Chuck Biedka stories, Page 14
Group seeks names of domestic violence victims for poster
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence is seeking the names of people who died from domestic violence in 2018. The coalition will include the names on an annual poster. Submissions must have the names, ages, and states of origin of any victims killed by an abuser in 2018. These include...
Johnstown man accused of leading Lower Burrell police on chase
A Johnstown man is accused of driving into a parked vehicle in Lower Burrell and leading police on a chase through New Kensington before he was pulled over early Saturday, police said. Christopher Jamison, 36, also is accused of driving a vehicle without an ignition interlock device, which he is...
Police: Penn Hills man endangered other motorists during rush-hour chase
A Penn Hills driver almost hit a Port Authority bus and posed a risk to numerous motorists during Monday’s afternoon rush hour in Plum, according to police. Isaiah Devin Goodwin, 19, of Main Street, is accused of leading police on a chase that started around 6 p.m. as he was...
Man gets 3 year federal sentence for gun at Monroeville Mall
A Pittsburgh man was sentenced to 3 years and 1 month in federal prison for illegally having a handgun near one of the Monroeville Mall stores in 2017. U.S. District Judge Donetta W. Ambrose imposed the sentence on Christian Erik Ralph, 24. Prosecutors said that, on Dec. 26, 2017, Monroeville...
Cheswick man accused of injuring 9-day-old girl
A Cheswick man is accused of assaulting a baby after the 9-day-old girl was brought to a hospital in February with traumatic injuries. Joshua Lee Sandusky, 24, of Beech Street, was arraigned Tuesday and accused of causing injury to the girl’s face and legs while the two were in a...
Tamburitzans get new executive director
Robin Rosemary Miller is the new executive director for the Tamburitzans, the board of directors for the cultural heritage dance group and musicians said in a statement Monday. Miller was director of the Northside North Shore Chamber of Commerce for more than 18 years....
2 polling places moved in Gilpin, Kiski townships
Armstrong County Elections officials said two polling places have been changed in Gilpin and Kiski townships for the May 21 primary election. The Number 2 polling place in Gilpin will move from the American Legion on Schenley Road to the Gilpin Fire Hall at 113 Fire Hall Road, where voters...
Gilpin volunteer firefighter honored for saving man’s life in LeechburgVideo
Gilpin firefighter Charlie Stull was having lunch at a Leechburg restaurant in August when he noticed a man who was having trouble breathing. In seconds, the man was choking. So Stull, 21, who also is a Gilpin supervisor, took action to save the man’s life. “I performed the Heimlich maneuver....
Pittsburgh man accused of killing man in Arnold ordered to stand trial
A Pittsburgh man was ordered Monday to stand trial in connection with the April 5 shooting death of a man in Arnold. Shawden L. “Black” Ross, 32, of Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood, is accused of fatally shooting Lamont Simmons, 27, after an early-morning argument in which Ross blamed Simmons for setting...
Pittsburgh tax preparer pleads guilty to filing $1.5 million in false returns
A Clairton man pleaded guilty in Pittsburgh federal court to aiding or assisting in the preparation of filing false federal tax returns. Quincy K. Denson of Clairton pleaded guilty to two counts before U.S. District Judge Nora Barry Fischer. In connection with the guilty plea, Denson, while a tax preparer...
Bridgeville man sentenced to 2 years in federal prison for child porn
A Bridgeville man was sentenced Friday in federal court in Pittsburgh to spend two years in prison for having child pornography. Senior U.S. District Judge Nora Barry Fischer imposed the sentence on John Edward Desalome, 31. According to prosecutors, in November 2016, Desalome was found to have 43 videos in...
Ford City, Cadogan residents face cocaine charges
Two Armstrong County residents are accused of selling cocaine. Dennis John Johnson Jr., 38, of Ford City, and Shana Lee Warcholak, 33, of Cadogan each are facing 11 drug-related charges. Johnson was arrested Thursday by the Armstrong County Narcotics Enforcement Team (ARMNET). He was arraigned and sent to the Armstrong...
Aliquippa man pleads guilty to federal gun charges
An Aliquippa man pleaded guilty Tuesday in Pittsburgh federal court to illegally having guns and attempting to tamper with evidence. Nicholas John Padak, 31, is facing up to 50 years in prison on four charges. Prosecutors said Padak bought at least two rifles, even though he cannot legally have them,...
Solo robber hits Vandergrift Dollar General along Franklin Avenue
Vandergrift police are searching for a man who robbed the Dollar General on Franklin Avenue Tuesday night. A clerk was restocking shelves when a tall man walked in. He held his left hand in the pocket of a hooded sweatshirt he was wearing and “acted like he had a gun,”...
Kittanning man already on Megan’s Law list facing child rape charges
All charges were held to court in a preliminary hearing for a Kittanning man accused of child rape. Dwayne Edward Hawk, 52, is already named on the Megan’s Law list of people convicted of sex offenses. Hawk, a lifetime reporter, is accused of raping a mentally challenged girl. Police allege...
PennDOT fixes computer photo problems
PennDOT on Wednesday corrected technical problems involving its photo license system. As of 9:20 a.m. the department said it was again completing photo-related transactions at its drivers license and photo centers. In a revised statement, PennDOT said the problem was resolved with a photo license vendor. All driver licensing and...
West Deer drainage work to result in traffic restrictions
Traffic in West Deer should be impacted for about 16 days starting tomorrow while PennDOT works to complete a drainage project along Deer Creek Road. When that work begins, weather permitting, traffic will be restricted to a single alternating lane on Deer Creek between Bakerstown Culmerville and Kyle roads from...
Highlands High School program stresses positive attitude during traffic stopsVideo
So, you’ve been pulled over by police. Want the traffic stop to go as quickly as possible and be on your way? Police offer what they say are the two most important tips: Be polite and listen to the officer’s instructions. The goal is to promote safety for those pulled...
McKeesport man accused of flushing grandparents’ ashes down toilet
A 33-year-old Pittsburgh man is accused of flushing his grandparents’ ashes down a toilet after his mother kicked him out of her McKeesport residence. McKeesport police said Thomas Porter Wells of Pittsburgh’s Beechview neighborhood had a falling out with his mother last September after she complained about his drinking and...
Pennsylvania motorists urged to use caution around farm vehicles
Slow-moving farm vehicles are a sign of spring along Pennsylvania’s rural roads, and state officials are urging motorists to exercise caution. Preliminary crash data from PennDOT shows eight people died in crashes involving farm equipment in 2018, while 693 people were killed in nonfarm-related crashes on rural roads. “Frankly, we...
Gilpin paving project list developing
Sections of four roads are on Gilpin Township’s improvement projects planned for this spring and summer. The list also includes sealing parts of three other roads, supervisors said. Included is about a half-mile section of Godfrey Road from Stullville Road to Stonegate Drive. Work also is planned along Old Schenley...
Leechburg namesake David Leech to receive Pennsylvania historic marker
David Leech’s innovative network of freight forwarders in the 1800s will be honored with a state historic marker that will be dedicated next month at the Leechburg Area Museum and Historical Society. What is now Leechburg was home to fewer than a dozen families in the 1820s. Most of their...
State lawmaker Brooks gives his state paycheck to volunteer fire companiesVideo
Sixteen fire departments are sharing $16,000 earned by state Rep. Bob Brooks, with the promise of much more to come. Brooks, R-Murrysville, has pledged to donate most or all of his state salary to organizations within the 54th state House District. State House members are paid a base annual salary...
Comcast employees to spend ‘Cares Day’ at West Leecburg VFD
Comcast employees, families and friends are scheduled to spend Comcast Cares Day at the West Leechburg Volunteer Fire Department and separately at Auberle, a faith-based program to help children and families in McKeesport on May 4. The 18th annual event will begin at 8 a.m. at the fire hall on...
Leechburg police hope DNA can crack bank robbery case
Investigators are hoping DNA tests could help identify the culprit who pulled off a bank caper in Leechburg last year. Someone tunneled from a vacant storefront at 154 Market St. into the wall of the First Commonwealth Bank next door at 152 Market St. in January 2018. The FBI believes...
