Chuck Biedka stories, Page 6

Chuck Biedka
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Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff, dies at 88
Mars man accused of having handgun at Pittsburgh airport
A Butler County man was stopped by Transportation Security Administration officers at the Pittsburgh International Airport security checkpoint Wednesday with a loaded 9 mm handgun, officials said. The TSA said it was the 29th gun found at the Pittsburgh airport checkpoint this year. Last year 34 guns were found. Allegheny...
Man accused of shooting at 2 people in Ross
Allegheny County Sheriff’s detectives on Wednesday night arrested a man accused of firing gunshots at a woman in Ross last month. Deputies said they found Clinton Lance, 28, hiding in a bedroom at a house on Hays Street in Pittsburgh’s Homewood section. A search revealed multiple bags of marijuana and...
McKeesport man pleads guilty to distributing heroin, cocaine
A McKeesport man on Wednesday pleaded guilty in Pittsburgh federal court to conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine, U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady said. Leonard Wygant, 37, pleaded guilty to the two counts before Senior U.S. District Court Judge Donetta W. Ambrose. She scheduled sentencing for March 26, 2020. Prosecutors...
Monday last day to register for Nov. 5 municipal election 
People who need to register to vote in the Tuesday, Nov. 5 municipal election only have a few days left to do so. The deadline to register, or to change an address or party affiliation is Monday To qualify to vote, one must be a U.S. citizen at least one...
Coroner: Arnold man died from drug overdose
One of two men found dead in a Fifth Avenue house early last month died from a drug overdose. Michael Joseph Hans, 42, of Arnold, died from acute drug toxicity, according to the Westmoreland County Corner’s Office. His death was ruled accidental. Hans and Paul Anthony Mistrick III, 64, also...
Lower Burrell man ordered to stand trial for fleeing police, reckless endangerment
A 42-year-old Lower Burrell man accused in multiple cases of fleeing police at high speed will stand trial in the latest alleged chase. Chad Ebel of Falcon Park Road is accused of leading police on a short, high-speed chase on June 7 from Shearsburg Road to Route 56, Route 356...
State trooper from Harrison wins national award for efforts to reduce DUI 
A state trooper from Harrison who made almost 500 evaluations of suspected drunken or drugged drivers won a national award for his work. State police Cpl. Chris Robbins is the first Pennsylvania state trooper to receive the Excellence in Drug Recognition award from the International Association of Chiefs of Police....
West Leechburg police chief retires after 32 years with department 
West Leechburg police Chief George Lebetz has retired after more than three decades with the department, including the past four years as chief. “It was a bunch of things, little things, that added up to a good career,” said Lebetz. “Everything from helping different people, especially kids, and talking with...
‘Silent Ride’ Sunday to honor O’Hara man who died while riding to work in Harmar
About 100 bicyclists will ride on a busy Harmar road Sunday morning to honor an O’Hara man who died a month ago while riding his bicycle to work. Thomas Haykin, 57, died Aug. 31 after he was struck by two vans on Freeport Road near Route 910, investigators said. Haykin...
Pa. American Water to begin repairs to Becks Run Road 
Pennsylvania American Water will begin repairing a portion of Becks Run Road in Baldwin starting next week, the company said Friday. The company expects to finish repairs by mid-November. The work will begin at 7 a.m. Wednesday on a section of the road damaged by the waterline break along East...
Annual Halloween party in New Kensington to benefit Shiners Hospitals 
Linda Cook’s idea of fun is celebrating with new and old friends and raising money to help others. Her fourth annual Halloween party will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Oct. 5, at the Fraternal Order of Eagles along Freeport Road in New Kensington, but the beneficiary is different...
Monongahela man pleads guilty to federal child porn charge
A Monongahela man pleaded guilty in Pittsburgh federal court to a child pornography charge, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Eric Allard, 48, pleaded guilty Monday before Senior U.S. District Judge Donetta W. Ambrose. Prosecutors said that on Nov. 27, 2017, Allard had images and videos on a computer that...
Plum man pleads guilty to federal drug trafficking
A Plum man pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges of trafficking heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine. Brandon Winters, 43, was found guilty of conspiring to distribute at least one kilogram of heroin and at least 400 grams of fentanyl and possessing at least 500 grams of cocaine with intent to sell...
Buffalo Township man faces strangulation, assault charges
A Buffalo Township man is accused of hitting, choking and throwing a woman down the steps of his home. Gordon Cooper, 55, of Oak Drive, is accused of holding the woman by her neck to throw her into a wall late Saturday night, according to a police affidavit. In addition...
Mailman injured when postal truck rolls on its side in Harrison wreck 
A mail carrier was inside a Postal Service truck that was shoved onto its side in a crash Wednesday afternoon in Harrison. The mailman, who was not identified, was taken to a hospital for treatment of a head injury. Police said the mailman had just climbed back inside of the...
Harrison man out on bond on robbery charge accused of shoplifting, smashing pumpkins
A Harrison man who was free on bond after being accused of committing two Dauphin County robberies is one of two men and two youths charged with shoplifting BB guns and destroying pumpkins in the township early Tuesday. Nathan Strausser, 24, of 10th Avenue and Kyron Branch, 18, of Park...
2 Harrison girls facing juvenile arson charges stemming from Save-A-Lot fire
Two Harrison girls will be sent to juvenile court for allegedly setting part of a Harrison loading dock on fire Sept. 2. The girls, ages 12 and 13, caused less than $1,000 in damage to a rear loading dock of the former Save-A-Lot in Heights Plaza. Citizens Hose Fire Chief...
Gang member from Butler County pleads guilty to selling drugs
A Portersville, Butler County, man pleaded guilty in federal district court Pittsburgh to a drug conspiracy involving 11 people associated with the GBK drug gang. Raymond Chrzanowski, age 51, pleaded guilty Monday to three counts. He is accused in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin, according to...
Guys Run Road closure starts Wednesday in Harmar
Part of Guys Run Road in Harmar will be closed to traffic during daylight hours Wednesday through Oct. 9 so PennDOT can repair a landslide area. PennDOT said the road will be closed between Dremmel and Locust Hill roads from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Crews will be...
Avonmore family headed to court on charges of hiding fugitive
Two men and their mother will stand trial on charges of hiding or preventing the apprehension of a fugitive at their Avonmore home. Jessica Thorpe, 39, Luke Thorpe, 18, and Leroy Thorpe, 22, all of Maple Terrace Lane, waived charges to court rather than have a preliminary hearing Monday, court...
Man to serve up to 14 years for DUI crash that killed Tarentum woman, teen
A Saltsburg man who killed two people, including a Tarentum junior firefighter, in a 2017 drugged driving crash in Plum was ordered Tuesday to serve up to 14 years in state prison. Allegheny County Judge David R. Cashman ordered Edward Leonard Cass III, 27, to serve a minimum of 7...
North Huntingdon arrests could crack cases in West Deer, Indiana townships
Police say the arrests of a man and woman in North Huntingdon Sunday night could help solve a rash of car break-ins in West Deer and Indiana townships earlier this month. Dylan Keith Walklin, 26, of Munhall and Celeste Annabelle Hartle, 18, of Pittsburgh were arrested late Sunday by North...
Fawn asking residents to voluntarily say how many have surveillance cameras
The Fawn supervisors are asking residents to tell them if they own surveillance cameras. The idea is to capture images of people dumping garbage or committing crime in the township, Township Secretary Pam Ponsart said. Supervisors are asking camera owners to voluntarily register with the township by contacting Ponsart at...
Oakmont’s Nick Futules nominated for reappointment to Allegheny County sports, exhibition authority
Nick Futules of Oakmont is being considered for reappointment to the Allegheny County Sports and Exhibition Authority. County Executive Rich Fitzgerald has submitted Futules for reappointment. Allegheny County Council must approve the move. Futules is county council vice president serves on numerous committees. He is co-owner of Futules Harmar House,...
State police investigating fatal traffic crash along I-79 North
State police are investigating a fatal wreck along Interstate 79 northbound in Muddy Creek Township, Butler County. The incident happened at about 6 a.m., according to a state police dispatcher. No other information was immediately available....


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