Murrysville Star category, Page 29
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Franklin Regional’s Linzi Shaffer
At Franklin Regional, there’s a young gymnast who’s had a ton of success this year. Her name is Linzi Shaffer, and for a sport that often gets overlooked, gymnastics is anything but easy. She’s a member of the Elegant Elite Gymnastics team in Delmont, an organization she’s been with for...
Cooper to face Republican challenger in 55th District primary
First-term state legislator Jill Cooper will face a primary challenge from a fellow Murrysville Republican this month. Cooper, 62, elected in 2022, will compete for the 55th District seat against Jamie Lingg, 50, who is in her first term on Murrysville Council. “There’s just some fundamental things that we’re not...
East suburban real estate transactions, week of April 14, 2024
ALLEGHENY COUNTY Chalfant Julie Molyneaux sold property at 931 Greensburg Pike to SRK Real Properties L.P. for $160,000. Churchill Marie Hickam sold property at 2321 Forest Drive to Jane Molina for $155,000. Edgewood Kitchen & Bath Experts LLC sold property at 209 Lincoln Ave. to Jordan Sheets and Alaina Leblanc...
Lacrosse a family affair for coaching staffs at Franklin Regional
Anna Stephens Lauer is in her first season as head coach of the Franklin Regional girls lacrosse team. She doesn’t have to look too far for coaching advice. Her brother, Luke Stephens, is the Franklin Regional boys lacrosse coach, while another brother, Ben, is a boys’ assistant and her dad,...
Franklin Regional notebook: Kegerreis brothers find college baseball landing spots
Franklin Regional’s Kegerreis brothers made a lasting impression when they played for the Panthers. When the team needed an extra-base hit, maybe a home run, they often came through. While both went off to play college baseball, they redirected their path at the next level. Freshman Louie Kegerreis, who hit...
Delmont nonprofit wants to honor local gunsmith, highlight local history through plaques
A gunsmith who helped cement the rifle’s place in American history and two of Delmont’s landmarks will be adorned with plaques from the local historical society, if fundraising plans are successful. Jacob Earnest was born near Greensburg, and as an adult lived in the large brick house that today is...
Monroeville insurance agent accused of taking $60K from clients
A Monroeville insurance agent is accused of taking $60,000 from customers by offering services that didn’t exist, according to Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry. Henry announced felony and misdemeanor theft and fraud charges Friday against Chad G. Skena, 47, of Monroeville. Skena, who operates an insurance agency in his name,...
Price tag for Franklin Regional’s Heritage Elementary demolition edges upward
The cost for the demolition of Franklin Regional’s Heritage Elementary School is going up after more asbestos was found that needs to be removed. In 2022, the cost of the project jumped from an estimated $400,000 to more than $1 million following the discovery of asbestos in the original roof...
East suburban real estate transactions, week of April 7, 2024
ALLEGHENY COUNTY Churchill Susanne Steving sold property at 34 Barton Drive to Elaine Rachelle Wilson for $187,000. Tanner Yocca sold property at 1046 Black Forest Drive to Daniel Festa and Emily Dahlin for $255,000. Edgewood Tiffany GP Inc. sold property at 409 Edgewood Ave. to Trevor and Emily Mauk for...
Despite roster changes, Franklin Regional track teams set sights on section titles
Franklin Regional track coach Bob Ralston was surprised when he heard sophomore Monroe Law, who was a freshman sensation, transferred to Class 2A Winchester Thurston before the season. But despite her departure — Ralston said he doesn’t know why Law transferred — he said the Panthers girls have enough talent...
Murrysville pizza restaurant on sale for $1.75 million
A Murrysville pizza restaurant that opened in 2020 along the Westmoreland Heritage Trail is up for sale. And where many restaurants go up for sale when times are tough, one of Ginny’s owners said their situation is the opposite. “It’s almost too busy,” said Chris Juricich. “We have four other...
Franklin Regional set to host public health, wellness fair
The Franklin Regional School District has a health services department. But when district officials began discussing ideas for a health and wellness fair, they decided to expand beyond the student body. The district’s April 29 community health fair will be open to the public, bringing more than 40 local health...
3rd generation Norvelt native will present town’s New Deal history
When word began circulating in the early 1930s that the government was creating a 250-lot New Deal community in Westmoreland County, some politicians and members of the region’s upper crust couldn’t understand it. “They didn’t see why the government was doing this for these coal miners, who they didn’t think...
Briefs: Murrysville torch run fund drive begins, dance with ‘stars’ of Export and more
Torch run donations The Murrysville Police Department is collecting donations for its annual Law Enforcement Torch Run team. Proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit Special Olympics Pennsylvania. This year’s Torch Run will be May 21-23, as more than 50 law enforcement running teams take turns carrying the Olympic torch roughly...
Murrysville council approves auto-body shop that has drawn neighbors’ anger
Dayne Dice summed up the unenviable position where he and his fellow Murrysville council members found themselves Wednesday night as they approved a proposal for an auto-body shop that has drawn the ire of hundreds of neighbors. “To me, voting ‘no’ tonight would feel really good but would not be...
Murrysville sportsmen’s group brings back annual youth fishing derby
The Sportsmen and Landowners Alliance of Murrysville is bringing back its youth fishing tournament after a four-year hiatus. The 2024 SLAM Youth Fishing Derby will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 18 along Haymaker’s Run in front of the Franklin Regional Intermediate School in Murrysville. “Right after the...
Franklin Regional hockey coach disappointed after being ousted
John Winebrenner holds no ill will toward the Franklin Regional Hockey Club board, but that doesn’t mean he agrees with its decision to open his position. Winebrenner, the Panthers’ coach since 2019, was told his time behind the bench is finished, a message that has him questioning why such a...
‘As a parent, it scares the hell out of me,’ Franklin Regional superintendent says of AI
Franklin Regional officials paused a proposed artificial intelligence summer student program after questions arose about its content. Inspirit AI is an eight-session summer program developed and taught by graduates of Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT. “Students will learn the fundamental concepts of AI and gain...
Memorial fishing derby honors Murrysville boy on the first day of trout season
Parents and children took part Saturday in the annual Joey Gombosh Fishing Derby, at Townsend Park in Murrysville. The tournament is held in memory of Gombosh, a Murrysville resident and avid fisherman who died at age 15 when a virus attacked his heart....
Ex-Allegheny County detective pleads guilty to harassment in Export bar incident
A former Allegheny County detective pleaded guilty Monday to two summary harassment citations connected to an incident at an Export bar last year. Raymond Bonacci, 57, of McKeesport, was ordered to pay $362 in fines and costs, according to court records. The two harassment counts were filed last week when...
East suburban real estate transactions, week of April 4, 2024
ALLEGHENY COUNTY Forest Hills Estate of Marilyn O’Connor sold property at 4 Hillcrest Road to TLH TD Properties for $125,000. Katherine Opsitnick sold property at 321 Sharon Drive to Justin Pawlowski and Ashley Baskin for $281,950. Jupiter Financial Services LLC sold property at 231 Woodside Road to Nicholas and Sara...
Westmoreland community band members will help dedicate World War I memorial in D.C.
Westmoreland County’s five community bands regularly take an annual summer trip together, assembling a group that performs somewhere at their destination. This year, however, it will be delayed a month, so the bands can help dedicate the centerpiece of the World War I memorial in Washington, D.C. Members of the...
Community bands converge on Murrysville for free annual festival
A classic John Philip Sousa march. Variations on the “Scarborough Fair” theme. Music inspired by the “Lord of the Rings” books. Musicians from all over the Pittsburgh area will perform music from all over the map at the 18th annual Three Rivers Community Band Festival, set for April 6 in...
Franklin Regional’s Cam Rowell headlines TribLive Westmoreland boys basketball all-stars
Player of the Year Cam Rowell, Sr., G, Franklin Regional The state championship game looked like it was getting away from Franklin Regional. But just then, Cam Rowell growled. The senior guard took a pass from Colin Masten, who came up with a steal, and broke into the open court...
Residents concerned for Bernese Mountain Dogs seen wandering Murrysville since January
It’s not that easy to lose a Bernese Mountain Dog, at least from a visual standpoint. They can get up to 110 pounds, and the breed traces its lineage back, in part, to the ancient Roman mastiffs. The American Kennel Club characterizes them as loyal, calm and high-energy. Two Berneses...
