Author: Beaver County Radio

Charles “Buzz” Kulbacki, Sr. (1949-2026)

Charles “Buzz” Kulbacki, Sr., 77, of Sewickley, passed away on November 9th, 2026, at Allegheny Health Network – Wexford.

He was born in Sewickley on October 21st, 1949, the son of the late Richard and Thelma (Blough) Kulbacki.

He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Janine (McCarthy) Kulbacki, a daughter, Maureen (Jon) Georgiadis and a son, Charles, Jr. (Kristin Hauman) Kulbacki, 3 grandsons, Maximus and Alexander Georgiadis and Robin Hauman Kulbacki, a niece and 3 nephews: Joyce, Richard, David K. and David G.; as well as a sister-in-law, Lois Kulbacki and many additional loving family members.

Charles was a very proud member of the Sons of the American Revolution. He was also very dedicated to his community where he was a borough manager for 27 years, and a member of the Bell Acres Council for 21 years. Additionally, he served 40 faithful years as an Elder at the Fairmount ARP Church in Sewickley. He was such a witty and loving man, and his family (especially his grandchildren) were so important to him.

Family and friends are welcome to gather for a visitation on Thursday, November 12th, from 2-4 P.M. and 6-8 P.M., in the John Syka Funeral Home, Inc., 833 Kennedy Drive, Ambridge, who was in charge of his arrangements. A funeral service will also be held on Friday, November 13th, at 10:30 A.M., in Fairmount ARP Church, 2535 Fairmount Church Road, Sewickley. Everyone is asked to meet at the church. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. If you are unable to attend the funeral service, it will be live streamed via the Fairmount Presbyterian Church Facebook page.

Celebrate 2026 Thanksgiving at these local community dinners

(File Photo of a Thanksgiving Dinner)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) Thanksgiving is approaching in 2026, and some locals are celebrating by sharing meals in their community.

According to a report from the Beaver County Times, here is a list of local Thanksgiving meal celebrations across the area:

A note to those in the Coraopolis area: the Coraopolis United Methodist Church has ended its annual community Thanksgiving dinner, according to an announcement on the church’s website. However, the church will host its November community dinner from 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. November 18th, serving turkey pot pie, cranberry sauce, salad, rolls and butter and dessert. For more information, contact the church office at 412-264-3727.

The Salvation Army Beaver Falls, 414 16th Street, is hosting a community Thanksgiving dinner at 2 p.m. November 22nd at its Service Center.

Twelve Loaves Soup Kitchen, 1031 Second Avenue in New Brighton, is hosting a Thanksgiving dinner on November 24th between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Donations of turkeys (bone-in), fresh sweet potatoes or canned yams, stuffing mix, gravy (can or jar), canned whipped topping, stick butter, dinner rolls and pumpkin or pecan pies are needed, according to their Facebook page. (Please donate rolls and pies closer to November 23rd.) Donations of soup bases, broth, powdered bouillon and crackers are also appreciated for winter meals. For more information or to volunteer, call 724-678-1287.

Central Global Methodist Church, 1227 Sixth Avenue in Beaver Falls is serving a community Thanksgiving dinner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on November 26th at the church. Dinner is available to eat in or take out, no reservations needed. Volunteers are also needed to help, call 724-417-1208.

Second Baptist Church and Our Lady of the Valley parish are hosting a community Thanksgiving dinner from noon to 3 p.m. November 26th at St. Cecilia Church social hall, 643 California Street in Rochester. Free and open to all, eat-in or takeout and walk-ins are welcome. To pre-order, call 724-775-4111. For Thanksgiving day orders, call 724-775-3775 or 724-709-7426.

Clinton United Methodist Church, 1147 Old Route 18 in Wampum is serving a community Thanksgiving dinner from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. November 26th at the church. Dine in, curbside pickup or local delivery is available; orders are due by November 24th to Laurie at 724-657-4328.

Uncommon Grounds Cafe, 380 Franklin Avenue, Aliquippa. 724-375-6141. A community Thanksgiving dinner will be served from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. on November 25th. All are welcome, dine-in or takeouts available.

AAA: Intersection AEB May Help Prevent Some Crashes, but Limitations Remain

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of AAA East Central)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Automatic emergency braking (AEB) technology has advanced to address crash situations that are more complex, including those that occur at intersections.

AAA tested four 2026 model-year vehicles across different intersection crash scenarios to better understand how the latest intersection AEB systems perform.

The results showed good performance in standardized tests.

However, limitations when new scenarios were presented.

All four of the vehicles avoided a collision in the standardized left turn across oncoming traffic scenario.

Furthermore, three of the four systems did not prevent a collision when a vehicle entered their path from a side road.

U.S. Steel’s proposed hot strip mill faces criticism and support at permit public hearing

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – United States Steel’s Edgar Thomson Plant in Braddock, Pa. is shown on Feb. 26, 2019. U.S. Steel, the Pittsburgh steel producer that played a key role in the nation’s industrialization, is being acquired by Nippon Steel in an all-cash deal valued at approximately $14.1 billion. The transaction is worth about $14.9 billion when including the assumption of debt. Nippon, which will pay $55 per share for U.S. Steel, said Monday, Dec. 18, 2023 that the deal will bolster its manufacturing and technology capabilities. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) The Allegheny County Health Department held a public hearing yesterday to get feedback on U.S. Steel’s proposed hot strip mill.

U.S. Steel applied for a permit to install this new hot strip mill at its Edgar Thomson Plant in Braddock.

According to the company, the hot strip mill, which is capable of producing up to 3,500,000 tons of hot rolled steel annually, will replace the existing hot strip mill at U.S. Steel’s Irvin Plant in West Mifflin.

The feedback for that hot strip mill had mixed reactions, with some agreeing with it and others disagreeing with it.

Several speakers spoke in support of it, saying that it will create job opportunities and modernize operations.

However, some residents said that they fear that the emissions will add to generations of health issues.

Allegheny County will accept written comments about the hot strip mill by the public through Tuesday, November 17th.

A decision date on the permit for this hot strip mill has not been set at this time.

Former Steelers running back and running backs coach Dick Hoak dies at 86

(Caption for Photo: Steelers running backs coach Dick Hoak announces his retirement at team headquarters on the South Side on Jan. 2, 2007. (Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Chaz Palla/Trib Live))

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Steelers announced this morning that former Steelers player and coach Dick Hoak has died.

Hoak passed away today at the age of 86.

He was a native of Jeannette who spent 10 seasons as a running back playing for the Steelers between 1961 and 1970.

Hoak was named to the NFL Pro Bowl in 1968.

He retired after the 1970 season and at the time, he was the number two all-time rusher in Steelers history.

Hoak is still sitting at eighth all-time in rushing yards for the Steelers as of the 2025 NFL season.

After his career as a player, he joined the Steelers’ front office.

He joined the team’s coaching staff as the running backs coach in 1972, which was a position that he held until 2007.

Hoak was also the only coach to work under both Bill Cowher and Chuck Noll.

Cain “Hop” M. Hopkins (1998-2026)

Cain “Hop” “Hoppy” M. Hopkins, 28, of Ambridge, passed away on November 7th, 2026.

He was born on August 6th, 1998, and was preceded in death by his uncle, Ryan Baker.

He is survived by his loving family, including his mother, Michelle (Cade Kessler) Baker, his father, Dennis (Tricia) Hopkins Jr., his siblings: Hunter M. Hopkins, Brooke (Steve) Almendarez, Sydney Trimbath, and Tyler Trimbath; as well as his fraternal grandparents, Nancy and Dennis Hopkins Sr., his maternal grandparents, Terry (Terri) Baker and Mary (Mike) Mitro, his uncles: Jeffrey Baker, Kyle Baker, Duke (Tabitha) Hopkins, and Tim Hopkins; his aunt, Bailey Baker; along with his nephews, Mason Trimbath, Ben, Brad, and Sam Almendarez, his cousins: Amanda, Sara, Cole, and Sydney; as well as many great aunts and uncles and extended family, his beloved dog, Vino and many dear friends, including Katelinn Bowser.

Cain was a graduate of Ambridge High School with its Class of 2016, where he proudly participated in both the soccer and wrestling programs. Following graduation, he pursued a career as a union carpenter with Local Union 432. He loved carpentry and was an incredibly hard worker. He often helped friends and family members with various projects. He was also a wonderful uncle.  His nephews adored him.  Wherever Cain was, they wanted to be.

He was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan who loved nothing more than going to the games, home or away. He enjoyed the outdoors, but his passion was golf. He loved spending time golfing, especially alongside his brother, Hunter, his father, pap and friends or anyone else who wanted to join him, even someone he just met on the course.

If you met him, you remembered him. He had a way a lighting up every room he walked into. He was the life of the party, even when there wasn’t party, always making sure everyone around him was having a good time too.  He had an endless supply of jokes, whether they were corny or dad jokes that made everyone laugh and groan at the same time.

He cherished the time spent with family and friends and will be remembered by those who knew and loved him. He was a true and loyal friend, a loving son and brother.

He will be deeply missed, and those who knew him will keep his jokes, his laugh and his love of a good time with them always.

In accordance with Cain’s wishes, all services will be private.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Alvarez-Hahn Funeral Services and Cremation, LLC, 547 8th Sreet, Ambridge.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Cain’s memory to Movember by typing in the following website.

https://us.movember.com/donate/details?memberId=97#amount

Route 422 Improvement Work Begins Monday in Lawrence County

(File Photo of Road Work Ahead Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Lawrence County, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that roadway improvement work on Route 422 in Shenango and Slippery Rock townships in Lawrence County will begin on Monday, November 16th, weather permitting. 

There will be single-lane restrictions along Route 422 between Business 422 in Shenango Township and just east of the McConnell Mill Road intersection in Slippery Rock Township from 8 A.M. to 4 P.M. weekdays, as needed, through mid-December to accommodate preliminary drainage work and line painting operations.

Route 3010 Moffett Mill Road Drilling Work Begins Wednesday in Beaver County

(File Photo of a Road Work Ahead Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that drilling work along Moffett Mill Road (Route 3010) in Raccoon and Center townships will begin today, weather permitting. 

From 8 A.M. to 4 P.M. each day, as needed, through Tuesday, November 24th, drilling work requiring alternating single-lane restrictions controlled by flaggers will occur on Moffett Mill Road between Cottonwood Drive and Maplehurst Drive. 

Work will be conducted by crews from Armstrong Drilling. 

Topper Re-Elected House Republican Leader, Announces House Republican Caucus Leadership Team For 2027-28 Session

(Credit for Photo: Photo of Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus Leadership Team Provided with Release Courtesy of Representative Jesse Topper’s Office)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) Representative Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Fulton) announced yesterday that he was re-elected Pennsylvania House Republican Leader for the 2027-28 session as the caucus reorganized its leadership team for the coming term.

According to Topper, the caucus, led by an experienced caucus leadership team, is prepared to be strategic, nimble, and thoughtful in its approach to legislating and policy development over the course of the next two years. 

A release from Topper’s office confirms that this new leadership team consists of:

  • Leader: Rep. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Fulton).
  • Whip: Rep. Tim O’Neal (R-Washington).
  • Appropriations Chairman: Rep. Jamie Barton (R-Schuylkill/Berks).
  • Caucus Chairman: Rep. Martina White (R-Philadelphia).
  • Caucus Secretary: Rep. Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/Bradford).
  • Caucus Administrator: Rep. Marla Brown (R-Lawrence).
  • House Republican Policy Committee Chair: Rep. David Rowe (R-Snyder/Union/Mifflin/Juniata).

Topper said: “I am honored to have earned the trust and respect of my fellow House Republican colleagues to continue leading this caucus in the upcoming session. As we navigate a new legislative landscape in Harrisburg, I am excited to work with an energized leadership team to take on the monumental task that lays before us of strengthening the House Republican Caucus with a policy and messaging focus that connects with the people of Pennsylvania.”

PennDOT to conduct study on dangerous intersection in Darlington

(File Photo of the PennDOT Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Darlington, PA) A three-vehicle crash that occurred on Monday at the intersection of Route 51 and Route 168 in Darlington is renewing calls from drivers and neighbors to have a red light installed at the intersection. 

This crash was reported at around 7 a.m. on Monday and three people were taken to the hospital as a result of it.

According to State Representative Roman Kozak, South Beaver residents have recorded approximately 90 crashes at the intersection over the past 20 years, resulting in countless injuries and five fatalities.  

Kozak reached out to PennDOT for action, and PennDOT responded by confirming that they will conduct a safety study of the intersection. 

PennDOT plans to begin this safety study in 2027.  

Residents and state representatives are saying that they will continue advocating for improvements so they can prevent further accidents. 

Kozak also confirmed that he and State Representative Josh Kail will work with South Beaver so they can help secure funding for that study.