Patrick Varine stories, Page 49

While the Murrysville Star’s coverage area included several non-competitive primaries, those elections — and one lack of an election in particular — hold several implications for Murrysville, Export and Delmont moving forward. Murrysville In Murrysville, where three seats are in play, incumbent Mac McKenna (34%) will move ahead to the...

Chalk Art Festival in Delmont The Delmont Public Library and the Delmont Visionary Committee will host a Chalk Art Festival with Erik “The Chalking Dad” Greenawalt from 12:30-4:30 p.m. June 4. The afternoon will also include magician Billy Heh and live music by Keyboard Kevin along with food, Kona Ice,...

Get out and go in search of spring wildflowers with the staff at Laurel Hill State Park in Somerset as they host Wildflower Weekend on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, visitors can choose between a 3-mile hike departing at 9 a.m. from the Laurel Hill Visitor Center, and a 5-mile...

With 100% of precincts reporting Tuesday, Hempfield Area school director candidates Jeanne Smith and Jennifer Bretz topped the Democratic and Republican primaries, respectively. Smith had received 11.6% of more than 16,000 votes, followed by Colleen Gallagher (10.4%), Kathy Charlton (9.8%), Vince DeAugustine (9.8%) and Erin Johns Speese (7.3%) on the...

With 100% of precincts reporting Tuesday, Tom Hempel won the Republican primary for North Huntingdon First Ward commissioner against challenger Brian West. Hempel received 59% of the vote. With 100% of precincts reporting, Jason Atwood won his primary for Third Ward commissioner against Republican challenger Amy Ghetian. Atwood received 54.3%...

With 100% of precincts reporting Tuesday, Sewickley Township board of supervisors Chairman Mark Petros received 56% of the vote in a race against challenger Jon Turik, who received 43%. During his tenure, Petros said the supervisors have worked to reduce blight in the township, getting 10 dilapidated, vacant buildings demolished....

In the race for two, six-year seats on the Hempfield board of supervisors, Republicans George Reese (35.9%) and Jay Anderson (24.1%) prevailed over Jerry Fagert and Becky Durbin, with 100% of precincts tallied. A little over 680 write-in votes were cast on the Democratic ballot. Anderson, 55, said he has...

With 100% of precincts reporting Tuesday, Amy Sheridan cruised with a comfortable lead over all other candidates on the Democratic ballot for Franklin Regional school board with 34% of the vote. She was followed by George App (15%), Deb Bucciero (14.2%), Scott Weinman (13.5%) and Vince Azzolina (11.45%) On the...

Franklin Regional School District officials recognize the value of their front yard at the elementary campus along Sardis Road in Murrysville. With several acres of natural habitat and the high-quality stream in Haymaker Run along its western border, “we’re looking at the Sloan campus as an environmental center,” Superintendent Gennaro...

Officials from the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Operation Game Thief are seeking information about a vehicle seen in the area where a dead bald eagle was found Friday. Game wardens from the commission’s Southwest Region found the eagle along Water Dam Road, near Cherry Valley Dam in Mount Pleasant Township, Washington...

From coffee mills and rolling pins to milk glass and empty bottles of questionable medicinal “cures,” vintage and antique shoppers had plenty to choose from Sunday at the 50th annual Hanna’s Town Antiques & Collectibles market. After a rainy Saturday, attendees and vendors couldn’t have asked for better weather than...

Ambridge police have been criticized heavily on social media for their handling of a stray dog on Saturday, after an officer shot the dog when it became aggressive in their parking lot, only to discover a short time later that it was still alive and shot it again. Police said...

James Capone was anticipating a career in mechanical engineering — having earned a degree and started a job — when he was unexpectedly let go by the company where he was working due to cutbacks during the covid pandemic. “After that happened, I worked at my sister’s law firm as...

County hazmat crews, firefighters and other emergency officials were working late Saturday morning to contain a fuel spill on South Center Avenue in Hempfield. Hempfield Assistant Chief Don Thoma said a truck delivering a piece of heavy equipment to Case Construction crashed and began leaking fuel. Firefighters were laying down...

Delmont residents may not get the “no-jake-brake” signs exactly where they want them, but they will get several installed in the borough. When residents initially brought complaints to council about trucks using the Jacobs engine brake system, commonly called “jake brakes,” Delmont police Chief T.J. Klobucar had concerns about enforcement,...

‘Strengthening the Thin Blue Line’ service Murrysville Alliance Church will host a “Strengthening the Thin Blue Line” service in tribute to local police officers at 11 a.m. May 21. It will be at the church, 4130 Old William Penn Highway in Murrysville. All members of law enforcement and their families...

One person was transported by ambulance to a hospital after a truck crashed into a building Tuesday afternoon in Unity near Kingston Dam, authorities said. Emergency crews were called to the intersection of Route 30 and Route 217 around 4:30 p.m. for a report of a vehicle that had hit...

The Franklin Regional school board will take a final vote next month on a 2023-24 budget that calls for a 2-mill tax hike. The $66.4 million proposed budget, adopted at the board’s meeting this week, has a roughly $412,000 deficit. In the past few years, district officials have offset budget...

Murrysville council unanimously turned down a rezoning request last week by Redstone Highlands to fit additional senior-living apartments on property behind their existing facility on Cline Hollow Road. Redstone CEO John Dickson said the company purchased about 36 acres adjacent to its Murrysville location with the intention of eventually expanding....

The canine flu is a lot like the human flu, according to Hempfield veterinarian Roman Lamberski. “You get a bunch of kids together in a day care and one has the flu, they’re going to spread it,” Lamberski said. Canine influenza virus, however, affects dogs rather than people. And it’s...

Republicans will battle it out within their own party primaries May 16 to earn a spot on the November election ballot in Unity and Hempfield township supervisor races. No Democrats have filed to contend for one open seat in Unity and two open seats in Hempfield. Unity Three Republicans —...

After more than two decades as a district judge in Export, Charles Conway will retire from the bench at the end of the year, and two candidates from Murrysville will compete in the May primary election to fill his shoes. Judi P. Petrush, 55, has worked as an assistant district...