(Richland Twp., Pa.) Pa State Police in Gibsonia are reporting that while they were conducting a speed check for traffic along the Pa Turnpike in Richland Township Sunday at 11:40 AM they clocked a black motorcycle going 114 MPH in a 70 MPH zone using radar.

Troopers say that 22-year-old Daniel Alexander Martinez Pereira of Doral Florida did not stop for the trooper’s lights and siren and fled. While pursuing Martinez-Pereira the Trooper who clocked him crashed his Police cruiser. Martinez-Pereira continued eastbound for approximately 4 miles and crashed his motorcycle at the Pittsburgh Interchange.

Martinez-Pereira was transported to Forbes hospital for his injuries. There is no word on his condition. Troopers file charges of fleeing and eluding at the local district court.

(Wayne Twp., Pa.) Pa State Police in New Castle are reporting that they were called to the scene of a motorcycle accident on Wampum Road in Wayne Twp. Sunday night around 11:25 PM.

Troopers stated via release that 65-year-old Keith Shaffer of Ellwood City had to be air lifted to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital for serious injuries that he suffered while operating a 2015 Harley Davidson Street Glide Special Motorcycle on Wampum Road.

Troopers say that Shaffer’s motorcycle was traveling east on Wampum Road when it went off the roadway and struck a residence sign and then struck a guardrail with a mailbox behind it. Shaffer was ejected from the motorcycle and landed approximately 30 feet south from the point of impact. The release stated that Shaffer was wearing a helmet. There is no word on Shaffer’s condition at this time and Troopers are continuing to investigate.

(Moon Township, PA) Heritage Valley Health System and Encompass Health
Rehabilitation Hospital of Sewickley are pleased to announce the renovation and re-opening of a 12-bed inpatient rehabilitation unit located on the fifth floor of Heritage Valley Kennedy hospital.

Officially named the Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Sewickley at Heritage Valley Kennedy, the unit will function as a satellite expansion unit of the main facility located in Sewickley. The location will provide rehabilitation care for patients recovering from strokes and other neurological disorders, brain injuries, hip fractures, and complex orthopedic conditions.

“Heritage Valley and Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Sewickley have a history of collaboration and joint venture relationships,” said Norm Mitry, President and CEO, Heritage Valley Health System. “Establishing the inpatient rehabilitation unit at Heritage Valley Kennedy was a natural fit. It brings much needed services to patients residing in the western and northern communities of Allegheny County. They can now receive this specialized care close to home.”

Patients of the unit benefit from exceptional care that is standard to both organizations. Those receiving care will experience a minimum of three hours per day of therapy for five days each week from a multidisciplinary therapy team, 24-hour nursing care, access to advanced technologies, and frequent visits by an attending physician during their stay.

To learn more about Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Sewickley at Heritage Valley Kennedy, please call 412.749.2396.

(Photo by PSP)

(Harrisburg, Pa.) Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) Corporal Jennifer Ruhl was charged on June 4, 2021 with crimes related to obstructing and tampering with a criminal investigation. Charges were filed by the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Integrity and Professional Standards, Internal Affairs Division.

Corporal Ruhl is accused of attempting to cover up a driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol investigation involving an alleged father of a PSP trooper in November 2019 while assigned as a patrol supervisor at Troop J-Avondale.

She is being charged with :
Obstructing administration of law or other governmental function, False swearing – official proceeding,
Tampering with public records or information, Hindering apprehension or prosecution

Corporal Ruhl enlisted in the PSP in January 1998. She is assigned to the Drug Law Enforcement Division within the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. She is currently suspended without pay pending resolution of the criminal charges against her.

WEST MIFFLIN, PA – Amid growing demand to head outdoors for family fun, Kennywood and Sandcastle are adding more hours and days to their Summer 2021 operating schedules, and offering a delicious incentive to bring in more new Team Members.

Kennywood will host a job fair at the historic Parkside Café from 3:30 – 6:30 p.m. on Monday, June 7. People interested in a position at America’s Most Thrilling Historic Landmark can do more than interview for the Kennywood or Sandcastle teams: they can dig in to free Potato Patch fries, grab a complimentary cotton candy, and try a few rounds at one of the park’s popular midway games.

The fresh [cut fries] approach to hiring in today’s competitive job market comes with another bump in the parks’ pay rates for Food & Beverage and Lifeguards staff, where high school graduates now start at $14 and $15 an hour, respectively. Pay rates for high school grads are now at least $13 an hour at Kennywood, Sandcastle and Idlewild & SoakZone in Ligonier.

The uptick in applicants and new Team Members brought on board, coupled with increasing consumer demand, allows the parks to expand the operating schedules beyond the conservative plans crafted during the offseason. Kennywood will now begin daily operations on Wednesday, June 9, with Sandcastle following on June 12 and Idlewild on June 17.

“Our season is off to a strong start,” says Kennywood/Sandcastle General Manager Mark Pauls. “Coming off a successful opening weekend for this month’s Bites and Pints Food & Drink Festival and the expansion to daily operations, we’re looking to this June 7 Job Fair and Free Fries event to bring in the last batch of applicants to make a great summer at our parks.”

In April, parent company Palace Entertainment increased wages at its properties nationwide, including boosting the starting seasonal pay rate for Kennywood, Sandcastle and Idlewild & SoakZone to at least $13 an hour for high school graduates (or those at least 18 years old). Further, targeted increases will now pay Food & Beverage Team Members at Kennywood and Sandcastle $10 an hour for 16 and 17-year-olds, and $14 an hour for 18 and up. Lifeguards now make at least $15 an hour at Sandcastle and $14/hour at Idlewild.

The surge in applicants and new hires led Kennywood to add nine summer operating days to the 2021 schedule. Now, the park will extend hours on Fridays to 9 p.m., with daily operations from June 9 – August 23. Beginning July 4, the park will add an hour to Sunday through Thursday operations, closing at 8 p.m. Kennywood will be open weekends through the end of October and, along with Idlewild, host Halloween events after being canceled in 2020. Idlewild has also added fourteen additional summer operating days to the summer months.

Those interested can apply online at the park of their choice: Kennywood, Sandcastle or Idlewild, or stop at the job fair June 7 for free Potato Patch fries and a great job opportunity!

(File Photo)

(Bridgewater, Pa.) The power was out for about a hour and a half Sunday afternoon in Bridgewater. Bridgewater Volunteer Fire Department reported via their Facebook Page that just after 3:30 PM yesterday they were dispatched to Bridge St in the area of the Bridgewater-Rochester Bridge for wires and a pole on fire. The post said that while they were on the scene waiting for Duquesne Light Company the transformer under the Bridgewater-Rochester Bridge blew causing a fire under the bridge. The Beaver River and street were closed to traffic and Rochester Volunteer Fire Department and Bridgewater Marine 1 assisted. There were no injuries reported and power was restored shorty after 5 PM yesterday.

(Beaver, Pa.) The trail for Sheldon Jeter Jr., who is accused of killing his friend Tyric Pugh on May 15 of last year will get underway today, June 7, 2021 in Beaver County Court.

Investigators say that Jeter’s trial will focus on May 15, 2020 when Pugh was for dead in the street and surveillance video showed a vehicle they believe belonged to Jeter.

Investigators say when they went to Jeter’s home, they found a weapon matching the shell casings found at the crime scene. Jeter’s attorney has denied any involvement in the case.

Jeter then 17-years-old was the young man who was found in a car with Rachel Deltondo behind the old Aliquippa hospital back in February of 2016. He was also questioned but never charged in the 2018 murder of DelTondo. Jeter and the teacher were reportedly romantically involved.

There will be an overfill room for the public and media to watch the trial if the judge decides he wants jurors to social distance in the courtroom.

The Trial is expected to last for many weeks.

GOP aims to revive Fauci attacks after email trove released
By JILL COLVIN and ZEKE MILLER Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Dr. Anthony Fauci has been a political lightning rod since the early days of the pandemic. He’s been lionized by the left and he’s been villainized by the right. And with the recent release of a trove of Fauci’s emails, Republicans’ political attacks on the top government infectious-diseases expert have gone into overdrive. On conservative news channels, President Joe Biden’s pandemic adviser has been baselessly pilloried as a liar who misled the American people about the origins of COVID-19 to protect the Chinese government. While there’s no evidence of wrongdoing, Republican calls for his resignation have grown louder, as have demands for new investigations into the origins of the virus.

Normandy commemorates D-Day with small crowds, but big heart
By SYLVIE CORBET Associated Press
COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, France (AP) — Several ceremonies are scheduled on Sunday to commemorate the 77th anniversary of D-Day that led to the liberation of France and Europe from the German occupation. On June 6, 1944, more than 150,000 Allied troops landed on code-named beaches, carried by 7,000 boats. For the second year in a row, commemorations are marked by virus travel restrictions that have prevented veterans or families of fallen soldiers from the U.S., Britain and Canada making the trip to France. Most public events have been canceled and the official ceremonies are limited to a small number of selected guests and dignitaries. Over the anniversary weekend, many locals have come out to visit the monuments marking the key moments of the fight and show their gratitude.