purchasing the Monroeville Convention Center earlier this year, Monroeville council voted this month to enter into a 25-year lease agreement that will keep the center’s operations largely the same. Council voted to lease the space to Visit Monroeville, which was formed in 1987 and promotes both the center and...
Allegheny Health Network’s Forbes Hospital to begin paying property taxes under proposed settlement
Gateway school board members will consider a settlement that would bring in more than $250,000 in back taxes from Allegheny Health Network’s Forbes Hospital campus as well as nearly $60,000 in annual taxes moving forward. At issue is a small portion of AHN’s 50-acre hospital campus in Monroeville. The property...
Motorists should be on the lookout for deer as rutting season peaks, Pa. Game Commission says
Steve Boeser has been a busy man since June. Boeser is contracted by the Municipality of Murrysville to collect and dispose of dead deer that have been struck by cars. His contract starts in June, and he’s usually well into January before he reaches 100 calls. As of Oct. 22,...
14 high school bands will compete at PIMBA 2024 Championships in Monroeville
Marching bands from across the region will compete this weekend in Monroeville at the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Marching Band Association’s 2024 championships. For Shawn Harris, director of the Southmoreland High School Scotties Marching Band, it’s a chance to showcase his students’ talent. “A lot of times at halftime, we aren’t always...
Delmont, Murrysville to host 2025 budget discussions
Delmont council will hold two public workshops on the 2025 budget beginning Tuesday. The meetings will take place at 6 p.m. Oct. 22 and 29, both at the borough building, 77 Greensburg Street. The first workshop will focus on revenue for the coming year. The second will focus on expenditures....
Allegheny County opens bouldering park, BMX pump track in Boyce ParkVideo
Chris Doyle of Plum has been riding bicycle motocross, or BMX, since he was a child. Now, thanks to Allegheny County, its Regional Asset District and local partners, Doyle’s children have a great place to get started if they want to follow in his footsteps. County officials cut the ribbon...
Murrysville council denies citizen petition to rescind oil and gas leases under park land
According to Murrysville’s solicitor, the town would face more legal peril from breaking leases with unconventional drilling companies, than it would from possible confusion over who ultimately owns the oil and gas rights it leased to them. A little less than a year ago, Murrysville council members voted to enter...
