Penn-Trafford Star category, Page 73

Westmoreland County lost five of its top administrators this year through resignations and retirements, creating what one official called a “brain drain” in local government. The latest to leave was Amanda Bernard, who resigned as the county’s human resources director in late August to take a similar job with a...

Forty-two wins, 33 shutouts, 15 goals allowed. The numbers speak for themselves at Franklin Regional, where the boys soccer program has put together quite a two-year run. The Panthers have all but monopolized the space on stingy defense with a deliberate style of play that, paired with some exceptional homegrown...

Churchill Daniel Gardner sold property at 1914 Hampstead Drive to Kevin and Paige Strasbaugh for $254,000. Delmont James Harry sold property at 324 Abbe Place to Bradley Van Hyning and Courtney Milne for $164,900. Forest Hills Arlene Hayek sold property at 236 Cascade Road to Yevgeniy Shrayber and Vanessa Veltre...

The Birdie has been asked to social distance before so the concept is not altogether new to the local prep football expert. “More than 6 feet, usually,” he said. “More like six football fields. Sometimes I wonder if people don’t really like me.” Even before covid-19 wrapped its claws around...

Westmoreland County will hire as many as 1,800 poll workers for election day. Elections Bureau Director JoAnn Sebastiani said recruiting has been underway for the last several weeks to have each of the county’s 307 voting precincts fully staffed on Nov. 3. “We’re going to take as many poll workers...

For the first time, audits from the Westmoreland County Controller’s Office are available online. Controller Jeffrey Balzer said financial reports compiled by his staff will be made public, a departure from past practices that required formal requests under the state’s open records laws to review the department findings. “I have...

Skill, speed, depth and potential. All typical traits of a Penn-Trafford football team heading into a new season. Seemingly, every season. Coach John Ruane rarely has a void to fill as he and his staff groom players each year to replace current standouts — a focus on today with an...

Pennsylvania’s hemp farmers will be able to get this year’s crop tested at six medical marijuana testing labs, including one in Trafford, the state announced Thursday. The move is a partnership between the state Department of Agriculture and Department of Health to give farmers more testing options. The law requires...

Trib Total Media is dedicated to serving communities throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania by delivering the news that readers want and information they need in a format that best suits their lifestyles. Earlier this year, Trib Total Media launched a new website for the Penn-Trafford Star, thepenn-traffordstar.com. Thepenn-traffordstar.com provides the news and...

Westmoreland County will spend an additional $350,000 to beef up its ability to hold an election and count votes this fall. Commissioners on Wednesday approved a contract with a private mailing company in Cleveland to send ballots to voters, and finalized a deal with the Nebraska-based firm to test touch-screen...

When officials first asked Mary Perez to consider applying for the job of Penn Township’s secretary-manager, her answer was firm. “They had originally asked me if I would be interested, and I originally said ‘absolutely not,’” Perez said. “My comfort zone is finance.” Perez served as the township’s finance director...

Members of Westmoreland County’s Prison Board plan to explore an expanded program that allows for additional court hearings by video. Common Pleas President Judge Rita Hathaway and court administrators lobbied the board to buy new equipment that will double the number of hearings conducted remotely to ensure safety of defendants...

President Donald Trump will make a campaign stop Thursday in Unity, according to his campaign website. Trump is scheduled to speak at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport at 7 p.m. Doors open at 4 p.m. “It’s really exciting to see him coming back into the county, he did so well there....

Churchill Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency sold property at 2400 Greensburg Pike to Ahmed and Arafat Arafat for $82,500. Estate of Marilyn Fredland Lampl sold property at 149 Thornberry Drive to William Fuller Jr. and Cherylie A Blair Fuller for $189,900. Delmont Ronald Glover sold property at 541 Athena Drive to...

After months of struggling to regain lost revenues after foot traffic was essentially choked off at malls across the country, mall owner CBL Properties announced a restructuring plan that could lead to a bankruptcy filing in the coming months. The Chattanooga, Tenn.-based company, which owns Monroeville and Westmoreland malls, is...

Visitation for inmates at the Westmoreland County Prison will be restricted to video only through September under a agreement approved Thursday by county commissioners. Commissioners approved an amendment to its agreement with Global Tel-Link Corp., the private company that operates the telephone system at the jail in Hempfield. Warden John...

About two dozen Westmoreland County residents criticized county commissioner’s Chairman Sean Kertes Thursday for comments he made during a political rally last weekend they claim denigrated the county’s younger population. “Here you are Sean Kertes, sowing division based on age, economic standing, race and political affiliation. I get it …...

Penn-Trafford School District students returned to school Thursday — or at least, most of them did. The district originally planned to have a full reopening, but changed course earlier this month to meet state coronavirus guidelines. Students in grades K-8 will attend school as normal, but have the first seven...

The first annual Norwin Elks Summerfest featuring live bands on the lawn was held Sunday, Aug. 23 at the Elks lodge, 135 Elks Lane in Manor. Concert-goers seated on blankets and lawn chairs were treated to live afternoon performances by William Dell & the Wee Jams, The Fabulous Gemtones and...

A portion of Westmoreland County’s local bus service, slowed because of the coronavirus pandemic, will be restored in September. Westmoreland County Transit Authority Executive Director Alan Blahovec said that an informal survey of riders determined an interest in added public transportation for routes around the county. Specifics about which routes...

As traditional schools weed through reopening plans that largely include at least some online learning, career and technical centers across the region grapple with how to maintain predominately hands-on classes while keeping students and staff safe. Several of the 16 career and technical centers that cater to high school students...

North Huntingdon Christopher Langlais sold property at 9970 Buckingham Place to Freedom Mortgage Corp. for $2,041. RWS Land Co. Inc. sold property at 353 Durst Road to Brandon and Katie Rose Grant for $389,900. Melissa Beckner sold property at 998 Fieldstone Drive to Dana and Terra Hodge for $215,000. IV...

Despite not receiving state aid for hazard pay for frontline workers, a McCandless-based nonprofit will give its employees at 140 community group homes across the region an extra $3 an hour until late October — an initiative that will cost the company about $2 million. Passavant Memorial Homes Family of...