Renatta Signorini stories, Page 109
Diocese of Greensburg to celebrate 70th anniversary
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg will celebrate its 70th anniversary Wednesday with a special Mass led by Bishop Larry J. Kulick, the diocese announced. The Mass will be livestreamed at dioceseofgreensburg.org and on its Facebook page and YouTube channel. It starts at 11:45 a.m. The diocese was started March...
Hempfield man charged in police chase through 4 municipalities
A Hempfield man is accused by Jeannette police of leading officers on a chase through four municipalities last month until he crashed and the car caught fire, according to court papers. Tyler David Varriano-Milan, 25, is charged with numerous offenses, including fleeing from police, driving under the influence and reckless...
Carrick man accused of sexually assaulting coworker at North Huntingdon care facility
An Allegheny County man is accused of sexually assaulting a co-worker at a North Huntingdon nursing facility, according to court papers. Daniel A. Odu, 33, of Carrick is charged with attempted rape, aggravated indecent assault and indecent assault. Officials at The Grove at North Huntingdon contacted township police Feb. 6...
Hempfield man gets probation for sexually assaulting mentally disabled woman
A Hempfield man was sentenced to three years of probation Friday for sexually assaulting a mentally disabled woman. Charles A. Stephenson, 67, is required to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law, according to a sentencing order. Stephenson pleaded guilty to a charge of indecent assault of a person...
Hempfield man accused in sexual assault of teen girl
State police arrested a Hempfield man Thursday, charging him with the sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl in 2017, according to court papers. Michael John Flowers, 22, is charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and indecent assault. Troopers said in court papers that they spoke to the accuser, now 17,...
Manor man pleads guilty in 2 drug overdose deaths
A Manor man who cooperated with prosecutors in a case against a co-defendant pleaded guilty Friday to two drug delivery resulting in death charges. Jeremy S. Mason, 35, admitted guilt during a virtual court appearance in connection with two fatal drug overdoses in 2017. His “exemplary” cooperation with prosecutors was...
Accused drug supplier seeks bail nearly 4 years after arrest
A Westmoreland County judge is once again considering whether to set bail for a Clairton man who has been in jail nearly four years awaiting trial. Lindsey R. Wright, 41, was arrested in May 2017 on corrupt organization, conspiracy and drug offenses. Investigators have deemed him an alleged “major” drug...
South Huntingdon man gets probation for child endangerment charge connected to deplorable house
A South Huntingdon man was sentenced Wednesday to two years of probation on a child endangerment charge in connection with deplorable living conditions at a Yukon home. Jason Michael Welch, 43, was ordered to complete parenting classes and must be supervised when visiting with the children involved in the case,...
Ligonier Township man charged with sexually assaulting juvenile
A Ligonier Township man is accused by police of having sex with a juvenile on several occasions, according to court papers. Tyler Madison Smith, 25, is being held at the Westmoreland County Prison. He is charged with six counts of statutory sexual assault and single counts of involuntary deviate sexual...
Former Southwest Greensburg part-time cop to stand trial on oppression charge
A Connellsville woman testified Wednesday that she feared for her safety when an off-duty police officer pulled her over in East Huntingdon in his personal car. Kelsie Provance said she wouldn’t roll down her window when James Edward Shaw, 54, of Mt. Pleasant Township twice approached her Kia Soul on...
DEA’s April Drug Take Back event returns after being canceled last yearVideo
After being canceled last year because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s spring Drug Take Back Day will be held April 24. The nationwide event serves as a way for citizens to turn in unwanted, unused or expired prescription medication in an effort to keep it out of...
Lawyer for man suspected in Unity woman’s disappearance wants evidence tossed in federal firearms case
The attorney for Thomas George Stanko questioned in federal court Tuesday the reliability of a witness and police interpretation of jailhouse phone calls that led state troopers to find 17 guns on his Unity property and in a storage unit. Attorney Komron Jon Maknoon said investigators may have misrepresented what...
Meat, dairy and other food distributed in South Greensburg
A regional effort to distribute thousands of pounds of food throughout Westmoreland County made its way to South Greensburg on Tuesday. The Father’s Heart Ministries in Penn Borough provided 75 boxes, each containing 40 pounds of food. They were distributed on a first-come first-served basis, said Jennifer Detore, the borough’s...
Pa. prison legal mail policy updated after 2 guards sickened by K2
Mail safety protocols in the state’s prisons are being updated after two guards at a Northeastern Pennsylvania facility were hospitalized. Officials said the pair were exposed to K2, or synthetic marijuana, that was sent in correspondence supposedly from the courts. Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel said the new protocols...
Hempfield man facing illegal gun charges now charged with sexual assault
Sexual assault charges were filed Friday against a Hempfield man arrested last week after state police said they confiscated 36 guns from his home. Dale Edward Kuhn, 73, is accused by troopers of inappropriately touching two girls and exposing himself to them, according to court papers. He is charged in...
1 hurt after pickup rear ends school bus in Hempfield
A pickup truck driver was flown by medical helicopter to a hospital Friday morning after apparently rear-ending a school bus in Hempfield. Township Fire Chief Anthony Kovacic said firefighters from Grapeville, North Hempfield and Jeannette worked together for about 25 minutes to free the driver. Nine students aboard the Hempfield...
Public asked to push Pennsylvania legislators for dog license fee hike
Increased dog license fees could bring in $1.2 million this year for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Dog Law, if the proposal is approved by state legislators. Department Secretary Russell Redding hopes it will be. Without the additional funding, lost dogs or mistreated canines could face an uncertain...
McKees Rocks man sentenced to federal prison for role in drug trafficking
A McKees Rocks man was sentenced Wednesday to 46 months in a federal prison for his role in drug trafficking activity in the South Side neighborhood of Pittsburgh, according to prosecutors. Lamont Benton, 24, was ordered to spend three years on supervised release. He pleaded guilty in October to a...
200 spaghetti dinners donated to police, nurses by Grapeville businessVideo
The smell of spaghetti and meatballs filled the small work space. The volunteers were quiet Wednesday morning, concentrating on packaging about 200 donated meals and getting the count just right. Debbie DiTommaso Huey, owner of Angelo’s Cucina in Grapeville, pretty much has the assembly line work down to a science...
North Huntingdon police seize drugs, guns, arrest Mt. Lebanon man following traffic stop
A Mt. Lebanon man was jailed Tuesday after North Huntingdon police said they found drugs and guns inside the car he was driving, according to court papers. Christian Alexander Lowe, 29, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, drug offenses, driving with a suspended license and summary vehicle code...
Westmoreland jail inmate charged after detectives say she swallowed drugs in cell
A Westmoreland County Prison inmate is accused by county detectives of swallowing four stamp bags of suspected heroin she had in her cell after being committed there earlier this month, according to court papers. Elizabeth June Cramer, 35, of Greensburg, is charged with contraband and tampering with evidence. A fifth...
Pittsburgh man sentenced to prison in drug trafficking, money laundering operation
A Pittsburgh man was sentenced to four years in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release in connection with a drug trafficking and money laundering operation, according to prosecutors. Anthony Bentley, 45, agreed to forfeit 10 watches, a diamond ring, three sets of body armor and about $293,000,...
Hempfield man jailed after police say he had 36 guns illegally
A Hempfield man is behind bars, charged with illegally having 36 firearms at his home. Dale Edward Kuhn, 73, has a previous conviction for corruption of minors, a charge that makes it illegal for him to possess a gun, state police said in court papers. He is being held without...
Westmoreland pharmacist ‘absolutely’ wants to play bigger role in doling out covid vaccine
There was no question in Ed Christofano’s mind that he would take more than a thousand doses of coronavirus vaccine when state officials offered them on short notice the weekend before last. “Absolutely,” the Westmoreland County pharmacist said. Within 24 hours, he had the doses — and plenty of waiting...
Crews clearing ice, snow damage from Forbes State Forest; part of Linn Run Road closed
Forbes State Forest maintenance workers have been contending much of the week with snow and ice that has pulled down trees and utility lines in eastern Westmoreland County. Assistant district forester Don Stiffler said part of Linn Run Road just beyond the state park with the same name will be...

