Renatta Signorini stories, Page 41
Lack of snow, where rainfall ends up factors in declining Beaver Run reservoir levels
There’s been little change to an extended dry spell that has dropped water levels to rarely seen lows in the region’s reservoirs. But water customers who’ve been asked to cut back on their use are doing their job, according to municipal authority officials. Customers have been conserving, said Michael Kukura,...
Police say Blairsville women conspired in Derry Township man’s overdose death
Two women are facing charges in connection with the August 2022 drug overdose death of a Derry Township man, according to court papers. Ashley N. Kirkland, 35, of Blairsville was arrested Wednesday on a charge of conspiracy to commit drug delivery resulting in death. An arrest warrant has been issued...
Hempfield resident stymied in effort to have mailbox moved
Danielle Guenther has been trying for years to get her mailbox moved to what she considers a safer location outside her Hempfield home. Now, she has to walk across busy North Greengate Road, near the crest of a hill, to pick up her mail. Guenther said she’s been back and...
Murrysville electrician killed last week is ‘going to be missed by many,’ colleague says
A Murrysville electrician who was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head in a Clarion County trailer was remembered fondly by a professional colleague. “George was a friend to everybody and he’s going to be missed by many,” Forrest Passerin said of George Dayieb. The 57-year-old Dayieb was...
Uniontown suspect in attempted homicide dies after jumping through window while in police custody
A Uniontown man wanted on attempted homicide charges died Saturday after jumping through a third-floor window as police were taking him into custody. Pennsylvania State Police said officers from Connellsville responded about 11 p.m. Friday after a report of a squatter in a vacant building at North Pittsburgh Street and...
Latrobe man charged after leading police on 23-mile chase through Unity
A Latrobe man is accused of leading state police on a 23-mile pursuit through Unity Saturday night during which troopers said he drove 80 mph in a 40 mph speed zone, according to court papers. Zachary Daniel Bowman, 32, was headed home from a night out when police said they...
Greensburg Salem elementary teacher, aide arraigned on abuse accusations
A report from another teacher prompted the investigation that led to the arrests this week of a teacher and aide at Greensburg Salem’s Robert F. Nicely Elementary School on accusations they mistreated three students in a special needs classroom, according to police. “It seems that somebody from the classroom at...
Fayette County man charged in fatal 2022 North Huntingdon crash
A Fayette County man is accused of driving more than 70 mph through a red light in North Huntingdon last year, colliding with another vehicle and killing its driver, according to court papers. Four others were injured in the crash on Route 30 at the Colonial Manor Road intersection on...
Michigan teens jailed after police investigate gift card theft in Ligonier
Three teenagers from Michigan were jailed over the weekend after police said they provided fake names while authorities were investigating a theft of $400 in gift cards in Ligonier Borough. Keenen E. Reese II, Rashad A. Shahid and Malik S. Spillers, all 18, of Flint, Mich., all are being held...
Jeannette man jailed on DUI charges after crash injures woman, child
A Jeannette man is behind bars after police said he was driving while impaired during a crash that seriously injured two people. Allan M. Beech, 33, was jailed last week on $250,000 bail on charges of aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, child endangerment and related offenses...
Jeannette passes budget, holds tax line
Jeannette Council passed the city’s 2024 budget on Tuesday by a 4-1 vote. The budget does not call for a property tax increase, keeping the millage rate at 35.62 mills. Councilwoman Michelle Langdon cast the dissenting vote because she said she felt the earned-income tax should have been lowered. One...
Free-Op Community Store opens in Jeannette, follows pay-what-you-can model
In the first few days of being open, a pay-what-you-can store in Jeannette was already making a difference. Madison Feidner said someone in need of a Christmas tree left with one and others were picking up presents. “This week was so important to me to just have some hours to...
Las Vegas man gets house arrest, probation for gift card scam used at Hempfield, Monroeville and Frazer Sam’s Clubs
A Las Vegas man was sentenced Wednesday to one year of probation for using counterfeit credit cards with stolen bank account information to buy gift cards at Sam’s Club locations in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. Hector Ofelio Podio Gutierrez, 31, was ordered by a federal judge in Pittsburgh to spend...
About 500 Penn Township residents will have new voting ward in 2024
New boundaries for Penn Township’s five voting wards are set to go into effect Jan. 1. Judge Harry Smail on Thursday approved an order authorizing the Westmoreland County Elections Bureau to revise and alter the voting districts after a months long process to redraw the boundaries. His ruling came at...
Son of Greensburg-area dentist who murdered wife on safari breaks silence in ‘GMA’ interview
A battle continues in Colorado federal court over the estate of a woman murdered in 2016 on African safari by her husband, a former Greensburg-area dentist. Julian and AnaBianca Rudolph — the children of 57-year-old Bianca — are seeking their inheritance, claiming they are lawfully entitled to life insurance proceeds...
Shrinking resource: Customers heed conservation order but Beaver Run Reservoir continues drop toward record-low level
When Barb Daugherty drives on Story Road to and from her home in Slickville, she often glances over at the Beaver Run Reservoir. The water levels for the last few months have been concerning. “It has been the lowest I have ever seen it,” she said. Daugherty feels the pinch...
7 scammers who victimized Western Pennsylvanians indicted by federal authorities
Seven people have been indicted in a $3 million sweepstakes scam federal authorities said targeted people older than 75 in the western half of Pennsylvania and elsewhere across the country. The money ultimately made it to Jamaica, where it was withdrawn by people who are accused of being part of...
Jeannette groups unite for revitalization effort
Four entities are creating a partnership aimed at revitalizing Jeannette. City council approved a measure Thursday to join the Jeannette Redevelopment Authority, Jeannette Business Association and Jeannette Initiative in creating the partnership. Having the partnership in place will help with applications for assistance from the state Department of Community and...
Jeannette may relax school dress code
Jeannette City School District administrators and board members are looking at relaxing the student dress code, and at least a few parents are praising the possible change. School directors this month suspended the district’s dress and grooming policy, which required students to adhere to more structured clothing, such as polo...
Here’s a gift guide with a Westmoreland County connection
There are potential holiday presents in every spot you look around Westmoreland County. That restaurant or coffee shop down the street probably stock gift cards that would be perfect for a friend or relative. The winery, distillery, meadery or craft brewery you’ve noticed in the neighborhood could provide a liquid...
U.S. Attorney’s office: Jails obligated to ensure access to opioid use medication
The U.S. Attorney’s office in Philadelphia this week filed a statement of interest in federal court clarifying the obligation of state and local jails to ensure inmates have access to medication used to treat opioid use disorder. The statement was filed less than two weeks after Allegheny County Jail health...
Police arrest Turtle Creek man in connection with robbery at North Huntingdon bank
Investigators believe the man who robbed a North Huntingdon bank on Thursday is also responsible for the Nov. 17 robbery at a First National Bank branch in Hempfield, according to court papers. North Huntingdon police arrested Steven A. Schaffner, 45, of Turtle Creek, in connection with the robbery at KeyBank....
Jeannette contractor accused of bilking $7.2K from church that hired him to demolish house
A Jeannette man is accused of taking $7,200 from a city church to raze a building and never completing the work, according to court papers. An arrest warrant was issued Thursday for Lee E. Dobies, 49, on charges of theft and deceptive business practices filed by Westmoreland County detectives. First...
Jeannette police chief to retire, sergeant promoted
Jeannette officials said goodbye Thursday to the city’s police chief and a councilwoman. Police Chief Donald Johnston Jr. is retiring Jan. 1. Mayor Curtis Antoniak announced Thursday his replacement will be Sgt. Derek Manley. Johnston said he got interested in police work during high school and later was hired as...
Man accused of robbing Homer City bank caught
A Homer City man was arraigned Friday morning and jailed on $250,000 bail in connection with a bank robbery in the borough earlier this week. Dylan Robert Clark Rider, 28, who lives within walking distance of the S&T Bank branch on North Main Street, was spotted Thursday afternoon in Wilkinsburg...
