Megan Tomasic stories, Page 33
Covid cases temporarily close 2 Hempfield elementary schools
Two Hempfield Area elementary schools are closed Monday because of positive covid-19 cases, district officials said. Fort Allen and West Hempfield elementary schools shuttered after cases were reported among staff and students, according to Superintendent Tammy Wolicki. District leaders announced Fort Allen’s closure Friday after an additional student tested positive...
Prop bets add fun, whimsy to Super Bowl wagering, though Pa. law limits the fun
Pennsylvanians might not be able to legally bet on what color the Gatorade will be dumped on the winning team’s coach or the length of the National Anthem, but many people likely will make other proposition bets offered during Sunday’s Super Bowl. Prop bets, or side wagers, allow people to...
Week in review: Top election official resigns, covid vaccines and Iron City BeerVideo
Pennsylvania’s top election official announced her resignation after the agency made a mistake that will delay a statewide vote on whether survivors of decades-old sexual abuse should be able to sue the perpetrators and institutions that covered up the crimes. Secretary Kathy Boockvar resigned Friday, , Gov. Tom Wolf announced...
Western Pennsylvania sportsbooks bracing for Super Bowl action
The Steelers might not be in the Super Bowl this year, but that’s not stopping Pittsburghers from placing wagers on which team might take home the Vince Lombardi trophy. Bets are rolling in at local casinos ahead of Sunday’s game pitting the favored Kansas City Chiefs (-3, at most sportsbooks)...
Lt. Gov. John Fetterman files statement of candidacy for possible U.S. Senate run
Lt. Gov. John Fetterman has taken further steps toward finalizing a possible bid for Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate seat that will be open in the 2022 election. While he has not formally announced his bid for the seat, Fetterman, 51, filed a statement of candidacy this week with the Federal Election...
Burgettstown man faces homicide charges, accused of beating 3-year-old boy who later died
Police have filed homicide charges against a Burgettstown man in connection with the alleged beating death of a 3-year-old boy in Coraopolis. Aiden Lombardi was pronounced dead late Wednesday night, according to a report from the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. The office indicated he died from head trauma, and...
Covid cases prompt Hempfield elementary school to close for remainder of the week
A Hempfield Area elementary school is closed temporarily after two students tested positive for covid-19, district leaders announced this week. West Point Elementary School was closed Wednesday. Students will receive remote instruction until the school reopens Monday. According to a letter from Superintendent Tammy Wolicki, the school is closed for...
Pittsburgh police issue warning after almost 50 vehicles stolen in city last monthVideo
Pittsburgh police have issued a warning after they said almost 50 vehicles were reported stolen in the city last month. At least 16 vehicles were left running and unoccupied with the keys inside, police said. Of those, seven were left unattended by people warming up their vehicles due to cold...
Life during covid: Greensburg Salvation Army leader continues lifeline to those who seek it
Editor’s note: This is an occasional series examining how the coronavirus pandemic has affected the lives of members of our community. Ashley Luzader knows the toll the covid-19 pandemic has taken on local families. She sees it every week as people line up to receive food at the Salvation Army’s...
Hempfield moves to buy new tanker truck for fire department
Hempfield supervisors are moving forward with the purchase of another new fire engine. This week, supervisors unanimously voted to purchase a Sutphen Monarch Heavy-Duty Custom Engine Tanker. Supervisor Rob Ritson was not present. The tanker, which will become part of the Hempfield Township Fire Department’s fleet, cost almost $753,000. It...
Allegheny County Police: Mt Oliver shooting victim in critical condition
One person is in critical condition after a shooting in Mt. Oliver, according to Allegheny County Police. Officers responded to the 300 block of Brownsville Road around 8:45 p.m. Thursday for reports of a shooting. Police said they found a man with gunshot wounds to the torso. The man, who...
Western Pa. schools receive grants to improve cafeterias
Eight local school districts are among those awarded more than $875,000 in grant money to help upgrade food service equipment in their cafeterias. In all, 59 elementary, middle and high schools will benefit from the funds, awarded to schools participating in the National School Lunch Program, a federally assisted meal...
Penn-Trafford’s Warrior Stadium reopens following closure
Almost a week after Penn-Trafford closed its stadium to the public, the facility has reopened. According to a release from the district, Warrior Stadium reopened Wednesday after being shuttered due to recent incidents in which visitors took snow shovels to the field, which can potentially damage the turf by ripping...
Hempfield schools preparing for possible staff vaccinations
Staff at Hempfield Area School District could be next in line to receive the covid-19 vaccine. According to a letter by Superintendent Tammy Wolicki, district leaders are working with Hayden’s Pharmacy in Youngwood to provide an opportunity for staff to receive the vaccine early next month. “We are supporting this...
Hempfield supervisors remove Jeannette EMS from service; area to be covered by Mutual Aid
Jeannette EMS will no longer cover parts of Hempfield after township supervisors chose to stop using the ambulance service. The area covered by Jeannette EMS, which includes parts of North Hempfield, High Park and Grapeville, now will be serviced by Greensburg-based Mutual Aid Ambulance Service. Mutual Aid already services parts...
Hempfield leaders table rezoning vote on former Valley Green propertyVideo
Hempfield supervisors tabled a vote Monday night to rezone the former Valley Green Golf & Country Club. The rezoning from agricultural to suburban residential would pave the way for a new housing development at the site, of which 144 acres is located along Valley Green and Albrights Lake roads in...
Pennsylvania income tax returns can be filed online with new state system
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue has rolled out a new online income tax returns filing system. According to the state Department of Revenue, those wishing to file their state tax returns or make income tax payments can do so on mypath.pa.gov. “We’re excited to offer a new online filing system...
Goodwill of Southwestern Pa. now taking enrollments for online adult classes
Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania is now enrolling students in its online adult classes. The program offers a range of free classes, including sessions that help prepare students to take a high school equivalency test, learn new digital skills, improve their ability to speak English and to prepare for the U.S....
Pennsylvania casinos saw revenue drop by $759 million in 2020, state reports
Pennsylvania casinos saw total revenues decrease by $759 million in 2020, a year plagued by the coronavirus pandemic that forced the properties to shutter for several months. According to a new report from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, $2.65 billion was generated last year from the state’s 13 casinos through...
2 Hempfield fire departments to merge, 1 station to close
The Luxor Volunteer Fire Department station near Twin Lakes Park in Hempfield will close as part of Luxor’s merger with nearby Bovard Fire Department. With only three members on its force, Luxor Chief Mike Errett said the move is necessary to provide adequate fire protection for the community. “Overall, it’s...
Wine mystery boxes offered through Pennsylvania-owned Fine Wine and Good Spirits website
After a year of heightened liquor sales because of the coronavirus pandemic, state officials are offering a package that could help switch up those go-to quarantine drinks. Boxes of wine are available for purchase on the Fine Wine and Good Spirits website, which promotes the sale as “uncork a new...
Hempfield Area School District to create educational equity committeeVideo
The Hempfield Area School District plans to establish an educational equity committee to address gaps in student achievement. The committee will have two main goals: Identify and address barriers that impede student achievement or opportunity gaps and address explicit or implicit bias that impacts educational achievement, according to Superintendent Tammy...
Hempfield leaders looking at ways for spring musical to go on
The show must go on — at least as much as it can given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Officials with Hempfield Area School District are considering ways high school students can participate in the spring musical while adhering to social distancing guidelines and ensuring safety is maintained for students and...
Bell Township fire claims life of 80-year-old man weeks after blaze
An 80-year-old man has died after he suffered injuries during a fire at his Bell Township home last month, according to his obituary. Bernerd Andrew Zanavich died Friday at UPMC Mercy hospital, where he was taken following the Dec. 28 fire. His 52-year-old son, Frank R. Zanavich, also died in...
3 Hempfield schools closed Tuesday due to covid cases
Three Hempfield Area schools will temporarily close after several positive covid-19 cases were reported among staff and students, district leaders announced. Students at Wendover Middle, Harrold Middle and Fort Allen Elementary will attend classes remotely Tuesday, giving officials time to conduct contact tracing and to mitigate further spread of the...
