Chuck Biedka stories, Page 10

Chuck Biedka
Chuck Biedka 724-226-4711
Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff, dies at 88
Gilpin looks for ways to reduce police costs
A Gilpin committee is looking for ways to reduce police costs, with options including sharing services or hiring a neighboring department to patrol the township. “This is very, very early. A baby step,” said Gilpin Supervisors President Charlie Stull, who is on the exploratory with township Supervisor Susan Brown. He...
Police: Armstrong County man seeking drugs killed in Arnold robbery 
A Braddock man is accused of killing an Armstrong County man seeking drugs in a deadly robbery in Arnold, according to court paperwork unsealed Friday. Allen Duwayne Herring, 32, faces charges of homicide, robbery, conspiracy and illegal gun possession in connection with the June 28 slaying of Gregory Ray Wynkoop,...
Pittsburgh dancers recall hearing moon landing broadcast in Soviet bar
In the midst of the Cold War and during the summer that American astronauts were to walk on the moon, a group of Pittsburgh college students were asked by the U.S. State Department to take their Duquesne Tamburitzans show on a cultural exchange to the U.S.S.R. They were in the...
Police: Men forced woman to perform sex acts outside Leechburg bar
Two men face sex charges after police said they made unwanted advances to a woman at a Leechburg bar and then forced their way into her car and refused to leave until she performed sex acts on them. Leechburg police said the two men — identified in a criminal complaint...
Police: Lower Burrell man had cocaine, crack, marijuana in apartment
A Lower Burrell man was charged with drug offenses after police said they found cocaine, crack and marijuana in his apartment. Police said they arrested Terrell Leonard, 27, of Craigdell Road on Sunday night following an investigation into complaints of suspected drug trafficking by Leonard. Police executed a search warrant...
Brackenridge robbery suspect surrenders after standoff
A Brackenridge man who is accused of robbing the Allegheny-Ludlum Brackenridge Federal Credit Union of more than $100,000 surrendered to FBI agents Tuesday morning after a nearly four-hour standoff at his home. Thomas George, 64, of Eighth Avenue was charged Tuesday in federal district court in Pittsburgh and held without...
2 charged with selling heroin from Arnold apartment
State drug agents are alleging at least two people were involved in drug sales from a Murray Avenue apartment in Arnold. Devon A. Koch, 27, of New Kensington and Douglas S. Hogan, 27, of Allegheny Township are accused of selling heroin. They were arrested at the apartment on Murray Avenue...
Police: Arnold woman to blame for baby’s opioid overdose
An Arnold woman is facing felony charges in connection with a December incident in which police said a baby boy for whom she was caring suffered an opioid overdose. Police said Johna Sonya Price, 35, had been caring for a relative’s baby at her Arnold home Dec. 5 when Price...
Church continues at Central Presbyterian in Tarentum while stained glass project closes 
Restorationist Ralph Mills knows the century-old stained-glass windows at Tarentum’s Central Presbyterian Church. “I’ve been here from the first, in 2014,” he said about 12 large windows that his Pittsburgh-based specialty company cleaned, repaired, preserved and reinstalled. The windows were new when the church opened in 1913. Two weeks ago,...
Freeport’s Bower, Lichtenfels videos win money for charities
Two Freeport Area School District video makers won grants to help their favorite charities. The students participated in XTO Energy’s Community Leaders of Tomorrow contest, which encourages students to become involved in their communities. The contest runs at high schools throughout the region. Mara Bowser, who graduated from Freeport this...
Large tree blocks Riddle Run Road in Springdale Township
A large tree fell across both lanes of Riddle Run in Springdale Township on Thursday night, and the road remained closed to motorists Friday morning. PennDOT was called to handle removing the tree. “Usually firefighters handle it, but this one is too large,” said Allegheny Valley Regional Police Patrolman Craig...
Leechburg begins work on borough roadways
Leechburg Borough officials have announced streets that will be repaved or repaired this summer. Mayor Wayne Dobos said improvements will be done on parts of Main, First, Second, Pitt streets. This summer’s projects also include Kiski, Siberian Washington, Logan, Madison and Lincoln avenues. Crews have started some of the work,...
Accused Arnold killer already was on the run from police
The man accused in a fatal Arnold shooting last month already was on the run from police before he became a murder suspect. Court records show Allen Duwayne Herring, 32, of Braddock was wanted for failing to appear in Westmoreland County Court in February to face drug possession charges filed...
2 fined, face license revocations for illegal fishing in Armstrong County
Two men accused of keeping illegal fish from the Allegheny River in Armstrong County could lose their fishing licenses for two years and be forced to pay thousands of dollars in fines. A state Fish & Boat Commission officer said another fisherman called the commission May 7 to report that...
Gilpin bicyclist injured in Route 66 mishap
A 71-year-old bicycle rider was injured Tuesday when his bike hit the side of an SUV in Gilpin, township police said. Sam Iusi of Gilpin was riding a bike on Route 66 north toward Bethel Township near Jack Road at about 10 a.m. when his bicycle collided with the side...
Police arrest Braddock man accused of fatal Arnold shooting last month
A 32-year-old Braddock man accused of fatally shooting a man in an Arnold alley June 28 was arrested Monday night following a search involving police, bloodhounds and a helicopter. Police charged Allen Duwayne Herring with killing Gregory Ray Wynkoop, 35, of East Franklin during a robbery. Westmoreland County District Attorney...
Police arrest man who claimed to see cougars in Vandergrift
A man is awaiting a preliminary hearing after he claimed to see two cougars nearby and then jumped over a lawn chair and charged police in Vandergrift. Police are accusing Justin John Crofutt, 37, of Ford City, of aggravated assault on an officer, resisting arrest and being under the influence...
4-vehicle wreck in Allegheny Township sends 5 to hospitals 
Five people were rushed to hospitals after police said an SUV driver drove through a red light on Route 56 at Hyde Park Road in Allegheny Township about noon Friday. Township police said John Burkett, 68, of Indiana Hill Road in the township was driving alone on Route 56 toward...
Citizens group puts New Kensington’s Memorial Park on the map 
It’s easier to find New Kensington’s Memorial Park now that a citizens group had a modern sign installed at the entrance. Officials from the New Ken/Arnold Social in the Park Committee, a volunteer group that unofficially adopted Memorial Park and Roosevelt Park in Arnold, said some Memorial Park users felt...
Robbery with fake guns at Vandergrift park results in 2 arrests
Two people are facing charges in connection with the robbery of a girl in Vandergrift’s Kennedy Park on Tuesday. Police say Tavon Rasheed Williams, 20, who was staying at a Linden Avenue residence in the borough, and a 17-year-old accomplice approached the victim in the park along Jackson Avenue about...
Driver guilty in Plum crash that killed junior firefighter, woman
A Saltsburg man will serve at least six years in prison for causing a crash in Plum that killed a junior firefighter from Tarentum and his girlfriend’s mother. Edward Leonard Cass III, 27, was convicted on all charges, including two counts of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence....
Leechburg area campaign underway to say thanks to troops, first responders
Leechburg-area children and adults are encouraged to take part in the second annual Operation Gratitude collection of letters, cards and drawings for troops and first responders from the community. The drive is underway through the end of the month. Sponsor Brittany McLaughlin said she is hoping to get at least...
New Stanton man charged with assaulting woman in Bell Township
Police say a New Stanton man put his knee on a woman’s throat and held a lit cigarette to her chest during an assault in Bell Township. State police said Cody James Barron, 26, of East Street, New Stanton, also is accused of hitting a woman in the face with...
North Huntington woman sentenced to federal prison for bank, mail fraud
A North Huntingdon woman convicted of embezzling from the Steel Valley Authority has been sentenced in federal court in Pittsburgh to 18 months in prison, the U.S. Attorney in Pittsburgh said. The sentence was imposed on Nicolette Gizzi, 46, who had been convicted of bank and mail fraud. Prosecutors said...
New Kensington man who served 12 years for murder indicted on federal drug charge
A New Kensington man who served 12 years for the murder of a Duquesne student now is facing a federal drug charge. A federal grand jury in Pittsburgh this week indicted Thomas Vaugh Kelly Jr., 33, accusing him of selling fentanyl. The indictment was handed down Tuesday. Kelly was released...


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