Renatta Signorini stories, Page 107
Ligonier ice carvings prepared ahead of time to cope with pandemicVideo
The sound of chainsaws will be missing from this weekend’s Ligonier Ice Fest, but the carvers are busy working at DiMartino Ice Co. in Jeannette. Ice sculptures typically carved in Ligonier Diamond Park during past events are being prepared ahead of the annual winter festival. Ice carver Jared McAlister said...
Jeannette woman accused of burning water service crew with sulfuric acid
Police arrested a Jeannette woman Tuesday on charges she poured sulfuric acid drain cleaner in a Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County pipe, burning three workers who were restoring her water service, according to court papers. Deborah Samulski, 61, is charged with weapons of mass destruction, risking a catastrophe, reckless endangerment...
Arnold man accused of exposing himself to Westmoreland County Prison worker
An Arnold man already being held in the Westmoreland County Prison was arrested last week after, police say, he exposed himself to a female commissary worker at the jail. John D. Weathersby, 46, is charged with indecent exposure and open lewdness. The incident was reported to county detectives on Jan....
Tamara Mahady hopes to keep district justice seat in the family
A Latrobe lawyer is hoping to keep a potentially vacant district justice seat in the family. Tamara Mahady, 32, announced this week her intention to run for district judge in the Unity office currently held by her cousin, District Judge Michael Mahady. Tamara Mahady said her varied law background would...
Social ‘climate,’ lagging pay could be fueling decline in municipal police applicants
Some local police chiefs are having a tough time finding officers to join their forces. Jeannette recently advertised seeking candidates to take a civil service test. It received three applications. Irwin had five applicants for its test — all of whom were already part-time officers in the borough. After receiving...
Jeannette cryogenic plant to be fully operational by summer
Construction of Elliott Group’s $60 million cryogenic pump test stand is on schedule and is expected to be completed this spring, according to spokeswoman Christy Bash. The facility should be in full operation this summer, she said. Crews have been working through the winter at the former site of the...
Reward offered for information in fatal hit-and-run on Pennsylvania Turnpike
A reward is being offered by Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers for information leading to the arrest of a suspect in a fatal hit-and-run on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Somerset County this month. A female pedestrian was killed Jan. 4 after being hit by a vehicle just before the Somerset exit, troopers...
More than $45 million worth of illegal drugs seized by Pa. troopers in 2020
More than $45 million worth of illicit drugs was taken off the streets by state troopers in 2020, according to police. That was about $2 million more than the total in 2019, when troopers confiscated more than $43 million in prohibited drugs statewide. In 2020, troopers seized more than 300...
Coronavirus vaccine the answer to nuns’ prayers in Hempfield
There have been lots of prayers for relief from the coronavirus pandemic coming from the nuns at Caritas Christi in Hempfield. “I’ve been praying every night and every morning,” said Sister Mary Agnes Kirsch, 85. A bit of hope came to the motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity of Seton...
Former Greensburg man arraigned, jailed in Southwest Greensburg hit-and-run
A man accused in a Southwest Greensburg hit-and-run was arraigned on the charges Wednesday and is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison. Bond for Justin Lamont Hudspath, 38, of Greensburg was set at $35,000, according to online court records. Hudspath was arrested a week ago at a home north...
Truck driver arrested 11 miles away from fatal I-70 crash in Washington County
A Virginia man is being held without bond after being accused of driving a tractor-trailer that fatally struck an Ohio man working on a disabled vehicle on Interstate 70 this week, according to state police. Hosea Holcomb IV, 27, was arrested after the 7:30 a.m. Monday crash in Fallowfield Township,...
Brothers accused of fighting, spitting on guards at Westmoreland County Prison
A man is accused of spitting on a jail guard after his brother threw punches at another guard at the Westmoreland County Prison last month, according to court papers. The brothers were arraigned Tuesday on charges filed by county detectives. Austin Levi Kimmick, 20, is charged with aggravated and simple...
Southwest Greensburg woman accused of providing fatal dose in June drug OD death
Police arrested a Southwest Greensburg woman this week, accusing her of providing drugs to a man who later died of an overdose, according to court papers. Jennifer Lynn Gartland, 45, is charged with drug delivery resulting in death, possession with intent to deliver and child endangerment. Southwest Greensburg police said...
Excela Health seeing fewer covid hospitalizations, though number remains high
Hospitalizations of covid patients at Excela Health appear to have leveled off, but the overall total number still remains high, according to Dr. Carol Fox, its chief medical officer. For most of the past few weeks, the number of covid patients hospitalized in Westmoreland County has hovered between 160 and...
Redstone Highlands’ Greensburg staffers, residents get covid vaccines; about half of Pa. nursing homes have been treatedVideo
Karen Stock’s 40-year tenure at Redstone Highlands’ Greensburg campus got her an edge Monday — she was the first to get an initial immunization against the coronavirus. The activity supervisor said she decided to get vaccinated to protect her husband and those who are cared for there. “Our residents are...
2020 brings increase in Westmoreland overdose deaths
There appears to be a slight uptick in the number of people who died from a drug overdose in Westmoreland County in 2020 after two consecutive years of decreases. County coroner statistics show that 102 people died of a drug overdose last year and 19 more cases are suspected. That...
Seton Hill severs ties with adjunct professor over Facebook posts, which he denies
Seton Hill University has parted ways with an adjunct professor after posts were made on his Facebook page referencing violence in relation to the Wednesday siege by supporters of President Trump at the U.S. Capitol. Gary Hypes claimed he did not write the posts, suggesting someone else might have used...
Westmoreland first responders flocking to Latrobe pharmacy for coronavirus vaccine
First responders around Westmoreland County have started getting inoculated against the coronavirus with help from The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy in Latrobe. Owner and pharmacist Sue Schropp said the response in the last couple weeks has been overwhelming, but she’s happy to contribute to the health of the community’s front lines....
Excela Health prepares to administer 2nd dose of vaccine to its workers, Mutual Aid medics and EMTs
Excela Health employees who have gotten the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine will get a second and final shot starting Friday, according to chief medical officer Carol Fox. More inoculations for employees who have yet to get the first dose and independent providers will get underway in the coming...
Hempfield man accused of shooting woman in left ring finger
A Hempfield man is accused by police of shooting a woman in her left ring finger Wednesday then dropping her off at a hospital, according to court papers. Timothy John Luchon, who turned 39 Wednesday, is charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, simple assault, child endangerment and tampering with evidence....
Suspect in Southwest Greensburg hit-and-run arrested in Armstrong County
A former Greensburg man was taken into custody Wednesday in Armstrong County on charges he was driving during a hit-and-run in Southwest Greensburg 13 months ago. North Buffalo Police Chief Jason Hufhand said Justin Lamont Hudspath, 38, was arrested with help of the U.S. Marshal’s Task Force at a home...
Pennsylvania House holds moment of silence for the late Mike Reese, who was to have been sworn in today for 7th term
State Rep. Mike Reese was memorialized on the floor of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Tuesday, the day he was supposed to have been sworn in to his seventh two-year term. A black cloth, framed photograph and what appeared to be a jersey with his last name and H59...
Latrobe police warn of scam calls using department’s phone number
The phone number for the Latrobe Police Department is being used in a scam targeting community members, according to authorities. Police reported receiving several calls Monday about the scam. The caller used the police department’s phone number as the caller ID and claimed that a Social Security number was compromised...
Neighbors, friends show signs of support for the late Rep. Mike Reese
Mike Reese was thrilled that his small Mt. Pleasant Township community supported his goal of serving in the Legislature. During his initial run for office in 2008, the village of Brinkerton was full of his campaign signs. “The first time he went through, he thought that was so cool that...
California man being held without bail after Hempfield incident
A California man is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison without bail after state police accused him of taking a vehicle from a relative in North Carolina and was found in Hempfield Thursday. Lorenzo Watson, 39, of Oakland, Calif., is charged with receiving stolen property and drug possession. Troopers...
