Rich Cholodofsky stories, Page 69
Deal reached on pay raises for key staff in Westmoreland controller’s office
After a monthslong stalemate, Westmoreland officials this week agreed to a salary restructure plan that awards pay hikes to key employees in the county controller’s office. The salary board, which includes all three commissioners and Controller Jeffrey Balzer, unanimously approved raises for the director of accounting and two supervisors. The...
Monessen man to serve prison sentence for sexual assault of child
A Monessen man will serve up to seven years in prison for the sexual assault of a 7-year-old girl. Damien R. Bryan, 21, was convicted by a Westmoreland County jury in July of two felony charges of indecent assault of a person under age 13, corruption of minors and one...
Whistleblower lawsuit filed against Ruffs Dale company
A former quality assurance director at a Ruffs Dale in-home care company contends in a federal lawsuit he was fired after reporting allegations that covid-relief funds were misappropriated and staff-training documents were falsified. Bryan Kantorczyk claimed Gene Cook Supports Inc. — the company where he worked for more than six...
Interim Westmoreland election chief handed bonus as search for new director restarts
The search to fill the vacant director’s job at the Westmoreland County Election Bureau will begin anew as work in advance of the 2022 primary will continue to be overseen by the county’s public works head. Commissioners this week gave a $5,000 bonus to Greg McCloskey, who since last summer...
Former Pirates pitcher’s appeal of sex conviction rejected by Westmoreland judge
The conviction of former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez, who was found guilty last year in the sexual assault of a 13-year-old Scottdale girl, will stand — according to a ruling from a Westmoreland County judge. Common Pleas Judge Scott Mears, in a 78-page opinion, ruled evidence presented during a...
New Kensington man to serve 5-10 year prison term for meth lab in parents’ basement
A New Kensington man will serve up to 10 years in prison in connection with a methamphetamine laboratory found in his parents’ basement. Sean Christopher Smith, 36, was convicted in October by a Westmoreland County jury of multiple charges of possession of drugs used to make methamphetamines and two additional...
Increased salaries set for new Westmoreland DA office heads
Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli won her first case Monday. Ziccarelli’s victory came not in the courtroom but in the boardroom as the county’s salary board unanimously backed her plan to increase the pay for a newly appointed first assistant and chief detective. The annual salary for First Assistant...
Connellsville man sentenced to 40 years in prison for rape of child
A Connellsville man was ordered Monday to serve up to 40 years in prison for the rape of a child that a Westmoreland County judge described as “one of the worst cases of a sexual nature that I’ve seen.” Shawn Tracy Melville, 44, pleaded guilty in October to eight offenses...
Westmoreland housing authority seeks to scratch out bedbug problem at Jeannette Manor
Ron Tonin has had enough. For days now, Tonin, 53, who is confined to a wheelchair, said he is forced to sleep in the hallway outside his apartment in Jeannette Manor to avoid a bedbug infestation that has left him with welts on his back and extremities. “I’ve lived here...
1 dead, another injured in I-279 crash in Ross
A man was killed and another injured in a crash early Monday on the Parkway North in Ross. State police said David P. Rennebeck, 67, of Pittsburgh, died from injuries suffered in a two-car crash in the northbound lanes of Interstate 279. Rennebeck had been driving a car that struck...
Westmoreland economic development marketing director retires after one last deal
Joe Sisley’s fingerprints are all over economic development in Westmoreland County. “Joe has sold or leased every property in Westmoreland County’s industrial park system,” said Jason Rigone, executive director of the county’s Industrial Development Corp. There are more than 170 companies occupying 1,200 acres of land and — until the...
Bacha dynasty comes to an end in Westmoreland County coroner’s office
Ken Bacha’s father, Leo, served as Westmoreland County coroner for almost 24 years before he retired in 2001. At first, Ken Bacha didn’t consider going into the family business, which included ownership of two local funeral homes in addition to the elected coroner duties. “I am the fourth generation out...
After 27 years, John Peck walks away with long legacy as Westmoreland’s district attorney
John Peck stood before a Westmoreland County jury in early December and for the next 40 minutes argued for a conviction. It marked the last time Peck would do so as the county’s district attorney — a job he’s held since 1994. He leaves at year’s end after failing in...
Westmoreland County DA-elect Nicole Ziccarelli says transition team not getting cooperation from predecessor
Westmoreland County District Attorney-elect Nicole Ziccarelli said Wednesday she and her new administrative team are set to begin work Jan. 3 to replace outgoing prosecutor John Peck, who she said has so far refused to cooperate with the transition. “My predecessor is not interested in creating a transition team with...
Westmoreland County settles federal lawsuit alleging assault of inmate from New Kensington
A federal lawsuit filed by a former Westmoreland County Prison inmate who claimed he was beaten by a guard in 2018 has been settled. The county commissioners this month approved a $27,500 settlement to end the case filed by DaRob Wright of New Kensington. “It was completely unjustified,” attorney John...
Greensburg man charged with directing woman to record video of sex act with child wants case dismissed
A Greensburg man awaiting trial on charges that he directed his ex-girlfriend to have sex with a child and record the act now contends the case is based on an improper police search of his cell phone. A new lawyer for Charles Jason Hunter, 35, in court documents made public...
Westmoreland jail sees coronavirus cases ease in recent days
Westmoreland County Prison Warden Bryan Kline said that as of Monday there are 21 current coronavirus infections at the jail but no additional cases have been reported since late last week. Kline said the last inmate to test positive for the virus was on Dec. 17. “It’s getting better,” Kline...
Westmoreland doles out retroactive pandemic hazard pay to top administrators
Nearly two years after the fact, Westmoreland County’s senior executives, department heads and other top administrators will receive bonuses for their work in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. Commissioners on Monday unanimously approved retroactive pandemic pay for about 60 county officials for 10 days of work between March...
Westmoreland County signs on to $26B settlement in opioid lawsuit
Westmoreland County on Monday signed up to be part of a proposed $26 billion national settlement with three major drugmakers to end a lawsuit over the ongoing opioid epidemic. The county and its 11 largest municipalities would receive up to $22 million over the next 18 years, commissioners said. “This...
Murder charges dismissed against 2 women implicated in Arnold killing; both plead guilty to lesser charges
Westmoreland County prosecutors on Friday dismissed murder charges against two women implicated in the 2019 robbery and killing of a man in Arnold. Instead, Santyna M. Bennett, 28, of New Kensington and Bailey Ann Hines, 27, of Butler pleaded guilty to lesser charges in return for their cooperation with police...
Westmoreland County Transit Authority union rejects covid vaccine incentive
Leadership of the union that represents Westmoreland County Transit Authority fixed-route bus drivers and mechanics said Friday a proposal to offer additional sick leave to vaccinated employees who test positive for the coronavirus is not fair and won’t present the plan to its members. Dave Conley, president of the Amalgamated...
Manor man to serve up to 14 years in prison for drug sales in fatal overdoses
Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Tim Krieger said he struggled with just how much blame to assign to a man who pleaded guilty earlier this year to selling the drugs used in the fatal overdoses of two men in 2017. “This is a scourge that is destroying our society,...
Judge rejects appeal of New Stanton teen convicted in murders of mother, brother
The former New Stanton teenager who claimed he was under the influence of an alternate personality that made him kill his mother and younger brother more than five years ago told a Westmoreland County judge he hasn’t received proper mental health treatment as he serves a prison sentence of 30...
Commissioners halt reading of emailed comments during public meetings
Time is an asset Westmoreland County commissioners said they can no longer waste. Starting next year, commissioners will save some of it by no longer listening to emailed comments at the start of each public meeting. “It is time constraints, and we do have back-to-back meetings,” Commissioner Gina Cerilli Thrasher...
Westmoreland commissioners trim deficit in 2022 budget, which overspends but won’t raise taxes
Westmoreland County commissioners on Thursday approved a 2022 budget that increases spending but also trims a projected deficit by nearly $7 million. The property tax rate will remain unchanged at 21.49 mills. “Overall, we are financially looking solid as we move forward into the next two years,” Commissioner Sean Kertes...
