Renatta Signorini stories, Page 60
Overdose deaths dropped significantly in Westmoreland in 2022
Accidental drug overdose deaths decreased significantly in 2022 with 118, but the number of deaths by suicide — 62 — set a record, according to the Westmoreland County Coroner’s annual report. Officials involved in drug abuse prevention hope the decrease is a good sign for the harm reduction efforts they’ve...
Veteran-owned Glass City Cafe to open in Jeannette
A coffee shop set for a grand opening in Jeannette on Saturday is focusing on veterans in reviving an old building on Clay Avenue. Glass City Cafe owner Jeremy Mock, a Marine veteran who is in the Navy Reserve, and co-owner Denise Ward are seeking out veteran-owned companies for supplies,...
Police raid vape shops in Hempfield, Murrysville
Two Westmoreland County vape shops were raided Wednesday morning by police. One of the shops, District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli said, was targeting children with illegal marijuana products. The police work continued through the day as authorities photographed and collected evidence at PA Vapor on Route 22 in Murrysville and Keepin’...
Man dead in Salem crash
A Ligonier man died at a hospital after a crash in Salem Tuesday evening, according to Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson. James W. Graham Sr., 56, was pronounced dead at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg. The crash was reported after 6 p.m. on Route 119, just north of Crabtree....
St. Clair man facing new sexual assault charges involving a child
A St. Clair man was serving probation on a child endangerment charge when state police said he sexually assaulted a child, according to court papers. Shawn L. Waulk, 35, is being held at the Westmoreland County Prison without bail. He was arrested last week on charges of aggravated indecent assault,...
Woman wanted in North Huntingdon fortune-telling scheme arrested in Florida
A woman accused by North Huntingdon police in a fortune-telling scheme was taken into custody late Monday in Florida. Alexis Candy Mitchell, 29, is being held at a Palm Beach County detention center awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania, according to jail records. Westmoreland County sheriff’s deputies said they contacted authorities in...
Lack of workers, funding jeopardize day programs for people with autism, intellectual disabilities
Marjorie Bungard is one of the lucky ones. Her days at Community Living Care’s New Florence program mean regular socialization, an exercise routine and stops at the grocery store. Last week, she made a St. Patrick’s Day craft. “This is where most of my friends are,” she said. There are...
Jeannette city council rejects appeals to stop property demolition
Three Jeannette properties are once again slated for demolition after city council last week rejected appeals to halt removal of the blight. Council members unanimously denied the appeals of: Charles Schade for 313 S. Fifth St., Sherran N. Herring for 420 Division St. and Lyle Milner for 12 S. 12th...
Police say Unity couple threatened by man wielding shotgun
A Unity man was denied bail over the weekend after state police said he pointed a shotgun at his ex-girlfriend and her new beau, according to court papers. Skylar B. Musnug, 18, is charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats and related offenses. The woman told troopers that she and her...
Hempfield man jailed after police find child pornography on computer
A Hempfield man arrested last month in connection with a social media sex sting is facing new charges after state police said they found more than 1,100 images and videos of child pornography on his computer. Thomas J. Hibbard, 60, is now being held without bail on 900 child pornography...
Minn. man arrested after incident at Hempfield Walmart
A Minnesota man was being held at the Westmoreland County Prison after state police said he used portable speakers and a microphone to talk about covid, the internet, the Black Lives Matter movement and his spiritual awakening inside the Hempfield Walmart. Spencer Tomasek, 25, was arrested Saturday on charges of...
Tales of olde: 1478 Chaucer classic is jewel at St. Vincent rare book room
The well-worn pages inside the marbled cover of a first-edition “Canterbury Tales” book is carefully stored in a special slipcover at Saint Vincent College in Unity. The book is dated 1478. In the climate-controlled rare book room at the Verostko Center for the Arts and Latimer Family Library, the pages...
Balzer seeks 4th term as Westmoreland controller
Jeffrey Balzer is looking to secure his fourth term at Westmoreland County controller. Balzer, 57, of Salem, announced his intent to run for reelection to the office he has held since 2012. He is a Republican. The controller serves as the watchdog over county government and audits the financial performance...
Wrong way: Driver impairment, lack of awareness key elements in deadly crashes
When Earl Travis looked back at the road after glancing at a side mirror, he saw headlights on his side of a divided highway. He had a few seconds to react. “All I could do is, literally, I just turned the wheel to the right,” he said. That quick move...
Jeanette teen arrested in robbery involving THC cartridges
A 16-year-old Jeannette boy was arrested and charged as an adult Tuesday in connection with a robbery of another teenager. Ronan D. Hunter was being held on $100,000 bail on charges of robbery, unlawful restraint, possession of a firearm by a minor and related offenses. Jeannette police were notified by...
Indiana County man hurt while trying to pick up aluminum on Toll Route 66 in Hempfield
An Indiana County man standing on the berm of Toll Route 66 in Hempfield was hurt Tuesday when a passing commercial vehicle hit a piece of aluminum the man was trying to pick up. State police said the driver did not stop. The 35-year-old man was preparing at 3 p.m....
Man’s hand cut by machete in Latrobe robbery; 3 charged
A Latrobe man’s hand was cut by a machete after a robbery Tuesday night during which he and a woman sought refuge in a bathroom to fend off their attackers, authorities said. Three people were charged after police said they chased two of the suspects through town. Codi J. Barger,...
Greensburg landlord charged with obstructing emergency services during mobile home fire
The landlord of a Greensburg mobile home destroyed by fire was charged this week with obstructing emergency services, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. The Fox Hill Street home was engulfed in flames around 12:30 a.m. March 1 and a resident was hospitalized for treatment of injuries. Overhead power lines damaged...
Planet Fitness donates cardio equipment to Jeannette Fire Department
Jeannette firefighters got an exercise equipment upgrade Tuesday thanks to a donation from Planet Fitness’ location behind the Westmoreland Mall. The cardio equipment will be a great addition to the department’s new fire station, but until it’s built, one piece will be available in the current location while the other...
1 transported in I-70 on-ramp crash in North Belle Vernon
Firefighters freed a person trapped in a one-vehicle crash Monday morning in North Belle Vernon. The crash was reported around 8:30 a.m. on the on-ramp to Interstate 70 westbound, according to a Westmoreland 911 supervisor. A medical helicopter was ready to transport the person to a hospital. Traffic on the...
Uncle charged with involuntary manslaughter in Hempfield man’s overdose death
An Allegheny County man is charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment after North Huntingdon police said he did not seek medical help when his nephew became unresponsive and later died. Michael W. Debruyn, 26, who had been reported missing, was found dead Aug. 10 in the passenger seat of...
North Belle Vernon man sentenced to 7 years in child porn case
A North Belle Vernon man was sentenced last week to seven years and one month in a federal prison after pleading guilty to receiving and possessing child pornography. David Engel, 47, was ordered to spend an additional 10 years on supervised release and ordered to pay $21,000 in restitution to...
Police find $140K of suspected heroin, fentanyl after turnpike traffic stop in New Stanton
Two men are being held without bail after state police said they found $140,000 worth of drugs hidden in an SUV on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in New Stanton. Mario A. Caba, 37, of Philadelphia, and Elvis L. Holguin Ventura, 26, of Newark, N.J., are charged with drug offenses. Troopers on...
Nearly 1,200 charges filed after dead, dying reptiles found in Murrysville home
A Murrysville woman is facing animal cruelty charges after 101 dead reptiles and 76 more that were barely alive were seized from her home in December, according to court papers. Nearly 1,200 charges were filed Wednesday against Susan McHale, 60, by humane agents from All But Furgotten rescue. They were...
Westmoreland inmate assault tied to Arnold fatal shooting, detectives say
A Wilkinsburg man was arraigned Wednesday after authorities said he beat an inmate at the Westmoreland County Prison for testifying against a man convicted of a 2020 Arnold fatal shooting, according to court papers. County detectives said Shawnti Shifflett, 27, attacked the fellow prisoner at the Hempfield lockup on Feb....
