Renatta Signorini stories, Page 34
SUV crash closes Westmoreland City post office; operations shift to Manor facility
The Westmoreland City Post Office was closed until further notice Monday after an SUV crashed into it. North Huntingdon Township building inspector Tom McGuire said the SUV damaged a load-bearing wall that faces the parking lot. “The building’s going to be condemned until it’s repaired,” he said. That is a...
Experts say there is no evidence of avian flu strain in Pennsylvania
A strain of avian flu that has infected cattle elsewhere in the United States hasn’t been found in Pennsylvania. But even if it does arrive locally, experts said it won’t affect the meat or milk supply and will likely only cause a cold for cattle. “It poses no issue in...
Man arrested after pulling gun on pastor during North Braddock church service
A pastor at a North Braddock church escaped unharmed Sunday after a man pointed a handgun at him and pulled the trigger, according to Pennsylvania State Police. The gun failed to fire, troopers said. Pastor Glenn Germany was giving a sermon around 1 p.m. at Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church when...
Museums in Ligonier Valley draw hundreds on day of free admission
Free admission was a good incentive Sunday for some to learn more about the history of where they live. “We decided to check out our backyard,” said Kathy Vargo while standing in the shade outside Fort Ligonier. She lives in Hempfield but was spending a couple days with her husband,...
A growing concern: Greensburg Garden Center’s May Mart
Carol Martinek is focusing on sprucing up her Cheswick backyard this year. She picked up a few flowering plants at the Greensburg Garden Center & Civic Center’s May Mart on Saturday to put toward the project. Among her purchases were candytuft, cranesbill geranium and the tiny blue flowers of forget-me-nots,...
All 5 rue21 stores in Western Pa. to close their doors after latest bankruptcy filing
Teen clothing retailer rue21, which is based in Warrendale, filed for bankruptcy last week and appears to be closing all of its stores. Employees at the Warrendale headquarters were seen Friday carrying boxes to their vehicles after being informed they were losing their jobs during a virtual meeting Thursday, TribLive...
Former Ligonier Valley police chief charged with sexual assault
The former Ligonier Valley police chief was arrested and jailed Friday afternoon on allegations that he sexually assaulted a patient at a Donegal Township addiction recovery center, according to court papers. John E. Berger, 52, of Ligonier Borough was charged by state police with aggravated indecent assault, institutional sexual assault...
Mutual Aid EMS follows Pittsburgh’s lead to provide blood at trauma scenes
Mutual Aid EMS this week added a lifesaving tool to its emergency response — blood. Dr. Bill Jenkins, the Greensburg-based ambulance service’s medical director, said it will help paramedics better care for patients who are in hemorrhagic shock from some type of trauma, such as a gunshot wound or vehicle...
South Greensburg man charged in Route 30 crash
A South Greensburg man is free on bail after being arraigned Wednesday on charges in connection with a July crash that left another driver seriously injured. State police said Victor J. Machesky Jr., 63, was impaired when the Toyota Tacoma he was driving crossed over the median of Route 30...
Retired Greensburg police officer Regina McAtee pleads guilty to methamphetamine distribution
A retired Greensburg police officer on Wednesday became a lawbreaker in the eyes of the criminal justice system she once upheld. Regina McAtee, 51, of New Kensington, who had been with the city force for more than 19 years, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to distribute and possess...
Assault, harassment charges against suspended Pa. trooper held for court
Simple assault and harassment charges against a suspended state trooper were held for court Tuesday. Senior District Judge Charles R. Conway made the decision at the end of a preliminary hearing during which the accuser testified Nicholas E. Hood, 31, of Derry Township assaulted her during an argument Aug. 26...
2 arrested in drug buy from confidential informant in North Huntingdon
Two men were arrested Monday in connection with a drug bust in North Huntingdon. An undercover police officer set up a drug buy with Larnell D. Jones III, 30, of Rankin, for $3,300 worth of heroin/fentanyl and crack cocaine, according to court papers. Jones met up with the officer and...
Missing dog may have motivated man to shoot at car in Hecla, police say
A man escaped injury Sunday after state police said his vehicle was shot at five times on Hecla Road. Troopers arrested William K. Dodrill, 44, of Mt. Pleasant Township, on charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and related offenses in connection with the shooting. Police reported in court papers that...
Out of the ashes: Unity fitness center clients help owner recover from devastating fire
For many clients of My Fitness Kitchen in Unity, seeing the damage left behind by a fire this week at the business was heartbreaking. Knowing owner Mark Rullo’s passion and livelihood was in jeopardy made it even worse. That pushed dozens of them to show up Friday morning to the...
Mt. Pleasant man charged in connection with Jan. 6 riot in Washington, D.C.
A man arrested Thursday in Mt. Pleasant is accused of following a crowd into the U.S. Capitol during the riot on Jan. 6, 2021. William Irvin Fuller, 31, was taken into custody on federal charges of entering and remaining in a restricted building, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted...
Fayette County district attorney working with forensic anthropologist in death of 17-year-old
It will take some time before authorities can come to an official conclusion about what led to the death of 17-year-old Kaitlin Whoolery, according to Fayette County District Attorney Michael Aubele. Whoolery’s remains were found this month in North Union, months after she was last seen in November. Local authorities...
Hempfield man turns himself in after 3-hour police standoff last week in village of Darragh
A Hempfield man turned himself in Thursday morning on charges related to nine guns seized after a three-hour police standoff at his home last week. State police said they were attempting to serve warrants at 10:40 a.m. April 17 for Timothy M. Pugh, 46, who lives in the village of...
Access to mental health care may get boost from change in counselor licensing requirements
Dozens more professional counselors could be approved for associate licenses soon under a new state law meant to expand mental health care in Pennsylvania. For college students set to graduate this spring and move on to their clinical experience requirements, getting started in the field could be a quick turnaround...
Victim: Man ‘went crazy all of a sudden’ in stabbing at Hostetter Hotel in Unity
A man accused in a stabbing Wednesday at the Hostetter Hotel in Unity told state troopers that he wished the wounded person would have died, according to court papers. William Kennet Evans Jr., 62, was arrested after the altercation with another man and charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault and...
Greensburg man charged in connection with drug overdose death
A Greensburg man is facing charges in connection with a fatal drug overdose last year. City police charged Hugh J. Hawkey Jr., 48, on Friday with drug delivery resulting in death and related offenses. In a criminal complaint, police said they believe Hawkey is responsible for providing a fatal dose...
Sellers Avenue, one of the bumpiest roads in Jeannette, to be repaved
A road that Jeannette city manager Ethan Keedy pegged as one of the worst in the city will be repaved. The entirety of Sellers Avenue — which Keedy described as one of the worst roads to drive on in Jeannette — will be resurfaced. That work will include Sellers Avenue/North...
Open mic nights in Jeannette to provide new outlet for local performers, artists
Performers looking to share their artistic craft are getting a chance through new monthly open mic nights in Jeannette. It’s an opportunity that hasn’t been regularly available in Jeannette since the Keynote Cafe, once a popular spot for local musicians, closed in 2019. Councilman Chad Krawtz said he hopes the...
Rostraver man killed in crash on I-70
A Rostraver man was killed Friday morning when his car crashed along Interstate 70 in Rostraver. State police said Joseph E. Troyer, 35, was pronounced dead at the scene after the eastbound Ford Focus he was driving struck a tree with its passenger side and flipped onto its roof, trapping...
Who killed Deborah Waggoner? Police seek info on 1990 homicide at Hempfield car wash
State police have evidence that might help them solve a 1990 homicide at a Hempfield car wash, but they need some leads. The possibility that troopers can crack the case still exists, especially with the technological advances since Deborah June Waggoner’s death 34 years ago, Trooper Steve Limani said. But...
Latrobe man accused of threatening 7 students
A Latrobe man is accused by city police of threatening seven students who were waiting for a school bus outside his apartment earlier this month, according to court papers. Stanley Edward Brosnick, 51, was arrested this week on several counts each of terroristic threats, simple assault and harassment. Officers said...
