Renatta Signorini stories, Page 112
Video hearings at Westmoreland County Prison to expand
Video conferencing capabilities will be added at the Westmoreland County Prison as hearings conducted by video from the jail are increasing in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Warden John Walton said two corrections officer positions have been added to handle those duties. “We continue to do a tremendous amount of...
Mt. Pleasant library reopens to the public with time, occupancy limits
The Mt. Pleasant Public Library reopened Monday with a building occupancy limit of 20 people, according to director Brian Dawson. The amount of time patrons can be inside the library is limited as a result — 30 minutes for browsing the shelves and one hour for computer use. A curbside...
Trooper hurt in Armstrong pursuit, 1 arrested
A state trooper was hurt and a Michigan man arrested Monday after a police chase in Armstrong County. State police said a trooper on patrol on Route 422 in Kittanning Township conducted a traffic stop on a Jeep Liberty after witnessing multiple traffic violations just after 6:15 p.m. The driver...
Westmoreland Manor employees to get hazard pay as coronavirus testing continues
Workers at Westmoreland Manor are getting extra pay while the coronavirus pandemic surges through the county-owned nursing home and state officials struggle with contact tracing. Commissioner Sean Kertes said union and nonunion employees at the Hempfield facility will get hazard pay as six Pennsylvania National Guard members continue to help...
Westmoreland jail warden resigns, cites ‘harassment’ by Commissioner Cerilli
Westmoreland County Prison Warden John Walton submitted his resignation and retirement Monday to the prison board as a result of what he described as a “public character assassination and campaign of harassment” by Commissioner Gina Cerilli. Walton, 61, of Mt. Pleasant Township will work until Nov. 6. The board approved...
Trial set for former cop accused of rape, sex assaults
A last-minute bid Monday to stop jury selection from beginning next week in a rape case involving a suspended Mt. Pleasant Borough police officer was rejected by a Westmoreland County judge. Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio said the attorney for John Andrew Brown, 47, of Mt. Lebanon, is prepared for trial after...
Staffer at Level Green Elementary tests positive for coronavirus
A staff member at Level Green Elementary School has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a message sent to parents Sunday by Matt Harris, superintendent of Penn-Trafford School District. The school will be open as normal Monday. The district was notified Sunday about the positive test. The staff member...
2 companies, nearly 200 jobs join Westmoreland Technology Park II
Two companies are joining Westmoreland Technology Park II, one that is expanding its presence in the county and a second new manufacturing firm. The Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corp. board recently announced two sales agreements at the park that spans Hempfield and East Huntingdon: $439,600 for 11 acres with Red...
Foam being accepted for recycling at Westmoreland CleanwaysVideo
A long-awaited piece of material can finally be recycled at Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling — foam. The Unity-based nonprofit organization is purchasing a foam densifier with a $46,500 grant from the Foam Recycling Coalition, director Ellen Keefe said. “People ask for it all the time,” she said. “There is a...
Water main break in middle of Greensburg intersection being repaired
Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County crews were working Friday to repair a water main break in the middle of a Greensburg intersection. The outage was reported at 5:30 a.m. at the intersection of East Otterman Street and Arch Avenue, according to authority spokesman Matt Junker. A 6-inch cast iron line...
Former Indiana County car dealership general manager charged with theft, forgery
A former Indiana County car dealership general manager is set for a preliminary hearing next week on nearly 250 charges and summary counts for allegedly keeping $60,000 in vehicle sale proceeds, according to court papers. Kevin T. Albright, 48, of Indiana, is charged with theft, tampering with records, unsworn falsification,...
1 hurt after pickup crashes into Penn Township house
A 38-year-old man was hospitalized Wednesday afternoon when he apparently suffered a medical emergency and crashed into a Penn Township house. Police Chief John Otto and Harrison City Assistant Fire Chief Tommy Lamacz said the crash happened around noon on Boxcartown Road. No one was home at the time. The...
3 accused in Rostraver armed robbery
A Pittsburgh woman and two Maryland brothers were charged Tuesday in connection with an armed robbery in Rostraver. A female clerk at the Marathon gas station on Route 51 reported to township police at 9:15 p.m. on Aug. 3 that a man pointed a sawed-off shotgun at her and demanded...
Youngstown restaurant 1 of 11 in state to have liquor license suspended for covid violations
The Tin Lizzy Tap Room and Restaurant in Youngstown is set to reopen on Friday after its liquor license was suspended for two weeks because the establishment violated restrictions meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Owner Buck Pawlosky said he will play by the rules, but that...
‘Bad blood between them’: Friend remembers victim killed in East Huntingdon shooting
Shane Starr and Andrew Pristas were just starting to rekindle their friendship that dates back to their middle school days in the Montour School District. They had been talking about hanging out for awhile after Starr returned to the Pittsburgh area from out of state and they finally did a...
Jeannette couple raising money to adorn veterans’ graves through Wreaths Across America
March wasn’t exactly the best time to start a fundraiser. But Frank and Linda Drury of Jeannette decided to forge ahead with raising about $9,000 to purchase 600 wreaths through Wreaths Across America for veterans who are buried at Jeannette Memorial Park. The couple knows honoring veterans is important, no...
2 Ohio men arrested on Pa. Turnpike in Mt. Pleasant Township with stolen gun
Two Ohio men were arrested early Friday after state police said a stolen firearm was found in the back seat of the car they were traveling in eastbound on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Mt. Pleasant Township. Paul Milton Hobbs, 24, and Andre Marquon Turner, 25, both of Toledo, are convicted...
Foot chase at New Stanton motel leads to arrest, drug overdose
A man state police said they chased around a New Stanton motel for allegedly driving under the influence this month was arrested Sunday. Eugene Lamar Davis, 49, is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison on $10,000 bail. He is charged with drug possession, flight to avoid apprehension, driving on...
Police: East Huntingdon woman charged with homicide in fatal shootingVideo
An East Huntingdon woman was charged with homicide Monday in connection with the fatal shooting of her former boyfriend after police said he tried to break into her bedroom during a domestic dispute. Megan J. West, 24, told investigators she fired a warning shot about 11:30 p.m. Sunday through the...
DA: Police justified in killing shotgun-wielding man in New Kensington
Police who fatally shot a man wielding a shotgun in New Kensington in March were justified in the killing, Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck ruled Friday. Marc Morgan, 62, of Upper Burrell, threatened to shoot Black people March 13 and refused to put down the shotgun, lobbing expletives at...
Salem man accused of ethnic intimidation in phone calls
A Salem man was charged Thursday with ethnic intimidation after police said he used racial slurs during multiple phone calls to a South Greensburg man, according to court papers. In addition to the felony count, Adam Joseph Amendola, 27, is charged with misdemeanors counts of making terroristic threats and harassment...
Pry bar in crashed car led Rostraver police to make arrest in attempted break-in at gun store
A pry bar and screwdriver left behind in a car that crashed near the scene of an attempted burglary at a gun store led Rostraver police to connect an Elizabeth man to the crime, according to court papers filed this month. Authorities said they identified Kristopher Cerniga, 33, as the...
Real ID issuance resumes in Pa.; deadline next yearVideo
After being on hold for six months, PennDOT is once again issuing Real IDs. State officials first began issuing the cards in March 2019 but temporarily halted them this spring as Driver License Centers were closed throughout the state in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic....
Jeannette thrift store opening in new spot after previous location is sold
The St. Vincent de Paul thrift store in Jeannette appears to have found a new home. The store, which was forced to close its Clay Avenue location in December, will be setting up shop at the intersection of North First Street and Harrison Avenue. President Marilyn Lander said she hopes...
2 more charged in North Huntingdon daylight break-in, assault
Two more people were charged this week in connection with a daylight break-in and attack at a North Huntingdon home. Quaise M. Rhodes-Wilson, 21, of Wilkinsburg, and Martell Crosby, 25, of Jeannette, are charged with burglary, aggravated assault, terroristic threats and related offenses. Rhodes-Wilson is being held in the Westmoreland...
