Patrick Varine stories, Page 31

While the Pennsylvania State Police force is seeing increased interest from people wanting to become troopers, many suburban and rural departments in Western Pennsylvania are facing a challenge trying to attract new officers. Last year, Murrysville received 18 applications from people interested in becoming police officers for the municipality —...

Murrysville Woman’s Club news • The Murrysville Woman’s Club recently donated $800 to several local fire companies, using proceeds from its annual holiday tea. The club donated to the Murrysville, Sardis, White Valley, Delmont and Export fire departments. • The club’s regular monthly meeting will be at 11:15 a.m. Feb....

Carly Greene laments that some children don’t know the simple pleasure of heading to the nearest stand of trees to play in the woods. That’s the reason the director of the Murrysville Parks and Recreation Department is looking to install a natural playground at Community Park this spring. “In essence...

The Greensburg YWCA is marking 65 years, and the recent anniversary celebration was just the start of the party, according to its executive director. The YWCA has been an institution in Greensburg since 1959, and its staff wants to ensure that everyone in the region knows they’re here and ready...

Classic rock band The Guess Who took the stage last night at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg, belting out hits such as “American Woman” and “These Eyes.” Nostalgia is the primary draw for bands of a certain vintage who are looking to capitalize on the magic of classic rock’s heyday....

Braddock Hills police arrested a man Thursday who they say attempted to bring a gun into the Propel Braddock Hills school. Dushaun Knox, 30, of West Mifflin, was charged with possession of a weapon on school property, terroristic threats and additional weapons charges. Braddock Hills police were called to the...

The first-ever gorilla born at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium has died, zoo officials announced Thursday. Mrithi, a male silver-back Western lowland gorilla, had recently been showing mobility problems, with spinal issues the likely suspect, according to assistant mammal curator Karen Vacco. He was born June 1, 1992. The name...

An international engineering and consulting firm with roots in Beaver County has entered into a settlement to resolve allegations of pay discrimination against female employees. Michael Baker International, headquartered in Pittsburgh, agreed to pay more than $120,000 in back wages and interest, after a routine compliance review by the U.S....

Officials from the Pitt Ohio trucking company donated a 2018 semi-tractor truck to students and staff at Forbes Road Career & Technology Center in Monroeville on Jan. 30. Pitt Ohio Vice President of Fleet Services and Vehicle Maintenance Taki Darakos said he views the donation as more of an investment....

The owners at Tastyland in Hempfield are looking to keep the taste going year-round. They’re building a drive-thru at the ice cream and food stand, which has operated in the past on a seasonal basis. “We’ve owned it now for about three years and have had a lot of crazy...

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...

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...

In the wake of a disastrous recall involving defective sound-dampening foam in several of its breathing machines, Philips Respironics announced Monday that it was suspending sales of its continuous positive airway pressure — or CPAP — machines in the United States. The decision comes as part of a consent decree...

Editor’s note ‘What’s That?’ is a recurring feature in the Tribune-Review’s Westmoreland Plus edition. If there’s something you’d like to see explored here, send an email to gtrcity@triblive.com. Jeffry Meyer spent his career as an engineer, which didn’t leave a lot of time for gardening. So when he retired and...

Stephen Schrum’s goal is to direct 100 plays. He’s at 88. And while that wasn’t the sole reason behind his decision to form a local theater company, it certainly was a motivating factor for the Latrobe resident, who retired in 2022 after 17 years of teaching theater arts at the...

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...

A section of Nelson Road in Bell Township will close starting Monday as PennDOT crews address deteriorating slide conditions. Nelson will be closed between Route 380 and Whitesell Street. There is currently no reopening date, and PennDOT officials are awaiting approval to announce an official detour route. Drivers can check...

A small section of Route 381 in Ligonier Township remained closed Friday night due to flooding, PennDOT officials said. Route 381 between Rolling Rock Lane and Route 30 continues to be affected by recent rainfall and now snow melt. Next door in Derry Township, a section of Sleep Hollow Causeway...

U.S. Steel officials have entered into a consent decree with the Allegheny County Health Department and two environmental groups to address a 2018 fire at its Clairton facility that crippled the plant’s pollution controls and caused power outages at the plant in 2019 and 2022. The agreement will include nearly...

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,...

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...

Here are briefs from the Times Express coverage area. Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Blue light bulb sales support Monroeville police Monroeville officials are selling blue light bulbs and proceeds will benefit the Monroeville Police Benevolent Fund. The Blue Light Project will offer the bulbs for $10...

A Lancaster man was ordered Monday to stand trial on charges that he shot at a box truck driver last month in Unity. Tyler J. Mieczkowski, 22, faces charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault, fleeing from police and reckless endangerment, court records show. Police said Mieczkowski fired several shots into...

Charles Burke still gets emails asking if he’s interested in trucking jobs, even though he’s been semi-retired and driving a bus for the Penn Hills School District for several years now. “Bonuses are going up and up as places are looking for people to do commercial truck driving,” said Burke,...