Renatta Signorini stories, Page 121
Pa. Game Commission adopts new plan in effort to curb chronic wasting disease
Pennsylvania Game Commission officials are hoping a new plan to manage the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) will prevent it from infecting more deer in Westmoreland County and elsewhere in Southwestern Pennsylvania. About 300 square miles of the northeastern corner of the county is part of a management area...
South Main Street in Greensburg to close Thursday during Pence visit; Rally for Black Lives to be held, too
Drivers traveling through Greensburg on Thursday may have to find an alternate route. Part of South Main Street will be closed at some point Thursday morning to accommodate a Cops for Trump rally with Vice President Mike Pence, said Tom Bell, fire chief and public works director. But an exact...
State, Westmoreland see drop in OD deaths; Allegheny sees increase
Pennsylvania saw a slight decrease in drug overdose deaths in 2019 for what could be the second consecutive year the number has dropped. The state health department on Tuesday released preliminary data that shows 4,348 people died in Pennsylvania from a drug overdose last year, a 1.7% decrease from 2018...
2 arrested after crystal meth, THC oil found during North Huntingdon traffic stop
More than two ounces of crystal methamphetamine and THC oil were seized from two men during a traffic stop in North Huntingdon last week, according to court papers. Michael B. Keenan, 41, of Youngwood, and Victor A. Gullatta, 29, of Aurora, Ohio, are being held at the Westmoreland County Prison...
Cops: Sewickley Township man strips naked after domestic, standoff with officers
A Sewickley Township man is being held without bail after state police said he stripped naked on his porch Saturday after threatening and attacking family members, according to court papers. Joseph Patrick Gracan, 53, is facing numerous charges including strangulation, aggravated assault and terroristic threats. Police were called to Lowber...
Westmoreland Big Brothers Big Sisters group gets creative to raise cash during the coronavirus pandemic
Raising money isn’t easy in the era of a pandemic. But after canceling several fundraising events in the last few months, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region couldn’t forego its annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake bowlathon. It’s the biggest fundraiser of the year, said Director Stephanie Mihleder. “It’s...
Pittsburgh police looking for missing mother, 1-year-old son
Pittsburgh police are looking for a teenager and her son after they went missing Friday around 2 p.m. Public information officer Cara Cruz said Jamilah McLean, 17, and Josiah McLean, 1, went for a walk in the East Hills area and did not return. They may also be in Braddock...
Woman, 4-year-old girl hospitalized after Fineview hit-and-run
A woman and her 4-year-old daughter were hospitalized late Saturday after being hit by a car in Fineview, according to Pittsburgh police. Officers were called to the intersection of Belleau Drive and Belleau Street around 11:45 p.m., according to a public information officer Cara Cruz. The woman and her daughter...
VP Mike Pence set to make Greensburg campaign stop
Vice President Mike Pence is set to make a campaign stop Thursday in Greensburg. As part of a Cops for Trump event, Pence will make an appearance at the city’s police station at noon. Doors will open at 10 a.m. and close at 11:30 a.m. Cops for Trump describes itself...
Monroeville man killed in crash at Keystone Raceway in Derry Township
A Monroeville man was killed Friday after crashing at Keystone Raceway in Derry Township, according to the Westmoreland County coroner. James R. Baker, 69, was driving a 1936 Ford Roadster on the raceway’s drag track at 2:50 p.m. when the car made a quick right turn. The car hit a...
Chestnut Ridge golf resort near Blairsville sells for $2.4 million at auction
Chestnut Ridge Golf Resort & Conference Center sold to an online bidder Saturday for $2.4 million. But the winning bidder’s identity will not be available until paperwork and payment is finalized, said Sherman Hostetter, owner of Hostetter Auctioneers of Beaver Falls. The auction of the 345-acre golf course and resort...
Blairsville man killed in Derry Township crash
A Blairsville man died Friday after a motorcycle crash in Derry Township, according to state police. Christian F. Shugars, 22, was speeding on a Yamaha R6 on Pizza Barn Road at 10 a.m. when he lost control around a curve in the road. Troopers said the motorcycle hit gravel and...
Westmoreland water officials hope goats are solution to invasive weedsVideo
Goats could be a key factor in ridding Beaver Run Reservoir property of an invasive weed that is hindering tree growth around the drinking water source. Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County officials, with the help of a Saint Vincent College student and professor, are studying how goats react to the...
High-speed police chase ends in Ligonier Township when suspect crashesVideo
A high-speed police chase spanning two counties ended Tuesday when a stolen vehicle the suspect was driving slammed into cars parked at a Ligonier Township restaurant, according to authorities. Gary Austin Blough, 18, of Johnstown nearly hit two vehicles head-on during the westbound pursuit on Route 30, according to court...
Former Jeannette man killed during S.C. robbery attempt
A Jeannette native was killed during an attempted robbery this month in Charleston, S.C. Thomas DiLorenzo, 63, was fatally shot Friday by two teenagers, ages 15 and 16, who demanded money as he and his wife walked downtown, the Post and Courier reported. Police called the shooting an “anomaly” that...
$10K reward offered for information in shooting death of Derry Township woman
Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers is offering a $10,000 reward for information about who fired a gun outside a Derry Township home Monday, killing a woman inside. Anyone with information about the death of Tracy Marie Squib, 52, can contact the nonprofit organization anonymously by phone at 800-4PA-TIPS or through an online...
State police seize about 500 pounds of suspected marijuana during New Stanton traffic stop
Two central Pennsylvania men were arrested Tuesday in New Stanton after state police said they found about 500 pounds of suspected marijuana inside a pickup truck, according to court papers. Chad Ryan Stephens, 31, of Cumberland County, and Sean Michael McCaleb, 32, of Perry County, are being held in the...
Police: Bricks thrown at vehicles from North Belle Vernon I-70 overpass
State police are investigating after bricks were thrown at two vehicles from an overpass on Interstate 70 in North Belle Vernon earlier this month. Troopers said two eastbound tractor-trailer drivers reported the incidents on July 7 at 1:45 and 1:50 a.m. One man had minor injuries from the shattered glass...
South Greensburg councilman pleads guilty to citation after fireworks incident
A South Greensburg councilman pleaded guilty Monday to a disorderly conduct citation filed by state police regarding a fireworks complaint, according to court records. George Cole, 53, paid $262.25 in fines and costs on the summary offense. Troopers were called to Oak Street July 11 after neighbors reported fireworks were...
Meth lab dump sites ‘fairly common’ on Indiana County’s rural roads
Indiana County’s rural roads have become appealing places for methamphetamine manufacturers to get rid of their illegally used materials, according to the Pennsylvania State Police. It’s become a “fairly common occurrence” for state troopers to find dump sites in remote areas or off dirt roads, said Trooper Cliff Greenfield. The...
Jeannette City Hall closed after employee tests positive for the coronavirus
A Jeannette city employee tested positive for the coronavirus, according to solicitor Tim Witt. City hall will be closed to the public until further notice for cleaning and disinfecting, he said. Officials learned of the positive test Monday. Witt said the employee is being treated and doing well. “Unfortunately, municipal...
2 accused of stealing $45K in state payments for providing care for Avonmore man
Two women are accused by police of taking $45,000 in payments from the state Department of Human Services for work they didn’t do while acting as caregivers for an Avonmore man, according to agents from the Attorney General’s office. Joan L. Foley, 64, of Avonmore, and her daughter Christie Lee...
Peaceful Black Lives Matter march leads to Jeannette rallyVideo
Jeannette Jayhawks’ longtime equipment coordinator Dan Cooper had a message for young people at a Black Lives Matter march and rally Thursday: “Go get it.” He encouraged them to chase their dreams while telling their families to start getting involved in the community if they want to see change. “Anything...
Motorcyclist killed in Stahlstown after hitting deer
A Fayette County man was killed in a motorcycle crash Wednesday night in Stahlstown, according to the Westmoreland County coroner. Randy C. Gowton, 50, of Bullskin , was driving south on Route 711 in Cook Township just before 10 p.m. when he hit a deer. The crash happened near Riggs...
West Jeannette will get spruced up, thanks to canceled mission trip
When a New York City mission trip for 30 area middle schoolers had to be canceled earlier this year, Cornerstone Ministries Pastor Joel Guinen looked closer to home to make a difference. The group will be embarking on a week-long “Mission Home” cleanup project in West Jeannette, targeting a playground,...
