Renatta Signorini stories, Page 67
Derry Township man accused of child rape
A Derry Township man was jailed Monday on child rape charges. Brandon James John Bryan, 35, is accused of raping a girl when she was 10 and 11 years old, according to court papers filed by state police. The girl reported in June to troopers that Bryan raped her on...
North Huntingdon man charged with sex assault of teen
A North Huntingdon man is being held without bail after township police arrested him in connection with a reported sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl, according to court papers. Mark M. Mycka, 33, was arrested Friday on charges of statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and related offenses. Police...
Charges filed after Turner Dairy Farm tractor found parked in nearby driveway
A Salem man was arrested Sunday on theft charges after state police said they found a missing farm tractor worth $15,000 parked at his home, according to court papers. Gary A. Lauffer, 54, told troopers that he took the tractor from a nearby dairy farm to do work on his...
19th century James Butler furniture part of Penn’s Woods exhibit
Two wooden pieces of furniture created by James Butler bear dates — 1875 and 1899. Butler, who at the time lived on Spring Street in Ludwick before it became part of Greensburg, may have used the items in his home and had no intuition they’d be considered works of art...
2019 shooting, drug bust in Jeannette result in prison sentence
A former Jeannette man was sentenced Thursday to four to eight years in a state prison in connection with a 2019 shooting and separate drug bust in the city. James W. Smith, 45, pleaded guilty to drug possession, unlawful possession of a firearm, receiving stolen property, aggravated assault and false...
Assault, vandalism with arrow in Sutersville results in conviction
A Sutersville man was convicted of aggravated assault and related offenses Thursday after his neighbor testified he was threatened with an arrow during a September 2020 incident outside their apartment building. Daniel Predajna said he was able to hold a screen door closed to prevent Rickie L. Case, 60, from...
Injured Hempfield motorist OKs plea agreement for wrong-way driver
A Hempfield man was ordered to spend two years on probation Thursday for being impaired during a 2019 wrong-way crash on Route 30 that seriously injured another motorist. Larry T. Miller Sr., 75, also was sentenced to 40 days on home electronic monitoring. He entered a guilty plea Thursday to...
Police escape injury when suspect attempts to flee drug bust scene
Five police officers narrowly escaped injury Wednesday afternoon when a suspect in a North Huntingdon drug bust attempted to drive away from a motel parking lot on Route 30 after an undercover officer purchased drugs from him, according to court papers. When authorities converged on Antonio Barry-Burrell, 18, of Penn...
1 hurt in Rostraver motorcycle crash
One person was being flown by medical helicopter from the scene of a motorcycle crash on Route 51 in Rostraver, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatch supervisor. The crash was reported just before 8:30 a.m. No other vehicles were involved....
Man accused of using claw hammer to damage parked vehicles
A Greensburg man accused of using a claw hammer to damage six parked vehicles Saturday told police he did so because no one attended a birthday party for his brother, whom he identified as Jesus Christ, according to court papers. Troy M. Konieczny, 42, told city police he smashed the...
Jeannette’s Elliott Group touted as economic development model for state
Countries around the world have a piece of Jeannette. With few exceptions, the compressors, turbines and cryogenic pumps designed and manufactured at Elliott Group’s U.S. headquarters are shipped globally, a testament to the 110-year-old company’s ability to expand and adapt while keeping a talented workforce close to home, according to...
Short hikes offer the best views in peak Western Pennsylvania fall foliage season
The brightly colored leaves and earthy scent of autumn might best be taken in with your feet tucked inside a sturdy pair of shoes. Westmoreland County and the Laurel Highlands have plenty of spots for hiking amid tall deciduous trees with sun-dappled gold, orange and red leaves. But it can...
Nearly 60 cats rescued in Jeannette after tenant’s eviction
Nearly 60 cats and kittens connected to a Jeannette home are in the care of six local volunteer rescue organizations as rescuers try to trap about a dozen more that remain around the property. Erica Puskar, president of Furry Felines, said many of the cats have medical problems, including parasites,...
Behind the art: New Alexandria woodworker’s cabinet on display at Penn’s Woods exhibit
Art in the early years of Westmoreland County wasn’t limited to a canvas and paint brush. Woodworkers around the area with impressive skill created beautiful pieces that stood the test of time, as displayed in the Penn’s Woods exhibit at Westmoreland Historical Society’s education center. One of those woodworkers was...
Jeannette considers adding 2nd dog to police department
An out-of-work police dog might join Jeannette’s force, depending on whether city council wants to foot the bill for some costs for the canine and its handler. Officer Matthew Painter was permitted to keep 5-year-old Dutch shepherd, Kilo, after he left the Uniontown department for Jeannette last year, according to...
3 charged in South Huntingdon burglary
Three people are facing charges in a South Huntingdon burglary, according to court papers. Michael F. Walz, 35, of Elizabeth is accused of taking $1,065 and a pistol from a home, according to court papers. He is charged with burglary, theft and criminal mischief. Autumn M. Weigle, 30, of Smithton...
Greensburg man accused of 2019 rape at Linn Run State Park
A Greensburg man is accused by state police of driving a girl to Linn Run State Park and raping her, according to court papers. Troopers said they found DNA evidence on a shirt the accuser was wearing that is likely from Tyler A. Mastro, 22. He was arrested this week...
After being hit by a pickup, South Huntingdon girl spent summer recovering from injuries
Peyton Benner did not have a fun, carefree summer like some of her classmates at Yough Middle School. The South Huntingdon girl instead spent the warm months recovering after being hit by a pickup while riding a hoverboard May 28 on the street where she lives in the village of...
Pittsburgh man pleads to soliciting sex from agent posing online as young girl, her parent
A Pittsburgh man who federal officials said solicited sex from someone he believed was the parent of a young girl pleaded guilty in federal court this week. Wayne E. McNutt, 57, was accused of booking a hotel room at the Waterfront in July 2021 to engage in sex with the...
Man last seen Sept. 7 in Herminie area not found during search
A search was conducted in the Herminie area Thursday for a man who has been missing for almost a month. Trooper Steve Limani said troopers were not successful in finding Aaron D. Ross, 43. He was last seen in Herminie Sept. 7 wearing a red/orange shirt, denim blue jeans and...
South Greensburg man facing charges after rocks thrown at vehicles
A South Greensburg man is facing charges after Greensburg police said he threw rocks at passing vehicles Monday, causing damage to one. James G. Wilbur, 54, is charged with propelling a missile into occupied vehicles, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, simple assault and harassment. Police Chief Shawn Denning said officers first...
Blairsville man killed in Derry Township crash
A Blairsville man was killed Thursday after being ejected from a vehicle in Derry Township, according to state police and the Westmoreland County Coroner. Christopher M. Howe, 36, was headed north on Route 217 near Cherry Street before 3 a.m. when authorities said he left the road, hit a guardrail...
Greensburg man faces prison in Ohio prostitution case
A Greensburg man pleaded guilty last month in Ohio court to attempted compelling prostitution and failure to follow a police order after a grand jury indicted him for attempting to have sex with a minor, according to court papers. Louis Rosensteel, 56, is facing a potential state prison sentence as...
2 Westmoreland men accused of causing $2,500 damage to Somerset soybean fields
Two Westmoreland County men are accused by state police of driving four-wheelers through Somerset County soybean fields last month, causing $2,500 in damage. The two men, both 19, from Irwin and Jeannette, were not named in a news release about the Sept. 3 incident. Troopers said the pair drove onto...
Jeannette officials expect to hold tax line in 2023 budget
A property tax increase is not expected in Jeannette’s 2023 budget, chief fiscal officer Ethan Keedy said. However, there are contracts that have yet to be finalized with the city’s office workers and public works department that could potentially alter figures in the 2023 spending plan that is being formulated,...
