Renatta Signorini stories, Page 19
Hempfield woman charged after 7 cats found dead in Unity home
A Hempfield woman is accused by state police of leaving seven cats behind when she moved out of a Unity home, according to court papers. The felines were found dead amid garbage in the apartment after the new owner reported hiring a contractor to clean it out, troopers said. The...
Clairton man nabbed in West Newton drug sting
A Clairton man is behind bars after police said he sold 160 bricks of drugs to a confidential informant in West Newton and took $30,750 to settle drug debts, according to court papers. Ismail A. Hamlin, 28, is facing numerous drug and weapons violations in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties as...
Defense attorneys say aides in Greensburg Salem elementary school followed direction of supervisors
Defense attorneys sought to push blame Wednesday in criminal cases alleging mistreatment of three Greensburg Salem elementary students onto two women who led the classroom, not two aides who were essentially their subordinates. Attorneys for Lorraine F. Robertson, 75, of Greensburg, and Amanda Lehman, 40, of South Greensburg, argued during...
Paul Skenes drops by ‘Late Night with Seth Meyers’ to talk baseball cards, facial hair and staying composed
A familiar face — to Pittsburghers — dropped by Seth Meyers’ talk show last night: Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes. The reigning NL Rookie of the Year made an appearance on Tuesday night’s edition of “Late Night with Seth Meyers.” Meyers, whose father grew up in East Liberty and is big...
Hempfield OKs change in compensation rate for property tax collector
Hempfield supervisors agreed Monday to pitch in more for the township property tax collector’s compensation, a figure officials said had gone unchanged for decades. Supervisor Doug Weimer estimated it’s likely been 35 years since the elected office has gotten a raise. “I think we’re overdue on changing the compensation formula,”...
Hempfield delays decision on zoning change for proposed development near Valley Green
Hempfield supervisors are taking more time to mull over a request to rezone 100 acres of farmland to allow for a housing development after neighbors voiced concerns regarding flooding, traffic and wetlands on the property. Supervisors voted unanimously to table the measure. “Growth’s important to the township, I support controlled...
‘A freeing experience’: Guides help visually impaired skiers take to Seven Springs slopes
Editor’s note: The captions under the photographs associated with this story include a description of the image content so that information might be relayed to software assisting the visually impaired. Downhill skiing with a guide took away any fears for Amelie Colletti. Having the support close by to navigate the...
4 found dead in suspected Hempfield murder-suicide; victims include children ages 1, 5
Dick Shawley held back tears while standing on his Hempfield front porch Friday morning after learning four of his neighbors are dead in what police deemed a murder-suicide. He recalled all the times he gave the kids — Connor, 1, and Evelyn, 5 — money for their birthdays and Christmas...
Hempfield considers next step in possible demolition of former state prison
Hempfield supervisors are set to vote Monday on seeking bids for the demolition of the former SCI Greensburg state prison. Township manager Aaron Siko said if supervisors approve the measure, a contract could be awarded in March. With $2 million from the state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program designated for the...
2 nabbed in burglary spree of 11 bars in Westmoreland, Washington, Fayette counties
State police announced Thursday that two people were arrested in connection with a string of bar burglaries in three counties, including Westmoreland, where $17,500 in cash and alcohol was stolen. Preliminary hearings are scheduled next week for David Alan Rice, 33, of Charleroi, and Stephanie Denise Hankle, 30, of Monongahela....
Tardy salt deliveries, dwindling supply prompt Ligonier borough and township to emergency declarations
At least two more Westmoreland County municipalities — Ligonier borough and township — declared a state of emergency this week related to a lack of road salt. Meanwhile, Jeannette’s emergency declaration this week led to an agreement with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency to get salt from PennDOT, if necessary,...
Woman arrested after pursuit through North Huntingdon neighborhoods; drugs seized from car
A Wilkinsburg woman being pursued by police was traveling at least 80 mph Monday afternoon through residential areas of North Huntingdon, according to court papers. Magdelena Ludwig, 27, was denied bail during her Tuesday arraignment on charges of fleeing from police, resisting arrest and numerous drug counts. Township police said...
Single-digit temperatures make for trying night for South Greensburg firefighters
Icicles hung from a South Greensburg home Tuesday morning as firefighters hosed down the structure amid single-digit temperatures. It was a trying night for dozens of volunteer firefighters from around the region, said South Greensburg fire Chief Matt White. The fire on Parr Street was reported around 11:30 p.m. Monday....
Lack of road salt deliveries prompts Jeannette mayor to declare emergency
Time is ticking for Jeannette officials to secure road salt, and Mayor Curtis Antoniak declared a public health emergency as the city’s supply dwindles. City manager Ethan Keedy said Tuesday he was checking with other suppliers after five salt orders this month totaling 500 tons have gone unfilled by Compass...
Greensburg man charged after dog’s severe infection noticed at bar
A Greensburg man was jailed over the weekend and his dog seized after police said it had a severe infection related to an improper tail docking procedure, according to court papers. The dog’s injuries were reported to authorities while Bryan J. Thompson, 56, was at Harry’s Bar Friday with the...
Snow means flurry of work for road crews across Western Pennsylvania
Many, if not all, municipal road crews around the area might agree with Plum public works director Bill Binnie: “It’s like Groundhog Day.” And it’s true — snowflakes flew on a daily basis for the first 16 days of January, said Timothy Cermak, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in...
Morning Roundup: Police charge 2 teens in knifepoint robberies; vehicle hits, injures woman carrying child
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, Jan. 17: Police charge 2 teens in knifepoint robberies Two 15-year-old boys have been arrested in connection with two knifepoint robberies earlier this week at businesses on Pittsburgh’s South Side. Anthony Bennett of Pittsburgh and Adrian Butera of...
Former CEO of Mutual Aid EMS said resignation was related ‘directly to issues within the workplace’
Gene Komondor said in a statement released Thursday that he resigned as CEO from Mutual Aid EMS for workplace-related issues, not personal reasons as asserted in a news release distributed by the ambulance agency this week. “While my decision to resign was, in fact, highly personal, I did not resign...
Work underway for development of former Monsour Medical Center site in Jeannette
More details are expected to be released publicly in the coming months related to a long-awaited proposed development at the former Monsour Medical Center property in Jeannette. Mayor Curtis Antoniak hinted at the potential movement during a council meeting last week. “This is a big one. Don Tarosky Jr. has...
New Alexandria man files suit against state police related to 2023 arrest
Two versions of the same incident have emerged in court papers filed by state police and a man they arrested in Unity two years ago. In a lawsuit filed in federal court in Pittsburgh this month, Denton Krapf, 48, of New Alexandria claims that three state troopers used excessive force...
Snow in the forecast for Western Pa.
The National Weather Service Pittsburgh released this forecast Thursday morning: The area is under a winter weather advisory until 4 a.m. Friday. Widespread accumulating snow is predicted to start Thursday morning and will continue all day, impacting both the morning and afternoon rush hours. Accumulation in the lower elevations will...
Penguins presence still felt as Jaromir Jagr plays last season in Czech Republic
A few Jaromir Jagr Penguins jerseys were in the crowd during a December game of the Kladno Knights, the team he owns and still plays for, in the Czech Republic, according to an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer. The news outlet sent a reporter to Europe last month to watch...
Morning Roundup: Police say woman attacked 2 people with a snow shovel in South Side Slopes
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, Jan. 15: Police: Woman attacked 2 with snow shovel in South Side Slopes A Pittsburgh woman is being held without bail after city police said she attacked two people with a snow shovel at home in the South...
Jeannette man accused in hatchet attack now faces rape charges
A Jeannette man accused of attacking another man with a hatchet last year is now facing rape allegations. Additional charges were filed last week against Kyle Joseph Bair, 32. State police said their investigation into rape accusations started in February after a man reported Bair raped him while he was...
Stretch of snowy, cold weather pulls cross country ski lovers onto Laurel Highlands trails
Jean Thompson learned one thing Friday — don’t lean back. That tip made the Fairchance woman’s first time cross-country skiing alongside her friend, Kristin Dunham, a fun experience. Despite the cold air atop Laurel Ridge at the border of Fayette and Somerset counties, both women had smiles on their faces...
