A Connellsville man charged in a robbery of a Pizza Hut has had charges held for court following a preliminary hearing on Jan. 12 before District Justice Ronald Haggerty.
Robert A. Tissue, 27, of 412 Cummings Ave., has been charged with robbery, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and conspiracy. The charges stem from a robbery that took place Nov. 19, 2000, at the Connellsville Pizza Hut.
Two others have also been charged in the same incident.
Stephanie Sherwood waived her right to a preliminary hearing. Her charges have been sent to Fayette County Court. Joseph H. Sherwood Jr. is to appear before Haggerty at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 23 for his preliminary hearing.
Fay-West area
Snow removal
With the weekend storms approaching through the local delivery area, postal customers are requested to keep walkways, steps and all access areas to mailboxes clear of snow and ice for the safe delivery of mail.
Rural delivery customers are reminded to clear the snow in front of their boxes following snowplow passes to allow safe access for mail delivery vehicles.
"We will do our best to make delivery to all addresses," said District Manager Keith Beppler. "At the same time, we must ensure the safety of our carriers along their routes. We are asking that customers take precautions themselves as they clear a path for their letter carrier."
Customers on secondary roads remaining unplowed may not receive mail if the roads are impassable and unsafe for postal drivers. Local post offices will do their best to continue delivery uninterrupted under extreme weather conditions.
Fayette
House burns
A house in Henry Clay Township, Fayette County, burned down Thursday evening, leaving its sole resident homeless.
Gary Thomas, the Markleysburg-Henry Clay Volunteer Fire Department second assistant, said the house, located at 123 New Beaver Creek Road, was destroyed.
The fire was reported around 5:20 p.m. By the time firefighters arrived, flames were consuming the entire two-story home, he said.
Thomas said a frozen hydrant hampered their efforts.
Thomas said the man who lived there was at home at the time, but got out safely. The Red Cross is providing the man shelter. Thomas said he didn't have the man's name.
He also said firefighters don't know what the started the blaze.
Firefighters from Farmington, Addison, and Friendsville, Md., responded.
Westmoreland
Mudslides
Mudslides have closed a road in Unity Township and restricted traffic to one lane on another in Sewickley Township.
PennDOT District 12 said a section of Route 982 between Kingston Street and Bethel Road in Unity Township will be closed for about three weeks while repairs are made to the roadway.
The repair work began Thursday.
Motorists driving north on Route 982 are advised to detour onto Route 2027 (Whitney Road/Latrobe Grabicks Tavern Road) to Route 981 north to Route 30 east and back to Route 982 south.
Detour signs will be in place throughout the project. Repairs to the roadway, including the relocation of water lines, should be completed by Feb. 7.
A 500-foot stretch of Evanstown Road in Herminie has been restricted to a single lane because of a landslide, PennDOT said.
Traffic is being controlled by stop signs at both ends of the restricted area. No detours are posted.
Dave Mersing, PennDOT assistant maintenance manager for Westmoreland County, said the bank of a creek that runs alongside the road has slid because of rain, leaving the concrete slab of the roadway unsupported.
The restrictions will be in place until repairs can be completed.
