Renatta Signorini stories, Page 114
Historic Bells Mills Bridge reopens after repairs
The historic Bells Mills Bridge reopened last week after repairs were made to the wooden decking that was damaged by hot embers. Westmoreland County engineer Vaughn Neill said the damage on the covered bridge wasn’t as bad as expected. Workers pulled off pieces of the decking after firefighters found smoke...
Police: Intoxicated man had heroin, Xanax in backpack when crashing into Greensburg parked cars
An Allegheny County man is being held without bail after police said he crashed into several parked cars in Greensburg, according to court papers. Dajon Anthony Smith, 26, was wearing a backpack that police said had 150 stamp bags of heroin and a “large amount” of suspected Xanax bars. Officers...
Scottdale Bank & Trust donates to local emergency service agencies
Eleven first responder agencies in Fayette and Westmoreland Counties have a few more dollars in their pockets thanks to Scottdale Bank & Trust. The bank’s unique First Responder Donation Program is meant to help fire companies, fire police organizations, ambulance agencies and other emergency service groups that have accounts with...
Family owners hope the public will gallop in to El Vaquero Mexicano on the Diamond in Ligonier
When a prime spot became available on The Diamond in Ligonier, Stephanie and Alfredo Hernandez knew they couldn’t pass it up, even during a pandemic. They’ve had their eye on it for awhile, hoping one day they would be able to open a restaurant in town after nine years of...
Jeannette woman jailed after allegedly making numerous threatening calls to Westmoreland 911
The Westmoreland County Emergency Operations Center was placed on lockdown late Thursday after a Jeannette woman repeatedly threatened call takers and police over seven hours, according to court papers. Precious Linda Gantt, 36, called Westmoreland 911 16 times between 3 p.m. Thursday and midnight, sometimes yelling at the call taker...
Woman accused in Hempfield man’s drug overdose death
A Hempfield woman is accused by state police in connection with the drug overdose death of a Hempfield man in June 2019. Elaine Grace Smith, 54, who also has a McKeesport address, was arrested this week. She is charged with drug delivery resulting in death, criminal use of a communication...
Latrobe sex offender who served time for 2009 sex assault accused in new rape
A Latrobe man who previously was jailed for sexual assault is accused of raping a woman last year after she requested his help to move a piece of furniture, police say. Jonathan Michael Pollard, 31, was arrested this week on charges of rape, sexual assault, stalking and related offenses. He...
Fayette County court assistant, law clerk accused of defrauding widow, late husband
A Fayette County courthouse law clerk and court administration assistant, along with three others, were charged Thursday in connection with a scheme that police said defrauded the widow of a Smock man. Ryan Joseph Marshall, 30, and Tammy Sue Cable, 51, both of Uniontown, are charged with numerous counts, including...
Large crowds taking toll on Pennsylvania state parks
In the late 1800s, Ohiopyle State Park’s 100-acre Ferncliff Peninsula was home to a boardwalk, bowling alley and hotel along the Youghiogheny River. The small resort eventually closed as automobiles replaced rail transportation to the small Fayette County town, allowing the natural landscape to return. Decades later, Ferncliff Peninsula Natural...
Fayette County jail, court employees arrested in drug dealing investigationsVideo
Two guards at the Fayette County Prison, four inmates and two women on the outside are charged in connection with a drug smuggling scheme at the Uniontown jail, according to court papers. The scheme started to unravel in April when guard Angela Rae Powell, 37, of East Uniontown was seen...
71 Fayette Co. inmates test positive for coronavirus; courthouse reopening for business
More than half of the inmates at the Fayette County Prison tested positive for covid-19 as county officials prepare to reopen its courthouse Thursday after a two-week closure. The county has seen big jumps in the number of confirmed cases in recent days, and 32 county employees have tested positive...
Neighbors pleased with youth group’s efforts at fighting blight in Jeannette
For years, Paul and Paula Hassinger were met with blight the moment they took a step outside their West Jeannette front door. Now, the abandoned houses across 12th Street looks much better after a Murrysville church group ripped out some overgrown weeds and brush last month, but the Hassingers still...
Township makes truck payment on behalf of East Huntingdon’s cash-strapped fire department
East Huntingdon Fire Chief Brian Kite knew $61,000 was a lot of money to request from the township. But the department’s $61,000 annual fire truck payment was looming. With several months worth of canceled fundraisers and a firemen’s club ordered closed by the state, the money was going to otherwise...
2 waive preliminary hearings in Greater Latrobe hazing case
Two former Greater Latrobe Junior High School wrestling coaches waived their rights to preliminary hearings Monday on allegations related to hazing incidents. One of them could enter a probationary program. Court records show David Francis Galando, 44, of Youngstown, is scheduled for an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition hearing Oct. 28. The...
Newly installed surveillance cameras help Jeannette police make arrest after shots fired
A Jeannette man is being held without bail after city police said he fired a gun Saturday behind Columbia Court. Rashaad Ricardo Shepard, 41, is charged with weapons violations, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and possession of drug paraphernalia. Police were called just before 6 p.m. to investigate a report of...
Fire quickly extinguished at Greensburg house that was recently sold
A small fire was quickly extinguished Monday at a Greensburg house that recently was sold. City Fire Chief Tom Bell said there was a small fire in the corner of the kitchen near some power tools that were not plugged in. “First crew got in and knocked it down really...
Report: State hotline fielding more calls about student suicide, self-harm concerns
Reports of suicidal or self-harming thoughts by Pennsylvania students reported to the state’s Safe2Say Something tip line increased after schools shut down in March because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to an analysis by Attorney General Josh Shapiro. Between July 2019 and March 13, 17% of all tips received by...
Jeannette woman arrested in child abuse, stalking cases
A Jeannette woman is accused by city police of pushing a 4-year-old girl down a flight of stairs in a basket and sending nude photos of a former boyfriend to his family and friends, according to court papers. Brittany Renee Zimmerman, 26, was arrested Friday in two cases. She is...
Police: Washington man who ran through I-70 traffic was on methamphetamine
A Washington man was cited Friday after state police said he jumped over the center concrete barrier on Interstate 70 multiple times in Washington County, just over the Westmoreland border. Troopers identified the man as Jordan Simon, 31, and said he was under the influence of methamphetamine after having an...
Ultraviolet light air cleaner added at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport
A safety measure added at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport this week will rid the air of any harmful bacteria or viruses to keep employees and travelers healthy, said Gabe Monzo, executive director of the Westmoreland County Airport Authority. An ultraviolet light system was installed in the Unity airport’s HVAC unit...
Virginia man accused of transporting 100 pounds of marijuana on Pa. Turnpike in Mt. Pleasant Township
Drug charges were held for court Tuesday against a Virginia man state police accuse of transporting 100 pounds of marijuana on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Westmoreland County earlier this year. Navdeep Singh Chahal, 30, of Lorton, Va., will face formal arraignment in October, according to online court records. A state...
Police: Man who tried to run from North Huntingdon traffic stop had marijuana, warrants
A South Greensburg man was arrested Tuesday after, police say, he tried to run from a North Huntingdon traffic stop. Investigators said they found Tristin Michael Allen Huffine, 20, in possession of suspected marijuana and cannabis oil while he was in the back seat of a car pulled over at...
New slides at Mammoth Park temporarily shut down amid claims of injuriesVideo
Jamie Crise was happy to hear Tuesday that Westmoreland County officials temporarily shut down new slides at Mammoth Park after her 10-year-old daughter was hurt there last month. The girl ended up with a brush burn on her shoulder and bruises, leaving the Mt. Pleasant Township mother with concerns about...
West Newton woman charged with assault on police after apparent weeklong meth use
A West Newton woman waived her right to a preliminary hearing Monday on charges she used a racial slur and assaulted an officer after apparently using methamphetamine for seven days. Amanda Hornfeck is charged with aggravated assault, escape, resisting arrest and other offenses in connection with a July 18 incident...
Police: 2 arrested after Sewickley Township boy tests positive for cocaine
A Sewickley Township couple were jailed after a child tested positive for cocaine, according to court papers. Channing Fitzgerald Flanigan, 30, and Arrica Ann Howell, 32, of Hutchinson, are charged with aggravated assault, child endangerment and reckless endangerment. Troopers said they were called to the home in May after a...
