Renatta Signorini stories, Page 7
Woman sentenced for police chase through Allegheny, Westmoreland counties
An Allegheny County woman was sentenced Friday to state prison for a January police chase through residential areas of North Huntingdon. Magdelena Ludwig, 27, of Forest Hills, was ordered to spend three to six years behind bars. She pleaded guilty Friday to fleeing from police, drug possession and resisting arrest...
Told she had 2 years to live, Rostraver woman carries on fight 12 years later as mom, advocate
For years, Kate Crawford lived three months at a time. It was the only choice she had after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer three days before she turned 29. After a daylong pity party, the mother of three said, she made a decision. “OK, we’re going...
Judge rejects defense request to toss felony charge in North Huntingdon crash case
An attempt to get a felony charge thrown out in a North Huntingdon crash that seriously injured a woman last year failed on Friday. Judge Michael Stewart II ruled that prosecutors presented enough evidence to show that Nolan Mullen, 22, was driving recklessly on July 7, 2024, and that the...
$5K reward offered for help in finding fugitive James Sever, charged with attempted homicide, arson
A reward has been increased to $5,000 for information that helps police find a wanted man accused of causing an explosion by putting a pipe bomb in a lawnmower. State Trooper Steve Limani said police are hoping that offering more cash will push someone to come forward with information about...
‘Acts of cruelty’: Former Westmoreland nurses who secretly filmed patients sentenced to jail
Madeline Buchek joined the Marines during World War II and was a vibrant, stylish and witty woman. Frank Rutkowsky Sr. served his country in the Army and was a respectful, independent man who took pride in his appearance. Neither deserved to be demeaned by two Westmoreland Hospital nurses and have...
Clairton man receives 40- to 80-year sentence for fleeing police, wounding officer
The fear Monroeville Patrolman Craig Huhn felt when he was shot twice in 2023 was not just for his own life, but those of his wife and their two sons if he didn’t survive. “I relive the moment I was shot every single day,” he said Thursday during the sentencing...
Witness is 2nd to testify that Derry Township man admitted killing woman in 2007
A woman testified Thursday that she heard Charles E. Ream admit to killing 22-year-old Samantha Lang, bolstering the prosecution’s case against him in the 2007 homicide. Ream’s admission came in 2010 or 2011 while he was smoking crack at a Derry Township mobile home with a few other men, said...
Defense attorney asks Westmoreland court to pay for evaluation in alleged trafficking case
The attorney representing a Philadelphia man who authorities believe intended to traffic a 13-year-old Greensburg girl said Thursday he expects his client to plead guilty in the case. If that happens, Angel Lopez, 19, is likely facing mandatory sentences on at least some of the charges against him, according to...
Firefighters lauded for quick response to Derry Township day care fire
Rhiannon Radacosky raced out of work Wednesday after learning her 2-year-old son’s day care was on fire. Because she is a volunteer firefighter with Derry Township VFD Co. No. 1 of Bradenville, she gets notifications on her cellphone for fire calls. This time, the fire was steps from her Wood...
Ex-Jeannette mayoral candidate found guilty, fined for tacking signs on utility poles
A Jeannette man who was cited by state police for attaching mayoral campaign signs to utility poles was found guilty Tuesday during a summary trial. Ed Day, 61, was fined $100 plus costs, totaling $273.75. He faced a maximum fine of $300. He vowed to appeal the ruling before leaving...
Apollo teen remembered for his positive impact, big smile
Colton Bureau found a love of fishing in the last year or two. Living along the Kiski River in Apollo, the 14-year-old boy often walked down to the water with his pole to make a few casts. It didn’t matter what type of fish he caught, as long as something...
Fast-moving fire damages Scottdale salon and house
A home and salon were damaged in Scottdale Monday afternoon during a fast-moving fire, said fire Chief Dave Wendell. But the contents of some rooms were spared because the doors to them were closed, he said. Photos posted on the department’s Facebook page from inside the Loucks Avenue home showed...
Hempfield OKs housing plan along Forbes Trail Road
A new residential development is expected to bring 70 homes to Hempfield. Township supervisors on Monday granted final conditional approval for the Deer Point site plan. Farmland along Forbes Trail Road at Fetters Road will be turned into 24 town homes, 16 duplexes and 30 single family homes. A clubhouse...
Menards seeks extension for site plan of home improvement store in Hempfield
Home improvement store chain Menards is seeking an extension to its site plan through the end of 2025, according to a letter sent to Hempfield obtained by TribLive. Township supervisors are expected to consider the extension during their September meeting, manager Aaron Siko said. “It’s so exciting to know they’re...
Encouraging nightlife reason to tweak property zoning ordinance, Greensburg officials say
Greensburg has changed over the years, but its zoning ordinance hasn’t. Work is underway to update the decades-old zoning map to better reflect the community’s look and how it could evolve. There are several upcoming opportunities for members of the public to provide input. “Zoning does affect everybody,” said Alec...
Woman stabbed at Greensburg apartment, man charged
A woman was stabbed at a Greensburg apartment Sunday morning, and police said they seized about 450 stamp bags of drugs during the investigation. Officers were called to Independence Health Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg after 9 a.m. and learned the woman had been stabbed in the leg, according to court...
Accounting books closed on Jeannette EMS bankruptcy; more than $400K left unpaid
The Jeannette EMS bankruptcy case was closed this month and about $416,000 in unsecured claims were not paid, according to a final report. Those unsecured claims included $46,594 the agency said it owed to cash advance lender Cloudfund LLC, $32,087 to Spartan Business Solutions and $10,428 to WEX, Inc., a...
House fire along Route 22 in Salem was site of July pipe bomb explosion
A Salem house was destroyed Friday in a fire state police are investigating as a possible arson. It’s the same property where a pipe bomb was placed in a lawnmower, resulting in an explosion July 20, according to police. Evicted tenant James M. Sever, 54, has been on the run...
Fair spectators enjoy demonstrations featuring Fancy, a rescued horse
A rescue horse has found a niche at the Westmoreland Fair with trainer Scott Downs. When Fancy was rescued by Second Chance Equine Association in 2009 from a location in Greene County, she was malnourished and loaded with parasites. Fancy and seven other horses didn’t have water or hay, “and...
Reward offered in case of Greensburg man missing for 3 weeks
A reward is being offered for information on the location of Ruben Carranza, a Greensburg man who has been missing for three weeks. “I don’t think my son is hiding, so all of the things that come into my mind (are) bad things,” said his mother, Dawn Rose. “Somebody knows.”...
Week-old goats draw a crowd at Westmoreland Fair
A pair of week-old goats have become mini celebrities at the Westmoreland Fair. Brothers Zane and Gunner Temple picked up the pair — named Queen and Bubba Jr. — Tuesday morning so youngsters and adults could get a look at the two kids and pet their soft fur. It’s been...
Greater Latrobe grad returns for 1 more competition at fair
T.J. Frye was set on skipping his last year of competition at the Westmoreland Fair. But as the fair week got closer, thoughts of potentially regretting that decision started creeping in. So with two weeks to go, he relied on about 14 years of experience to get ready one last...
Storms force closure of popular spots at Ohiopyle State Park
A popular waterfall at Ohiopyle State Park is off limits after damage from storms Sunday left some trails impassable and dangerous, according to park officials. The Cucumber Falls area and Great Gorge Trail are closed for the foreseeable future, according to a post on the park’s social media. Downed trees...
Rostraver man identified as victim in fatal Jeep accident
A man was killed Saturday after a Jeep Wrangler he was driving overturned in Cook, according to information released Monday by state police and the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office. Jason T. Honick, 32, of Rostraver, died from compression asphyxiation and blunt force injuries. Authorities said he was driving the Jeep...
Greensburg fire station could see savings with solar panels
Greensburg Fire Department’s Truck Company No. 2 will be the first city-owned building to have solar panels installed on it. Officials say the move will result in energy savings for the station that could spill over to other city properties. “That is going to take care of Fire Co. 2...

