Author: Beaver County Radio

New Galilee woman cited after crashing vehicle in Lawrence County

(File Photo of a Police Siren Light)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Lawrence County, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in New Castle reported today that thirty-five-year-old Ariel Monac of New Galilee was cited after she crashed her vehicle in Lawrence County on Thursday. 

Monac was driving her vehicle on US Highway 422 in Union Township at 7:02 a.m.

According to police, when Monac attempted to merge in the passing lane, she almost struck a vehicle causing her to over correct and spin out, striking a guide rail on the left shoulder of the road.

Police received this information during an interview with Monac and some known witnesses.

Her vehicle was damaged and it had four bald tires. There were no reported injuries. 

New diverging diamond interchange is coming to the Parkway West near Robinson Town Centre

(File Photo of the PennDOT Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) PennDOT will be undergoing a project to implement a new diverging diamond interchange near Robinson Town Centre which does not use the existing bridge over the Parkway West.

The goal of this project is to eliminate left turns and reduce crashes and injuries in the area.

There are barriers along the side of the westbound lanes of the Parkway East at this time, which is where there is no ramp to the eastbound lanes of Route 22.

That project is expected to be finished in 2029.

Matzie: Nearly $42,000 secured for Beaver County farm tech upgrades

(File Photo of State Representative Rob Matzie)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Ambridge, PA) State Representative Rob Matzie announced in Ambridge today that two Beaver County farms were awarded combined grants totaling $41,800 under the Agricultural Innovation Grant Program.

According to Matzie, the funding includes $31,690 to Tiny Seed Farm in Rochester for an automated specialty crop system and $10,120 to the Epoch Fields agricultural project for a continuous on-farm measurement system for regenerative grazing management.

Matzie also stated that the funding will enhance the efficiency and productivity for both operations.

Steelers sign defensive tackle Keeanu Benton; makes him highest-paid defensive lineman in team history

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Keeanu Benton runs out onto the field for a preseason NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Keeanu Benton recently signed a new contract extension.

This deal makes Benton the highest-paid defensive lineman in Steelers history and it has an annual value of $18 million.

The 25-year-old Benton had career bests in tackles with 51, tackles for loss with 6 and sacks with 5.5 while assisting the Steelers to winning the AFC North division title last season.

The Steelers have signed defensive players for this season like their outside linebacker Nick Herbig as well as linebacker Elandon Roberts on Thursday, who returned to the Steelers after playing for the team in 2023 and 2024 before playing for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025.

David A. Allen (1944-2026)

David A. Allen, 81, of Chippewa, passed away on August 13th, 2026 at Celebration Villa of Chippewa.

He was born in New Brighton on December 10th, 1944, a son of the late Milton and Mable (Baldwin) Allen.

David was a devoted member of Oak Grove Church of Christ in Industry, where he faithfully served as a deacon and church treasurer. He retired from the United States Postal Service after 35 years of dedicated service, concluding his career as the Postmaster of Freedom. He was an avid sports enthusiast with a keen interest in baseball, football, and basketball, and he especially enjoyed closely following local high school athletics. His love of sports extended to softball, where he served as a District 7 representative for ASA Softball and as an umpire and umpire-in-chief for Beaver County’s Blackhawk Umpires Chapter of ASA. He was also a proud member of the Train Collectors Association and enjoyed his passion for trains. He was a proud United States Army veteran who served with the 475th Quartermaster unit of the U.S. Army Reserve.

He is survived by his beloved wife of almost 60 years, Georgia “Joele” (Thomas) Allen, his son, Kevin M. (Sheri) Allen, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Brooke Meredeth Allen and his siblings: Milton A. Allen, Joseph Allen, Mary Jeanette Allen, and Donald B. Allen.

Friends will be received on Saturday, August 22nd from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. in the Oak Grove Church of Christ, 169 Ashwood Drive, Industry.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in David’s name can be made to Oak Grove Church of Christ, 169 Ashwood Drive Industry, PA 15052 by mail or via Venmo: @OakGrove-ChurchOfChrist or the Beaver County Humane Society, 3394 Brodhead Rd, Aliquippa, PA 15001 by mail or online https://beavercountyhumanesociety.org/online-donation/

The GABAUER-LUTTON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, Inc., 117 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls, was honored to care for David and his family during this difficult time and was the funeral home that was in charge of his arrangements.

Free farmer’s market and Back-to-School BASH! next weekend in New Brighton

(File Photo of a Borough of New Brighton Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(New Brighton, PA) The New Brighton Area School District, Highmark Wholecare and the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank are offering a free farmer’s market at New Brighton High School on August 25th from 5 p.m. to 6:20 p.m.

Anyone can attend this event and it is part of the district’s Back to School BASH!

Volunteers will schedule and assist anybody to either make a new application for Medicaid or to do a renewal for Medicaid.

Food is also free and no identification is necessary.

There are no guidelines for income and you do not need to be a member of Highmark Wholecare to apply.

For more information on this event, you can call 412-415-5250.

Mary Ann Miller (1954-2026)

Mary Ann Miller, 72, of New Brighton, passed away on August 13, 2026, at Heritage Valley Beaver.

She was born in New Brighton on January 7th, 1954, the daughter of the late John and Irene (Stancik) Brkich.

Mary was Catholic by faith. She enjoyed Bingo, carnivals, Kennywood, dogs, and listening to oldies. She will be remembered for being very generous and helpful to others.

She is survived by her husband, Gary Miller, her daughter, Heidi Miller, her close friends: Barb Hummel, Samantha Watson, Debbie Jones, Joanne Humbert, Richard Smilak, Larry Carver, Kimmie Whitelock and family.

Friends will be welcomed on Thursday, August 20th, from 6 p.m. until the time of the Blessing Service at 7 p.m., in the J&J Spratt Funeral Home Inc., 1612 3rd Avenue, New Brighton, who was in charge of her arrangements.

Burial will be held at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, 1158 Morgan Road, Bridgeville.

To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory of Mary, please visit the flower store of the J&J Spratt Funeral Home by clicking here.

James A. Ursitti, Jr. (1940-2026)

James A. Ursitti, Jr., of Monaca, passed away on August 12th, 2026, at the age of 86.
He was a beloved husband, father, stepfather, grandfather, great-
grandfather, son, brother, uncle, cousin, friend, and cherished member of his community.
James, also known as Jim, Mim, Mimmie and Mimbo, was born in Sewickley on March 13th, 1940.
He lived most of his life in the Aliquippa and Center Township areas.
After graduation from Aliquippa High School, he started working for Lucci Brothers Cabinet Shop before his long career as a Machinist at J&L/LTV Steel in Aliquippa, then retiring from Warren Consolidated Industries in Warren, Ohio as a Supervisor.
James was a devoted husband, loving father, and caring “Pap” and “Pappy Jimmy” and adoring “Uncle Mim” and “Uncle Jim.”
He was preceded in death by his parents, James Sr. and Josephine (Peduzzi) Ursitti, his brother, Robert Ursitti and his wife, Michelle “Mickie,” and his niece, Kellie, his sister, Judy French and her husband, Jack, and his niece, Nancy Chapple, his brother, Richard Ursitti and his sister-in-law Jeannie, the wife of the late Bill Vickodil.
He is survived by his wife, Carolina (Laurenzi) Lucci Ursitti, his children, James Ursitti III of Brighton Township and Anita Seese (Randy) of Center Township, his grandchildren, Katie Farkas (Zac) of Industry, Gina Seese of Boston, Massachusetts, and Lily Seese, a student at Penn State University, his great-grandson, Rowan Farkas, his step-children, Rita Ann Centrella (John) of West Palm Beach, Florida, Carolina Hessein (Mostafa) of Leesburg, Virginia, Michael Lucci, Jr. (Karen) of Center Township, and Gino Lucci (Laura) of Nashville, Michigan, his step-grandchildren, Addie Lucci (Steven Casey) and daughter Ella Grace of Midlothian, Virginia, Elizabeth Lucci-Miller (Sam) of Greenville, North Carolina, Carolina Lucci of Center Township, Giacinto Lucci of Nashville, Michigan, Michael Lucci of Center Township and Garrett Lucci of Nashville, Michigan, his sister-in-law, Kathy Ursitti of Smyrna, Deleware, his sister-in-law, Marie of Seminole, Florida, the wife of the late Cliff Rubottom, his niece, Lynn Weiseman of Fernley, Nevada, his nephews, David Weiseman (Melissa) and his daughters Emma and Olivia, of Monroe, Ohio, and Steven Ursitti (Penny) and his daughter, Piper, of Clayton, Delaware.
He was blessed with many more doting nieces, nephews, cousins, Godchildren, and dear friends.
James enjoyed Brunton’s chocolate milk, “old western” cowboy movies, and Looney Tunes cartoons. Throughout his life, he was known for being a fixer and builder of anything and everything, solving problems with patience, skill, and a whole lot of grit and determination. He spent his time tuning car engines and rebuilding vehicles or making countless items with wood or metal, so you didn’t have to waste your money buying it. He was known for his impromptu trips “to the store” that usually included
a stop for ice cream or a snack. He was our handyman and #1 fan at countless motocross races, softball games, band concerts, soccer games, basketball games, archery tournaments, pinewood derby racing events, musicals, and scout ceremonies.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 18th from 4-8 p.m. at the Anthony Mastrofrancesco Funeral Home Inc., 2026 McMinn Street, Aliquippa, who was in charge of his arrangements, and where departing prayers will take place on Wednesday, August 19th beginning at 10:15 a.m., with a Mass following at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Frances Cabrini Church, 115 Trinity Drive, Aliquippa.
Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, 2186 Brodhead Road, Aliquippa.
The family wishes to thank Concordia Visiting Nurses and Concordia at Villa St. Joseph in Baden, for providing James with care, respect, dignity, and compassion. In lieu of flowers, the family shares that memorial contributions can be sent in James Ursitti’s memory to Concordia at Villa St. Joseph, 1030 W. State Street, Baden, PA 15005, or a charity of your choice.

 

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of James A. Ursitti please visit the Sympathy Store of the Anthony Mastrofrancesco Funeral Home, Inc. by clicking here.

Tommy John, the namesake of a pioneering elbow surgery that saved his pitching career, dies at 83

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Los Angeles Dodgers former pitcher Tommy John praises his late friend, Dr. Frank Jobe during a memorial service at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, April 7, 2014. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tommy John, who won 288 games during a 26-year big league career and became the first pitcher to successfully return following groundbreaking elbow surgery that later was named after him, has died. He was 83.

He died at his home in Bradenton, Florida, on Saturday night, agent Mike Maguire said Sunday. He had been in hospice care.

On Aug. 8, the New York Yankees released a social media post in which John wrote that he wanted to say goodbye to everyone, including friends and fans who followed him throughout his career, saying, “I will never forget you.”

The Yankees called John “a bedrock of our rotation during his time in pinstripes and a longtime favorite of Yankees fans.”

John was a four-time All-Star with a record of 288-231 and a 3.34 ERA during a career that stretched from 1963 to 1989. He pitched for Cleveland, the Chicago White Sox, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Yankees, the California Angels and the Oakland Athletics.

“Tommy was an exceptional pitcher throughout his career in Major League Baseball, and his courageous role in becoming the first to have surgery that would go on to bear his name can’t be overstated,” Stan Kasten, Dodgers president and CEO, said in a statement. “His impact both on and off the field has been felt by ballplayers of all ages and will be for generations to come.”

The left-hander was 31 years old when he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow in 1974, a death knell for pitchers’ careers to that point.

John allowed Dr. Frank Jobe, the Dodgers’ team physician, to replace the ligament with a tendon from his right forearm. Jobe gave the surgery 100-to-1 odds of being successful.

Robert Alvin Fike (1947-2026)

Robert Alvin Fike, a beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, passed away on August 11th, 2026, at the age of 79.
He was born in Rochester on July 26th, 1947, a beloved son of the late James and Tressa Fike.
Robert was a proud alumnus of Aliquippa High School, graduating with the class of
1965. Shortly thereafter, he answered the call to serve his country, enlisting in the U.S.
Navy in July 1966. He served on active duty from December 1966 to November 1970
and continued to serve in the U.S. Navy Reserve until June 1979. His service to his
country was a time he often looked back on with great fondness.
He had a career spanning nearly three decades spent at Teledyne Vasco in Monaca, where Robert’s dedication and leadership were recognized during his tenure as Union
President. He was a valued member of both the American Legion and the VFW, where he shared camaraderie and community with fellow veterans. These organizations were dear to him, as they provided him with the opportunity to continue serving his
community and maintaining the bonds of brotherhood formed during his military
service.
He is survived by his daughters, Leanne Fike and her husband, Robert Fishman and
Rosemarie Fike and her husband, Brandon McLaughlin. He was the proud grandfather
to Isabella and Alexandra Fishman, whom he cherished deeply. He is also survived
by his loving sisters, Betty Carpenter and Martha Farland. In addition to his immediate family, he is survived by many loving nieces and nephews, including: Bobby Fike and his wife, Connie, Bill Fike, Dave Fike, Danny Fike, Jimmy Fike, and Connie Halliday, who spent quality time with him in his later years. He is also survived by best friends Beverly Fout and Stu Quinn, who supported him through many years.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Jonathan Fike and his brothers, James Fike and Charles Fike.
The memory of their love and shared experiences remained close to his heart throughout his life.
A funeral service to honor and celebrate Robert’s life will be held on Tuesday, August 18th at 11:00 a.m., as well as a viewing from that time until 12:30 p.m., followed by a
memorial service, at Anthony Mastrofrancesco Funeral Home, 2026 McMinn Street, Aliquippa, who was in charge of his arrangements.
Family and friends are invited to gather and share in remembrance of Robert’s life.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to your local V.F.W. post or to Robert’s local post, Hopewell V.F.W. Post 8805, 138 Stone Quarry Rd, Aliquippa, PA 15001, in his memory.

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Robert Alvin Fike please visit the Sympathy Store of the Anthony Mastrofrancesco Funeral Home, Inc. by clicking here.