Renatta Signorini stories, Page 44
In adopted daughters, Hempfield family finds ‘missing pieces to the puzzle’
Amber Pearce knows what it’s like to be in the foster system — that’s why she and husband John continue to keep their Hempfield home open to children in need. In 2014, they adopted daughter Nia, now 10. On Wednesday, they adopted two more daughters — Deziray, 7, and Reylynn,...
Southwest Greensburg man accused of sexual assaults from 2 decades ago
A Southwest Greensburg man is accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl he met while working at a Derry Township restaurant 20 years ago, according to court papers. Michael C. Bompiani, 43, was arraigned Tuesday on charges of rape, statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and corruption of minors....
2 arrested in theft of $3K worth of assorted merchandise from Hempfield Lowe’s
Two people were arrested by state police after tips from the public helped troopers identify the suspects in a theft of approximately $3,200 worth of merchandise from a Westmoreland County Lowe’s. Trooper Cliff Greenfield said the suspects were identified as Matthew John Murphy, 38, of Greensburg, and Heather Lynn Kunkle,...
St. Clair couple charged after police called to home for shots fired during domestic dispute
A Bolivar man narrowly escaped injury Sunday after his wife fired shots at him during a domestic dispute at their St. Clair home, according to state police. Troopers said there was a bullet hole in the man’s pickup truck. Both husband and wife, who are separated, were denied bail Monday....
Person found dead in New Stanton pond identified as Jeannette woman
A Jeannette woman was publicly identified Monday as the person found in a New Stanton pond last week. The Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office said Kele Diane Townsend, 34, was found floating in the water off Broadview Road around 12:30 p.m. Nov. 6. The death is not believed to be suspicious,...
Derry Township couple accused of beating boy, causing disfigurement of his ear
A Derry Township woman is accused of beating a 14-year-old boy so badly that it caused permanent disfigurement in one of his ears, according to state police. Jamie Denise Harr, 51, and her husband, Charles Edward Harr, 53, were arrested last week in connection with the assaults and remain at...
School van involved in crash in East Huntingdon
A three-vehicle chain-reaction crash involving a school van shut down part of Route 819 in East Huntingdon on Monday. State police said all three vehicles were traveling north on Route 819 around 8:50 a.m.. Two were stopped in the road while one was waiting to make a turn when the...
Steelers vs. Packers: What they are saying in Green Bay after loss
It’s been more than a half a century since the Green Bay Packers have won in Pittsburgh. That statistic still stands thanks to some late-game interceptions by Steelers defenders and a blocked extra point that loomed large toward the end of the game, according to Bill Huber, Packers beat writer...
Former Jeannette EMS building won’t become city’s fire station
An idea to use the former Jeannette EMS station as the city’s new fire department was nixed after a tour revealed the proposal might be more costly than anticipated. “Even to get the electricity up to snuff to support a fire station” would be expensive, said Councilman Chuck Highlands, who...
Coroner: Westmoreland prison inmate died of drug overdose
A man died at the Westmoreland County Prison in September as a result of an accidental drug overdose, Coroner Tim Carson said Friday. Terry L. Brumley Jr., 33, was discovered unresponsive in his cell the morning of Sept. 28. Carson didn’t provide additional details. Three other inmates were treated at...
Vacant home, site of fire, a longtime nuisance for East Huntingdon neighbors
For two years, squatters in an abandoned home just outside Scottdale have been a nuisance to neighbors. Wednesday morning, the home along Mt. Pleasant Road in East Huntingdon caught fire. “The fire was a blessing. It’s just too bad it didn’t burn more,” one of the neighbors said. “I hope...
Jeannette projects $75K more in wage tax collections in 2024 budget
Jeannette plans to hold the line on its property tax rate for 2024. City manager Ethan Keedy said the $6.15 million budget is balanced without a tax increase. Council was expected to tentatively approve the spending plan Thursday in advance of a final OK next month. Work on the budget...
Unity mother reflects on ‘the worst 4 months of my life’ as probe into daughter’s killing stalls
Bruna Vesco Leonard had a few video chats with her 25-year-old daughter on the evening of June 9. Brianna Lartz was visiting a friend in Jeannette, and they were getting ready to eat dinner. Hours later, Leonard was panicked to hear about a shooting at the friend’s home. Leonard said...
Hempfield man charged with child rape
A Hempfield man is behind bars after state police said he raped a girl over the summer, according to court papers. Bryan D. Rockmore, 32, was arrested Tuesday on charges of rape of a child, aggravated indecent assault of a child and indecent assault of a person younger than 13....
6 squatters escape blaze in abandoned East Huntingdon house
No one was hurt in a fire at an abandoned house Wednesday morning in East Huntingdon. East Huntingdon Second Assistant Chief Chris Brinker said six people were squatting inside the two-story house and made it out safely. The house, on Mt. Pleasant Road, is just outside Scottdale and close to...
It was a night of firsts amid local, national election results
History was made around the U.S. — and in Western Pennsylvania — on Tuesday as several newly elected candidates earned firsts for their respective offices. In Allegheny County, Democrat Sara Innamorato became the first woman to win the county executive seat after she defeated Republican Joe Rockey. On the other...
Morning Roundup: Police say Shadyside restaurant worker injured in assault; 2 winners in record Pa. jackpot
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, Nov. 8: Police say Shadyside restaurant worker injured in assault A Shadyside restaurant employee was treated for a cut on the head after three masked men reportedly robbed and assaulted him Tuesday night, according to Pittsburgh police. The...
Former Westmoreland-Fayette Boy Scouts employee accused of theft
A former employee of the Boy Scouts of America’s Westmoreland-Fayette Council is accused of taking $87,000 from the organization in a period of about four years, according to court papers. Jonathan C. Stoops, 42, of Greensburg previously worked as the manager of the council’s Scout shop, according to a social...
Western Pa.-filmed ‘Unsinkable’ movie to debut at Three Rivers Film Festival
An independent movie filmed at several locations in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties is set to premiere Wednesday at the Three Rivers Film Festival. “Unsinkable,” directed by Cody Hartman and produced by PMI Films, follows a U.S. Senate inquiry and investigation into the cause of the Titanic sinking April 15, 1912....
Morning Roundup: Assault charges over McDonald’s coffee order; shots fired into Braddock council candidate’s home
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, Nov. 7: Police charge Latrobe man with assault over McDonald’s coffee order Pennsylvania State Police said a Latrobe man’s coffee order turned violent last week after he attacked a worker at the Unity McDonald’s when his drink was...
Greensburg woman accused of setting fire to own home after argument
A Greensburg woman was arrested after police said she set a fire at her home Sunday following a domestic dispute, according to court papers. Georgia Zowacki, 59, was being held at the Westmoreland County Prison on $15,000 bail. Police and firefighters were called to her Adams Street home around 8:15...
3 people taken to hospital after fire at Greensburg’s Pershing Square apartments
Three people were taken to a hospital Monday after a fire in an apartment at Pershing Square in Greensburg that displaced residents of four units. Two of the injured were a city firefighter and the occupant of the unit where the flames started, according to Fire Chief Tom Bell. “The...
Derry man accused of pointing gun at bar patrons, using racial slur
A Derry Borough man is behind bars after Latrobe police said he pointed a gun at two men and directed a racial slur at them. Charles Noel, 67, is charged with two counts each of aggravated assault, terroristic threats and ethnic intimidation. The incident was reported at 10:30 p.m. Saturday...
Drop in Jeannette’s Democratic voters reflected in city council shift
In the past 20 years, the number of Democrats registered to vote in Jeannette has decreased by about 2,000 while the number of Republican voters has risen by 400, according to West moreland County statistics. Now, that shift will be reflected in city council. After Tuesday’s election and once a new...
Hempfield man gives $19,000 to scammer claiming to need bail money
An elderly Hempfield man lost $19,000 Thursday in a scam, according to state police. The man got a phone call from a person who claimed to be a family member in jail and made a request for money to post a fictitious bail. Another person claiming to be an attorney...
