Renatta Signorini stories, Page 111
Suspect in Unity woman’s disappearance wants federal weapons charge dropped in separate case
Federal authorities did not have probable cause to search a Potter County cabin belonging to Thomas George Stanko, making the seizure of a sawed-off rifle illegal, his attorney argued in a pretrial motion. Investigators didn’t have evidence that a firearm would be found there during the October 2018 search, said...
2 Georgia men charged in check scheme in Southwestern Pa. involving homeless, addicts
Two Georgia men are accused in a check-cashing scheme in Southwestern Pennsylvania that preyed on local residents and businesses closed for the weekend, according to court papers. Jon Jon Detrell Anthony and Jurele McKnight, both 31, are charged in Westmoreland County with corrupt organizations, access device fraud, theft, receiving stolen...
No hoax: October marks pandemic’s deadliest month to date in Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County could be in for a bleak fall if the coronavirus death rate continues its grim increase. October has been the deadliest month since the pandemic started in March, according to state figures and county Coroner Ken Bacha. The county’s death toll surpassed 100 on Friday, with 47 of...
Basement democracy: Residents open homes as polling places in Westmoreland County
Democracy happens in Betty Tokarcik’s Wyano basement. Voting rights have been exercised in Kathleen Slomiany’s living room in Van Meter. The two women, who live about 8 miles apart in southwestern Westmoreland County, have opened the doors of their homes twice a year for decades to the voters in their...
Police seek information on woman who likely threw rocks at Trump House
State police were called to the Trump House in Unity on Thursday night after a woman apparently threw objects at a metal sign, according to Trooper Steve Limani. Police said the noises just before 10 p.m. sounded like gunshots, but investigators determined the noise was likely caused by rocks being...
Latrobe man charged with terroristic threats after Hempfield search, school delay
A Latrobe man is being held without bond after state police said he made threats Friday with a shotgun and holed up in his mother’s house, prompting the delay of a Hempfield elementary school. Dale Owen Smith Jr., 32, is charged with two counts of terroristic threats. Troopers said in...
Home for the holidays: Pa. health secretary urges that gatherings be limited to households
State officials are asking Pennsylvanians to limit holiday gatherings to those within their own households as the resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic continues. Department of Health Secretary Rachel Levine said Thursday there is evidence locally and nationally that such gatherings, large or small, are contributing to an increase in cases...
Westmoreland County Prison inmate accused of breaking fellow prisoner’s jaw during assault
A South Carolina man charged with attempting to kill a sheriff’s deputy there was arrested Wednesday on assault charges in connection with a beating at the Westmoreland County Prison this month. Brian Joseph Stoltie is accused of attacking another inmate, who suffered several facial fractures and had his jaw wired...
2 indicted in 2-day, 3-county armed robbery spree
Two Maryland brothers previously arrested in connection with a two-day armed robbery spree in three counties were indicted by a federal grand jury this week, according to U.S. Attorney Scott Brady. Elijah Alvin Sayon and Rexford Wright, both 23, of Hagerstown, Md., are each facing four counts of robbery. The...
Homicide case against East Huntingdon woman sent to court for mobile home park fatal shootingVideo
Meghan J. West told state police that a warning shot she fired Sept. 20 didn’t stop her former boyfriend from trying to break down her East Huntingdon bedroom door, so she fired again, according to Trooper Michael Thompson. The bedroom door had what Thompson described as a crack near the...
Police: Washington Township woman falsely claimed to be sheriff’s deputy
A Washington Township woman who police said has been repeatedly warned in the past to stop identifying herself as a sheriff’s deputy was charged with impersonating a public servant after an incident near her home. Barbara Lynne Szulc, 61, allegedly was riding a red lawnmower around Wellington Estates at 3:45...
Dozens of items seized from Washington Township home likely stolen, police say
When Washington Township Police Chief Scott Slagle went on the hunt for a 30-ton log splitter that had been reported stolen, he was surprised to find it this month sitting in the driveway of a Spring Hill Road home. Now, investigators are trying to figure out the origin of dozens...
National Drug Control Office chief holds roundtable discussion in Ligonier
Westmoreland County has made some strides in introducing programs aimed at helping those with a drug addiction. Drug treatment court started in 2014. The Westmoreland County Drug Overdose Task Force has enacted a Recovery Friendly Workplace program. Scores of naloxone doses have been handed out by the task force and...
Greensburg man accused of squatting in basement of Seton Hill building
A Greensburg man is being held in the county jail after police said he broke into an office building at Seton Hill University, ransacking it and using the basement as a hiding place. Joseph Donald Lawrence, 27, is charged with burglary, theft and criminal trespass in the August incidents. University...
Greensburg Unemployment Council offers help navigating benefit systemVideo
Navigating the state and federal benefit system can be confusing for those out of work, but the Greensburg Unemployed Council wants to help. Council members are offering weekly help from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Pennsylvania Avenue Parklet. The community group wants to help people whose employment has...
2 coronavirus cases reported in Belle Vernon Area School District
Two cases of coronavirus were reported Tuesday in the Belle Vernon Area School District, according to a letter to parents from Superintendent Michele Dowell. The cases were from the same household, one in the high school and the other at the middle school, she said. Contact tracing was not necessary...
Man charged in Arnold shooting accused of asking inmate to deny his involvement
A Somerset man is accused by police of asking a fellow inmate to claim that someone else was involved in the 2018 shooting of an Arnold man during a robbery, according to court papers. Nicholas J. Haynes, 24, was arraigned Tuesday on charges of criminal solicitation and attempted fabrication of...
Landlord, packaging firm argue over stench left by Jeannette hemp drying operation
Herzl Real Estate should not be held liable for damages a Jeannette packaging company claims were the result of odors from a hemp drying outfit just because it leased space to both groups, attorney Derek Mayhugh argued Tuesday. Herzl Real Estate was “merely the landlord” and not responsible for the...
Derry Municipal Authority customers under boil water notice
All Derry Borough Municipal Authority customers are being asked to boil their water before drinking it until further notice as a precaution after a water main break was reported Sunday night. Authority manager Amy Forsha said the 8:30 p.m. break at the intersection of East Second Avenue and South Chestnut...
2 charged with drug, gun violations after suspicious activity reported in Jeannette
Two men are being held in the Westmoreland County Prison after Jeannette police said they were found Friday with a stolen gun and marijuana in a parking lot along Magee Avenue. Dwayne Chyrece Gripper of Jamaica, N.Y., and Jorrell Royale Stancil of East Stroudsburg are charged with weapons violations and...
North Belle Vernon man cited for having 27 songbirds in cages
A North Belle Vernon man was cited for having 27 songbirds in cages at his home last month, according to Pennsylvania Game Commission Warden Douglas Bergman. Canh M. Truong, 43, faces 27 counts of unlawful taking and possession of protected birds, a summary offense. Game wardens found the songbirds, including...
Marijuana leads 2020 drug seizures by Pennsylvania State Police
State police seized $19.4 million worth of processed marijuana so far in 2020, according to troopers. Nearly 3 tons of processed marijuana were confiscated by troopers across the state during the first nine months of the year, with some big seizures recently in Westmoreland County. Statistics released this week showed,...
Pandemic relief money awarded to fire departments, EMS agencies
Millions of dollars soon will be in the coffers of local fire departments, rescue and ambulance services to help offset the negative impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on fundraising. About 90 Westmoreland County fire departments are getting more than $2 million. Fourteen EMS agencies in the county are set to...
Pennsylvania’s gun background check system sets record
Gun buyers in Pennsylvania between July and September gave the state’s background check system its busiest quarter in its 22-year history, already surpassing 2019’s total so far this year. A record 406,151 background checks were completed between July 1 and Sept. 30, a 55% increase from the same time in...
Hempfield Manor to be site of Halloween pooches parade this weekend
Costumed dogs are invited to pay a special visit this weekend to the residents of Hempfield Manor. Rodney Little, owner of Youngwood Top Dog Services, decided this year to hold his annual Halloween Doggy Costume Walk outside the personal care facility, rather than at Twin Lakes Park, to brighten the...
