Patrick Varine stories, Page 113

Four people suffered minor injuries in a multi-car accident involving 12 crashes on I-376 near the Squirrel Hill Tunnels on Thursday night. The westbound lanes of the Parkway East were shut down for a half-hour as state police began their investigation of the crash, according to Tpr. Melissa Bondarenka. The...

Upcoming public meetings The following public meetings will take place in the Star’s coverage area in the coming weeks: • Franklin Regional school board, 7:30 p.m., Nov. 9. Meetings are streamed online at YouTube.com/user/FranklinRegionalSD. • Delmont council, 7 p.m., Nov. 10 at the borough building, 77 Greensburg St. • Franklin...

While nearly 50,000 mail-in ballots from Westmoreland voters have been returned to the county’s Election Bureau, a number of residents have not received the mail-in or absentee ballot they requested. County officials said as of Wednesday, 71,852 of 74,648 ballots had been delivered to the U.S. Postal Service to be...

A federal grand jury has indicted a New Kensington man accused of taking money intended for a Veterans Administration beneficiary and using it to buy a diamond ring and a truck and make payments on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said Wednesday. Andrew Ziacik, 57, of Earl Avenue,...

All Highlands High School students will learn remotely through next Friday, Nov. 6, because officials said a covid-19 case resulted in a “significant” number of required quarantines. The move to all remote learning took effect Thursday. “The high school building will be closed and all after-school activities that are scheduled...

A Homestead man whose June car crash led to the death of a Jefferson Hills police officer has been arraigned on three homicide-related charges, borough police Chief Gene Roach said Wednesday. Zachary W. Foltz, 23, of Homestead was taken into custody and arraigned Wednesday on charges of homicide by vehicle,...

One person was injured after a car exited Route 66, jumped a guardrail and crashed into a Delmont chiropractor’s office on Wednesday afternoon. Delmont VFD Chief Don Cline said a female driver on Route 66 hit a pick-up truck, jumped the guardrail at the Greensburg Street intersection and crashed through...

For years, schools in the Franklin Regional School District would operate a program helping out less-fortunate families during the holiday season. Through school counselors, families in need would be identified and through fundraising, would be provided with gifts . Just a little more than a mile west down Old William...

The Norwin area, which has a population of about 35,000, has had 584 confirmed cases of coronavirus since the pandemic hit the region in March, up from 356 cases on Oct. 12, according to state Department of Health data released Monday. The rise in cases in the Norwin area —...

The most recent state data shows 300 people in the Penn-Trafford Star’s coverage area have had confirmed cases of coronavirus since the start of the international pandemic in March, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The health department on Monday released data on confirmed cases of the virus in...

The most recent state data shows just over 200 people in the Murrysville Star’s coverage area have had confirmed cases of coronavirus since the start of the pandemic in March, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The confirmed cases show an increase of 42 since Oct. 12. The health...

John Pergal is in a difficult situation. Pergal owns the Thunderbird Cafe & Music Hall in Lawrenceville, and is part of the ownership group for the Roxian Theater in McKees Rocks. Both buildings are usually filled with the sounds of music and the sight of dancing crowds enjoying their favorite...

Some people have collections. Larry Bard of Manor might better described as someone with a collection of collections. From milk bottles and coffee tins to Bugs Bunny and ‘ALF’ memorabilia, Bard and his wife, Verdine, have filled their home — and a separate building, and basically just about any available...

Developers are responding to an indication by Murrysville Council that the community needs more housing options for older residents. Council held a public hearing for Hillstone Village, a 42-home planned residential development at the intersection of Harrison City-Export and Claridge roads. “At the last (comprehensive) plan discussion, it was mentioned...

As officials from Dedicated Nursing Associates prepare to begin developing a multi-phase project off Route 22 in southeastern Murrysville, they are proposing to realign Wilson Road. They say they want to better accommodate traffic from the town homes, office complex and restaurant they want to build near the intersection of...

Bishop David Zubik of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh said Pope Francis’ tacit endorsement of civil unions between same-sex couples is a reflection of his call for all people to be treated with dignity and love. In a statement released Wednesday, Zubik said Pope Francis’ recent comments “reflect his pastoral...

A New Stanton man was killed following a multi-vehicle crash along Interstate 70 that sent multiple people to area hospitals Wednesday evening, officials said. Deputy Coroner Joshua Zappone Thursday morning identified Dillon Walton, 27, as the person killed in the crash that occurred near Smithton. The crash, which was reported...

The Franklin Regional Senior High School band will host its annual fruit sale now through Oct. 30, with online orders continuing through Nov. 4. Place an order through any band or band front member or by using the fruit sale link at FRBand.com. Fruit will be delivered Dec. 5. Proceeds...

Here’s a few upcoming events in the Star’s coverage area: Franklin Regional band will host fruit sale The Franklin Regional Senior High School band will host its annual fruit sale now through Oct. 30, with online orders continuing through Nov. 4. Place an order through any band or band-front member...

Westmoreland Conservation District officials had nothing but praise for Murrysville, the first collective entity — as opposed to an individual or group — to earn its annual Conservation Partnership Award. “Murrysville’s leadership and citizens are very progressive, and they’ve led the way with a lot of conservation ‘firsts’ — installing...

The Franklin Regional school board is accepting letters of interest for a new member, after officially accepting the resignation of Director Gary English earlier this month. The board has 30 days to appoint a new member to fill English’s seat, and did not take any action to fill it Monday...

An additional seven guards and nine inmates have tested positive for coronavirus at the Westmoreland County Prison in Hempfield, bringing the total to 11 guards and 45 inmates. The courts have halted transfer of inmates to the courthouse in Greensburg, according to county Solicitor Melissa Guiddy. “All inmates will appear...

The Paiano family of Murrysville knows a bit about firefighting. Before spending 28 of his 35 firefighting years as president at Sardis Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, Joseph Paiano Sr. learned about the long hours and sacrifice of the job through his father. When Paiano is at the station these...

For about a decade, animal enthusiasts have gathered the first Sunday of the month at Tractor Supply in Delmont for the chicken swap. The agriculture chain has held the swaps at locations across the country for years. But when the coronavirus pandemic hit, they slowly began dwindling. “Since covid hit,...