Murrysville Star category, Page 111
Murrysville equine center hosts meditation sessions with horsesVideo
After two decades of serving as manager for nearly 60 horses at the Rock Creek Park Horse Center in Washington, D.C., it would seem like managing four horses would be a breeze for Amber Power. “I had 45 people on staff at Rock Creek Park,” the Murrysville resident said as...
Sean Parnell, GOP challenger to Conor Lamb, gets high-profile speaking slot at RNCVideo
Murrysville native and former Army Ranger Sean Parnell, the GOP challenger seeking to unseat U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, scored a primetime speaking slot on the first night of the Republican National Convention. Parnell, 39, a former platoon leader in Afghanistan who recently moved from Cranberry to Ohio Township, said he’s...
Technical schools grapple with hands-on learning as classes resume during pandemic
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...
Murrysville area real estate transactions for the week of Aug. 23
Manor James Martin sold property at 121 Birchwood Way to Brian and Jamie Lehneke for $293,000. Murrysville Barbara Ann Zimmers sold property at Unknown Address to Robert DeTorre Jr. and Tracey Frawley for $194,900. Janet Scarton sold property at 3117 Antheo Ct to Paul and Kathleen Serago for $120,500. Maureen...
Trump supporters rally in Murrysville as Wendy Bell headlines opening of ‘2020 Trump Victory Center’Video
Around 250 people gathered in Murrysville at a car dealership under construction Saturday morning to show their support for the reelection of President Donald Trump and to celebrate the opening of the nearby Murrysville Export Republican Committee’s “2020 Trump Victory Center.” Trump 2020 flags, T-shirts, buttons and signs floated around...
Westmoreland Cleanways rejoins area sites offering electronics recycling
Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling will resume collection of electronics for recycling on Monday at its site near Pleasant Unity, in Unity Township. Electronics such as televisions, computer-related items and printers may be dropped off during the center’s regular operating hours: noon to 5 p.m. Mondays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m....
Passavant Memorial Homes extends extra pay when state rejects bid for aid
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...
Citing pandemic concerns, Greensburg bishop to offer public farewell in a virtual Mass
Citing the ongoing public health threat of the coronavirus, Bishop Edward C. Malesic will make his public farewell to the diocese’s 138,000 Roman Catholics in a virtual Mass. Officials with the Greensburg Diocese said Friday the Mass will be livestreamed at 3 p.m. Aug. 30 from Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in...
Sardis Road reopens in Murrysville following crash near municipal buildingVideo
Emergency crews transported a female patient from the scene of a one-car crash late Friday morning on Sardis Road in Murrysville. The crash, which was reported shortly before 11:30 a.m. near the Murrysville municipal building, involved an SUV which struck the guard rail before getting stuck on it, according to...
State hands out $50 million for $3/hour raises for frontline workers
Pennsylvania’s process for determining which companies with frontline workers in the battle against covid-19 will be reimbursed for hiking their workers’ wages by up to $3 an hour through late October has left some health care companies wondering how the decisions were made. “There’s not really a rhyme nor reason”...
Trees blamed for record power outages across Pennsylvania in 2019, state commission says
The 52 power outages reported across Pennsylvania in 2019 marked a record high since the state Public Utility Commission began collecting reliability data 27 years ago, the agency reported. The “reportable outage events,” mainly caused by severe thunderstorms that downed trees, interrupted service to about 2 million customers statewide, according...
Black Lives Matter protest, march in Greensburg planned for Thursday evening
A protest planned for Thursday evening in Greensburg sent local police into short-notice preparation mode in the morning after learning about it through social media. The event is billed as a Black Lives Matter protest that will start at 6 p.m. at the Westmoreland County courthouse, followed by a three-block...
En plein air: Crabtree sunflower field inspires outdoor painting session for local artists
Crabtree, part of Westmoreland County’s rural landscape, is a long way from Italy and its country vistas of vineyards and olive groves. But it didn’t seem that way for some area artists on Wednesday. “It’s beautiful; it looks like Tuscany out here,” said art instructor Doreen Currie of Unity while...
Annual fire prevention night at Westmoreland Mall canceled due to covid-19
The 25th annual Fire Prevention Night hosted by Hempfield has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The event typically draws more than 500 people, and about 80 area fire departments are represented. The event is presented by the Hempfield Township Fire Department’s 12 stations and firefighters from Greensburg, South...
Murrysville scales back capital project plans amid pandemic’s financial effects
The effects of the covid-19 pandemic have thrown budgets of all types into upheaval, and Murrysville is no exception. On Wednesday night, Finance Director Diane Heming detailed how the municipality’s five-year capital-improvement plan was scaled back in light of pandemic-related financial projections, including a sharp decline in state money raised...
School districts tweak reopening plans again to require full-time mask use
Districts across the region again are amending reopening plans after the state released additional guidance this week. Students attending in-person classes now are required to wear face coverings at all times while in school with few exceptions, according to the state education and health departments. The changes are based on...
Principals in alleged drug smuggling at Westmoreland County Prison ordered to trial
When investigators listened in on inmates’ telephone calls during an 18-month probe into alleged drug smuggling at the Westmoreland County Prison, they often heard inmates referring to “spicy chicken,” “deuce” or “papers.” But the conversations weren’t referring to food, card games or legal paperwork. It was code that a delivery...
Pa. Supreme Court delays considering appeal of former Westmoreland Sheriff Jonathan Held
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court put on hold the appeal of Westmoreland County’s former sheriff, who is seeking the dismissal of two criminal offenses related to allegations of public corruption. The court this week said it will delay a decision on whether it will consider the appeal in the pending case...
Community groups can now mail naloxone under new Pa. standing order
Naloxone can now be mailed by community groups to anyone who wants the opioid overdose antidote under an updated standing order. State Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine signed the updated order Tuesday that makes the change to allow for easier access while restrictions are in place related to the...
Pennsylvania troopers take on roles helping communities, police with racially charged crimes
Two Pennsylvania state troopers with a penchant for connecting communities with police officers are taking on full-time roles that will entrench them in the local area. Greensburg native Cpl. Aaron Allen and Trooper Ismail El-Guemra of the Carlisle area will work with community groups, police agencies and local residents in...
Pa. parole violators may be considered for ‘safe return’ through Sept. 4
Pennsylvania parole absconders will be given an 11-day window to voluntarily turn themselves beginning next week to receive a better chance of staying out of prison. The state Department of Corrections and the Parole Board on Tuesday announced a statewide Safe Return Initiative. The program will be offered Aug. 24...
13 new coronavirus cases reported in Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County saw 13 new cases of covid-19 added to its total Tuesday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported. The new cases make a total of 1,640 cases in the county since the virus was first reported there March 20. Of those cases, 1,591 are confirmed, 49 are considered probable....
Owners of Live! Casino Pittsburgh release online gaming site prior to casino opening
A new online gaming site will give a “sneak peek” into two casinos being built on opposite ends of Pennsylvania, including one under construction at Westmoreland Mall. PlayLive!, which launched this week, features more than 100 gaming options, including classic slots and table games, along with online-only titles and jackpot...
Westmoreland leaders mull solutions to accommodate expected volume of mail-in ballots
Additional opportunities for Westmoreland County’s mail-in voters this fall are being considered as local officials plan for potential slowdowns related to budget cuts at the U.S. Postal Service. Commissioners said Monday no plans have been finalized, but they might consider creating satellite elections bureau locations to allow voters another option...
In-person visits to resume at county-owned Westmoreland Manor in Hempfield
No additional staffers or residents of Westmoreland Manor have tested positive for coronavirus since last month, so in-person visitation at the county-owned nursing home in Hempfield could begin in two weeks, officials said Monday. In-person outdoor visits were suspended in late July, the same week they started, when officials learned...
