Patrick Varine stories, Page 60
Cleats and call-ups: Today’s Pirates earned their stripes with the Curve
ALTOONA — Over the years, Altoona Curve fans have gotten a chance to see talent like Gerrit Cole, Andrew McCutchen, Endy Rodriguez and, recently, Oneil Cruz before they got called up to play for the Pirates. Henry Davis, who began the season with Altoona before moving on to the Pirates’...
Altoona Curve’s PNG Field is just like the big leagues — only more affordableVideo
ALTOONA — Taking the family to a Pittsburgh Pirates game can be a costly endeavor. From tickets to parking to meals and snacks inside the stadium, the price tag can run into the triple digits in short order. Less than two hours away, baseball fans can buy any ticket at...
Pittsburgh Pirates’ minor-league affiliate Altoona Curve offers idyllic baseball settingVideo
ALTOONA — A couple of hours before first pitch, it’s easy to see the appeal of PNG Field, home of the Altoona Curve. On a gorgeous June afternoon under clear skies, the Allegheny Mountains rise south of the Blair County ballpark, which is bookended by wooded hillsides. Over the right-fielder’s...
Scottdale Concert Band kicks off season with back-to-back performances
The Scottdale Concert Band will perform at 7 p.m. July 8 and 9 in Scottdale and Ligonier to kick off it upcoming summer concert series. The band was formed in 1981, and in 2021 reorganized as a nonprofit organization which can apply for grants and accept donations. The concerts will...
Monessen man dies in Washington County crash
A Monessen man died of injuries after he crashed Thursday night just off Route 43 in California, according to Washington County Coroner Tim Warco. Eric A. Moore, 56, was exiting Route 43 onto Malden Road just before 8:30 p.m. when he lost control of his vehicle and traveled down an...
Export Historical Society speaker will focus on firearms in U.S. historyVideo
Each year on the Fourth of July, Scott Duff of Export takes some time away from the cookout, fireworks and talking with friends and family to reflect on one of the muskets in his extensive firearms collection. It is a well-used Model 1763 Charleville flintlock musket from the Revolutionary War...
Murrysville will use $2 million to clean mine drainage in Lyons Run watershed
Throughout southwestern Pennsylvania, old mines channel water tainted with heavy metals such as iron and aluminum into creeks and streams, killing aquatic life and disrupting the food chain. Murrysville officials have secured $2 million in grants to address three mine-water sources within the Lyons Run watershed. Lyons Run flows south...
‘It’s unhealthy for everyone’: Lingering wildfire smoke affects more than just at-risk groups
Air quality advisories in response to lingering smoke from Canadian wildfires have focused on at-risk groups — young children, the elderly and people with existing pulmonary and heart issues. But, on Thursday, the Pittsburgh Pirates delayed the start of an early afternoon game by 45 minutes while they reviewed weather...
Murrysville area: Intro to fishing program, ‘Pioneer For a Day,’ live music and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Intro to fishing program in Murrysville The Murrysville Recreation Department and Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission will host an “Intro to Fishing” program at 10 a.m. July 13 at the Townsend Park Pond. There is no cost to attend. Participants can learn...
Rostraver man arrested after 7-hour standoff with state police
A Rostraver man who police said assaulted his father and stole his revolver was arrested after barricading himself inside his home for nearly seven hours Wednesday. State troopers responded to Columbus Street in Belle Vernon just before 1 p.m. Wednesday for a report of a theft and assault. The father...
‘June Boötid’ meteor shower will peak in Pittsburgh area tonight
The annual June Boötid meteor shower will stick around until July 2, but its peak — and the best chance to catch a glimpse — will be tonight. In the Pittsburgh area, the shower will be visible from dusk well into the night. But what is it, and why is...
Hot day for hot rods at the Veterans Anything With Wheels car showVideo
Trisha Cavanaugh didn’t build a 1972 Chevy Vega with a 6-liter, all-aluminum LS engine and a power-glide transmission to haul it around in a trailer. “I built it to be a car I could drive on the street, and I take it to Keystone Raceway,” said Cavanaugh, a White Oak...
Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival nears half-century mark
The slate that Deb and Fred Rost use as a canvas for their artwork comes from Vermont — but they don’t have to go nearly that far to sell it. The Latrobe residents have been bringing products from their Stenciled Slates business to the Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival for...
Police: 2 in critical condition after Homewood shooting
Two men were transported in critical condition from a shooting early Sunday morning in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood, according to police. Officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert just before 5 a.m. on the 7000 block of Kelly Street, where they found two male victims. Medics transported one man who police said...
Police: Cyclist dies of injuries in North Side shooting
Police are investigating the fatal shooting of a man riding his bicycle along Federal Street Sunday morning on Pittsburgh’s North Side. Police responded to Federal Street at West North Avenue around 7 a.m. and said they found a man who had been shot in the back. He was taken to...
Police: Zelienople man fatally shot 2 women at New Sewickley home
A Zelienople man faces criminal homicide and kidnapping charges, after police said he shot two women with a rifle and barricaded himself inside a New Sewickley house on Saturday afternoon. Police were called to the 400 block of Klein Road around 2 p.m. Saturday. The first officers on scene encountered...
Pittsburgh police seek info on missing Sheraden twins
Pittsburgh Police detectives are seeking information to help locate missing 12-year-old twin brothers who were last seen on Saturday. Police said Kam and Karter Winesickle left their home on Stanhope Street in Pittsburgh’s Sheraden neighborhood at 5 p.m. Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or 412-323-7800....
Pooches parade through downtown Greensburg for ‘Summer in the City’Video
It was a little damp on the paws Saturday morning, but that didn’t stop plenty of dog owners and downtown shoppers from dropping by Greensburg’s Summer in the City celebration at the Pitt-Penn parking lot on South Pennsylvania Avenue. From a doggie photo booth to a dunk tank, the lot...
Turnpike, PennDOT officials expand pollinator habitats, will include Irwin interchange
Pennsylvania Turnpike and state transportation officials are hoping to brighten the roadside, boost the local pollinator population and spark the public’s interest in planting native species for critical pollinating wildlife like bees and butterflies. Officials have overseen more than 40 acres of pilot planting, with an additional 25 acres in...
Franklin Regional adopts 2023-24 budget with 2-mill tax hike
Franklin Regional school directors approved a $66.6 million budget for the 2023-24 school year that includes a 2-mill tax hike. The budget will bring in $66.27 million in projected revenue. In the past few years, district officials have offset budget gaps using money earmarked to fund annual state-mandated increases in...
House near Murrysville’s Pedora Park will be demolished
Murrysville officials have begun the process to try and demolish a long-abandoned property near Pedora Park. Council members voted unanimously to designate the residence at 6283 Old William Penn Highway as a blighted structure. “This isn’t a fixer-upper,” code enforcement officer Nick Ruffner said. The property was posted as being...
Murrysville area: ‘Pioneer for a Day,’ upcoming library programs, local live music and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Woman’s club elects new officers The Murrysville Woman’s Club elected its 2023-24 officers during a scholarship luncheon held at the Greensburg Country Club. New officers are President Jan Bollinger, First Vice President Barb Breitenstein, Second Vice President Beverly Bella, Secretary Bonnie Sheridan,...
Murrysville, Plum officials deal with injection well issues
There are multiple injection well operations and appeals of operations in the communities of Plum and neighboring Murrysville. Plum officials are appealing the decision of their own zoning hearing board, which approved a second injection well in the borough. The Sedat injection well has been in operation since late spring...
Injection rejection: Indiana County community pushes back against fracking residue well
When Judy Wanchisn was a few years into her fight to stop operation of a fracking injection well in her neighborhood, several people asked why she didn’t just move. “This is our family homestead,” she said, gesturing to the house and small building adjacent to her home on Sebring Road...
Westmoreland 250: 10 unique things in Murrysville
(Editor’s note: To mark Westmoreland County’s 250th birthday this year, we’ve come up with a list of 250 things — 10 things in 25 communities — that we consider to be important to the makeup of our area. This series will appear each week through December. If you have a...

