Renatta Signorini stories, Page 86
Pittsburgh man accused of attacking 3 guards at Westmoreland County Prison
A Pittsburgh man being booked into the Westmoreland County Prison last week is accused of attacking three guards, according to court papers. Jason Owens, 20, was arraigned Monday on charges of aggravated and simple assault. He is being held on $25,000 bail in each of three cases. County detectives said...
Jeannette will hear testimony on use of CDBG grant funds
It appears both sides may get their way in Jeannette’s debate over whether to help businesses with grants through government funding related to the coronavirus pandemic. A public hearing is planned at 1 p.m. March 21 at city hall to hear testimony about creating a pot of money for businesses...
Jeannette may move property maintenance officer to full time
Jeannette Council is considering bumping its part-time property maintenance officer up to full-time status. The group discussed the move during an executive session this week and might vote on the matter at a session Thursday. Council in September hired Vincent Pascarella of New Stanton, resurrecting the job that fell in...
East Huntingdon man facing more fraud charges over money taken for work not done
Home improvement fraud charges keep racking up against an East Huntingdon man who was arrested Monday in connection with nearly $49,000 taken from eight Westmoreland County residents. It’s the 10th such case filed against him in Westmoreland and Fayette counties in the past year, according to online court records. Jason...
2nd man arrested in bail scam that targeted Hempfield woman
A second New Jersey man has been arrested in connection with a bail scam that duped a Hempfield woman out of thousands of dollars. Noel Medrano-Abreu, 29, is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison without bail. He was arraigned Tuesday, with the help of an interpreter, on two conspiracy...
Irwin man accused in stabbing
An Irwin man was arraigned Monday on police accusations that he used a steak knife to stab a man multiple times, according to court papers. Eric A. Perez, 39, is charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats and simple assault. Borough police were called to Maple Street and Mulberry Lane at...
Florida woman facing charges after loaded gun found at Pittsburgh International Airport
A Florida woman is facing charges after a loaded revolver was found in her backpack Sunday at Pittsburgh International Airport, according to Allegheny County Police. Transportation Security Administration officers spotted the gun just before 7 p.m. in an X-ray machine at the main security checkpoint. The 22-year-old woman, who was...
Ukrainian traditions, roots abound in Westmoreland County
Ukrainian customs are second nature to Mary Alice Hoffer. She is a pierogi “dough roller” at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church in Derry Township. A small bowl of pysanky eggs sits on a table full of religious icons in her home. It’s a testament to...
Jeannette students party over pancakes as incentive to read more
While Jeannette elementary students savored pancakes Friday, their teachers relished the opportunity to have a little fun at school once again. Teachers used a pancake party as an incentive to encourage reading in their classrooms. It has worked, said first grade teachers Lou Anne Gansor and Cathy Harbaugh. “They just...
N.J. man accused of posing as bail bondsman to take $5K from Hempfield woman
A Hempfield woman is out $5,000 after being tricked into believing her daughter was in legal trouble after a car crash, according to state police. The woman gave the cash to a New Jersey man who posed as a bail bondsman and visited her home Monday in the Midway neighborhood,...
Ready for Crumbl? Cookie chain set for grand opening in North Huntingdon
Get ready for posts featuring gourmet cookies to flood your social media feed. Crumbl Cookies, a fast-growing bakery sensation, is holding its grand opening today and Saturday in North Huntingdon. Owner Tammy Ornowski isn’t sure what to expect as far as turnout goes but said the news has been quickly...
State trooper based in Hempfield charged with harassment
A state trooper’s duties have been restricted after he was cited this week in connection with an incident at his Mt. Pleasant Township home. Michael S.J. Predajna, 37, is facing two counts of harassment. Citations filed by state police indicate that he slapped someone at his home at 2:10 a.m....
Troopers arrest Ohio man after finding 1 kilo of cocaine in his SUV on Pa. Turnpike
An Ohio man is behind bars after state police said they found 1 kilogram of cocaine hidden in the SUV he was driving Wednesday on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Jose O. Pacheco-Diaz, 41, of Lorain — located about 30 miles west of Cleveland — is charged with drug and weapon violations....
Police still looking for red pickup that injured Latrobe woman in hit-and-run
State police are still looking for a red Dodge pickup truck involved in a hit-and-run nearly six weeks ago that left a Latrobe woman seriously injured. Trooper John Robertson Jr. testified Wednesday that he has asked the father of the man accused of driving it at the time of the...
Closures of I-70 west in Rostraver planned as emergency bridge repairs continue
Part of Interstate 70 in Rostraver will be closed two nights next week, as well as the following weekend, as crews continue emergency work to repair a bridge damaged by an over-height vehicle. The westbound side of the highway will be closed from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. Tuesday and...
1 suspect in check theft, ‘washing’ scheme jailed; police still looking for 2nd in $10K case
A McKees Rocks man accused in a check “washing” scheme was jailed Tuesday. Bryan. A. McGraw, 30, was being held at the Westmoreland County Prison on $50,000 bail. State police announced last week they were searching for McGraw and Michael G. Machay, 35, of Butler, in connection with a check...
Jeannette officials aim to stop trespassers at crumbling former brewery
Notices discouraging anyone from entering the former Fort Pitt Brewery property in West Jeannette were put up last week after city officials received reports of trespassing, according to code enforcement officer Bill Whetzel. He said the city was notified that adults and children were inside the abandoned property and that...
Westmoreland County to expand mobile crisis unit for mental health emergencies
Westmoreland County is getting a $372,000 grant to expand its mobile crisis unit that responds to mental health emergencies as a “988” number expected to be rolled out this summer could lead to an increase in need. Westmoreland Community Action, which operates a local crisis hotline and unit with Westmoreland...
Unity man suspected in woman’s disappearance may part ways with attorney, court papers indicate
The attorney for a Unity man suspected in the 2018 disappearance of Cassandra Gross is seeking to be discharged from his unrelated federal gun case a month before sentencing. The move came after Thomas George Stanko, 51, wrote two letters this month to a federal judge, apparently citing his displeasure...
Time capsules at Westmoreland Intermediate Unit lock up items until 2072
Several hallmarks of 2022 were placed in a time capsule by Hempfield Area students for others to find in 50 years. Among them were a smartphone, a blank vaccine card, and gift cards to various stores and a movie theater that might not exist in five decades. Superintendent Tammy Wolicki...
2 killed in Fayette wrong-way crash
Two men were killed Sunday in a wrong-way crash in Fayette County, according to state police. Troopers were called to the crash on Route 40 near Morgantown Road in South Union Township at 12:45 a.m. Sunday. Police said a Ford Taurus that was driven by Dylan Healey, 25, of Carmichaels...
45 counterfeit $20s used at 2 Salem businesses, police say
The rash of counterfeit bills continues in Westmoreland County, this time in Salem at the Walmart and a Speedway gas station, according to state police. Troopers said two men were seen entering the Hollywood Boulevard store at 9:30 p.m. Saturday and used 41 counterfeit $20 bills to buy a Shark...
Police searching for 2 men in check theft, ‘washing’ scheme that netted $10K
State police are looking for two men who they believe stole a check from a mailbox belonging to a Ligonier accounting firm and used it to steal about $10,000 from Latrobe Municipal Authority. Michael G. Machay, 35, of Butler and Bryan A. McGraw, 30, of McKees Rocks are charged with...
Beaver woman sentenced to federal prison in $1 million tax embezzlement
A Beaver County woman was sentenced Tuesday to a year and a day in a federal prison for stealing more than $1 million in tax payments, according to federal prosecutors. Jeanne Bowser, 63, of Center, was ordered to spend three years on supervised release after the prison term. She pleaded...
Documentary about opioid addiction crisis to be screened in GreensburgVideo
A documentary film about the drug addiction crisis being screened Friday in Greensburg is relevant to the entire community, said Richard Jones, executive director of Sage’s Army. It’s “very short-sighted” to think addiction doesn’t affect Westmoreland County as a whole, he said. “The truth is this applies to all of...
