Renatta Signorini stories, Page 21
Jeannette OKs $6.2M budget
Jeannette Council has adopted a $6.2 million budget for 2025 that includes no increase in property taxes. The budget calls for spending $2.25 million on the police department, $614,000 on the fire department and $522,000 on the streets department. “There’ll be no tax increase for the citizens of Jeannette,” said...
Hempfield will engage AI system to evaluate need for road work
Hempfield is tapping into technology to get a better understanding of the condition of its 300 miles of roads. Township supervisors on Wednesday approved a five-year agreement with Vialytics that officials said will help them prioritize roads in need of improvements. Township manager Aaron Siko said the software will help...
Hempfield nixes plan for ‘fire tax,’ maintains 3-mill tax rate for 35th straight year
For the 35th consecutive year, the millage rate in Hempfield will stay at 3 mills in 2025. Township supervisors Wednesday unanimously approved the $17 million spending plan for next year. The millage rate has been unchanged since 1990. “We are pleased to provide a balanced budget going into 2025 with...
Witness intimidation charges related to Rostraver shooting will go to trial
Anthony M. Hairston wasn’t using Facebook to intimidate a witness against him in a Rostraver fatal shooting, his attorney argued Tuesday. Hairston had asked his girlfriend post pictures of the witness’ statement to police on his Facebook page but he was only thinking about strategy as his homicide trial was...
North Huntingdon man accused of charging for lacrosse camp that wasn’t held
A North Huntingdon man was arrested last week on state police accusations that he took money from three people who registered their children for a lacrosse training camp but never held the event. Christopher Langlais, 46, who also lists a Monroeville address in court records, is charged with taking $2,350...
Former state trooper charged with stealing from Home Depot stores
A former state trooper was arrested Friday on police accusations that he stole $2,000 worth of merchandise from two Home Depot stores. Investigators said John Robert Tamewitz, 59, of Penn Township removed stickers from online orders he picked up in-store, put the stickers on other merchandise and took the items...
Herminie man charged with arson in September fire at his residence
State police believe a Herminie man set the house where he was living on fire during an argument, according to court papers. Timothy James Gillin, 50, was arrested last week on arson and related charges. In court papers, a state police fire marshal said witnesses reported Gillin left the house...
‘Anything you want’: Granddaughter of Elizabeth Pollard, troopers connect again for toy spree
Serenity Pollard had a big smile on her face when she dropped two Barbie dolls into her shopping cart. She beamed when she grabbed toys featuring cartoon character Bluey off a shelf at the Hempfield Walmart Monday. The 5-year-old girl’s grin was contagious as she pedaled a bicycle around the...
About 600 children paired with police officers for $75K Christmas shopping spree
Serenitie Johnston basked in the makeup aisles at Unity Walmart Wednesday, gathering up a lip plumper, red lipstick and brightly colored eye shadow palette. “This way!” the 11-year-old girl exclaimed as state police Lt. Lauren Spallone followed behind with a full shopping cart. While Serenitie was in her element, Spallone...
Greensburg approves $13M budget that includes 3.3% property tax hike
Property tax bills will increase 3.3% to fund a 2025 Greensburg budget that was approved this week by a divided city council. Aside from a 1-mill tax approved by voters in 2017 that is designated for the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library and a 1-mill charge that since 2022 is designated...
Jeannette puts wheels in motion to replace 21-year-old dump truck
Jeannette council is expected to vote Thursday on the purchase of a new dump truck, but it likely won’t be available until next winter. “The need for replacing this 5-ton truck is a necessity now,” said city manager Ethan Keedy. Mayor Curtis Antoniak said the truck is 21 years old....
Major upgrades to be completed next year at Jeannette’s Ebara Elliot Energy, company says
Ebara Elliot Energy is undergoing major electrical upgrades at its U.S. headquarters in Jeannette. Once work is completed next year, Ebara Elliott Energy will be able to test compressors and electrical equipment up to 100 megawatts, placing its testing capacity among the largest in the world, said company spokeswoman Meagan...
Greensburg police sell guns long held in storage at station
Greensburg police are selling four long guns that were seized in a criminal case years ago, said police Chief Charles Irvin. City council on Monday unanimously approved selling the firearms to Hufftown Highpower in South Greensburg for $1,660. Irvin said the guns were ordered by a judge to be used...
Altoona thrust into spotlight after suspect in UnitedHealthcare’s CEO’s killing nabbed at McDonald’s
ALTOONA — Karen Townsley praised the McDonald’s employee who reported to police Monday suspicions that a customer was the man being sought by New York City authorities in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO. “I was pretty shocked,” she said. “I thought he was probably from New York City.” The...
‘Part of history going down’ as tower at former Fort Pitt Brewery razed in West JeannetteVideo
Colleen Ott stepped into the cold from her West Jeannette home Friday morning to get a good look at history happening on her street. She raised her cellphone to take a picture of an eight-story brick tower at the former Fort Pitt Brewery site being torn to pieces. She’s been...
Irwin church gives new life to Westmoreland family court waiting area
A few people had honest words Thursday about the previous state of a waiting room outside family court at the Westmoreland County Courthouse: outdated, dreary, worn and a collection of random things. But thanks to Calvary Church in Irwin, those descriptive words are all positive after a $10,000 renovation project....
Ohio man charged with stalking 1 day after release on similar charge
Hours after being released from jail Monday for stalking singer Lacey Sturm in Murrysville, an Ohio man was back behind bars after he showed up at the woman’s home, according to court papers. Anthony A. Carpenter, 43, arrived at the house at 9:45 p.m. Tuesday in a flat bed truck,...
Thundersnow marks arrival of cold front in Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvanians got a rare treat overnight — thundersnow — a winter thunderstorm. The rumbles of thunder and flashes of lightning while snow was falling startled awake Tom Bell, Greensburg’s fire chief and streets superintendent. “I was like ‘What the hell was that?’” he said. Bell immediately looked at remote...
As hunt begins, drought may be a factor in size of harvested deer, quality of antlers, meat
Despite being hunted each fall, deer find ways to survive. The months of dry weather likely will not affect hunting, according to state game officials. But processor Melinda Weimer has noticed a difference in the size and quality of antlers and the amount of quality meat Weimer Meats in Loyalhanna...
2 accused of theft from coin laundry machines that caused $10K in damage
Two Westmoreland County residents are accused of breaking into coin laundry machines in four counties and stealing $2,210, according to court papers. Lauren M. Roth, 33, of Mt. Pleasant Borough, and Bryan E. Deiterich, 35, of Mt. Pleasant Township, caused about $10,000 worth of damages at four locations, state police...
Hempfield Walmart customer hit in face with gun inside store, police say
A Greensburg man is accused of hitting a Walmart customer in the face with a gun on Tuesday evening, according to court papers. State police said Ahseim S. Pestano, 29, was seen on surveillance video at the Hempfield store pulling a pistol from his front pocket and aiming it at...
Westmoreland gets $2M financial boost for Hempfield prison demolition plan
The demolition project at the former SCI Greensburg state prison got a $2 million boost from the state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program. Now, officials are hoping it will be enough to do the entire demolition. “We feel that $2 million is enough to be able to proceed with bidding the...
8-story tower of former Fort Pitt Brewery set to come down in Jeannette
One major section is all that is left of the former Fort Pitt Brewery site in West Jeannette — an eight-story brick tower. Brian Lawrence, executive director of the Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority and Land Bank, wants residents and passersby to stay away from the site next week when the...
Vandergrift man sentenced to up to 24 years for shooting at homes in 2021
A Vandergrift man was sentenced Friday to 12 to 24 years in a state prison for firing more than a dozen shots into three occupied homes in 2021. Javon Michael Thorn Lambert, 25, entered a general plea Friday to 17 charges against him, which included aggravated assault, discharge of a...
Former treasurer sentenced to 5 years probation for stealing $21K from New Kensington church
A woman was sentenced Friday to five years on probation for stealing more than $21,000 from a New Kensington church while she served as its treasurer, according to a sentencing order. Cheryl M. Garnett, 75, of East Deer, pleaded guilty to a theft charge, avoiding a trial. Prosecutors dismissed a...
