Renatta Signorini stories
‘Alice never disappeared’: Home health nurses recount discovery of St. Clair woman’s death
It was unusual that Alice Robson wasn’t there when two home health nurses arrived at the St. Clair Township woman’s home to take care of her disabled grandson. It was even more unusual that J.D. Beacom was left alone, but that’s what Jennifer Fox said she encountered when arriving at...
Homicide trial opens for 2 charged in St. Clair woman’s murderVideo
Alice Robson had been missing for more than two days in December 2023 when a dog from the Greensburg Bloodhound Team found her body stuffed in a crawl space underneath a porch at her St. Clair home. It took Lucy, the dog, 6 minutes to locate the 71-year-old woman’s body,...
State board suspends license of Torrance hospital nurse
The State Board of Nursing has temporarily suspended a Westmoreland County nurse’s license in connection with allegations that she had sexual relations with a patient at Torrance State Hospital, according to documents filed with the Department of State. Dana R. Coxon, 40, of Penn Township was licensed as a registered...
TV sales up during Super Bowl week as customers chase bargains
Super Bowl-related television sales typically bring a bit of a boost at a time of year when there can be a lull in sales, said Craig Kantoris, co-owner and project manager at ConnectedLife Designs By The StereoShop in Greensburg. A handful of recent customers looked to upgrade their screens in...
State police find 2 pounds of cocaine after traffic stop of Penn Hills man on turnpike
A Penn Hills man was arrested Tuesday after state police said they found 2 pounds of cocaine in the vehicle he was driving on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Westmoreland County, according to court papers. Troopers initiated a traffic stop at 1:30 p.m. near the border of Donegal and Cook townships...
‘You’re killing me’: Victim testifies in preliminary hearing for Crossroads Plaza shooting suspect
Joshua Logan had just finished a workout at Planet Fitness in East Huntingdon and was getting into his pickup truck to leave when the estranged husband of his girlfriend pulled up. Within seconds, Logan testified Wednesday, Steven Heald was shooting at him. A bullet hit him in the shoulder, spinning...
Speers man accused of ethnic intimidation in connection with racist video made at Rostraver Walmart
Ethnic intimidation charges were filed Wednesday against a man accused of recording a video that includes racist language at the Rostraver Walmart store, according to state police. They say the video was recorded by Michael Todora, 36, of Speers, Washington County. Troopers have been investigating the video, which was posted...
Naked, knife-wielding man charged with assault at optician’s office in North Belle Vernon
A North Belle Vernon man is behind bars after, police say, he took two knives into an optician’s office Monday, knocked over several display cases and stabbed a couch and the walls, according to court papers. Borough police said Darnell Wesley Howell Sr., 54, was not wearing any clothes at...
Greensburg considering $1M fire truck purchase
Greensburg Fire Department is looking to turn two fire trucks into one while city council mulls a possible $1 million price tag. Councilman Randy Finfrock proposed buying a new rescue pumper for Hose Company No. 1 from Pierce Manufacturing at the fire department’s request. The price, around $1 million, is...
Years after Cassandra Gross disappeared, her mother says the unanswered questions never go awayVideo
Tucked away at Kathe Gross’ house is a turquoise plastic tote filled with the memories of heartbreak. There are note cards and scraps of paper bearing names and phone numbers, handwritten notes Gross compiled on anything she could find as phone calls and information poured in after the 2018 disappearance...
Suspect in fatal hit-run found hiding under insulation in Jeannette attic
A Jeannette man was hiding in an attic underneath insulation when he was taken into custody Friday on state police accusations that he was involved in a 2025 hit-and-run that killed an e-bike rider. Troopers said in court papers that they learned William Edward Sever, 37, was staying at a...
Deposit from Midway-St. Clair boosts Hempfield fire service support fund
Money that Midway-St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department had invested is being transferred into a fund controlled by Hempfield. The township supervisors on Jan. 26 accepted the deposit of $161,365.99 into the Hempfield Township Volunteer Fire Service Support Fund at the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County. “That clears the books on...
Ruthie’s Diner fire started in kitchen of Ligonier Township restaurant, fire marshal saysVideo
A fire that destroyed landmark Ruthie’s Diner started in or near a cooking appliance in the kitchen, said state police fire marshal Trooper Chet Bell. The Jan. 20 blaze at the Ligonier Township diner has been ruled accidental and Bell said in a news release that he continues to investigate...
Pa. turnpike drug bust nets 40,000 stamp bags of suspected fentanyl worth $80K, police say
A New Jersey man is behind bars after state police said he was transporting approximately 40,000 stamp bags of suspected fentanyl on the Pennsylvania Turnpike through Westmoreland County, according to court papers. Troopers said they pulled over a westbound Honda SUV in Hempfield at 2 a.m. Thursday after noticing multiple...
Development authority planned by Hempfield with focus on former prison property
Hempfield is planning to create an authority that officials hope will spur development. Once it’s established, the development authority’s first task will be identifying new uses for the former SCI Greensburg state prison property that the township owns. “An initial focus would be on the redevelopment of the SCI parcel,...
Plans are underway to improve signage, lighting and pedestrian access near Westmoreland MallVideo
Hempfield wants to spruce up the Westmoreland Mall area by adding signage, lighting and pedestrian improvements at the entrance into the township. The township supervisors on Monday approved a $30,000 agreement with Remington & Vernick Engineers for a study and conceptual design for improvements focused on a bridge and ramp...
Jeannette seeks to fill vacant city treasurer post
Jeannette is looking for someone to fill the treasurer’s role after the winner of the elected position didn’t meet the requirements for the job, said city manager Ethan Keedy. The top write-in vote-getter during November’s election didn’t secure a bond or complete an online exam by Jan. 19, two weeks...
Jeannette appoints retired city foreman to vacant council post
A familiar face is returning to Jeannette municipal government as a retired city foreman was appointed Tuesday to fill a vacancy on council. Rich Ault said he retired in 2023 after working for the city for 36 years. “I just think with the amount of years I had there, I...
Hempfield OKs purchase of $1M pumper truck for fire department
The purchase of a $1.06 million fire truck was approved Monday by the Hempfield supervisors, but officials don’t expect it to hit the streets until 2029. Hempfield Fire Chief Anthony Kovacic said the pumper truck would replace one that is 30 years old. “The reality is the delivery of that...
Hempfield offering senior tax rebate for 1st time
Educational sessions for eligible residents are being planned this year as the Hempfield supervisors on Monday enacted a senior tax rebate program. Township Manager Aaron Siko said the sessions will include information about the program and offer help filling out applications. “We have strategy in place to disseminate information into...
Radon testing kits now available for free at Westmoreland County Libraries
Testing for radon in Westmoreland County will be as easy as checking out a book from the local library. Forty digital radon testing kits are being stocked at Westmoreland County Libraries’ facilities, putting the library system at the forefront of the program nationwide through a partnership with Airthings, a tech...
Hempfield supervisors approve design firm for new fire station
Hempfield is moving forward with its plans to build a new fire station in the western part of the township. The township supervisors on Monday approved a $507,300 proposal from H.F. Lenz to design and oversee construction of what is being called Station 502. It will be built at the...
‘It shook the entire house’: Neighbors describe rescue after Delmont apartment explosion
Shaken residents were cleared to stay in their Delmont apartments after an apparent explosion damaged one of them, said police Chief T.J. Klobucar. Eva Arraujo and Tyler Fissella said Friday morning that one of the many officials who responded to the strip of six apartments the previous day checked out...
Chad Amond, passionate advocate for Westmoreland County, dies at 51
Chad Amond shared his passion for Westmoreland County at countless events, pushing for growth, collaboration and development in the place where he grew up, leading the Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce for 11 years. Amond died Monday after a battle with primary progressive aphasia, which forced him to step down...
Police seeking information about racist video recorded in Rostraver
State police are investigating a video recorded at the Rostraver Walmart store that involves racist language. The video, which was posted to Facebook, originally was reported to township police and has since been turned over to state police investigators, Trooper Rocco Gagliardi said. The video shows a white man approach...
