Renatta Signorini stories, Page 83
Jeannette allocates some of its $900K in American Rescue Plan funds
The first half of Jeannette’s American Rescue Plan allocation is being moved into the general fund. Solicitor Tim Witt said that is the first step to begin spending the money, $267,000 of which already has been earmarked. Council has been mulling over for months how to use its $900,000. The...
State trooper honored for Unity fire rescue
A state trooper was honored Thursday by the Westmoreland County commissioners for rescuing a Unity family from their burning home. Trooper Tony Anthony was on his way to work Jan. 5 when he spotted flames at a Donohoe Road house in Unity, not far from where he lives. “Originally, I...
County commissioners approve demolition of 12 Westmoreland buildings
Twelve residential and commercial structures in eight communities are slated for demolition through Westmoreland County’s redevelopment authority. Jason Rigone, director of the county’s planning division, said the goal is to bring all of the buildings down within a year. “They’re either blighted, abandoned or vacant,” he said. The county commissioners...
Rostraver man jailed, accused of smashing former tenant’s windshield outside Greensburg courthouse
A Rostraver man is behind bars after Greensburg police said he smashed the windshield of a former tenant’s car while she was sitting in it outside the county courthouse, according to court papers. Marco Testa, 38, is charged with robbery, theft, simple assault, criminal mischief and harassment. City police were...
Irwin woman accused by police of stabbing man 6 times
An Irwin woman is free on $15,000 unsecured bond after police said she stabbed a man six times, according to court papers. Lori Jo Olsen, 53, is charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault and simple assault. Borough police said they were called to Olsen’s Spruce Street home Thursday at 9...
Man suspected in Derry Township hit-and-run surrenders to authorities
The suspect in a Derry Township hit-and-run that left a Latrobe woman seriously injured surrendered to authorities Friday morning. Bobby Paul Bryer, 30, posted $50,000 bail through a bail bondsman. He is charged with aggravated assault by vehicle, accidents involving death or personal injury and several related offenses, including speeding....
Wily ‘coyote’ — or maybe dog — on lam after clawing out of Mt. Pleasant Township shelter
An animal that was undergoing testing to determine whether it is a dog or coyote escaped from the Mt. Pleasant Township wildlife rehabilitation center where it was being treated for mange. Rescuers were searching for the creature Thursday, said wildlife rehabilitator Morgan Barron. Wildlife Works founder, director and senior rehabilitator...
Pittsburgh man involved in 2009 fatal shooting pleads guilty to weapons possession
A Pittsburgh man who admitted involvement in a 2009 slaying pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Damone Porter, 34, previously of Pittsburgh’s Northview Heights neighborhood, has been detained since March, according to court records. Drug Enforcement Administration agents reported...
Police searching for man suspected in Derry Township hit and run, woman remains hospitalized
State troopers are urging a man to surrender after they charged him Tuesday in connection with a hit-and-run in Derry Township that left a Latrobe woman seriously injured. Trooper Steve Limani said authorities had not been successful Wednesday in locating Bobby Paul Bryer, 30, who might be driving the same...
Pittsburgh man gets 10 years in federal prison for distributing child porn
A Pittsburgh man was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in a federal prison for distributing child pornography. George Goodwin, 50, of North Point Breeze, was ordered to spend five years on supervised release after the prison sentence. Federal prosecutors said Goodwin used the social networking site MeWe to distribute videos...
Dog or coyote? Animal rescued in Fairfield Township perplexes volunteers
An animal that has perplexed rescuers is being cared for at a Mt. Pleasant Township wildlife rehabilitation center while waiting on DNA results to determine exactly what it is. The four-legged, 37-pound creature is being treated for mange after a Fairfield woman spotted it last week, said Wildlife Works volunteer...
Latrobe woman accused of taking $28K from Hempfield employer
County detectives arrested a Latrobe woman on Tuesday in connection with a $28,000 theft from the Hempfield trucking and glass recycling firm where she worked last year, according to court papers. Robin M. Poole, 60, paid her personal bills and made checks out to herself by forging the names of...
State police continue to investigate hit-and-run accident in Derry Township that injured woman
State police are following up on tips from the public as a Latrobe woman remains hospitalized after being hit by a pickup over the weekend outside her workplace. The driver fled the scene. Mary Bathurst, 42, a facility attendant at Union Mission, was taking out the trash before 6 p.m....
Sewickley Township man accused in threats, shovel attack
A teenage girl was hospitalized during the weekend after state police said a Sewickley Township man struck her with a shovel, according to court papers. Jason Lee Bingaman, 50, is accused of becoming angry Saturday after waking up from a six-hour nap in a bathtub and attacking three people at...
Federal prosecutors seek to keep former Greensburg dentist detained in Zambia murder case
A former Greensburg dentist accused of killing his wife during a safari in Zambia “has a reason to take the money and run,” according to federal prosecutors in Colorado hoping to keep him detained until trial. Prosecutors pointed to $27 million in assets and firearms expertise in describing Lawrence Rudolph,...
Hempfield woman arrested after wanted man found hiding in laundry basket
A Hempfield woman is behind bars after police said she claimed a wanted man was not at home, but authorities found him hiding in a laundry basket, according to court papers. Emmaly Bridge, 30, is charged with receiving stolen property, hindering apprehension and possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. Westmoreland...
Hempfield man sentenced to federal prison for meth trafficking
A Hempfield man will spend up to 10 years in a federal prison for his role in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy, according to court records. In addition to the prison term, a federal judge on Wednesday also ordered Zachary Miller, 28, to forfeit five guns. He will spend five years...
Declining workforce amid pandemic cited as Westmoreland County’s top issue
Westmoreland County commissioners on Wednesday acknowledged the hard work needed locally to build up the declining workforce, a problem that has been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. “The challenge has recently come front and center and is identified as the No. 1 issue businesses face and this pandemic has only...
Police locate missing 11-year-old boy in North Huntingdon
An 11-year-old boy was found Wednesday morning after police said he went missing in North Huntingdon. Township police and firefighters searched for about two hours before locating the child around 9:45 a.m., according to police. Authorities focused their search in the area of Caroline Drive and Carpenter Lane where the...
Hempfield man accused in Jeannette break-in, attack on woman
A Hempfield man released from federal prison in May posted $25,000 bail Tuesday after police said he broke into a Jeannette home and attacked a woman, according to court papers. The woman was taken to a hospital for treatment of a broken finger and lip laceration, police said. Tristin B....
Man jailed in 110 mph police chase in Latrobe, Unity
An Indiana County man is behind bars after a police chase on Route 30 that reached 110 mph, according to court papers. Thomas David Beener, 52, of White Township, told Latrobe police that he had “smoked a bunch of meth” and was taken to Excela Health Latrobe Hospital for an...
Dormont man jailed after police said he fled North Huntingdon drug bust
A Dormont man is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison without bail after North Huntingdon police said he fled a September drug bust. Linere Cosby, 25, is charged with possession with intent to deliver, escape, criminal use of a communication facility and a drug offense. Township police said they...
Pa. state police seize $72 million in illegal drugs in 2021
Cocaine’s comeback made a big leap in 2021, with Pennsylvania State Police confiscating nearly 1,000 pounds of the illegal drug. The 986 pounds seized by troopers last year, valued at $21.7 million, was more than the combined amount in 2020 (300 pounds) and 2019 (425 pounds.) In all, state police...
3 minor injuries reported after car crashes into Murrysville home
Three people had minor injuries after a car crashed into a home Sunday morning, according to Pat O’Mahony, fire chief of Murrysville Volunteer Fire Company No. 1. The crash happened at 7:45 a.m. on Pleasant Valley Road. O’Mahony said the driver of a Buick LaCrosse reported falling asleep before leaving...
Winter storm to bring nearly a foot of snow to parts of Western Pennsylvania
Parts of Western Pennsylvania could see nearly a foot of snow in a winter storm getting underway Sunday afternoon and state officials urged citizens to stay home. Meteorologist Lee Hendricks at the National Weather Service in Moon said Sunday morning that the storm’s track shifted a bit and parts of...
