Renatta Signorini stories, Page 67
Pittsburgh man accused in North Huntingdon bank robbery
A Pittsburgh man declined to take $182 from a North Huntingdon bank police said he tried to rob and instead fled in a stolen BMW, according to court papers. The owner of the car, along with fingerprints found at the PNC Bank on Norwin Avenue, helped investigators identify Bruce M....
South Huntingdon woman accused of DUI, crashing into state police patrol car
A South Huntingdon woman is accused of being intoxicated when she crashed into a marked state police patrol car last month on Route 31, according to court papers. Troopers said they found text messages on a cellphone belonging to Kennedy M. Horvat, 27, in which she admitted she fled the...
Sen. Kim Ward makes history as 1st female pro tempore of Pa. Senate
State Sen. Kim Ward keeps making history. On Tuesday, the Hempfield Republican became the first woman to be appointed by fellow lawmakers as president pro tempore of the state Senate. She will oversee operations of the governing body and serve as its leader in the new position, holding the responsibility...
Man arrested after police use megaphone, flash bangs outside Latrobe home
Police used a megaphone and flash bangs Tuesday morning at a Latrobe home where they believed an armed man was holed up with a gun, blocking off the neighborhood for about an hour. Peter A. Letso, 49, came out of the Oak Street home after a police dog handler told...
Cold-weather shelters open in Allegheny, Westmoreland
With frigid temperatures creeping in this week, cold-weather shelters in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties are open. The United Way is working with the Welcome Home Shelter in Greensburg and Union Mission, just outside of Latrobe, to provide emergency housing and transportation. Both will be open when nighttime temperatures drop below...
Police: Maryland trio use stolen cards at Hempfield, North Huntingdon Walmart stores
Three Maryland residents arrested after using a stolen credit card at stores in Hempfield and North Huntingdon told state police they were involved in a global identity theft crime ring, according to court papers. The three suspects used the stolen credit card Nov. 9 to purchase nearly $2,000 in gift...
Fire reported in Rostraver’s Collinsburg neighborhood
A renovated mobile home was destroyed by fire Monday in the Rostraver neighborhood of Collinsburg. Fire Chief Joel Koricich said the home was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived after 11 a.m. A resident of the Collinsburg Road home had left to take a dog for a walk and returned...
Police locate 3 teens who escaped from Derry Township treatment facility
Three teenagers who escaped from a residential treatment facility in Derry Township over the weekend were found Sunday in Pittsburgh, according to state police. Troopers sought the public’s help in locating the teens, two 15-year-old girls and a 14-year-old girl, after they escaped the Adelphoi facility at 9:45 p.m. Friday....
Westmoreland commissioner about to get new job title: Mom
Gina Cerilli Thrasher is getting a new job: mother. She will become the first Westmoreland County commissioner to give birth while in office later this month when she and husband, Ernie Thrasher, welcome their first child, a boy. She knows the demands of motherhood will be a challenge, on top...
Parenting and politics are a rare mix
Motherhood in elected office is uncommon. Westmoreland County Commissioner Gina Cerilli Thrasher is joining a small group of elected officials to give birth while in public office when she and husband, Ernie Thrasher, welcome their first child, a boy, this month. Jean Sinzdak, associate director of Rutgers University’s Center for...
Railcar toy collection planned for Nov. 12
About 1,700 toys were collected in 2021 by a group of railcar operators who make a 40-mile journey every November on the Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad line from East Huntingdon to Hempfield. That was twice as many toys as the event collected for Toys for Tots in 2020, organizer John Gonder...
PennDOT officials tout federal contribution to $120.6M I-70 project in Rostraver
About $20 million of a nearly $1 trillion federal infrastructure bill is being put toward the reconstruction of the Interstate 70 and Route 51 interchange in Rostraver, according to PennDOT District 12 Executive Bill Kovach. The money was a bonus in the $120.6 million project that carries the distinction of...
‘They complete the love,’ Jeannette mom says at adoption hearing to add 3 more to family
Trudy and Jennifer Parke of Jeannette had taken a break from fostering children after adopting four biological siblings in 2018. But, when they found out three more biological siblings — children whom they knew — were in need of a home, they stepped up. On Thursday, the couple adopted Nevaeh,...
Suspect flees Mt. Oliver traffic stop, hits officer; drugs recovered from vehicle
A Pittsburgh police officer was injured early Friday in Mt. Oliver after authorities said a suspected impaired driver hit the policeman while fleeing a traffic stop. The driver was pulled over at 3 a.m. at McKinley Street and Grogan Avenue. Police said the driver provided a name and date of...
Pair of crashes shut down Pa. Turnpike in Beaver County for about 8 hours
A pair of crashes shut down the westbound lanes of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Beaver County for about eight hours Thursday. One person was taken to a hospital, according to state police. The first crash was reported at 5:39 a.m. in New Sewickley near Tulip Drive. A truck entering the...
Jeannette’s parks set for $1.2 million in improvements
Parks in Jeannette are slated for upgrades after the city was awarded a $1.2 million through the state Department of Community and Economic Development. Chief fiscal officer Ethan Keedy said there are plans to improve several city parks, but the projects that get the green light will depend on certain...
Man escapes building fire in Pittsburgh’s Uptown
A man escaped a burning building Thursday night in Pittsburgh’s Uptown, not far from PPG Paints Arena. The commercial fire in the 1300 block of Fifth Avenue was reported just after 9 p.m., according to city police. Paramedics evaluated the man at the scene. Officials had not said as of...
‘The most moving thing’: Living donors provide organs to keep others alive
It’s not like asking your friendly neighbor for a cup of sugar. It’s asking someone — be it a relative, friend or even a stranger — to become a living donor. To give up a part of their body to possibly save your life. The scenario may seem surreal, but...
Section of Pa. Turnpike from Beaver Valley to Cranberry reopens after crash
A section of the westbound Pennsylvania Turnpike between the Beaver Valley and Cranberry interchanges was closed for much of the day Thursday after a crash, according to turnpike officials. The crash was reported at milepost 20.1 around 5 a.m. The highway reopened around 2 p.m. Traffic in the eastbound side...
Powerball ticket worth $150K sold at South Huntingdon retailer
It wasn’t the jackpot, but a Powerball ticket that won a decent chunk of money Monday was sold at a South Huntingdon retailer. Pennsylvania Lottery officials said the ticket worth $150,000 in Monday’s drawing was sold at Pilot Travel Center, which earns a $500 bonus. The ticket matched four of...
Homicide arraignment held for Unity man accused of killing Cassandra Gross
Thomas G. Stanko was arraigned Tuesday in connection with the death of Cassandra Gross of Unity, the first of many court hearings her mother Kathe Gross plans to attend in the homicide case. “I’m going to every one,” Gross said outside the courtroom after Stanko, 52, of Unity, was denied...
Jeannette blaze deemed suspicious by state police fire marshal
A fire that left several Jeannette residents homeless Monday was deemed suspicious. Jeannette police Chief Donald Johnston Jr. said that determination was made by a state police fire marshal. “We are conducting follow-up investigations with witnesses and neighbors,” Johnston said. The blaze swept through two Division Street homes Monday afternoon...
2 gunshot victims seek help at Pittsburgh hospital, EMS headquarters
Two men sought help early Tuesday at a Pittsburgh hospital and Pittsburgh EMS headquarters after being shot outside of the city, according to police. A 21-year-old man was dropped off at the Filbert Street EMS station in Shadyside around 3:30 a.m. Police said he had a gunshot wound to the...
Police: Pickup burned for insurance money in Fairfield
Two men are accused by state police of conspiring to set a pickup truck on fire in Fairfield in August so one of them could collect insurance money and purchase a new vehicle, according to court papers. Jerry A. Boring, 58, of Fairfield, got about $4,900 for his 1997 Dodge...
1 hurt, property damaged in Rankin as shots fired from moving car
State police are investigating after a woman was injured and a home and vehicle were damaged when numerous shots were fired from a moving car Thursday in Rankin. A person in a dark-colored car fired the shots around 10 p.m. while driving at high speeds following a white car along...
