Renatta Signorini stories, Page 111
Pandemic forces fire departments to continue creative fundraising in 2021
For fire departments, fundraising took many different forms in 2020 as they adapted to a changing environment in the era of the coronavirus pandemic. There are the ones that found a following for raffles on the department’s Facebook page. Some events that typically bring in a ton of cash —...
Derry district judge to retire in August
Derry Township’s longtime district judge will not seek reelection, marking the end of his three decades on the bench, according to an announcement. Mark J. Bilik, 65, of New Alexandria plans to retire in August, said Chris Haidze, magisterial district court administrator. He was appointed to the post in August...
Excela Health sees drop in covid hospitalization, keeps eye on new variants
Hospitalizations of covid patients at Excela Health facilities are decreasing and Westmoreland County appears to have missed any potential surge in coronavirus cases from the holiday season. But now the system’s chief medical officer has something else to worry about — more infectious variants of the virus that are making...
1 hurt in Derry Township blaze that destroyed home
A Derry Township man was taken to a Pittsburgh hospital for treatment of burns after escaping a house fire early Thursday, according to Bradenville Fire Chief Mark Piantine. Firefighters were called to the home near the intersection of Pizza Barn Road and Toms Lane at 2:40 a.m, according to Westmoreland...
Excela planning for vaccine distribution when supplies become available
Excela Health plans to open coronavirus vaccination appointments to community members meeting the state’s guidelines when the health system has enough vaccine to go around. But not just yet. Dr. Carol Fox, the system’s chief medical officer, said health care workers at Excela’s three hospitals and other independent community providers...
North Huntingdon police say traffic stop yielded same drug linked to overdoses
North Huntingdon police report that during a traffic stop this week they discovered stamp bags of drugs that have been linked to numerous overdoses and deaths in the area. Police arrested Moziah Sharron Harris, 29, of Jeannette after discovering 246 stamp bags — 11 of which had the specific “Chucky”...
Jeannette man posts bond after drug arrest
A man who police accuse of dealing crack and cocaine out of a Jeannette home posted $50,000 bond Monday, according to online court records. Michael Larrell Jackson, 29, of Jeannette, was arrested Friday on drug and related charges after, police say, they made an undercover drug purchase at a North...
Bell woman charged with endangering children
A Bell woman was jailed Monday after state police said they found two children outside her home this month in cold weather. Police said Melissa Ann Chaya, 41, reportedly ingested prescription medication and yelled at the children, who fled outside to hide. She is charged with two felony counts of...
Mt. Pleasant Area students resuming hybrid instruction model
Students in the Mt. Pleasant Area School District are heading back to the classroom this week after more than a month of remote learning. District Superintendent Timothy Gabauer detailed in a letter to parents a plan that the school board approved for students to resume in-person classes Monday varying by...
Westmoreland County Coroner Ken Bacha seeks re-election
Kenneth A. Bacha, Westmoreland County’s longtime coroner, is seeking another term in the seat he has held for almost 20 years. Bacha, 59, of Greensburg was first elected in 2001, taking over the department from his father Leo Bacha, who held the post for nearly 24 years. Ken Bacha worked...
Rabid raccoon reported in Pittsburgh
The first rabid animal of 2021 — a raccoon — has been reported in Allegheny County, according to the health department. The raccoon was found in Pittsburgh’s Duquesne Heights neighborhood earlier this month. Health department officials said the animal was being treated for mange by a rescue group when it...
Fayette County asks groups to register in preparation for expanded coronavirus vaccinations
Fayette County businesses, agencies and other groups are being asked to register with the county emergency management agency in preparation for upcoming eligibility for the coronavirus vaccine, according to an announcement. Several Fayette County officials this week met as a coronavirus vaccine planning task force to coordinate a local response...
Rostraver man charged with attempting to touch police officer with bloody bandage in jail
A Rostraver man was arrested Thursday, charged with trying to touch an officer with a bloody bandage while being dropped off at the Westmoreland County Prison last month, according to court papers. Thomas Welch, 58, whose last known address is in Van Meter, is charged with aggravated harassment by a...
Jeannette man arrested on drug charges after foot chase in city
A Jeannette man under investigation by police for dealing drugs was arrested Wednesday after a foot chase in the city, according to court papers. Rashaad Ricardo Shepard, 41, is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison without bond. City police and agents from the state Attorney General’s office said they...
Gas line replacement underway in Youngwood
Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania has started replacing gas lines in Youngwood in a project that is expected to last until April. Spokesman Lee Gierczynski said the project completion date will be dependent upon the weather. The work replacing more than 9,800 feet of underground pipeline got underway this week, he...
Vaccine eligibility quiz released by Pa. health department
Not sure if you qualify yet for the coronavirus vaccine? Don’t know where to get it if you do qualify? The Pennsylvania Department of Health has released a vaccine eligibility quiz to answer those questions. The quiz gauges a person’s age and if they are living in a nursing or...
Ligonier ice carvings prepared ahead of time to cope with pandemicVideo
The sound of chainsaws will be missing from this weekend’s Ligonier Ice Fest, but the carvers are busy working at DiMartino Ice Co. in Jeannette. Ice sculptures typically carved in Ligonier Diamond Park during past events are being prepared ahead of the annual winter festival. Ice carver Jared McAlister said...
Jeannette woman accused of burning water service crew with sulfuric acid
Police arrested a Jeannette woman Tuesday on charges she poured sulfuric acid drain cleaner in a Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County pipe, burning three workers who were restoring her water service, according to court papers. Deborah Samulski, 61, is charged with weapons of mass destruction, risking a catastrophe, reckless endangerment...
Arnold man accused of exposing himself to Westmoreland County Prison worker
An Arnold man already being held in the Westmoreland County Prison was arrested last week after, police say, he exposed himself to a female commissary worker at the jail. John D. Weathersby, 46, is charged with indecent exposure and open lewdness. The incident was reported to county detectives on Jan....
Tamara Mahady hopes to keep district justice seat in the family
A Latrobe lawyer is hoping to keep a potentially vacant district justice seat in the family. Tamara Mahady, 32, announced this week her intention to run for district judge in the Unity office currently held by her cousin, District Judge Michael Mahady. Tamara Mahady said her varied law background would...
Social ‘climate,’ lagging pay could be fueling decline in municipal police applicants
Some local police chiefs are having a tough time finding officers to join their forces. Jeannette recently advertised seeking candidates to take a civil service test. It received three applications. Irwin had five applicants for its test — all of whom were already part-time officers in the borough. After receiving...
Jeannette cryogenic plant to be fully operational by summer
Construction of Elliott Group’s $60 million cryogenic pump test stand is on schedule and is expected to be completed this spring, according to spokeswoman Christy Bash. The facility should be in full operation this summer, she said. Crews have been working through the winter at the former site of the...
Reward offered for information in fatal hit-and-run on Pennsylvania Turnpike
A reward is being offered by Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers for information leading to the arrest of a suspect in a fatal hit-and-run on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Somerset County this month. A female pedestrian was killed Jan. 4 after being hit by a vehicle just before the Somerset exit, troopers...
More than $45 million worth of illegal drugs seized by Pa. troopers in 2020
More than $45 million worth of illicit drugs was taken off the streets by state troopers in 2020, according to police. That was about $2 million more than the total in 2019, when troopers confiscated more than $43 million in prohibited drugs statewide. In 2020, troopers seized more than 300...
Coronavirus vaccine the answer to nuns’ prayers in Hempfield
There have been lots of prayers for relief from the coronavirus pandemic coming from the nuns at Caritas Christi in Hempfield. “I’ve been praying every night and every morning,” said Sister Mary Agnes Kirsch, 85. A bit of hope came to the motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity of Seton...
