Renatta Signorini stories, Page 123
Heinz History Center collecting materials, content depicting life amid coronavirus
Keep those pictures and other items that show how you’re getting through the coronavirus pandemic — the Senator John Heinz History Center might want them. Curators and archivists at the center in Pittsburgh’s Strip District are collecting materials from the region’s residents that show the local response and experience. That...
State police cite Pa. woman for ‘going for a drive’ amid stay-at-home order
A York County woman this week was the first person in Pennsylvania to be cited for violating Gov. Tom Wolf’s stay-at-home order, according to state police. The 19-year-old woman was given a nontraffic citation for allegedly “going for a drive,” according to the citation obtained by Pennlive. State police spokesman...
Police: Bradenville pair showed kids how to smoke marijuana, gave them alcohol at parties
Two Bradenville residents are accused by state troopers of providing alcohol to several children during two birthday parties last year and demonstrating how to smoke marijuana, according to police reports. Janelle Anne Bias, 35, and Bryan Allen Green, 44, were charged Thursday with multiple counts each of corruption of minors,...
2 Laurel Highlands school employees test positive for covid-19
Two Laurel Highlands School District employees tested positive for covid-19, according to a letter posted on the district website by Superintendent Jesse Wallace. Neither employee has been inside a school district building in the last couple of weeks, he said. Both employees are assigned to Hutchinson Elementary School. The employees...
Pa. addiction hot line getting fewer calls after liquor stores shut down
State drug and alcohol officials braced for a deluge of alcohol-related phone calls when Pennsylvania two weeks ago closed all state-run wine and liquor stores. “We were concerned that it could be a very big deal,” said Jennifer Smith, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. So...
April National Prescription Drug Take Back Day event postponed
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in April is postponed, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. The April 25 date will be rescheduled after the coronavirus pandemic recedes and the national emergency is lifted, according to the agency. During the most recent Take Back Day held Oct. 26, nearly 442...
Police responding to fewer calls as more people shelter in place during coronavirus outbreak
Police departments across Southwestern Pennsylvania are receiving fewer calls as residents stay at home amid the coronavirus pandemic. In Greensburg, police calls decreased by 27% for the last two weeks of March compared to the same period in 2019, said Chief Chad Zucco. Police received 818 calls during that period...
Woman arrested after Jeannette police try to disperse group involved in fight
Jeannette police tried to avoid arresting a group of girls who were yelling about a fight in the street Sunday, but took one into custody after several residents started exiting their homes, according to court papers. Four to five females were walking in and out of traffic at the intersection...
Landslide shuts Route 906 between I-70 and Monessen
A landslide forced the closure of a section of Route 906 between Rostraver and Monessen on Monday. The road, which runs along the Monongahela River, will be closed until Thursday, weather permitting, while debris is cleared, according to a PennDOT spokeswoman. The road was closed at 2 a.m. Monday between...
Scottdale expands existing curfew to anyone under 18
Scottdale extended its normal 9 p.m. curfew for children during the school year to include anyone under 18, according to borough manager Angelo Pallone. The altered curfew will remain in effect as long as the coronavirus pandemic continues, he said. “It’s going to be enforced as long as the emergency...
Experts: Little worry about groceries transmitting coronavirus
Relax, your food isn’t trying to kill you — probably. While grocery stores have increased sanitation measures amid the coronavirus pandemic, some consumers are worried they have more cleaning to do when they get their goods home. Pittsburgh-based infectious disease and critical care physician Dr. Amesh Adalja doesn’t think shoppers...
Paving, sidewalk reconstruction contracts awarded in Jeannette
Jeannette city council approved street paving and sidewalk replacement projects, but officials aren’t sure when the winning bidders might start construction amid the coronavirus pandemic. A. Folino Construction of Oakmont was awarded the $124,533 paving project contract this month. “We were ready to go with that and the sidewalk project...
Fate of new businesses uncertain in face of coronavirus pandemicVideo
Dan Czerpak wondered every day whether opening a barbecue joint in Greensburg during a pandemic was the right move. He weighed the pros and cons regularly leading up to Pit Take’s opening on March 20, a day after the first two cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in Westmoreland County....
Entrepreneurs fill shopping void in wake of pandemic
Eric Fulton’s plans of opening a deli in Scottdale were quickly dashed when the coronavirus pandemic hit. Now he’s the unexpected proprietor of a small Pittsburgh Street store selling toilet paper, bread, cleaning supplies and produce. Members of borough council and Mayor Chuck King recently helped Fulton clear out tools...
Police seek suspect in Salem pizzeria burglary
State police are looking for information about a burglary at a Salem pizzeria in which about $1,000 was taken from an ATM. Someone broke into Kelley’s Pizzeria on Route 22 Sunday between 1:30 and 3 a.m. A pry bar and grinder were used to damage the ATM and steal the...
Westmoreland coronavirus cases increase to 11
The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Westmoreland County rose to 11 on Tuesday, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. That’s an increase from eight confirmed cases on Monday that were reported by Westmoreland County officials. The three additional cases come as Pennsylvania recorded 207 new cases in...
Park police locate woman who nearly drove into water at Twin Lakes
Westmoreland County Park Police said they located a woman who nearly drove a vehicle into the lower lake at Twin Lakes Park on Friday after asking the public for help identifying her. Chief Henry Fontana said a witness reported seeing the vehicle travel from E parking lot near the spillway...
Pa. state parks, forests extend facilities closure
Facilities at Pennsylvania’s parks and forests will be closed until the end of April in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced Monday that an initial 14-day closure instituted on March 17 will be extended until April 30. Trails,...
Washington County woman run over by tractor, killed
A Washington County woman died Sunday after she was run over by a tractor, according to Coroner Tim Warco. Elizabeth McCord, 60, was run over at 3 p.m. in Buffalo Township at the intersection of Jolly School and Mounts roads near her home. She was pronounced dead in the emergency...
Police: Norwin musical volunteer, girlfriend failed to report arrest to district
A Greensburg man and a Norwin teacher face charges stemming from the man’s failure to report an arrest that would have disqualified him from volunteering with Norwin Middle School’s musical in February, according to court papers. Brad W. Geyer, 37, and Tobitha J. Sasso, 40, who founded the school’s theater...
Norwin school officials: No coronavirus here
Contrary to prior reports, Norwin School District officials say there has not been a confirmed case of the coronavirus in the district. In an updated public statement late Friday afternoon, Norwin School District Superintendent Jeff Taylor said he was informed by emergency managers that reports of a coronavirus case in...
Government meetings becoming spacious, electronic affairs
The padded green chairs normally crammed into a meeting room at the Westmoreland County courthouse now are placed precisely six feet apart. A short agenda sat on each chair Friday for the commissioners’ first public meeting since the coronavirus pandemic hit Westmoreland County. The meeting was barely five minutes long,...
Protective gear headed to Westmoreland as confirmed coronavirus cases grows to 4
Officials say Westmoreland County now has four confirmed coronavirus cases after two were added on Friday. There is no other information available on any of the cases. In the meantime, a shipment of personal protective equipment was expected to arrive Friday for Westmoreland County firefighters, police and ambulance personnel, said...
No free ice at Rita’s locations on first day of spring
The first day of spring will be celebrated later at Rita’s Italian Ice locations. The annual free ice giveaway set for Thursday is postponed amid concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, according to a post on the restaurant’s website. It’s a precautionary move, the post said. The locations, about 20 of...
‘Mamma Mia’ comes to Jeannette High School stageVideo
Editor’s note: Due to the coronovirus pandemic, high school musicals have been postponed. It looks fun — Jeannette seniors Jada Bass, Kiara Frederick and Jenna Painter sing and dance together on stage to ABBA’s hit “Dancing Queen.” But perfecting the steps and lines has taken months for the trio who...

