Renatta Signorini stories, Page 110
Veteran, puppy help police capture suspect accused of injuring Scottdale officerVideo
A Marine Corps veteran and his German shepherd puppy helped police capture a suspect accused of injuring an officer and trying to break into several Scottdale homes on Wednesday. Edward Swingle, 31, said his military training kicked in, and so did the instincts of his 4-month-old puppy, Keeper. “I’m happy...
Derry Township man charged in 2nd alleged rape
A Derry Township man awaiting trial on charges he raped a Ligonier Township woman in 2018 was charged Thursday after a second woman made similar allegations against him. Khachek Alexan Hamerski, 28, is set for arraignment next week on the new charges of rape and strangulation. Westmoreland County detectives said...
Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority seeking blighted properties for demolition
The Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority has a significant chunk of money to help clear blight from communities. Now officials just need vacant buildings with the potential for demolition, said Brian Lawrence, executive director. “It is an essential thing that we have to face in our communities,” he said. The countywide...
Excela starting to offer covid vaccines to public when available; most staffers immunized
About 70% of Excela Health’s staff are immunized against the coronavirus and a limited number of appointments are periodically being opened to community members who meet the state’s guidelines. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Carol Fox said the health system late last week opened appointments on its website to people over...
Jeannette hires code enforcement officer, hopes to tackle blight
Code violators in Jeannette beware. A full-time code enforcement officer is coming onboard, and city officials hope the move will bring in more revenue and reduce dilapidated properties. “This is a good next step for the city,” City Clerk Nathan Bish said. “It’s a good way for us to combat...
Derry Township man jailed on charges of child assault
A Derry Township man is accused by state police of giving a child a bloody nose and bruises in a beating before school last week, according to court papers. Christopher Dominic Hilty Sr., 33, is being held without bond at the Westmoreland County Prison. He is charged with strangulation, harassment,...
Groups ramping up for covid-style fish fry fundraisersVideo
As the pandemic closed in last year, fish fry organizers at St. Agnes Church in North Huntingdon scrambled to establish a drive-thru plan for an expected large crowd of hungry patrons. Volunteers set up traffic cones to direct drivers and gave the drive-thru a shot in addition to the regular...
Despite vaccine, Redstone Highlands reports covid spike at Greensburg facility
About 1,000 employees and staff members at Redstone Highlands’ three skilled nursing facilities have their first and, in some cases, second doses of the coronavirus vaccine. With the facilities on their way to being protected, president and CEO John Dickson said it was a shock to learn the virus made...
Greensburg man arrested in sexual assault, rape of 2 boys
A Greensburg man was arrested Wednesday on state police accusations that he raped a boy and sexually assaulted another in Unity nearly three years ago, according to court papers. Steven Michael Cope Jr., 25, is being held at the Westmoreland County Prison on $25,000 bail. Troopers said they received a...
Pittsburgh woman sentenced for role in smuggling synthetic marijuana into prisons
A Pittsburgh woman was sentenced Tuesday to eight months in a federal prison for her role in smuggling synthetic marijuana, or K2, into correctional facilities, according to court records. Sandra Wilson, 29, was ordered to spend an additional three years on supervised release. Federal prosecutors said Wilson worked with a...
Jeannette seeks flooding fix before Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County digs up sports field
Jeannette officials want the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County to agree to fix a flooding problem in 15 homes before allowing the authority to dig up part of a sports field in West Jeannette for a project. The two entities have been working on an agreement for months, said city...
3 Baltimore men accused of transporting synthetic marijuana through Westmoreland County
Three Baltimore men are accused by state police of having synthetic marijuana in a vehicle they were traveling in westbound on Interstate 70 through Westmoreland County in April 2019, according to court papers. Jamal Mohammed Alzanam, 32, was arraigned Monday on charges of possession with intent to deliver, transportation of...
Hempfield man accused of impersonating police, threatening staff at driver licensing center
A Hempfield man is behind bars after investigators said he claimed to be a policeman and threatened to shoot workers at a Jeannette driver licensing center, according to court papers. William D. Faltz IV, 31, is charged with terroristic threats, impersonating a public servant, simple assault and disorderly conduct. City...
The Westmoreland Museum of American Art reopens with new exhibits, precautions in place
Voices and inquisitive eyes are filling the galleries once again at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art after a two-month closure. With timed tickets and plenty of space, it’s like visitors have the Greensburg museum all to themselves, said Barbara Jones, chief curator. “It’s a great opportunity to come inside...
2 Good Samaritans hurt in I-70 crash on Belle Vernon-Speers Bridge
Two Good Samaritans attempting to help a motorist whose vehicle had become disabled on the Belle Vernon-Speers Bridge Saturday were hit by another vehicle and hospitalized, according to Trooper Robert Broadwater. Neither suffered life threatening injuries in the 6:45 a.m. crash on Interstate 70, he said. One of them was...
1 killed, 1 hurt in crash on Saw Mill Run Boulevard
A 26-year-old woman was killed late Saturday in a one-vehicle crash on Saw Mill Run Boulevard, according to Pittsburgh police. Katherine Lynn Barvilchak of Pittsburgh was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner. Emergency responders were called to the crash into a utility pole around...
Ligonier councilwoman selected as Democratic nominee for 59th District seat
A Ligonier councilwoman has been nominated by the Westmoreland County Democratic Party to fill an open seat in the state House of Representatives, according to an announcement. Mariah Fisher was elected in 2017 to borough council. She is set to be the party’s nominee for the 59th Legislative District in...
Hikers take advantage of cold but sunny day to walk through Murrysville trail, parkVideo
The cold weather didn’t stop a group of adventure seekers from taking to a snow-covered wooded trail Saturday in Murrysville. Maybe it was the promise of hot chocolate at the end of the nearly 3-mile hike or a desire to get outdoors with others during a time when indoor activities...
Thousands of AHN patients get 1st dose of covid vaccine at PNC Park
More than 2,000 high-risk Allegheny Health Network patients 75 and older on Saturday got the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. Health system spokeswoman Candace Herrington said AHN is planning to hold additional clinics as vaccine supply increases. That will include events similar to one...
West Mifflin woman killed in Fayette County crash
A West Mifflin woman was killed Friday in a one-vehicle crash in Fayette County, according to state police and the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. Hope Marie Derry, 29, was a passenger in a vehicle that crashed on Route 51 in Perry Township at about 9:45 a.m., troopers said. Police...
Man hospitalized after being hit by vehicle in Homewood
A man was hospitalized Saturday after Pittsburgh police said he was hit by a vehicle in Homewood. Police were called to the intersection of Frankstown Avenue and McCombs Street around 12:30 a.m. The man was taken by ambulance to a local hospital in critical condition, police said. The suspect vehicle...
I-70 reopens at Belle Vernon-Speers Bridge after ‘serious’ crash
A few people were hurt in a Saturday morning crash that closed a portion of Interstate 70 on the Belle Vernon-Speers Bridge at the border of Westmoreland and Washington counties, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. The crash was reported around 6:45 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of I-70. The...
Excela ‘Mask Up’ video taps Westmoreland facesVideo
Some recognizable faces — even behind masks — are helping Excela Health officials stress the importance of mask-wearing and social distancing while the coronavirus vaccine infiltrates the community. CEO John Sphon said the health system sought well-known figures to help spread the message as a way to reach county residents...
Man arrested after police say he brought handgun into Hempfield casino
A Greensburg man was charged Tuesday with carrying a handgun into Live! Casino Pittsburgh in Hempfield without a valid conceal carry permit, according to state police. Kenneth John Czarnecki, 21, is free on his own recognizance on a weapons charge, according to online court records. Troopers said Czarnecki was banned...
Jeannette man accused in Hempfield rape case
A Jeannette man was arraigned Wednesday after state police said he broke into a Hempfield home in November and raped a woman, according to court papers. Asa Duane Busato, 22, is charged with rape of an unconscious person, burglary, aggravated indecent assault and criminal trespass. He was being held at...
