Rich Cholodofsky stories, Page 46
Westmoreland DA vehicle usage declines as a result of crash
Westmoreland District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli has been driving a county-owned vehicle less frequently since she was involved in a December crash in Murrysville, according to records obtained by the Tribune-Review. Ziccarelli, a first-term Republican from Lower Burrell, drove her county vehicle nine days and 533 miles in February, according to...
Irwin, Export bars challenge covid fines, license suspensions
Two local restaurant owners are asking a Westmoreland County judge to overturn fines and liquor license suspensions they incurred after they were accused of failing to follow covid-19 mandates. Brandy’s on Main in Irwin and Jiggers Pub in Export claim health and safety orders instituted by former Gov. Tom Wolf...
Ex-Fayette drug kingpin back home after parole from state, federal prisons
A former Fayette County drug kingpin is living in Masontown after serving more than 30 years in state and federal prison. Ronald Whethers, who was among those convicted of ordering the killing of a Monessen man whose heart and liver were transplanted into then-Gov. Robert Casey as part of a...
Westmoreland County unveils new social services grant program
Westmoreland leaders expect a $3 million grant program launched Monday to make a significant impact on mental health care in the county. Up to 20 grants will be distributed to nonprofit agencies and organizations that serve residents who have become increasingly in need of social services since the onset of...
Sutersville woman to serve probation for sexual assault of teen
A Sutersville woman was ordered Thursday to serve two years on probation for having sex with a 13-year-old boy she tutored during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown. Ashley E. Sherry, 23, pleaded guilty in January to felony charges of statutory sexual assault and corruption of minors. A more serious count of...
Fortuneteller to remain in custody pending court hearing
A fortuneteller accused of bilking clients will remain in the Westmoreland County Prison after she was arrested earlier this month in Florida. Alexis Mitchell, 29, was charged with theft and other offenses after a North Huntingdon man claimed he paid her $10,000 for illegal fortunetelling services last August. Police said...
North Huntingdon man serving life sentences seeks return of seized property
A North Huntingdon man serving two life prison sentences for the 2021 murders of a Penn Township couple wants his belongings back. The lawyer for Victor F. Steban asked a judge during a court hearing Thursday to order prosecutors to return dozens of items that were seized after Steban’s arrest...
Romanian nationals plead guilty to Walmart thefts in Hempfield, North Huntingdon
Three Romanian nationals face potential deportation after pleading guilty to stealing gift cards from two local Walmart stores. Police said the two women and one man, who listed home addresses in Baltimore, initially claimed they were part of a global identity theft ring but with help from a translator told...
Westmoreland courthouse garage rebuild nears completion
A parade of 49 trucks hauling nearly 2,000 tons of concrete will travel through Greensburg on Saturday morning as part of a final push to complete construction of a two-story underground parking garage at the Westmoreland County Courthouse. Main Street will be closed to traffic in front of the courthouse...
Westmoreland primary election on track as legal challenge progresses
Uncertainty about whether two Republicans can remain on the ballot in the race for Westmoreland commissioner is not expected to impact the county’s preparations for the spring election. “Our schedule is intact right at this second. We have until April 5 to get answers,” election bureau Director Greg McCloskey said...
Lawyer for New Kensington man accused of killing son asks for more time to prepare for trial
The lawyer for a Brackenridge man accused of killing his 9-year-old son told a Westmoreland County judge on Tuesday he needs additional time to prepare for trial. Assistant Public Defender Michael Garofalo said he needs about six months to prepare his defense of Jean J. Charles, 41, who was charged...
Westmoreland explores relocation of youth shelter program
Because of the growing number of children facing adult criminal charges, Westmoreland County is looking to buy a home or large facility near Greensburg to accommodate its juvenile shelter program. With the purchase, the county is hoping to relocate the shelter program from the Regional Youth Services Center in Hempfield....
Appeal seeks to remove Westmoreland GOP commissioner challengers from primary ballot
The chairman of the Westmoreland County Republican Committee has renewed his effort to have two GOP candidates for county commissioner removed from the primary ballot. Bill Bretz on Monday filed an appeal with Commonwealth Court challenging a one-sentence ruling issued March 17 by Common Pleas Judge Jim Silvis. The judge...
Animal sedative poses increased threat in local drug overdoses
A powerful tranquilizer normally used by veterinarians treating horses and cows was found in more than 18% of fatal overdose cases in Westmoreland County, according to the Coroner’s Office. Officials said the drug, xylazine, is becoming an increasingly popular additive to heroin, fentanyl and other drugs. Its presence has local...
Westmoreland water authority, CNX reach $600K settlement
The Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County is set to receive more than $600,000 to settle a federal lawsuit it filed in 2016 against the energy company that operates dozens of gas wells at the Beaver Run Reservoir. Board members this week approved the settlement with CNX Resources. The lawsuit involved...
Ashley Kertes, wife of Westmoreland commissioner, dead at 36
Ashley Kertes, the 36-year-old wife of Westmoreland County Commissioner Sean Kertes, died unexpectedly Friday morning. Greensburg Mayor Robb Bell said police were called to Kertes’ home shortly before 7:30 a.m., where she was found unresponsive in bed. No foul play is suspected. The cause of her death has not been...
Federal grant to pay for security upgrades in Westmoreland public housing
The Westmoreland County Housing Authority said it will use a portion of a $4.5 million federal grant to upgrade security efforts in its local communities. Money will be allocated to pay to install and upgrade security cameras throughout the authority’s public housing system as part of security enhancements that include...
Westmoreland GOP boots candidate from committee for supporting his own campaign
A Westmoreland County commissioner candidate said he has been booted off the county Republican committee for backing his own campaign. Party officials confirmed this week that Paul Kosko was removed from the committee for actively campaigning against incumbents Sean Kertes and Doug Chew in the lead-up to the Republican primary...
Rain closes county-owned Twin Lakes Dog Park near Greensburg
Man’s best friend will have to wait until at least the weekend to run and play at Twin Lakes Dog Park. Westmoreland County officials said Thursday morning’s heavy rains led to the closure of all three sections of the attraction at Twin Lakes Park, east of Greensburg. “It’s on a...
Sewickley man convicted of illegal weapons possession
A Sewickley Township man serving a prison sentence for the sexual assault of a teen was convicted Tuesday of illegally possessing of a cache of guns and ammunition. Steven K. Stemmler, 40, was found guilty of one misdemeanor firearms offense in connection with an allegation that authorities found 15 guns,...
2 plead guilty to armed robbery of driver in Mt. Pleasant Township
Two men pleaded guilty this week to an armed robbery two years ago in Mt. Pleasant Township. Elijah Ben Chaabane and Jake Daniel Franklin, both 20, along with another juvenile, originally were charged in connection with Dec. 19, 2020, incident in which police said a man hired to drive to...
Jeannette man pleads no contest to drug sale in fatal overdose
A Jeannette man pleaded no contest this week to selling drugs used in the fatal overdose of a friend two years ago in a Hempfield high-rise apartment building. The defense lawyer for Rick Paul Petros, 54, said his client continues to question whether the drugs are to blame for the...
Mothers embrace as Export man pleads guilty to Vandergrift woman’s murder
Two mothers embraced as they shared a moment of grief and understanding Monday morning in a Westmoreland County courtroom. Lisa Rodgers offered an apology for her son, who had just pleaded guilty for his role in the violent murder of Beverly Richason’s daughter nearly six years ago. “I know you...
Unity man who fired fatal shots into house pleads guilty
A Unity man who killed a Derry Township woman in her bed when he fired four shots into her home will serve up to 42 years in prison. Nathan J. Quidetto, 23, pleaded guilty Monday to a lesser charge of third-degree murder in connection with the July 20, 2020, shooting...
Teens accused in shootings in Jeannette, New Kensington to be prosecuted as adults
Suspects in three separate shootings over the past two years will be prosecuted as adults after judges Tuesday rejected requests to transfer their cases to juvenile court. Khalil Lamont Myers of Export was 16 when he was charged as an adult with shooting two men in Jeannette on Oct. 21,...
