Murrysville Star category, Page 33
Franklin Regional moves on to 3A wrestling semis with pair of convincing wins
Franklin Regional wrestling coach Matt Lebe paced back-and-forth in front of his match early in his team’s WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal-round showdown against Latrobe. The No. 3-ranked Panthers lost the first two bouts against No. 4 Wildcats on Wednesday, and they had their coach nervous. But the feisty Panthers (18-0)...
Franklin Regional board, residents debate proposal termed ‘stealth Buddhism’ by former board member
An emotional wellness curriculum given initial approval in Franklin Regional School District was described by a former school board member as “stealth Buddhism” during a recent debate over whether the district should use it. It’s called Mind Up, and it aims to help strengthen students’ ability to regulate emotion, focus...
Iconic Volkswagen ‘bug on a pole’ will remain at new Murrysville Auto Sales location
Michael Pampena of Murrysville still uses the Volkswagen “bug on a pole” on Route 66 in Salem to navigate and give directions. Now, it marks the new entrance to his business. Pampena and his wife, Tia, relocated Murrysville Auto Sales to the former Excel Auto Body on Route 66, and...
Franklin Regional boys avoid close call with Kiski Area this time
At the start of January, Franklin Regional and Kiski Area clashed at the home of the Cavaliers in a game that saw the home team evaporate a 23-point deficit to take a late lead. But the Panthers’ Cam Rowell sank a late shot to prevent the collapse. In Round 2...
Franklin Regional girls improve playoff positioning, beat Kiski Area
The Franklin Regional girls basketball team strengthened its position for a shot at a WPIAL playoff spot Monday with a 53-38 victory over Kiski Area in a Section 1-5A matchup. The Panthers won their third in a row, adding the win over the Cavaliers to a close section triumph over...
Franklin Regional grad Garrett Thompson making a name for himself with Ohio U wrestling
Throughout his time as a wrestler, Franklin Regional grad Garrett Thompson said he mostly had been an unknown. He never qualified for the PIAA championships in high school, and his college recruiting prospects, at least where bigger schools were concerned, were almost nonexistent. So before this, his redshirt sophomore season...
East suburban real estate transactions, week of Jan. 28, 2024
Oakmont Richard Clements sold property at 733 Fir Way to Jeana and Jericho Hilling for $99,075. Penn Hills Emily Duda sold property at 238 Hazel Road to SFR Workforce Owner LLC for $135,000. Richard Terrien sold property at 625 Idaho Ave. to Marsha Jean and Michael Francis Santucci for $205,000....
Gerald McGinnis, Respironics founder who invented CPAP machine, dies at 89
Thanks to Gerald McGinnis, millions of people across the world can breathe easier. The international businessman and founder of Respironics, which created the first machine to treat sleep apnea, died Thursday. He was 89. McGinnis was born in 1934 in Ottawa, Ill. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering...
Franklin Regional finds another gear in overtime to get past Penn-Trafford
Franklin Regional needed its leader to find another gear, and that’s what Cooper Rankin did. The senior guard scored 10 of his 26 points in overtime Friday night to power the fourth-ranked Panthers to their third straight victory, a 63-58 decision over visiting Penn-Trafford in Section 3-5A boys basketball. “I...
Perry Mason, Abraham Lincoln inspired Charles Conway as lawyer, Export-area district judge
Charles Conway’s retirement didn’t last long. After nearly a quarter-century on the bench as magistrate in Export, Conway retired last month. But he’s already had the gavel back in his hand as he filled in for his successor, Judi Petrush, during part of last week. “When I was a kid,...
Murrysville area: Social media series, MMA fights, comedy-night fundraiser and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Church program explores social media Newlonsburg Presbyterian Church staff will host a series focused on the impact of social media, beginning Feb. 19. It will take place at 5:45 p.m. on Monday evenings through March 25, using Sadie Robertson Huff’s book, “Who...
Nick White approved as Franklin Regional boys soccer coach
Nick White was approved Monday as the boys soccer coach at Franklin Regional. White replaces Lukas Petersen, who resigned after two seasons. Franklin Regional finished 12-9 last season and made a run to the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals after a 2-1 victory over No. 3 seeded Moon. The Panthers were...
East suburban real estate transactions, week of Jan. 21, 2024
ALLEGHENY COUNTY Chalfant Barbara Hanowich sold property at 200 Wilkins Ave. to Arthur and Darnella Williams for $169,900. Forest Hills Charles Destro sold property at 134 Avenue F to Deborah Rogers for $215,000. Arlyn Florkey sold property at 28 Hillcrest Road to Erus Holdings LLC for $78,702. Bala Lemak sold...
Westinghouse volunteers set $43K donation record through ‘Feed the Hungry’ program
Retirees and former employees of the Westinghouse corporation who want to commit to volunteer service can join the Service Uniting Retired Employees nonprofit, or SURE group, which has been cultivating community service projects for more than three decades. SURE’s latest “Feed the Hungry” campaign marked its 10th year, and donors...
Franklin Regional’s Juliano Marion wins consecutive tournaments; Coach to be inducted into HOF
Franklin Regional senior Juliano Marion didn’t let a loss to Ringgold senior Jake Conroy get him down earlier this month. Instead, it inspired him to work harder and get better. Marion spent the past two weekends winning tournaments — Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association and Mid-Winter Mayhem. “It’s pretty impressive to...
Franklin Regional boys win 2OT thriller over Shaler
Uncle Kevin would have been proud. Of a thrilling Franklin Regional win. Of a runaway second overtime by the Panthers in a playoff-like atmosphere. And most of all, of his nephew’s big shot. Franklin Regional guard Fin Hutchison lost his uncle, Kevin Sebunia, who lived three houses down from the...
Murrysville area: Comedy night fundraiser, Mardi Gras celebration, library tax help and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Comedy night will benefit trail projects An evening of stand-up comedy next month will benefit Westmoreland Heritage Trail and Five Star Trail projects. It will be from 6-10 p.m. Feb. 10 at Colton Hall, 3100 Blocks Road in Penn Township’s Claridge neighborhood....
$1.8 million winning lottery ticket sold in Murrysville
Pennsylvania Lottery officials will stop in Murrysville Friday morning to present a $1.8 million check to a recent Cash 5 winner. Highway foreman Dennis O’Neill, 55, of Monroeville, purchased the winning ticket on New Year’s Eve at the Murrysville Shop’n Save. O’Neill told lottery officials he plans to continue working...
Franklin Regional wrestling rallies to defeat Norwin, clinch section title
The Franklin Regional wrestling team used a late surge to stay unbeaten and win the Section 3-3A title Wednesday by defeating Norwin in a first-place showdown. The Panthers (4-0, 15-0) got a pin from senior heavyweight Juliano Marion and three decision wins by their lightweights to rally for a 29-19...
East suburban real estate transactions, week of Jan. 18, 2024
ALLEGHENY COUNTY Churchill Joseph Tomlinson sold property at 145 Kings Dale Road to Jalen and Kayla Thomas for $330,000. Monroeville Curillio Paul Caliari sold property at 1592 Lynn Ave. to DS Invest LLC for $35,000. NCRC House Rehab FD LLC sold property at 2118 Monroeville Road to Bradan Tinstman and...
‘Monticello Lights’ raises more than $24,000 for charity, Delmont recreation board
It was indeed a happy new year for both the Delmont Recreation Board and the organizers of the annual Project Bundle Up, after both received checks for more than $12,000 from the Monticello Lights fundraiser in Delmont. Residents of the borough’s Monticello neighorhood have held the decorating contest since 2020,...
Franklin Regional hockey looking to finish strong after slow start
Franklin Regional’s hockey team has made runs at the PIHL Class 2A titles the past few seasons, and the Panthers have their eyes set on another trek to the postseason. After a 1-4 start to the 2023-24 season, the Panthers have turned things around and won seven of the past...
‘R&R’ duo fills highlight reels, leads Franklin Regional to strong start
Franklin Regional caught the attention of local boys basketball fans with its 10-1 start. The Panthers’ run has a lot to do with the play of a formidable tandem made up of seniors Cam Rowell and Cooper Rankin. The “R&R” duo has been fun to watch and helped elevate the...
Gateway boys use defense to get past Franklin Regional in section showdown
This Gateway boys basketball team is inherently defensive and plays a halfcourt style with goals steeped in fundamentals and a touch of grit. The idea is to grind opponents down and make them work, then run lengthy sets and take care of the ball on the other end of the...
Delmont starts calculating how to implement stormwater authority fees
Delmont officials were already behind the eight ball a bit when it came to stormwater. The borough is a party to two state consent orders, one that specifically addresses stormwater making its way into the borough’s sewage system. In addition, its status as a borough meant there were some extra...
