Patrick Varine stories, Page 180
Is Jeff Bridges teasing a new ‘Big Lebowski’ film?
Why is Jeff Bridges teasing a Feb. 3 announcement while dressed as cinema cult-classic icon Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski from the Coen Brothers’ 1998 film, “The Big Lebowski”? The Internet is certainly wild with speculation. February 3 is Super Bowl Sunday, and it would make perfect sense for Bridges to...
Greene County man faces attempted homicide charges in Fayette kidnapping, beating
A Greene County man is accused of attempted homicide, kidnapping and assault after police said he kept a man against his will and beat him with his fist, a belt and a gun over the course of several days, at a Fayette County residence where a murder was committed just...
Retired teacher’s book aims to preserve a snapshot of Westmoreland’s natural areas
Dick Byers of Stahlstown loves nature. The 81-year-old retired biology teacher has enjoyed the natural areas of Westmoreland County and the surrounding region for decades. While there are plenty of publications exploring the trails that crisscross the area, Byers was more interested in preserving a snapshot of what nature looks...
PennDOT crews respond to large crack in Penn Township road
Drivers headed through Penn Township should avoid Paintertown Road between Route 130 and Simpson Road, until PennDOT crews are able to address a slide that took place on Thursday morning. Police chief John Otto said police were notified about the road by a motorist shortly before 8 a.m. Thursday morning....
Parts of Flight 93 memorial remain open during federal government shutdown
While not all features are accessible at the Flight 93 memorial near Shanksville, visitors who want to honor the men and women who lost their lives Sept. 11, 2001, can still do so during the government shutdown. “Weather permitting, the gates were left open, so you can still come in...
Murrysville library will host speed-dating event… for books??
Murrysville library officials are hoping that patrons might be willing to take a stranger home, possibly even to bed — that is, if you enjoy reading before you fall asleep. The library will host “Speed Dating with a Book” on Feb. 9, where local officials will act as “matchmakers,” pitching...
Challenge to Murrysville fracking ordinance will continue Thursday
The citizens’ group challenging the validity of Murrysville’s fracking ordinance will be back before the municipality’s zoning hearing board on Thursday. The resident committee outlined its challenge before the board on Nov. 29. Murrysville council members voted 6-1 last year to approve their fracking ordinance, which they fine-tuned, re-examined and...
Mother of Sorrows will host open house to kick off Catholic Schools Week
To mark Catholic Schools Week in 2019, Mother of Sorrows School in Murrysville will host an open house that includes a preview of their spring musical, “Beauty & the Beast.” The open house will be from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Jan. 27 at the school, 3264 Evergreen Drive in...
Murrysville library to host local, county chess tournaments
Children in kindergarten through eighth grade are invited to compete in the 2019 Murrysville Community Library chess tournament March 2. The top winners won’t have to travel far, because the library at 4130 Sardis Road, will also play host to this year’s countywide finals. All tournaments are split into junior...
Indiana County man charged with manufacturing methamphetamine
A 39-year-old Indiana County man was charged with operating a meth lab out of his car after a traffic stop turned up what state police said was a “one-pot” method of methamphetamine production, and faces additional drug charges filed a few days later. Police pulled over Jeremy M. Clawson, 39,...
How did Western Pa. meme the winter storm that wasn’t?Video
We went out and bought bread. And milk. And all the street salt. And then … not so much. But at least Western Pennsylvania residents got some humor out of the fizzled-out forecast for last weekend’s winter storm. Once the local forecast became rain for good, the memes started coming...
Pitt students make a happy home for Humane Animal Rescue residents
Humane Animal Rescue officials hosted nearly 30 student volunteers at their East Shelter for a “Day of Service” in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The group of students was bussed to the Homewood shelter on Hamilton Avenue in the city’s East End, and spent hours decorating the windows...
Rotary seeking host clubs, families for exchange students
The Murrysville-Export Rotary Club is seeking host clubs and families for exchange students in the 2019-20 school year. Rotary Exchange students arrive in August and spend a year in a local high school. Many stay with up to three host families, each for a few months. Rotary Exchange students have...
Murrysville library welcomes new director Emma BeaverVideo
Emma Beaver will never forget her elementary school librarian. “She worked tirelessly to promote reading,” said Beaver, who took over as director at the Murrysville Community Library on Jan. 14. “It didn’t matter whether you liked reading, it was about bettering your life.” Beaver, 32, of Uniontown, comes to Murrysville...
PPG reaches $7.65 million health-benefit settlement with union retirees
A settlement between PPG and retirees from 13 of its facilities, including those from Springdale, Creighton, Ford City and Greensburg will mean an additional $7.65 million in medical benefits and continued health care coverage. A group of retirees filed suit against PPG in 2005 on behalf of past, current and...
Fencing classes start Jan. 29 in Murrysville
En garde! A Plum couple will begin their annual fencing classes at the end of the month in neighboring Murrysville. Deb Theriault and her husband, David, have been fencers for more than four decades now. They have taught the art for more than 35 years, and their classes will begin...
Criminal justice reform advocate will speak at Pitt-Greensburg
Criminal justice reform advocate and author Shaka Senghor will be the featured speaker Jan. 23 at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. Senghor is a best-selling author and award recipient for his work in advocating for prison reform and addressing the negative effects of the prison-industrial complex. He is also...
Murrysville library welcomes new director Emma BeaverVideo
Emma Beaver will never forget her elementary school librarian. “She worked tirelessly to promote reading,” said Beaver, who took over as director at the Murrysville Community Library on Jan. 14. “It didn’t matter whether you liked reading; it was about bettering your life.” Beaver, 32, of Uniontown comes to Murrysville...
Export welcomes new councilman Vince Harding
Vince Harding is the newest Export Borough councilman. Harding was sworn in at council’s Jan. 8 meeting. He replaces Ed Persin, who resigned halfway through his first full term in November. Harding will serve through 2019, and a two-year term will appear on the next primary election ballot. Patrick Varine...
Franklin Regional’s Piraino recognized as Pa. superintendent of the yearVideo
It was only fitting for Gennaro Piraino to be sitting at Saint Vincent College as he received recognition as the Pennsylvania School Administrator Association’s 2019 Superintendent of the Year. Originally slated for Harrisburg, poor weather moved the recognition luncheon to the Unity school, just a few miles from Piraino’s hometown...
New Medic One garage will bring all its equipment under one roof
Murrysville Medic One officials need a little more room, not for themselves but for their vehicles. The nonprofit emergency service took out a loan to build a new $500,000 garage behind its existing facility off Sardis Road. “Since the last addition to the Medic One building about 15 years ago,...
Clarion named Pa.’s River of the Year by public vote
The Clarion River, a tributary of the Allegheny, has been voted Pennsylvania’s 2019 River of the Year. The public was invited to vote online, choosing from among four waterways nominated across the state. Results were announced jointly on Wednesday by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and the...
‘Dining to Donate’ will raise funds for Murrysville library programs
Reading the Applebee’s menu — and ordering from it — on Jan. 22 will help keep local residents reading books and enjoying programs at the Murrysville Community Library. Applebee’s on William Penn Highway will donate 15 percent of sales from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. to the library as part...
Blackburn Center, Murrysville library to host program on human trafficking
It might be hard to imagine that something like human trafficking goes on in Westmoreland County. But human trafficking cases do not always involve international intrigue, with mysterious shipping containers hiding women who will be delivered into the hands of U.S. sex traffickers. Sometimes they are much simpler, though no...
’80s cover band Velveeta will headline Penn-Trafford baseball fundraiser
The Penn-Trafford 12U All-Star Baseball Team is looking to do some fundraising, and they’ve discovered a particularly “cheesy” way to do it. A Feb. 16 concert by 1980s cover band Velveeta will be at 7 p.m. in the Harrison City Volunteer Fire Department’s Harrison Room, 1010 Mill Street in Irwin....
