Renatta Signorini stories, Page 36
Teen sentenced up to 25 years in prison for shooting death of Monessen classmate
A month ago, Bethany Altomore accepted her son’s high school diploma. His cap and gown were draped over an empty chair at Monessen High School’s Class of 2024 graduation, a memorial of sorts for Amari Altomore, who was killed in 2022. “Then we had to go to the cemetery to...
Mt. Pleasant Township woman accused of shooting truck pleads guilty to lesser charges
An attempted homicide charge against a Mt. Pleasant Township woman accused of shooting her estranged husband’s pickup truck while he stood nearby was dropped Friday in exchange for her guilty plea on lesser charges. Fauna J. McDowell, 35, was sentenced to nine to 23 months in the Westmoreland County Prison...
Murrysville house cleaner has paid $7K, promises to pay more and plead guilty in jewelry thefts
A Murrysville woman accused of stealing thousands of dollars in expensive jewelry from homes where she worked as a cleaner plans to plead guilty in four cases, according to her attorney. But first, Holly L. Simpson has started paying off some of the restitution her attorney anticipates she will owe....
Despite pleas from mother, Mt. Pleasant Township man accused of stabbing mom will remain in jail on $500K bail
Judge Scott Mears decided Friday against lowering the bond for a Mt. Pleasant Township man accused of stabbing his mother, calling it one of the saddest cases he’s handled while sitting on the bench. It’s at least the second time in three months defense attorneys have asked in court that...
Unclaimed cremains buried in Potter’s Field near Westmoreland prison
No one at a memorial service Thursday in Hempfield knew the people they were honoring. The 54 names read aloud were unfamiliar to them, though still worthy of being treated with dignity and respect as they found their final resting place. “These individuals, though they may be strangers to us,...
Irwin man accused of teen’s rape told police he had ‘conscious blackouts’
An Irwin man is behind bars without bail in connection with the reported sexual assault of a teen girl. Jason Cush, 43, is charged with rape and related offenses. Westmoreland County detectives said in court papers that the girl reported being sexually assaulted by Cush for about two years. She...
Unity man accused of operating chop shop
A stolen motor that police say was sold to a driver in need of a car repair landed a Unity man in trouble with the law. Windell S. Carroll, 46, is accused of charging the driver $3,000 for the motor that ended up not working. He was arraigned Tuesday on...
Police: Western Pa. check-cashing scheme netted nearly $118K
Four North Carolina men are accused of involvement in a fraudulent check-cashing scheme that netted $117,600 from 9 banks in the region, including seven in Westmoreland County. State police said the group was not successful in attempts to cash an additional $130,700 worth of checks, according to court papers. Jaylon...
Murrysville man with 3 previous DUIs charged in fatal accident on Route 22
A man arrested Tuesday in connection with a fatal Murrysville crash had nine shots of liquor and six beers at a local club before he got behind the wheel, according to court papers. Darren S. Hamm, 60, of Murrysville is accused of driving through a red light and crashing his...
Contract awarded for Fort Pitt Brewery site demolition in Jeannette
Demolition of the old Fort Pitt Brewery in West Jeannette is imminent. Westmoreland County officials plan to meet with the contractor Wednesday to determine a start date, said Brian Lawrence, director of the Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority and Land Bank. The contract was awarded Tuesday by the redevelopment authority board...
Grandmother carjacked at Hempfield Burlington store; suspect arrested in Millvale
A woman was able to grab her 4-year-old granddaughter from the backseat of her Jeep Compass Sunday afternoon as a carjacker drove off with it outside a Hempfield clothing store, according to state police. Paulino M. Romero, 39, is accused of wresting the woman’s key from her purse at 1...
Directors nix proposed sale of former Jeannette school site, seek development of property
A tentative plan to sell long-vacant property in Jeannette to the Westmoreland County Housing Authority has been nixed. Jeannette City School District directors this month voted against the sale that tentatively called for the housing authority to pay $28,000 for the land. Superintendent Matt Jones said the property remains for...
Pedestrian struck, killed while walking on Route 119 in Fayette County
A pedestrian was killed over the weekend after being hit by an SUV on Route 119 southbound in Fayette County, according to state police. Troopers said Dorian L. Mills, 37, of Uniontown, was walking in the right hand lane of Route 119 in Bullskin at 2:15 a.m. Saturday when he...
Service coordinators provide lifeline for Westmoreland housing authority residents
For Trish Walch, living at Odin View Apartments in Hempfield is a dream come true. It’s in large part a nod to the Westmoreland County Housing Authority building’s service coordinator who plans a multitude of activities while serving as a sort of personal assistant to residents who need assistance figuring...
Despite deaths, inquest jurors’ recommendations, whitewater in-boat rafting guides remain optional
Michele Yealy lost her only daughter to the rushing water of the Youghiogheny River. Andrea Yealy was 16 when she hopped in a two-person inflatable kayak rented by a friend’s family on Sept. 16, 2000, at Ohiopyle State Park in Fayette County. They paddled without a guide down a 7-mile...
Jeannette Glass plant had a glimmer of hope in 1983
(Editor’s note: “From the archive” is a recurring series highlighting vintage photos submitted by community members or gathered from the Tribune-Review’s files. If you have a photo you would like to see featured here, please contact gtrcity@triblive.com.) It seemed as though the Jeannette Glass plant might restart four decades ago,...
Hempfield man sentenced after being accused of leaving obscene, racially charged voicemails for members of Congress
A Hempfield man was sentenced to two years of probation this week in connection with dozens of obscene and racially-charged voicemails police said he left for members of Congress. Mark Eugene Ray, 64, pleaded guilty to ethnic intimidation and harassment. A second count of harassment was dismissed. Judge Timothy Krieger...
Arnold man sentenced on sex assault charges
An Arnold man was sentenced Friday to four to eight years in a state prison in connection with a sexual assault of a teenager. Alexander James Moss, 26, pleaded guilty to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. Three other charges were dismissed. Moss was ordered to spend three years on probation after...
Avonmore man who died in Export shooting will be remembered with luncheon
A man who was fatally shot in Export this week will be remembered at a luncheon on Sunday, according to his obituary. Police said Daniel T. “Slim” Chicka Jr., 65, of Avonmore, had been in a dispute over parking with another man when he was shot Tuesday on Madison Avenue....
Driver sought in connection with South Greensburg road rage incident
Police in South Greensburg are seeking help to identify a driver who they said was involved in a road rage incident this week. The man was driving an older model maroon or burgundy Chevrolet Equinox near the intersection of Route 119 and Huff Avenue Wednesday when authorities said he got...
Jeannette woman accused of running over former girlfriend
A Jeannette woman was jailed Thursday in connection with police accusations that she hit a woman with her SUV. Jenna Ann Pippins, 23, is charged with aggravated assault by vehicle, reckless endangerment and related offenses in the Sunday incident. Jeannette police said in court papers that the injured woman, who...
Police: North Carolina man followed traffic laws, but wouldn’t pull over for 12 miles on Route 30
A North Carolina man was pursued by police for about 12 miles on Route 30 Wednesday morning, according to court papers. Ligonier Valley police said Eric W. Horsfield, 70, drove at a safe speed and stopped for all red lights while police cars with their lights flashing followed between Ligonier...
4 more charged in alleged mistreatment of elementary students in Greensburg Salem
It’s what they didn’t do that resulted in charges filed Monday against four more people as part of a case involving the alleged mistreatment of three children last year at a Greensburg Salem School District elementary school. “These were people who participated to some degree, but weren’t the main people...
$284M would help child care issues in Pa., advocates say
The staff of 25 at JB’s Bright Beginnings in North Huntingdon has their hands full, encouraging the development of 100 children while parents work. They could do more — the child care center is licensed for 350 children — but a lack of staff for a job that has wages...
Jeannette residents lag in seatbelt use; state officials look for ways to boost safety awareness
Tapping into the minds of young people might be a way to promote traffic safety to their peers. That could mean handing out treats to Jeannette City High School students who follow traffic rules, such as wearing a seat belt on the ride to school, or having them create social...
