Renatta Signorini stories, Page 23
Fire heavily damages Vandergrift home, but the resident, her pets, make it out safely
After Lisa Schrader heard a pop and then saw smoke, she grabbed her dog Chloe and cat Oreo and raced out of her Vandergrift home before it became consumed flames, according to her sister, Cindy Phillips of West Vandergrift. But as firefighters worked, Schrader agonized over whether her second cat,...
Suspicious package found at church prompts police to shut down streets in Southwest Greensburg
A reported suspicious package found outside a Southwest Greensburg church on Saturday is under investigation. Firefighters on Saturday afternoon closed several blocks of Stanton Street, which is on the border of Greensburg and Southwest Greensburg, and other adjacent roads. The package was reportedly found in a food pantry box outside...
Tiny railcars pick up Christmas presents for 40 miles between East Huntingdon and Hempfield
The Toys for Tots box truck was filling up fast, before a caravan of railcars collecting toy donations even rolled through Hunker. Volunteers loaded, and unloaded, the truck Saturday to keep up with the deluge of new, unwrapped toys the operators of more than two dozen railcars picked up along...
What happened to Jessica Goldsworthy? Authorities say 2018 case isn’t cold ‘just yet’
On Nov. 16, 2018, Jessica Lynn Goldsworthy got into a gray four-door car with four men who were planning to rob a drug dealer in Sutersville. Two people were shot during the robbery. Goldsworthy, then 24, was never seen again. Her brothers reported her missing days later, state police Cpl....
Hempfield man accused of arson after garage fire
A Hempfield man accused of setting a fire at a garage attached to a house last week was denied bail Wednesday on arson charges. Jacob David Baker, 20, was extremely intoxicated at the time of the Nov. 4 fire and taken to Independence Health Westmoreland Hospital for an evaluation, police...
Jeannette seeks more time to complete plans, construction of new fire station
Jeannette officials are expecting to get an extension on a $1.2 million grant designated for a new fire station. City manager Ethan Keedy said, based on communication with state officials late last week, the expected extension will allow work on the new station to continue into 2025. The deadline to...
Latrobe attorney accused of stealing $31K from inmate asks for bail reduction, change of venue
A Latrobe attorney jailed on $250,000 bail is looking to have that amount reduced and his theft case moved out of Westmoreland County. In court filings Tuesday, John Allen Roth, 69, called the bail amount excessive and unconstitutional and said he has a meritorious defense. “Roth needs to be released...
Steelers vs. Commanders: What they’re saying in Washington after loss
The last-minute loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers stung badly for the Washington Commanders, said head coach Dan Quinn. But the Steelers’ 28-27 comeback victory provided a lot of lessons for his team. “Heading into this game, I thought it was going to be a hard fought game,” he said in...
Westmoreland County among 1st in state to study suicide with aim toward prevention
Sixty Westmoreland County residents died by suicide last year. Reducing that number is the aim of a new board that’s forming to study suicides in the county, especially those involving veterans, so the group can identify ways to prevent them. Findings of the review board could result in legislation and...
Clerical errors found during North Hempfield Volunteer Firefighters Relief Association audit being rectified, manager says
Issues found during a compliance audit of North Hempfield Volunteer Firefighters Relief Association, Inc. are being rectified, said township manager Aaron Siko. The five findings were related to the station’s relief association being transferred to township oversight under the process to become nonchartered — handing over the station’s management and...
Latrobe attorney accused of stealing $31K from female prison inmate
A Latrobe attorney is accused of exploiting an elderly jail inmate from New Kensington to get access to her bank account, stealing $31,300 and then using the money to gamble at a casino, according to court papers. Assistant District Attorney Katie Ranker said attorney John Allen Roth used his position...
Murrysville man, former Allegheny County detective, now accused of asking son to lie
A former Allegheny County detective is accused of asking his son to lie about where an alleged crime happened, which resulted in a criminal case against him being dismissed last year, state police said in court papers. Troopers said Raymond Bonacci, 58, of Murrysville, “encouraged and/or demanded” his son to...
Passengers describe events surrounding 2022 New Year’s shooting in Rostraver
A group of four people heading to a Rostraver bar to continue ringing in 2022 was irritated to come upon a red SUV traveling slowly on Rostraver Road, Shaquala Poole testified in Westmoreland County court Wednesday. Her boyfriend at the time — Anthony Hairston — was behind the wheel of...
Prosecutors say Rostraver woman was ‘killed because she was driving too slow’ as trial opens
Holly Vadella insisted on going to her Rostraver home after ringing in 2022 with her mother. The pair spent New Year’s Eve together, along with their dogs, at Dolores Coulson’s Fayette County home. Coulson testified in Westmoreland County court Tuesday she repeatedly asked her daughter to spend the night instead...
Greensburg property owners might see 3.3% tax hike in 2025
Property owners in Greensburg might see a 3.3% real estate tax increase next year. City council is set for an initial vote next week on a proposed $13 million budget that carries a 0.9-mill property tax increase. Councilman Randy Finfrock said the increase would amount to $20 more annually for...
Toys for Tots railcars November tour adds a stop in South Greensburg
A new stop has been added for this year’s caravan of railcars that collect donations for Toys for Tots around Westmoreland County. Organizer John Gonder said the railcars will take a spur on the Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad line to stop near Huff Avenue in South Greensburg about 12:45 p.m. “It’s...
With temps near 80, PennDOT drivers polish their snow plowing skills
About 13 equipment operators hit a PennDOT training course Thursday in Unity to practice their snow plow skills on a day when the region broke the temperature record, hitting 80 degrees. The previous record, 79 degrees, was set in 1950, according to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh. The equipment...
Blackburn Center employee accused of obstructing custody order won’t be prosecuted
Criminal charges were withdrawn Wednesday against a fourth Blackburn Center employee that police said obstructed efforts by state troopers to enforce an emergency custody order issued by a county judge. The case against Eleonora M. Marsili, 65, will not be prosecuted. “We support the actions of the Pennsylvania State Police...
Mt. Pleasant fire department apologizes for Halloween parade entry with VP Harris tied to golf cartVideo
A Halloween parade display in Westmoreland County depicting Vice President Kamala Harris handcuffed and leashed to the back of a golf cart drew outrage from bystanders and the Pittsburgh branch of the NAACP, which denounced it as a symbol of racism and hatred. “It had no place in any parade...
‘Life changing’: At-home dialysis allows assistant DA to focus on work while she awaits kidney
By day, Jennifer Dupilka fights for justice for crime victims as an assistant district attorney at the Westmoreland County Courthouse. At home, she has a different kind of battle — against her own body. Four days a week, her husband, Ray Dupilka, leaves his job as a county detective and...
Hempfield residents share concerns about Fosterville Road, where speeds reach triple the posted limit
Terri Wolfinger didn’t hold back when asked about safety issues on her Hempfield street. She says cars and trucks routinely speed down Fosterville Road, residents can’t walk or bicycle along the street and motorists come close to rear-ending vehicles pulling out of driveways. Wolfinger said she’s yelled at drivers to...
Hempfield gets green light to explore possible new fire station
Hempfield officials got the OK this week to negotiate a potential land partnership with the school district to possibly build a new fire station. Township supervisors approved the measure that could bring the new station to Hempfield Area School District property near West Hempfield elementary school. That location is ideal,...
Vacancy emerges on Jeannette council after member resigns
Jeannette City Council is in need of a new member. Chad Krawtz submitted his resignation, which was effective immediately, on Sunday, said city solicitor Tim Witt. Letters of interest are being accepted until Nov. 13 by city manager Ethan Keedy. Council likely will vote on Krawtz’s resignation during its Nov....
Steelers vs. Giants: What they’re saying in New York after loss
There was one word New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones repeated numerous times during his postgame interview after losing “Monday Night Football” to the Pittsburgh Steelers: frustrating. It’s no wonder — his team dropped to 2-6 on the season, special teams players allowed a 73-yard punt return for a touchdown...
Hempfield supervisors nix tax hike, but some warn fire funding issues remain
Hempfield supervisors on Monday narrowly rejected a 3-mill property tax increase for 2025. But they hinted that the proposal could return when it comes time to prepare the 2026 budget. “Guess what, you’re kicking the can down the road,” said Supervisor George Reese, who voted in favor of the 3...
