Renatta Signorini stories, Page 5
33-year-old man fatally shot on Pittsburgh’s South Side
A man was fatally shot Sunday night in Pittsburgh’s South Side Flats neighborhood, according to police. The 33-year-old man had been shot in the neck around 10 p.m. in the 1200 block of East Carson Street, city police said. Steve Robertson of Squirrel Hill South died at a hospital after...
Steelers vs. Browns: What they’re saying in Cleveland after the loss
What does Cleveland Brown head coach Kevin Stefanski think his team needs to improve upon after a 23-9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers? Pretty much everything. “Name something, we gotta do it better,” he said. It was a laundry list he cut short during his post-game press conference Sunday after...
Jeannette moves fire trucks into new station
Fire trucks and equipment are being moved into Jeannette’s new fire station, and officials now are turning their focus to securing funding to add living quarters to the building. City manager Ethan Keedy expects that work to cost between $1 million and $1.5 million. “We have one grant submission still...
Police say Unity man arrested after incident at personal care home
A Unity man was arrested this week after state police said he broke into a personal care home, threatened a worker and demanded she perform a sex act, according to court papers. The worker told police she heard footsteps around 2 a.m. Sept. 25 inside Kelly’s II Personal Care Home...
Jeannette extends tax break program for commercial properties
A five-year extension on a tax break program for commercial properties in Jeannette has been approved by city council. Now, Jeannette City school directors and the Westmoreland County commissioners have to follow suit for the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance, or LERTA, program to continue. It was established in Jeannette...
Judge to decide appeal for ex-state trooper in 20-year-old Blairsville dentist’s murder
An appeal filed by a former state trooper in the murder of a Blairsville dentist is 10 years too late, state Deputy Attorney General William Stoycos argued Thursday. Plus, evidence the defense claims it recently obtained wouldn’t have any impact on the trial jury’s decision to convict Kevin J. Foley...
Man accused in Salem lawnmower pipe bomb case now charged over 2nd explosive attempt
James Sever, the man accused of planting a pipe bomb in his former landlord’s lawnmower, was charged Thursday with putting a second bomb on a pickup truck being used by one of Sever’s relatives, state police said in court papers. The pickup was a loaner vehicle from a Rostraver car...
Dayton Freight shipping company to build depot off I-70 near Smithton
An Ohio-based freight company is moving into Westmoreland County and bringing at least 50 jobs with it. Dayton Freight finalized the purchase of 31.5 acres at the Interstate 70 Industrial Park in South Huntingdon, according to Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corp. officials. The company, through Stream’s Edge Properties, paid $1.7...
Hempfield opens online auction of surplus equipment
Bidding has started for 118 pieces of surplus equipment Hempfield is hoping to unload. The online auction is underway, and several items already have more than a dozen bids. The auction, being conducted by Anderson Auctioneers, will end Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. Payment and pickup for winning bidders...
Lawnmower explosion suspect used fishing line to rig bomb, police sayVideo
It took more than two hours of interrogation before James M. Sever began to share information about the explosion of a riding lawnmower at a Salem property from which he had been evicted, Trooper Jacob Feryus testified Monday. “He had said that he had rigged up the bomb with fishing...
South Huntingdon man arraigned on indecent assault charges
A South Huntingdon man was jailed Friday on $250,000 bail on state police accusations that he sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl. Thomas Howard Sherbondy, 45, was arraigned Friday on charges including rape of a child, indecent assault and corruption of minors. Troopers said in court papers that the accusations were...
Jurors shown video of assault of autistic teen in New Kensington, allegedly because of grudge against mom
Logan Bashioum testified Thursday that he didn’t remember much from an alleged attack in New Kensington two years ago. A video played for jurors during the second day of trial against a brother and sister accused in the beating showed two men standing over Bashioum, who was 17, kicking him...
Scottdale man sought in alleged kidnapping
Police are looking for a Scottdale man who they said kidnapped a woman and kept her in a wooded area for about two days, according to court papers. An arrest warrant was issued Wednesday for Shawn Prince, 29. He is charged with kidnapping, simple assault, terroristic threats and harassment. Borough...
Defense attorney says video could exonerate Scottdale day care worker
The defense attorney for a former Scottdale day care worker accused of assaulting a child said he believes there is surveillance video from the center that will exonerate the defendant. “My client has been working in this field for years, has never had any problems. … She had no intention...
Swastikas found on signs in Mt. Pleasant borough, surrounding communities
Mt. Pleasant Borough Police are investigating numerous swastikas spray painted on signs around town over the last few days, said Mayor Diane Bailey. Authorities are asking that residents and business owners leave the symbols associated with antisemitism or of Nazism alone while they try to figure out who is behind...
Jeannette considers work at entry to improve access to city hall
Jeannette is trying to make an accessible entrance to city hall easier to navigate for those who use it. But cost is a factor. Solicitor Tim Witt said officials are looking into grant funding to enhance a back entryway and navigation throughout the 100-year-old structure for people who have physical...
State police release details on fatal motorcycle crash in Sewickley Township
Pennsylvania State Police have released information about a fatal motorcycle crash last month in Sewickley Township. Matthew W. Cathers, 52, of Smithton was riding a Harley-Davidson Sportster on Lowber Road around 5:30 p.m. Sept. 18 when it left the road and hit a guide rail, police said. The motorcycle continued...
Hempfield plans to replace road salt storage building
A new auxiliary road salt storage building will be constructed at the Hempfield municipal building to replace one that was damaged during snow removal season last year. A wooden back wall blew out, leaving the structure in bad shape, said public works director Austin Erhard. “We opted not to refill...
Jeannette officials take key step toward getting 19 blighted buildings razed
A few property owners pleaded their cases Friday as Jeannette officials seek to have their blighted buildings torn down. But most did not show for a demolition hearing, leaving code enforcement officer Bill Whetzel to deem them public nuisances in need of razing. There were 19 properties addressed during a...
‘A sad day’: 125 Westmoreland County workers get layoff notices, furloughs start Oct. 13
Furlough notices started going out Friday to 125 Westmoreland County employees as leaders seek to reduce spending amid the ongoing state budget impasse. The furloughs will go into effect Oct. 13. Commissioner Ted Kopas said they are expected to save the county $100,000 weekly. “This is a sad day for...
Morning Roundup: Officials seek whoever dumped trash on Pa. game lands; shooting in Lawrenceville
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, Sept. 26: Officials search for game lands trash maker The Pennsylvania Game Commission is trying to figure out who dumped garbage in Westmoreland County game lands earlier this week. Operation Game Thief reported that drywall and building materials...
New Kensington man charged, accused of providing fentanyl that killed 2 people
A New Kensington man was charged Thursday with providing fatal doses of drugs investigators said killed two people two days apart: his girlfriend and a man who was being held at the Westmoreland County Prison. Davi J. Roman, 29, was denied bail. The case was investigated by a grand jury...
Hempfield OKs $300K improvements at park near Old Route 66
KGD Contracting, Inc. will handle the construction of the third phase of improvements at Hempfield Park. The firm submitted the lowest bid for the work, coming in at $334,090. Township supervisors awarded them the contract this week. There were three other bids ranging from $366,038 to $412,370. “They came in...
1 killed in 2-vehicle crash in North Hills
A woman was killed in a crash Thursday morning in West View, according to Allegheny County Police. The woman who died was identified as Addalena Maiette, 19, of West View, by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner office. The collision was reported at 6:10 a.m. at the intersection of Highland and...
Morning Roundup: Fire at former Century III Mall; disaster aid offer to Squirrel Hill fire victims
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, Sept. 25: Fire at former Century III Mall A fire at the former Century III Mall broke out Wednesday morning as crews continue demolition work there, according to Pleasant Hills Volunteer Fire Company. The flames were reported just...

