Renatta Signorini stories, Page 71
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...
Pittsburgh Police investigating shooting that hurt 14-year-old boy
A 14-year-old boy was hospitalized Monday evening after Pittsburgh Police said he was shot in the ankle. Officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert in the 1200 block of Mohler Street near the Homewood North neighborhood around 8:50 p.m. Police said they weren’t able to find evidence of a crime scene...
Charges filed after June accidental drug overdose at apartments in North Huntingdon
A former North Huntingdon man was arrested last week after township police said he called 911 seeking medical attention for a neighbor but then refused to provide details about where the neighbor was, according to court papers. The neighbor, Adam R. Pascale, died of an accidental drug overdose. Police charged...
Armed person dies in Fawn after interaction with state police
A 50-year-old Fawn man died Monday morning after an interaction with state police, according to authorities. What police deemed an “officer involved shooting” was reported on Shamrock Lane, where troopers said they encountered an armed person, after responding to an incident there. Police said the armed person — later identified...
Operation Santa Claus hopes to feed 5,000 families this year
Inflation has been pushing grocery bills higher, and that means Operation Santa Claus will have to raise more money this year to be able to help Western Pennsylvania families in need. A holiday meal for a family of four that typically costs around $17.25 now is $20 or more, said...
Man killed in Washington County motorcycle crash
A Washington County man died Sunday evening after crashing the motorcycle he was driving just south of Finleyville, according to the Washington County Coroner. Frank Eckels, 54, of Carroll Township, was driving the motorcycle south just after 6:30 p.m. on Route 88 in Union Township when he crossed the center...
Unity man charged with homicide in Cassandra Gross disappearance
For 1,662 days, Kathe Gross waited for Thursday. It was the day state police charged the man they believe killed her daughter, Cassandra Gross, of Unity. Since April 9, 2018 — the day Kathe Gross reported her daughter missing — she pushed for homicide charges against Thomas G. Stanko, 52....
Fetterman’s health takes center stage at debate with Oz
All eyes on Pennsylvania on Tuesday night seemed to focus on the U.S. Senate debate between Democrat John Fetterman and Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz. Most of the attention focused on Fetterman’s health. “The two candidates differed sharply on multiple issues during the debate, held in a Harrisburg television studio. But...
Greensburg man sentenced for inappropriate sexual contact with girls
A Greensburg man was sentenced to five to 17 years in a state prison for inappropriate sexual contact with two girls. John Harry Patak III, 31, pleaded guilty Monday to several counts in two cases including attempted aggravated indecent assault of a child, indecent assault, child endangerment and corruption of...
