Renatta Signorini stories, Page 81
Some fans treated by EMS, taken to hospital at Kenny Chesney tailgate
Twenty-two people were taken to a hospital Saturday for issues stemming from tailgating on Pittsburgh’s North Shore before the Kenny Chesney concert, according to city police. Paramedics treated 52 people. None of the patients were critical, according to public information officer Maurice Matthews. The reasons for hospitalizations and transports were...
Spectacular air maneuvers, impressive ground displays featured at Shop ‘n Save Westmoreland Airshow
Army Air Corps veteran Leslie Immel Sr. was honored in the sky Saturday, the same place he spent a lot of time during World War II. His son, Leslie Immel Jr. of Hempfield, watched as a World War II-era aircraft carrying the trifold flag from his father’s 2013 funeral buzzed...
Derry Borough woman killed in Hempfield crash
A Derry Borough woman was killed Saturday in a two-vehicle crash in Hempfield, according to the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office. Karen L. Botteicher, 61, was driving a GMC Envoy on Route 130 shortly before 12:30 a.m. when authorities said a Ford F-350 pickup truck crossed the center line and the...
Vehicle that crashed in Squirrel Hill Tunnel was overweight, police say
The driver of an overweight vehicle lost control upon braking in the outbound Squirrel Hill Tunnel Friday, causing it to overturn and block Parkway East traffic for two hours, according to state police. Troopers said Ronell L. Smith, 44, of Pittsburgh, was driving a Chevrolet pickup truck with a semi-trailer...
Pilots will push jets to their limits at Westmoreland Airshow
When Air Force pilot Capt. Aimee Fiedler hits the skies this weekend above Westmoreland County, she will be 100% on her game. Seated behind the controls of an F-16 Viper flying above thousands of spectators at the Shop ’n Save Westmoreland Airshow, Fiedler will be making sure she’s executing maneuvers...
World War II, ‘Top Gun’ aircraft among weekend Westmoreland air show attractions
Forget the movie theaters. The real action will be in the Westmoreland County skies this weekend. The Shop ’n Save Westmoreland Airshow on Saturday and Sunday will be like a real-life version of “Top Gun: Maverick,” a sequel released last month to the 1980s action flick featuring Tom Cruise. Fighter...
Greensburg man escapes handcuffs, walks out of city police station
A Greensburg man is being held without bail after police said he slipped out of handcuffs Saturday at the city station and walked out of the building, according to court papers. Gerald V. Leonard, 59, is charged with escape. He had been taken into custody on an unrelated bench warrant...
$65K stolen from Derry Township home
A man is accused of stealing $65,000 during a burglary at a Derry Township home last month, according to court papers. Tyrus Martin, 21, who has addresses in Johnstown and Whitehall, on Monday was ordered held without bail after state police said he was illegally in possession of a gun...
Homestead man accused by police of stabbing foster mother in Whitaker
An 18-year-old Homestead man is being held without bail after state police said he stabbed a woman who described the suspect as her foster child in Whitaker Friday and fled from authorities. Elrades Wright is charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, theft and related offenses. Troopers said they were called...
PennDOT: $2.5 million Route 30 project in Hempfield makes for less congestion at red lights
If you’ve noticed better traffic flow recently on Route 30 in Hempfield, you’re not alone. A $2.5 million project upgrading traffic signals on 3 miles of the highway between North Greengate Road and Possum Hollow Road is almost done. While PennDOT officials await final work between the contractor and Verizon,...
Jeannette approves $5,000 grants for city businesses
Supply chain issues have not been kind to siblings Jeremy Mock and Denise Ward as they push ahead with renovating a Jeannette property to open Glass City Cafe. But the new business got a $5,000 dose of kindness from Jeannette council on Tuesday to help with improvements of the Clay...
Greensburg man accused of fighting with sheriff’s deputies serving warrant to take him back to jail
A Greensburg man who was furloughed in March from the Westmoreland County Prison to get medical treatment is accused of fighting with sheriff’s deputies serving a warrant to take him back to jail, according to court papers. Steven R. Zastawniak, 33, is charged with escape, resisting arrest and aggravated assault...
Jeannette Community Band set to launch its 34th season
Live performances are back for members of the Jeannette Community Band, which will kick off its 34th season on Sunday after two years of cancellations because of the coronavirus pandemic. The 60-member band will play patriotic tunes and broadway and movie medleys, along with other songs, during its Memorial Day/spring...
Jeannette seeking applicants for vacant council seat
Jeannette is accepting letters of interest and resumes for an open seat on council after the May 13 death of Councilman Ron Smith. Submissions will be accepted until 4 p.m. June 3. Applicants must be at least 18 and a resident of the city for the past year. Council must...
Pa. Turnpike reopens between New Stanton and Breezewood after crash cleared
The Pennsylvania Turnpike reopened Monday afternoon following a lengthy closure in both directions between New Stanton and Breezewood because of an overturned tractor-trailer. The crash happened around 9 a.m. between the Somerset and Bedford exits, according to PennDOT. The road reopened at 2:30 p.m. after the wreckage was cleared. Some...
More than 16 tons of medication collected in Pa. during DEA Take Back Day
More than 16 tons of prescription medication were collected in Pennsylvania last month during the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. At 251 collection sites in the state, 32,848 pounds of unwanted, unused or expired medication was dropped off, according to agency statistics released Monday from the...
Monessen woman ordered to pay $66K in restitution in pandemic unemployment fraud case
A Monessen woman was sentenced to 18 months in a federal prison after, authorities said, she received $66,240 in fraudulent pandemic unemployment assistance. Amanda Fairfax, 37, was ordered to spend three years on supervised release after the prison term. Fairfax pleaded guilty in January to five counts of mail fraud....
Man shot in Derry Township accused of damaging $900 worth of property at suspect’s home
A man who was shot in Derry Township this week is accused of setting a fire at the home of the person state police believe pulled the trigger, according to court papers. Police said the fire damaged $900 worth of items. Troopers on Wednesday arrested Jonathan Thomas Corey, 39, of...
Boy, 15, charged with terroristic threats after Latrobe incident
A 15-year-old boy is being charged with terroristic threats after Latrobe police said he threatened another juvenile. A report about the incident was made to the department’s Greater Latrobe school resource officer and police said they seized “items of evidentiary value” during the investigation. There was no danger to school...
Court rejects John Lesko’s appeal in 1980 western Pa. ‘Kill for Thrill’ spree
One of the last appeals for Pennsylvania’s longest- serving death-row inmate has been denied. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on Tuesday rejected 64-year-old John Lesko’s request for a new trial and sentencing hearing. He was convicted in the 1980 murder of Apollo police Officer Leonard Miller, 21,...
Court rejects John Lesko’s appeal in 1980 western Pa. ‘Kill for Thrill’ spree
One of the last appeals for Pennsylvania’s longest-serving death row inmate has been denied. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on Tuesday rejected 64-year-old John Lesko’s request for a new trial and sentencing hearing. He was convicted in the 1980 murder of Apollo police Officer Leonard Miller,...
Judge won’t remove lawyer in federal gun case against suspect in Cassandra Gross disappearance
A judge on Wednesday refused to remove the attorney for a Unity man suspected in the 2018 disappearance of Cassandra Gross from his representation in an unrelated gun case. Instead, Chief U.S. District Judge Mark R. Hornak ordered that Komron Jon Maknoon continue working with Thomas G. Stanko, 51, in...
North Belle Vernon man accused of animal cruelty
A North Belle Vernon man is facing a preliminary hearing next month after humane officers reported finding his dog with several open wounds and a large tumor. Dan Karbowsky, whose age was not provided in court papers, was charged Tuesday with aggravated animal cruelty and neglect of animals. Officers with...
Jeannette man pleads guilty to homicide charge in 2019 shooting outside McKee Stadium
A Jeannette man entered a guilty plea Tuesday to third-degree homicide in connection with a 2019 fatal shooting outside McKee Stadium during the fourth quarter of a high school football game. Defense attorney Patrick Thomassey said entering the general plea was a difficult decision for Greg Harper, 43, to make....
Man hurt in Derry Township shooting; suspect arrested
A man shot outside a Derry Township home early Tuesday is expected to survive and the person accused of pulling the trigger was jailed, according to state police. Troopers said the suspect — Edward B. Hart, 57 — fired about a dozen rounds at the man at 2:30 a.m. after...

