Renatta Signorini stories, Page 109
Accused drug supplier seeks bail nearly 4 years after arrest
A Westmoreland County judge is once again considering whether to set bail for a Clairton man who has been in jail nearly four years awaiting trial. Lindsey R. Wright, 41, was arrested in May 2017 on corrupt organization, conspiracy and drug offenses. Investigators have deemed him an alleged “major” drug...
South Huntingdon man gets probation for child endangerment charge connected to deplorable house
A South Huntingdon man was sentenced Wednesday to two years of probation on a child endangerment charge in connection with deplorable living conditions at a Yukon home. Jason Michael Welch, 43, was ordered to complete parenting classes and must be supervised when visiting with the children involved in the case,...
Ligonier Township man charged with sexually assaulting juvenile
A Ligonier Township man is accused by police of having sex with a juvenile on several occasions, according to court papers. Tyler Madison Smith, 25, is being held at the Westmoreland County Prison. He is charged with six counts of statutory sexual assault and single counts of involuntary deviate sexual...
Former Southwest Greensburg part-time cop to stand trial on oppression charge
A Connellsville woman testified Wednesday that she feared for her safety when an off-duty police officer pulled her over in East Huntingdon in his personal car. Kelsie Provance said she wouldn’t roll down her window when James Edward Shaw, 54, of Mt. Pleasant Township twice approached her Kia Soul on...
DEA’s April Drug Take Back event returns after being canceled last yearVideo
After being canceled last year because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s spring Drug Take Back Day will be held April 24. The nationwide event serves as a way for citizens to turn in unwanted, unused or expired prescription medication in an effort to keep it out of...
Lawyer for man suspected in Unity woman’s disappearance wants evidence tossed in federal firearms case
The attorney for Thomas George Stanko questioned in federal court Tuesday the reliability of a witness and police interpretation of jailhouse phone calls that led state troopers to find 17 guns on his Unity property and in a storage unit. Attorney Komron Jon Maknoon said investigators may have misrepresented what...
Meat, dairy and other food distributed in South Greensburg
A regional effort to distribute thousands of pounds of food throughout Westmoreland County made its way to South Greensburg on Tuesday. The Father’s Heart Ministries in Penn Borough provided 75 boxes, each containing 40 pounds of food. They were distributed on a first-come first-served basis, said Jennifer Detore, the borough’s...
Pa. prison legal mail policy updated after 2 guards sickened by K2
Mail safety protocols in the state’s prisons are being updated after two guards at a Northeastern Pennsylvania facility were hospitalized. Officials said the pair were exposed to K2, or synthetic marijuana, that was sent in correspondence supposedly from the courts. Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel said the new protocols...
Hempfield man facing illegal gun charges now charged with sexual assault
Sexual assault charges were filed Friday against a Hempfield man arrested last week after state police said they confiscated 36 guns from his home. Dale Edward Kuhn, 73, is accused by troopers of inappropriately touching two girls and exposing himself to them, according to court papers. He is charged in...
1 hurt after pickup rear ends school bus in Hempfield
A pickup truck driver was flown by medical helicopter to a hospital Friday morning after apparently rear-ending a school bus in Hempfield. Township Fire Chief Anthony Kovacic said firefighters from Grapeville, North Hempfield and Jeannette worked together for about 25 minutes to free the driver. Nine students aboard the Hempfield...
Public asked to push Pennsylvania legislators for dog license fee hike
Increased dog license fees could bring in $1.2 million this year for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Dog Law, if the proposal is approved by state legislators. Department Secretary Russell Redding hopes it will be. Without the additional funding, lost dogs or mistreated canines could face an uncertain...
McKees Rocks man sentenced to federal prison for role in drug trafficking
A McKees Rocks man was sentenced Wednesday to 46 months in a federal prison for his role in drug trafficking activity in the South Side neighborhood of Pittsburgh, according to prosecutors. Lamont Benton, 24, was ordered to spend three years on supervised release. He pleaded guilty in October to a...
200 spaghetti dinners donated to police, nurses by Grapeville businessVideo
The smell of spaghetti and meatballs filled the small work space. The volunteers were quiet Wednesday morning, concentrating on packaging about 200 donated meals and getting the count just right. Debbie DiTommaso Huey, owner of Angelo’s Cucina in Grapeville, pretty much has the assembly line work down to a science...
North Huntingdon police seize drugs, guns, arrest Mt. Lebanon man following traffic stop
A Mt. Lebanon man was jailed Tuesday after North Huntingdon police said they found drugs and guns inside the car he was driving, according to court papers. Christian Alexander Lowe, 29, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, drug offenses, driving with a suspended license and summary vehicle code...
Westmoreland jail inmate charged after detectives say she swallowed drugs in cell
A Westmoreland County Prison inmate is accused by county detectives of swallowing four stamp bags of suspected heroin she had in her cell after being committed there earlier this month, according to court papers. Elizabeth June Cramer, 35, of Greensburg, is charged with contraband and tampering with evidence. A fifth...
Pittsburgh man sentenced to prison in drug trafficking, money laundering operation
A Pittsburgh man was sentenced to four years in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release in connection with a drug trafficking and money laundering operation, according to prosecutors. Anthony Bentley, 45, agreed to forfeit 10 watches, a diamond ring, three sets of body armor and about $293,000,...
Hempfield man jailed after police say he had 36 guns illegally
A Hempfield man is behind bars, charged with illegally having 36 firearms at his home. Dale Edward Kuhn, 73, has a previous conviction for corruption of minors, a charge that makes it illegal for him to possess a gun, state police said in court papers. He is being held without...
Westmoreland pharmacist ‘absolutely’ wants to play bigger role in doling out covid vaccine
There was no question in Ed Christofano’s mind that he would take more than a thousand doses of coronavirus vaccine when state officials offered them on short notice the weekend before last. “Absolutely,” the Westmoreland County pharmacist said. Within 24 hours, he had the doses — and plenty of waiting...
Crews clearing ice, snow damage from Forbes State Forest; part of Linn Run Road closed
Forbes State Forest maintenance workers have been contending much of the week with snow and ice that has pulled down trees and utility lines in eastern Westmoreland County. Assistant district forester Don Stiffler said part of Linn Run Road just beyond the state park with the same name will be...
Southwest Greensburg police officer charged with official oppression
A Southwest Greensburg police officer is facing criminal charges because investigators allege he pulled a woman over in his personal car and while not on duty, according to court papers. James Edward Shaw, 54, of Mt. Pleasant Township is charged with a misdemeanor count of official oppression. Westmoreland County detectives...
Veteran, puppy help police capture suspect accused of injuring Scottdale officerVideo
A Marine Corps veteran and his German shepherd puppy helped police capture a suspect accused of injuring an officer and trying to break into several Scottdale homes on Wednesday. Edward Swingle, 31, said his military training kicked in, and so did the instincts of his 4-month-old puppy, Keeper. “I’m happy...
Derry Township man charged in 2nd alleged rape
A Derry Township man awaiting trial on charges he raped a Ligonier Township woman in 2018 was charged Thursday after a second woman made similar allegations against him. Khachek Alexan Hamerski, 28, is set for arraignment next week on the new charges of rape and strangulation. Westmoreland County detectives said...
Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority seeking blighted properties for demolition
The Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority has a significant chunk of money to help clear blight from communities. Now officials just need vacant buildings with the potential for demolition, said Brian Lawrence, executive director. “It is an essential thing that we have to face in our communities,” he said. The countywide...
Excela starting to offer covid vaccines to public when available; most staffers immunized
About 70% of Excela Health’s staff are immunized against the coronavirus and a limited number of appointments are periodically being opened to community members who meet the state’s guidelines. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Carol Fox said the health system late last week opened appointments on its website to people over...
Jeannette hires code enforcement officer, hopes to tackle blight
Code violators in Jeannette beware. A full-time code enforcement officer is coming onboard, and city officials hope the move will bring in more revenue and reduce dilapidated properties. “This is a good next step for the city,” City Clerk Nathan Bish said. “It’s a good way for us to combat...
