Megan Tomasic stories, Page 33

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...