Renatta Signorini stories, Page 72
Arnold man sentenced to 4 to 8 years in prison for 2019 shooting
An Arnold man was sentenced Monday to four to eight years in a state prison in connection with a 2019 shooting in the city. Jordan J. Johnson, 28, pleaded guilty in April to a weapons violation. Charges of aggravated assault and related offenses were dismissed, according to online court records....
First defendant sentenced for unlawful restraint of North Huntingdon teen
A Greene County man was sentenced to three and a half to seven years in a state prison Monday for his role in the kidnapping of a 17-year-old North Huntingdon resident last year. James K. Maskil, 28, of Graysville, pleaded guilty to unlawful restraint, criminal trespass and a weapons violation....
Allegheny Township man gets up to 73 years for multiple rapes
Three women who Eric A. Wright was convicted of sexually assaulting pleaded with Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio on Monday to hand down a harsh sentence, saying they feared he would continue racking up more victims if freed. “The man probably should never see the light of day again,” one said in...
No nails in this 18th century Windsor-style chair
One thing is missing from a Windsor-style chair that is on display at the Westmoreland Historical Society’s education center. “This is really very primitive. There’s no nails,” said Joanna T. Moyar, collections manager. The wooden chair, made in the late 18th century, is connected to Fort Walthour in North Huntingdon...
Youngwood’s Hospaws merging with similar program for pet care during human medical emergencies
Hospaws is ending its operations, but the Youngwood-based organization’s mission of providing temporary foster homes or assistance to pets whose owners are in need of medical care will continue, president Valerie Hoegel said. Many of the nonprofit’s volunteers and foster homes are going to work with a similar program managed...
North Huntingdon police make another arrest in undercover drug sting
North Huntingdon police made an arrest Thursday after an undercover drug buy of 1,000 stamp bags of suspected heroin/fentanyl, which was at least the second such arrest in eight days in the township. Keith E. Blackman, 30, who lists addresses in Jeannette and North Versailles, was being held at the...
Jeannette proposes complete tax exoneration for 2 Clay Avenue properties
Jeannette officials exonerated property taxes on two Clay Avenue properties, one of which was damaged in a fire in 2020, and are hoping two other governing bodies will follow suit. The owner of the neighboring parcels near the intersection of South Fifth Street — Minh Truong — is donating them...
1 killed in Westmoreland County crash
A Greensburg woman died at an Allegheny County hospital after being involved in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday in Hempfield. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner identified the victim as Patricia Blake, 71. The incident was reported at the intersection of Toll Route 66 and Business Route 66 at 5:40 p.m. State...
Long-awaited Sobel’s Obscure Brewery opening in Jeannette
The anticipation has been building for the past three years as Sobel’s Obscure Brewery chipped away at transforming an old Jeannette department store into a taproom. It’s finally here — the Clay Avenue space is opening Friday. Jackie Sobel, who co-owns the craft brewery with her father, David Sobel, said...
Unity man accused of shooting pellet gun at house, troopers
A Unity man who state troopers said shot a pellet gun at them Tuesday night was arrested on burglary and assault charges. Police said they heard Robert A. Reynolds, 60, shooting the pellet gun “in unknown directions” when they arrived at Cranberry Lane after a report of a break-in, according...
Case against Jeannette man will proceed in fatal stabbing, despite claims of self defense
Done with work for the day, Jasmine Ross and Antwone D. Thurston II were enjoying the evening of Sept. 26 on the porch of their shared Jeannette home. They were accompanied by a neighbor, but things turned sour when William Osselburn, 62, of Jeannette joined in, Ross said. Osselburn began...
Penn Hills woman charged after Murrysville drug sting
A Penn Hills woman was arrested Monday after police said she sold five bricks of suspected heroin/fentanyl to a confidential informant in Murrysville, according to court papers. Summer L. Kerley-Webster, 38, is facing drug and criminal use of a communication facility charges. Police from North Huntingdon and Murrysville were assisted...
Derry Township man accused of child rape
A Derry Township man was jailed Monday on child rape charges. Brandon James John Bryan, 35, is accused of raping a girl when she was 10 and 11 years old, according to court papers filed by state police. The girl reported in June to troopers that Bryan raped her on...
North Huntingdon man charged with sex assault of teen
A North Huntingdon man is being held without bail after township police arrested him in connection with a reported sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl, according to court papers. Mark M. Mycka, 33, was arrested Friday on charges of statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and related offenses. Police...
Charges filed after Turner Dairy Farm tractor found parked in nearby driveway
A Salem man was arrested Sunday on theft charges after state police said they found a missing farm tractor worth $15,000 parked at his home, according to court papers. Gary A. Lauffer, 54, told troopers that he took the tractor from a nearby dairy farm to do work on his...
19th century James Butler furniture part of Penn’s Woods exhibit
Two wooden pieces of furniture created by James Butler bear dates — 1875 and 1899. Butler, who at the time lived on Spring Street in Ludwick before it became part of Greensburg, may have used the items in his home and had no intuition they’d be considered works of art...
2019 shooting, drug bust in Jeannette result in prison sentence
A former Jeannette man was sentenced Thursday to four to eight years in a state prison in connection with a 2019 shooting and separate drug bust in the city. James W. Smith, 45, pleaded guilty to drug possession, unlawful possession of a firearm, receiving stolen property, aggravated assault and false...
Assault, vandalism with arrow in Sutersville results in conviction
A Sutersville man was convicted of aggravated assault and related offenses Thursday after his neighbor testified he was threatened with an arrow during a September 2020 incident outside their apartment building. Daniel Predajna said he was able to hold a screen door closed to prevent Rickie L. Case, 60, from...
Injured Hempfield motorist OKs plea agreement for wrong-way driver
A Hempfield man was ordered to spend two years on probation Thursday for being impaired during a 2019 wrong-way crash on Route 30 that seriously injured another motorist. Larry T. Miller Sr., 75, also was sentenced to 40 days on home electronic monitoring. He entered a guilty plea Thursday to...
Police escape injury when suspect attempts to flee drug bust scene
Five police officers narrowly escaped injury Wednesday afternoon when a suspect in a North Huntingdon drug bust attempted to drive away from a motel parking lot on Route 30 after an undercover officer purchased drugs from him, according to court papers. When authorities converged on Antonio Barry-Burrell, 18, of Penn...
1 hurt in Rostraver motorcycle crash
One person was being flown by medical helicopter from the scene of a motorcycle crash on Route 51 in Rostraver, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatch supervisor. The crash was reported just before 8:30 a.m. No other vehicles were involved....
Man accused of using claw hammer to damage parked vehicles
A Greensburg man accused of using a claw hammer to damage six parked vehicles Saturday told police he did so because no one attended a birthday party for his brother, whom he identified as Jesus Christ, according to court papers. Troy M. Konieczny, 42, told city police he smashed the...
Jeannette’s Elliott Group touted as economic development model for state
Countries around the world have a piece of Jeannette. With few exceptions, the compressors, turbines and cryogenic pumps designed and manufactured at Elliott Group’s U.S. headquarters are shipped globally, a testament to the 110-year-old company’s ability to expand and adapt while keeping a talented workforce close to home, according to...
Short hikes offer the best views in peak Western Pennsylvania fall foliage season
The brightly colored leaves and earthy scent of autumn might best be taken in with your feet tucked inside a sturdy pair of shoes. Westmoreland County and the Laurel Highlands have plenty of spots for hiking amid tall deciduous trees with sun-dappled gold, orange and red leaves. But it can...
Nearly 60 cats rescued in Jeannette after tenant’s eviction
Nearly 60 cats and kittens connected to a Jeannette home are in the care of six local volunteer rescue organizations as rescuers try to trap about a dozen more that remain around the property. Erica Puskar, president of Furry Felines, said many of the cats have medical problems, including parasites,...
