Renatta Signorini stories, Page 56
Body of 17-year-old McKeesport boy recovered from Monongahela River
The body of a 17-year-old boy was recovered from the Monongahela River overnight, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner. Benjerman T.N. Coleman of McKeesport went into the water around 8:15 p.m. Friday in the area of Harrison Street in Glassport. Search and rescue boats spent several hours looking for...
Derry Township man accused of slaying Samantha Lang 16 years ago
A man long suspected in the 2007 death of 22-year-old Samantha Lang was arrested by state police Wednesday on homicide charges. Troopers believe Charles Earl Ream, 53, of Derry Township is responsible for Lang’s death at her father’s home. Ream is being held without bail on charges of homicide, robbery,...
Police: Monessen man sold drugs to informant multiple times
A Monessen man is facing drug charges after, police said, he sold five bricks of a drug mixture containing fentanyl to a confidential informant on as many occasions in January, according to court papers. Justin P. Smith, 38, was arraigned Wednesday. Members of the Westmoreland County Drug Task Force said...
Police say speeding vehicle led to Route 22 crash in Salem
An Ohio man was speeding westbound on Route 22 in Salem Tuesday morning just before a crash that snarled traffic on the highway for hours, according to state police. Ricardo P. Hardy, 22, was driving a Volkswagen SUV in the center of Route 22 and slammed into the back of...
Jeannette man faces arson charges in February fire at abandoned home
A Jeannette man is accused of going into an abandoned house in February twice in about seven minutes before it went up in flames, according to court papers. Jeannette police said they used surveillance video to track Jason Anthony John’s movements on Feb. 15, tying him to an arson at...
Contractor bids anticipated on 3 million gallon cleanup at former Jeannette brewery
About 3 million gallons of water in the basement of the former Fort Pitt Brewery in West Jeannette is expected to be removed in the coming months. Bids are due Wednesday from contractors who believe they can rid the dilapidated building of water and sludge, said Brian Lawrence, director of...
Derry Township man loses $1,000 in gift card scam
A Derry Township man is out $1,000 after state police said he fell victim to a gift card scam this month. Troopers said the man believed he was buying an enclosed trailer from Montana for $1,000 with free shipping through an ad on Craigslist that was related to an eBay...
Greensburg legal services office merges with regional organization
Laurel Legal Services in Greensburg is now known as Summit Legal Aid after merging operations with Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid in Washington. The organizations have the same mission, to provide individuals with limited resources free community legal services in family, housing, financial security and domestic violence matters. As Summit Legal...
Police: Hempfield woman stole money while working at Citizens Bank
A Hempfield woman was arrested Friday on police accusations that she stole $3,300 from a bank where she worked, according to court papers. Rachel A. Bates, 25, is free on $10,000 unsecured bail on felony charges of theft and receiving stolen property. An investigator from Citizens Bank contacted Westmoreland County...
Pa. antlerless deer license sales double last year’s pace as 2nd round nears
The second round of 2023-24 antlerless deer license sales begins at 8 a.m. Monday as the Pennsylvania Game Commission tries to catch up with a huge increase in the number of permits sold during the first round. The agency is allowing antlerless deer licenses to be purchased anywhere hunting licenses...
Police try to ID suspect in East Huntingdon quick-change scam
State police are looking for a man who they said turned a water bottle purchase into a $1,000 theft at the East Huntingdon Walmart in a quick-change scam. Troopers released a surveillance image of the suspect on Thursday. They said he scammed the cashier on July 10 out of $1,000...
Bank forecloses on Jeannette EMS building as state health department plans talks with agency
A bank wants to take possession of the Jeannette EMS station to cover a $340,000 debt. KeyBank filed the mortgage foreclosure action Wednesday in Westmoreland County court claiming the ambulance station on South Sixth Street defaulted on repayments of a $275,000 line of credit issued in 2008. The agency used...
2 sought in beating of Jeannette man
A Jeannette man was left with several facial fractures stemming from an assault last week and police are looking for two suspects. Andrew J. Eberhardt, 22, of Greensburg, and Cassie Ann Sorice, 20, of Pitcairn, are charged with conspiracy in connection with the beating at a North Seventh Street apartment...
Free cancer screening at Allegheny Health Network facility in Hempfield
A free cancer screening event at Allegheny Health Network’s Hempfield cancer center will be held Aug. 19. The screening is open to the public and no health insurance is required. Registration for the event closes Aug. 11. Reservations can be made by calling 412-359-6665. Screenings for various types of cancer...
Dog gets $2,000 reward for helping capture escaped Pennsylvania inmate Michael Burham
A chocolate Lab mix in Warren County is getting spoiled after his owners were presented Tuesday with $2,000, part of a reward authorities had offered for information leading to the apprehension of jail escapee Michael Burham. Ron and Cindy Ecklund were given $2,000 cash from Warren County Crime Stoppers for...
2 Westmoreland men indicted in federal Snapchat hacking case
Two Westmoreland County men are among seven people who were indicted by a federal grant jury in Erie alleging they conspired to hack into Snapchat accounts, steal explicit photos and videos and distribute them on the web, federal prosecutors said. Edward Michael Grabb, 31, of Jeannette and Michael Paul Yackovich,...
Westmoreland awards $3M in covid funds to social service programs
Westmoreland commissioners last week gave $3 million to eight social service agencies as part of its continuing allocation of federal covid relief funds. “We’re confident that the grants awarded in the fields of workforce development, mental health, housing and children and youth services are going to have a significant impact...
Woman fatally shot in Braddock during neighborhood dispute
Pennsylvania State Police are investigating after a woman was fatally shot Sunday evening in Braddock during a neighborhood dispute. Troopers said Erica Vail, 43, was shot in the abdomen around 7:30 p.m. on Corey Avenue during the dispute among residents that turned into an altercation. She was taken by ambulance...
5 seek Westmoreland commissioner’s seat vacated by Thrasher
Five men are interested in completing the remainder of departing Westmoreland County Commissioner Gina Cerilli Thrasher’s term when she moves on to a new job in a few weeks. Friday afternoon was the deadline for county Democrats to submit an application in hopes of being appointed to the remaining five...
Rescue of a dozen sick cats from Fayette home places burden on Hunker animal shelter
A Westmoreland based animal rescue is caring for about a dozen sick cats that were removed from a deplorable Fayette County home this week. Ninth Life Animal Rescue is looking for foster homes for cats already in its care and two dogs, a German shepherd and mixed breed, that are...
Jeannette EMS ordered to pay $340,000 to KeyBank
A judgment against Jeannette EMS was issued Thursday to pay $339,904 to KeyBank for outstanding principal on a commercial line of credit, interest and late fees, according to court filings. KeyBank filed the complaint this week outlining the line of credit, which was opened in July 1997 for $25,000 and...
Greensburg man faces charges after incident outside Buffalo Wild Wings
A Greensburg man is behind bars after state police said he threatened employees and a customer at a Hempfield restaurant. Julius N. McGhee, 57, was arraigned Thursday on charges of terroristic threats, disorderly conduct, harassment and public drunkenness. He was being held on $100,000 bail at the Westmoreland County Prison....
Jeannette becomes 1st municipality to provide direct support to Mutual Aid EMS
Jeannette became the first municipality to provide direct financial support to Mutual Aid EMS, a move ambulance officials hope will spread. Council on Thursday approved a proposal from Mutual Aid to be the city’s ambulance provider for the rest of 2023 in exchange for $1,000 monthly. “Getting assistance from the...
Westmoreland County unveils 1st phase of opioid settlement spending plan
A plan to spend the first installment of Westmoreland County’s cut of a national settlement of opioid lawsuits — $2.5 million — includes boosting peer- support resources and funding a medication-assisted treatment program at the county jail. Tim Phillips, director of the new Department of Community Relations and Prevention, said he...
Donations for vehicle help Jeannette to move forward with plans to add another police dog
Jeannette police this week ordered a used police SUV, partially funded by donations, in an effort to get the department’s second police dog on the streets. Chief Donald Johnston Jr. said $13,500 in donations, which have been raised since April, will be combined with several thousand dollars from the department’s...
