Renatta Signorini stories, Page 150
Competency evaluation ordered for New Stanton teen accused of killing mom, brother
A New Stanton teenager accused of killing his mother and younger brother will undergo a competency evaluation to determine if he is able to stand trial, a judge ruled Thursday. Defense attorney Wayne McGrew requested the evaluation for Jacob Remaley, 17. “My client suffers under some mental health issues and...
Route 30 eastbound reopens in North Huntingdon after crash, 1 hurt
An unloaded school bus was involved in a crash on Route 30 in North Huntingdon Thursday afternoon that briefly closed both eastbound lanes of the highway, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. The collision between a bus and a couple of passenger vehicles left one person injured, the dispatcher said....
Police: Woman being evaluated after breaking into Salem homes, threatening others
A 24-year-old woman was taken for a mental health evaluation Wednesday after she reportedly was threatening others and breaking into homes in Salem Township, according to state police. Brianna Renee Waibel of Murrysville allegedly was using a knife and broken glass bottle to threaten people on Forbes Trail Drive at...
Work on new MAWC pipeline nearing completion
A $63 million project linking Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County water treatment plants is wrapping up. Authority officials said work on the final section of a 48-inch pipe between Jeannette and Adamsburg is nearly complete. The line still has to pass bacterial tests and be connected to a tank in...
2 killed in Washington County crash – Apr. 17, 2019
Two people died from injuries they suffered Monday morning in a Washington County two-vehicle crash, authorities said. Julie Nicholas, 51, of New Eagle, was driving south on Route 88 in Carroll Township around 7 a.m. when a northbound vehicle crossed the center line and hit her vehicle head-on, according to...
Laurel Mountain homicide suspect ruled competent to stand trial
A Westmoreland County judge ruled Tuesday that a Laurel Mountain man accused of killing his live-in girlfriend nearly five years ago is competent to stand trial. Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio said Gregory R. Randall, 62, is mentally fit to assist with his defense after hearing expert testimony from a defense psychologist...
West Newton man charged with DUI in crash that injured girl, 16
A West Newton man faces a preliminary hearing next month on charges he was drunk when he crashed in South Huntingdon Township in January, injuring a 16-year-old girl. Jamie Alan Smith, 44, is charged with child endangerment, driving under the influence, accidents involving injury by an unlicensed driver and several...
Coroner: Man killed in Ligonier Township crash
A Ligonier man died at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown after a Sunday evening crash in Westmoreland County, according to Cambria County Coroner Jeff Lees. Benjamin A. Leshow, 28, was driving a Dodge Ram south on Route 271 in Ligonier Township just after 6:30 p.m. when he lost control...
Demolition set for Jeannette home that has been scene of suspicious fires
A house on South Seventh Street in Jeannette that has been the scene of several suspicious fires will burn no more. Plans are in the works to have it razed, said fire Chief Bill Frye. City council has unanimously approved the emergency demolition of the vacant structure at 212 S....
Westmoreland County residents to get behavioral health honors
Several community members and organizations will be honored by Mental Health America of Southwestern Pennsylvania next month. The award recipients will be recognized for their contributions to behavioral health at the agency’s annual Innovations event May 2. Being honored with the lifetime achievement award is Dr. Loren H. Roth, a...
Burgettstown man killed in Washington County crash
A Burgettstown man was killed in a one-vehicle crash Monday, according to the Washington County coroner. James Coppock Brown Jr., 66, was driving north on Interstate 79 at 10:30 a.m. in Amwell Township when he apparently lost control of his vehicle while trying to pass another driver, the coroner said....
Police: Derry mayor pointed gun at juveniles in park after fight involving his son
A playground argument over a marker Sunday night led to the mayor of Derry Borough pointing a gun at four children in a park, according to state police. Kevin M. Gross, 38, took a loaded revolver to the park near his Broad Street home just before 8:30 p.m. after his...
Preacher uses sign language to teach Biblical concepts at Mt. Pleasant libraryVideo
Communicating with his hands is second nature to Christian Garcia. So is preaching. Put them together, and a unique skill set emerges: helping the hearing impaired understand Biblical concepts they may have never learned before. “I just want to teach people about God’s love for them,” said Garcia, assistant pastor...
Police: Connellsville woman sent drugs to Westmoreland County Prison inmate
A Connellsville woman accused of mailing Suboxone strips to an inmate at the Westmoreland County Prison two years ago is set for a formal arraignment in June. Courtney Elyse Warburton, 29, waived her right to a preliminary hearing Friday on charges of conspiracy and attempted contraband. County detectives allege Warburton...
2 Southwestern Pennsylvania active-shooter incidents make FBI’s 2018 listVideo
Southwestern Pennsylvania made a list that no place wants to be on — the FBI’s active shooter incidents from 2018. The region appears twice, first with a shooting at the Masontown municipal building on Sept. 19 and then again Oct. 27 when 11 people were killed at Tree of Life...
Auditor General: Number of untested rape kits in Pennsylvania decreased by nearly 90%
The number of untested rape kits in Pennsylvania has dropped dramatically, from more than 3,200to 339 in the last three years, according to state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale. Across the state, sexual assault evidence kits have been a focus recently of forensic scientists who examine them for details police can...
Police: McKees Rocks man fatally shot Stowe victim during robbery
Police are looking for a McKees Rocks man in connection with a fatal shooting Wednesday evening in Stowe Township. Tomichael Sherrell, 18, is charged with homicide, robbery and weapons violations in the death of Bradley Lucier, 23, of McKees Rocks. Allegheny County detectives said Sherrell fired a gunshot while trying...
Man wanted in Pitcairn homicide surrenders to police
A Pitcairn man wanted in connection with the stabbing death of a woman surrendered to police Wednesday. Derrick Avant, 59, is being held in the Allegheny County Jail without bond. He is charged with homicide. Avant surrendered at the Rankin police station around 6:45 p.m., investigators said. Allegheny County police...
Police: Murrysville man hit by car when lottery scam goes awry
A lottery mail scam was thwarted this week in Murrysville when a Maryland man tried to pick up $100,000 from a resident and then struck the man with his vehicle as he tried to flee, according to court papers. Clint OBrian Robinson, 47, told investigators he had driven 3-1/2 hours...
Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster social media beef gets put on a shirt
A Pittsburgh T-shirt company is capitalizing on the social media beef between Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and his former teammate Antonio Brown. Steel City released in the last couple days a black T-shirt with gold lettering that says: “JuJu is the best and everyone likes him.” “It’s just meant...
2 former Duquesne men plead guilty to illegal gun purchase
Two men formerly of Duquesne pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday in connection with an illegal gun purchase, according to U.S. Attorney Scott Brady. Melvin Bowles, 24, asked Khalil Armstrong, 26, on Feb. 8, 2018, to purchase a gun for him because Bowles is prohibited as a convicted felon from...
Franklin Regional stabbing remains fresh for medics, police, hospital staff 5 years later
The horrifying scene of a mass school stabbing in Murrysville five years ago is never far from the minds of those who experienced it. Darrick Gerano, director of Murrysville Medic One, got several messages from former employees and other emergency responders Tuesday morning. The subjects of all were remembering when...
Mon Valley Opioid Coalition plans public meeting
Members of the public are invited to a meeting of the Mon Valley Opioid Coalition on April 30 in Speers. The session with include discussion about the coalition’s goals and progress while seeking public input on the group’s new website. The coalition was formed in November 2017 with officials and...
Penn Township man remembered as hard-working, coolest dad around
The drummer meets the majorette. The drummer marries the majorette — and plays the drums at their wedding. Gary Kozain was a hard-working guy who sometimes liked to embarrass his two daughters while being the coolest dad around. His family has troves of good memories from Sundays spent together to...
Helltown Brewing cans hit store shelves
Four varieties of beer from Westmoreland County-based Helltown Brewing are now available on store shelves in 12-ounce cans, the craft brewery announced. Six- and 12-packs of four beers became available Monday in Western and Eastern Pennsylvania: • Buffy Hazy IPA • Hop Frenzy IPA • Idle Hands Double IPA •...
