Latest news with #Murrysville
CBS News
6 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Elusive fisher and kits captured on Westmoreland County trail cam
Two fisher kits were captured on a trail camera in Westmoreland County, confirming that the species, which was once extinct in Pennsylvania, is breeding in the area. The wildlife camera company PixCams has been keeping tabs on fishers in the Murrysville area since one was caught on footage last July. As the large weasel-like creature continued to appear, it was believed that it had taken up residence somewhere nearby the camera. PixCams on Sunday shared four new clips of the fishers, including one that appears to show two kits playing and knocking the camera over on the afternoon of July 5. Experts say it's especially exciting because it confirms there's a breeding pair in the area. Fishers are elusive and secretive creatures that were once extirpated in Pennsylvania, meaning they were extinct in the state. Fishers are mid-sized carnivores that primarily eat small mammals like squirrels, chipmunks and mice. They're also renowned for their ability to prey upon porcupines. And while there is evidence of fisher predation on white-tailed deer, the Game Commission says the effects are thought to be limited. The Pennsylvania Game Commission says fishers disappeared from the state sometime around the nineteenth century, though it's hard to pinpoint exactly when because the creatures are so secretive and records are scarce. It's believed fishers were distributed throughout most of the state before intensive deforestation during the nineteenth century. Historical accounts also suggest that populations initially began to decline in southwestern Pennsylvania due to early colonial development, the Game Commission says. Pennsylvania's current-day fisher population is the result of natural expansion from neighboring states in the 70s and reintroduction programs in the 90s. "Today, fisher populations are well established and increasing throughout southwestern, central and northern regions of the state, and fisher have become established even in some rural and suburban habitats once thought unsuitable for this adaptive forest carnivore," the Game Commission says on its website.
CBS News
6 days ago
- CBS News
Woman arrested at Westmoreland County bank in fraudulent check scheme
A woman was arrested at the First National Bank in Murrysville for allegedly trying to steal money out of people's accounts, and police said she's been running a similar scheme across three states for some time. Sixty-three-year-old Jennifer Folzenlogen of Cincinnati, Ohio, is now facing charges of forgery, theft and identity theft after police were called to the First National Bank along the William Penn Highway on July 8. "A teller at First National Bank actually recognized Ms. Folzenlogen from previous bank surveillance photos and video," said detective Matthew Panigal of the Murrysville Police Department. "She had actually victimized the same bank back in April with the same teller working at the bank at that time." Police said the fraud worked like this: Folzenlogen would get ahold of someone's bank information, have a fake ID printed as that person and then go to the bank claiming to be that person and withdraw money from their accounts. Pennsylvania State Police began looking for Folzenlogen after she hit several First National Banks in Greensburg and Hempfield Township in the spring, and police now believe that she is responsible for stealing over $26,000 from personal accounts, just at First National Bank branches alone. But that's not all. "She is believed to be part of a larger theft ring throughout the Northeast that goes back to New York," Panigal said. Not only is she allegedly part of a larger out-of-state crime ring, but Folzenlogen is suspected of similar criminal activity in Ohio and has multiple active felony arrest warrants out against her from the state of Indiana. "Incidents like this, it is tough to protect yourself because they can steal the mail, they can steal your identity through public records sources," Panigal said. "So just keep an eye on your bank account, keep an eye on your credit." Folzenlogen is currently being held here at the Westmoreland County Prison. Her bail is now set for $150,000.
CBS News
14-07-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Meadowink Golf Course's 11th hole doesn't leave much room for error
Meadowink Golf Course in Murrysville might not be the longest course in the Pittsburgh area, but it's still challenging and features a difficult par 3 that doesn't leave much room for error. The 11th hole at Meadowink is one of the nicest par 3's in western Pennsylvania. It's a beautiful golf hole, but don't let that beauty fool you. There's not much room for error with water and two sand traps surrounding the front and left sides of the green. The tee shot provides a bit of a downhill carry to the green and shots short of the pin that make their way onto the putting surface will allow for an uphill putt. Putts will tend to break towards the water and if you can make par there, it's a good score. The Elite 18 Meadowink Golf Course Founded: 1970 Public or Private: Public Location: 4076 Bulltown Road, Murrysville, PA 15668 Phone Number: 724-327-8243 Course Designer: Ferdinand Garbin Par: 72 Yardages, Course Rating, and Slope Rating: White - 6,139 yards - 70.7/122 Gold - 5,284 yards - 66.6/116 Red - 5,103 yards - 65.7/115
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Yahoo
Murrysville couple lost thousands of dollars after check made to JCPenney was ‘washed'
A couple from Murrysville reported that they mailed their check to pay their monthly bill, but instead of settling their account, they became victims of a scam that cost them thousands of dollars. 'Someone altered our check from $19.19 to $7,500,' said Rick Jeske. For years, Rick and his wife have been paying their bills by mailing checks. However, this month, when they sent their JCPenney bill for $19.19, it never reached its destination. 'On Wednesday morning, I received a notification from my bank indicating that our balance was extremely low—thousands of dollars below what it should have been,' Jeske explained. Scammers had intercepted the check, removed the original amount, and rewritten it with a much larger figure. Officials have labeled this scam 'check washing,' a method in which thieves target mailboxes and use chemicals like bleach or acetone to erase the ink. They then write in a new payee and amount before cashing the check. 'Writing a check and mailing it is like leaving your front door wide open,' Jeske cautioned. Channel 11 News has been following recent cases of check washing. Earlier this week, the Ross Township Post Office launched an investigation after several outdoor drop boxes were targeted, leading to stolen and altered checks. Authorities are now urging people to take precautions: Switch to Electronic Payments: Use services like PayPal, Zelle, or Cash App. Use Security Pens: If you must write checks, opt for pens with indelible black gel ink. This ink penetrates the paper fibers, making it more difficult to erase than ballpoint ink. Mail Securely: Avoid leaving checks in unattended mailboxes. Instead, drop them off at a post office during business hours or deposit them in blue collection boxes shortly before the last pickup time to reduce the amount of time they spend in the box. Safeguard Your Mailbox:** Check your mailbox regularly and retrieve mail daily, especially if it contains checks. If you are traveling, consider holding your mail at the post office or asking a trusted neighbor to collect it. Check Your Account Regularly: Review your bank statements and transaction history frequently to identify any unauthorized withdrawals or unusual activity. Report any discrepancies to your bank immediately. 'We immediately closed our checking account, and the bank opened a new account for us. We'll be using these special gel pens if we write checks through the mail,' Jeske shared. Now, they are waiting for their bank to reimburse the cashed check, which is how they initially discovered the issue. Jeske filed a police report and will have to wait to recover his lost funds. 'The bank informed us that they have some protections in place and hope to get our money back within 90 days,' he added. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
CBS News
02-06-2025
- General
- CBS News
Man says Westmoreland County lawyer involved in bloody standoff stole $300K from his mom's estate
A man says he's shocked after a Westmoreland County lawyer who allegedly took advantage of his late mother's estate shot himself in his Murrysville office and was tased after a standoff with police. Police said Robert Klingensmith shot and wounded himself in his office before they tased him for ignoring repeated demands to stop moving while they served a search warrant. It was all caught on camera. John Wiley, who says Klingensmith stole more than $300,000 from his mom's estate, can't believe what happened. Not only was Klingensmith the attorney for the estate of Anne Marie Wiley, but he was also considered a friend of the family, making the alleged crime, according to John, even more disgusting. "I think I'm still trying to absorb and digest everything that has happened," John Wiley said. When Wiley needed an estate planning attorney for his mother, he knew exactly who to turn to: family friend Robert Klingensmith. Wiley thought Klingesmith had his family's best interest at heart. "He was a friend of my brother and his son was friends with one of my nephews, so he seemed pretty trusting," Wiley said. In 2021, Klingensmith was appointed an agent under Anne Marie Wiley's power of attorney, which gave him access to all her financial accounts. Unbeknownst to Wiley, who lives in Florida, over the next few months, Klingensmith allegedly pocketed nearly $100,000 from her accounts by writing checks to the law firm and making ATM withdrawals. "Me being in Florida, I was kind of talked into, you know, pretty much giving him full rein of the estate," Wiley said. When Wiley's mom died in April of 2022, he says Klingensmith stopped taking his calls and he never saw a dime from her estate, which was worth more than $300,000. That was the first time, he says, he thought something was off, so he reached out to the disciplinary board of the Supreme Court. "She was trying to the best of her ability to save everything she could to leave to me and my nephews and niece," Wiley said. "That breaks my heart," he added. During the course of the investigation, detectives learned Klingensmith closed Anne Marie Wiley's accounts and withdrew the $91,000. They say he also sold her share of an apartment building, which netted $131,500. Wiley says his family may never see the money, but he hopes justice will be served. "I just want him to realize what he did, that it really has hurt all of us, and that he, you know, betrayed our trust," Wiley said. Klingensmith is still recovering in the hospital. He's facing charges of theft and financial exploitation of an older adult.
