Renatta Signorini stories, Page 138
Steelers honor Hempfield’s late Terry Ranieri; Spartan band performs at Heinz Field
The family of Terry Ranieri, a beloved member of the Hempfield community, was honored before the Steelers game Sunday at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. They received a Steelers jersey in Ranieri’s honor, and the Hempfield Area marching band played during pregame festivities. The recognition was part of the National Football...
Volunteer canoers needed for Yough River tire cleanup day
Hundreds of tires polluting the Youghiogheny River are about to find a new home. With a little help from volunteers on canoes, that is. “This particular type of event is a lot of fun, relatively speaking, when you’re cleaning up a dump site,” said Ellen Keefe, director of Westmoreland Cleanways....
Pittsburgh convicted felon sentenced to federal prison for weapons violations
A Pittsburgh man with a long criminal history was sentenced Thursday to seven years and six months in a federal prison for weapons violations, according to U.S. Attorney Scott Brady. Darnell James Shipman, 29, was ordered to spend three years on supervised release after the prison term. Between 2010 and...
Hempfield’s Terry Ranieri to be honored at Heinz Field before Steelers game
Hempfield’s beloved Terry Ranieri is getting a posthumous honor this weekend at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. Ranieri, who died Aug. 22, will be recognized Sunday during Steelers pregame festivities that will feature his favorite musicians — the Hempfield Area marching band. “I think it’s really nice that the Steelers did...
Jeannette police hope security camera registry will help solve crimes
Jeannette police want residents and businesses that have security cameras to consider giving investigators access to the footage in the event of a crime nearby. Police Chief Shannon Binda said his department is creating a database of available security cameras in the city. But that doesn’t mean residents or businesses...
Police: Man dropped off in Greensburg parking lot had items for making meth
An Allegheny County man allegedly had items used for manufacturing methamphetamine in a Greensburg parking lot where he was dropped off Saturday by a Connellsville woman, according to police. Michael Allen Horning, 47, of Ross Township, is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison on $75,000 bail. The woman told...
Pair plead guilty in Pittsburgh cocaine distribution
Two men accused of bringing large amounts of cocaine into the Pittsburgh area between 2017 and 2018 pleaded guilty on Tuesday, according to U.S. Attorney Scott Brady. Danny Jackson, 33, of New Jersey pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and possession with intent to...
Public art mural coming to Jeannette
A large public art project is in the works for Jeannette. But where the work will be displayed has not been decided. The Westmoreland Museum of American Art is planning a public meeting Tuesday to discuss ideas for the piece. “There’s definitely an energy happening in downtown Jeannette,” said Anne...
3 Jeannette suspects accused in drug distribution network
Three Jeannette residents are being held in the Westmoreland County Prison without bail, with state agents accusing them of involvement in a local drug distribution network. Nathan C. Woods, 34, Kathleen Marie Monahan, 30, and Brandon J. Brown, 29, are charged with corrupt organizations, drug possession, conspiracy and criminal use...
Tractor-trailer crashes into vehicles, building in Youngwood, no one hurtVideo
A tractor-trailer hit two parked vehicles and an occupied minivan before slamming into a Youngwood home Tuesday morning, pulling down a stop light and causing traffic backups on one of the town’s main thoroughfares. No one was hurt in the 7:30 a.m. crash, Youngwood assistant fire Chief Bob Coletta said....
Rostraver learning center owner charged with forging records
A West Newton woman is accused of forging documents related to child clearances and training certificates for herself and other employees at the now-closed Bright Start Learning Care Center in Rostraver, according to court papers. Diane J. Mesiarik, 52, was arrested Thursday on numerous charges of forgery and tampering with...
Police pull crack cocaine from Jeannette toilet during drug raid
Nearly 10 grams of crack cocaine was pulled from a Jeannette toilet Thursday by police during a raid at a North Third Street home, according to court papers. As police entered the home, four people were seen near the second-floor bathroom and the toilet was running. Arrested on drug, conspiracy...
Police: Suspect in Jeannette standoff had guns, drugs
Police found guns, ammunition and drugs in a Jeannette apartment after a man was involved in a standoff with investigators Thursday on Gaskill Avenue, according to court papers. Taylor Eliard Foster, 26, was being held in the Westmoreland County Prison on $250,000 bail Friday. Jeannette police and agents from the...
Standoff ends in Jeannette, man in custody
One person was taken into custody Thursday after a brief standoff when Jeannette police and agents from the state Attorney General’s Office attempted to serve an arrest warrant, police said. Investigators shut down a block of Gaskill Avenue after the suspect hid in an apartment of a quadplex in the...
Jeannette couple accused of trying to get drugs to jail through court bathroom
A Jeannette couple is accused of trying to get drugs from a city district court bathroom into the Westmoreland County Prison, according to court papers. Takeya Shantail Woods and Maurice Williams, both 24, were arrested Thursday after authorities found a piece of paper with suspected K2, or synthetic marijuana, sprayed...
Ramsay Elementary in Mt. Pleasant closed after water main break
A water main break in Mt. Pleasant forced the closure of Ramsay Elementary on Thursday. The leak was repaired at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, but the school was still experiencing issues early Thursday, according to Matt Junker, a spokesman for the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County. Mt. Pleasant Area officials said...
Pittsburgh mother sentenced to 5-10 years in daughter’s OD death
A Pittsburgh woman was sentenced Wednesday to five to 10 years in a state prison for her toddler’s 2018 death from a fentanyl overdose. Jhenea Pratt, 24, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment during a June trial. Pratt has been jailed since her August 2018 arrest. Prosecutors said...
Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez held without bail on child sex charges in Westmoreland CountyVideo
Suspended Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez arrived at a Westmoreland County courtroom Wednesday and shook hands with a district judge before being arraigned on child sex allegations. The Venezuela native wore dark frame glasses, a blue jail uniform and had his hands cuffed in front of him. An interpreter translated...
Police: Woman urinated on state agent searching her during Jeannette drug arrest
A Johnstown woman is charged with aggravated assault after she urinated on an agent from the state attorney general’s office who was searching her Monday at the Jeannette police station, according to court papers. Ashley Evon Sanders, 33, vomited as she was being placed in a holding cell at the...
Police: Monessen woman was drunk when she hit parked cars, person in North Belle Vernon
A Monessen woman allegedly was intoxicated Monday when she hit several parked cars, lost a wheel on her SUV and hit a woman who tried to get her to stop driving through North Belle Vernon, according to police. Sarah Elizabeth Kolenc, 27, is charged with aggravated assault, driving under the...
Pair arrested in North Huntingdon vehicle theft, break-ins
Two Allegheny County residents were being held in the Westmoreland County Prison after police said they were involved in a vehicle theft and break-ins at a North Huntingdon neighborhood during the weekend. Dylan Keith Walklin, 26, of Whitaker, and Celeste Anabelle Hartle, 18, of West View, are jailed on $50,000...
Addiction recovery film, panel discussion planned at The Westmoreland
A free public screening of a documentary about people living in recovery from an addiction will be held Thursday at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg. The film — “The Anonymous People” — will be followed by a panel discussion. The event is being sponsored by the Westmoreland...
Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez moved to Westmoreland prison on child sex charges
Suspended Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez was booked into the Westmoreland County Prison on Monday. Sheriff’s deputies transported Vazquez from the Allegheny County Jail, where he has been held for nearly a week after his arrest for allegedly sexually assaulting a former Scottdale teenage girl. The 28-year-old relief pitcher is...
Salem woman killed in Route 22 crash
An 87-year-old woman was killed Monday in a two-vehicle crash in Salem Township, according to state police. Huldah Holby of Salem was stopped in a Buick on Hannastown Road at its intersection with Route 22 at 8:45 a.m. She pulled out onto the highway and attempted to make a left...
Police: Teen arrested after drugs, knife found inside Indiana County school
A 15-year-old Indiana County boy was charged through juvenile probation after state police said he brought drugs and a knife into an East Mahoning Township school last week. Troopers said the Rochester Mills boy had a black knife and suspected marijuana in a glass container at the building on Thursday....

