Renatta Signorini stories, Page 139
Prescription pills led local women down years-long path of addiction
A doctor wrote Nicki Ross a prescription for Percocet. It changed her life. The Greensburg woman was prescribed the opiate painkiller after a 2001 surgery. She took three to four pills a day at first. Soon, she was downing as many as 20 daily, taking to the streets to find...
Westmoreland ‘super voters’ inducted into special state Hall of FameVideo
Carol and Chuck Chamberlain celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last month. On Friday, the Latrobe couple marked another important part of their lives together — 50 consecutive years of voting in a general election. “You have to keep the democracy going and that’s the only way to do it, by...
Report: Antonio Brown sent ‘intimidating’ texts to accuser
A woman who alleges former Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown made an unwanted sexual advance toward her said she received what she described as intimidating text messages from a number associated with Brown, according to Sports Illustrated. Sports Illustrated published an article this week detailing a few allegations against Brown,...
2 arson cases, 1 fatal, against Jeannette man to be tried together
Two arson cases against a Jeannette man, including one in which an elderly woman died, will be tried together, a Westmoreland County judge ruled this week. Brian Rendon, 35, had sought stand trial separately on the accusations. Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio said the fires occurred within two days of each other,...
Wexford doctor will be Team USA physician at Rugby World Cup in Japan
Dr. Sam Akhavan won’t be competing, but he will experience all the excitement from the field during Team USA’s play in the men’s 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. The Allegheny Health Network orthopedic physician will be keeping a close eye on the USA players, watching for concussions and knee...
Laurel Highlands DUI Task Force plans checkpoints, patrols
Members of the Laurel Highlands DUI Task Force will be looking for intoxicated drivers this weekend in Westmoreland County. There will be a stationary sobriety checkpoint and roving patrols on Friday and Saturday, according to a news release. Authorities did not say where the enforcement will be taking place. Police...
Police: Foot chase to Jeannette home leads to drug bust
A Jeannette man allegedly led agents from the state attorney general’s office on a foot chase to his home Tuesday where they found drugs and cash, according to court papers. Damone Akeir Morton, 24, was being held in the Westmoreland County Prison on $20,000 bail on charges of aggravated assault,...
Engineer: Greensburg/Hempfield sinkhole repair won’t affect Route 30Video
Progress is being made to repair damaged underground infrastructure that caused a massive sinkhole to open up two months ago along Route 30 at the border of Greensburg and Hempfield. PennDOT contracted with Gulisek Construction to handle the project that has been ongoing since heavy rains in mid-July caused an...
Inmate attempts suicide at Westmoreland jail
Westmoreland County Prison officials are working to transfer a male inmate who attempted suicide Friday to Torrance State Hospital in Derry Township for mental health treatment, Warden John Walton said. The inmate was found Friday night hanging by a bed sheet in a disciplinary cell as guards made their regular...
Motorcyclist killed in Homewood crash
A Homewood man riding a motorcycle died Monday night after being involved in a crash in the Pittsburgh neighborhood. Charles William Allen, 24, was riding an off-road motorcycle at 9:40 p.m. when he collided with a car near the intersection of Kelly Street and North Dallas Avenue, according to Pittsburgh...
‘Very Special Proms’ charity seeks donations after Hempfield flood damages dresses, more
Faith-based nonprofit The Celebration of Life, which runs the annual Very Special Prom, is in need of help after flooding in July damaged donated gowns, dress shoes and other items set for sale at a flea market. Organization volunteer president Tina Rusiski said the items were being stored in the...
Derry burglary suspect accused of leading police on 9 mile chase
A Loyalhanna Township man is accused of breaking into a Derry Borough home early Sunday and then leading police on a nine mile chase, according to court papers. Clark Headrick, 30, was arraigned Monday on charges of burglary, fleeing from police, reckless endangerment and several other offenses. He was being...
Latrobe man accused of animal cruelty after 17 pets found dead
A Latrobe man posted $500 bond last week after he was arrested on animal cruelty charges in connection with 17 dead animals found inside his former Derry Township mobile home. Andrew T. Pevarnik, 44, had been evicted from the home in April. The animals — 11 guinea pigs, five rats...
Mt. Pleasant library director returns to stacks of his boyhood
The books were always calling to Brian Dawson. As a young boy, he’d ride his bicycle a couple of blocks from his Mt. Pleasant home to the library to pore over a series of Time-Life books with gold lettering and brown covers. They’d transport him to a land of cowboys,...
Police seeking West Newton man accused of beating up 1-year-old boy
Police are on the look for a West Newton man who allegedly beat up a 1-year-old boy Thursday while the child’s mother was at work. Troopers said Salvatore Albert Salvio, 24, stole a car and cell phone belonging to the boy’s mother after she returned to her Sewickley Township home...
Police: Drugs, guns seized in raids at 2 Jeannette homes
Drugs, six guns and $3,500 were seized Thursday from two Jeannette homes during raids by city police, agents from the state Attorney General’s office and members of the Pennsylvania National Guard, according to police Chief Shannon Binda. Charges were filed Friday against five adults in connection with the raids on...
Father accused of assaulting 3-month-old East Huntingdon boy
A 3-month-old East Huntingdon boy remained hospitalized after state police arrested the child’s father Wednesday for allegedly assaulting the baby, leaving him with three broken ribs, bruising and a brain hemorrhage. Taylor Joseph Shipley, 19, is being held without bail at the Westmoreland County Prison on charges of aggravated assault...
Fayette County man admits ‘swatting’ online gaming opponent after dispute
A Fayette County man pleaded guilty in federal court this week for making hoax emergency phone calls to a Florida police department following an argument with an online gaming opponent, according to federal court records. Nicholas Huffine, 20, pleaded guilty to interstate threats, U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said. Huffine participated...
‘From fingers to a fist’: Heroics of Flight 93 passengers, crew remembered on 9/11 anniversaryVideo
They stood in line Wednesday under a hot Somerset County sun, waiting to say one of 40 names that have been forged into the country’s history. Some held back tears as they approached the microphone. Some added extra meaning: “flight attendant, “first officer,” “our beloved,” “our brother.” Bells rang 40...
18 years later: Honoring Flight 93 victims on anniversary of 9/11
Dignitaries and families of those aboard United Airlines Flight 93 are gathering in Somerset County this morning for the 18th annual remembrance of the 40 people who died fighting back against terrorists. Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt were keynote speakers for the observance at...
Somerset County community starts memorial in honor of post-9/11 War on TerrorVideo
The global War on Terror started over the skies of Western Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, 2001. Now, a Somerset County group wants to honor the military men and women who continued that fight with a new memorial park a few miles from where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in a...
Indiana County man killed in crash
An Indiana County man was killed in a one-vehicle crash in West Wheatfield Township early Saturday, according to state police. Daniel J. Rodkey, 28, of Indiana, died after being ejected from a car at the intersection of Ofman and Shellbark roads. State police said the driver of a Tesla Model...
Pittsburgh man pleads guilty to drug possession in raid that sickened 18 officers
A Pittsburgh man pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy and drug possession in connection with a large amount of a fentanyl analogue that was found at his West End home two years ago, according to federal authorities. Anthony Lozito, 40, was arrested Aug. 7, 2017 during a raid that sent 18...
‘Save a Life’ training set for this week in Rostraver
Westmoreland, Washington and Fayette residents are invited to a free training Thursday in Rostraver that will teach participants ways to save someone’s life during emergency situations. The Westmoreland Drug and Alcohol Commission and Mon Valley Opioid Coalition are holding “Learn How to Save a Life” from 6-8 p.m. at the...
Derry Township animal shelter takes in hurricane dogs, catsVideo
Dozens of dogs in the path of Hurricane Dorian have found temporary homes in Westmoreland County. Action for Animals Humane Society in Derry Township took in 17 dogs, four puppies and six cats this week from a shelter in South Carolina. The Route 217 shelter is getting 21 more dogs...
