Author: Beaver County Radio

Heather Nicole Pauley (1978-2026)

Heather Nicole Pauley, 47, of Beaver, passed away on February 27th, 2026, at her home. She was born on July 29th, 1978, a daughter of Kirby Ashburn and the late Carol Hanson. In addition to her mother, she is survived by two daughters, Isabella and Lillian Pauley, as well as their father, Daryl, her loving companion, Dave Boehm Jr., one step-son, Landan Boehm, one sister, Courtnie Boniey, one brother, Drew Ashburn, two nephews, Jason Norman and Barrett Ashburn, and one niece, Charlize Frye, as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Heather was a 1996 graduate of Point Pleasant High School, in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, where she excelled in the band program and was a proud member of the National Honor Society. Following, She went on to get her license in Cosmetology and later became a business owner. She was also an affiliate of Pruvitt, where she dedicated herself to helping others and changing lives. Heather was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Beaver.

Heather’s wishes were to be cremated with a celebration of life following. Friends will be received on Saturday, March 7th, from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 252 College Ave, Beaver, with a service following at 11:15 a.m. A reception will take place following the service, where all are welcome to continue fellowship and remembrance. Celebrating will be Pastor Jeff Arnold. In Heather’s honor, the family would love guests to join them in wearing her favorite color, purple, a color that suited her personality perfectly. Arrangements are entrusted to William Murphy Funeral Home Inc., 349 Adams Street, Rochester, PA 15074.

Dorine Ann (DiCiccio) LaValle (1930-2026)

Dorine Ann (DiCiccio) LaValle, 96, of Industry, passed away on March 4th, 2026, in the comfort of her home. She was born in Midland on January 29th, 1930, the daughter of the late Alex and Anna (DeMatteis) DiCiccio. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Vincent LaValle, Sr., five brothers: Ralph Bernabie, Orland, Edmund, Anthony, and Louis DiCiccio; as well as two sisters, Carmella Granito and Rita DiMarzio. She is survived by her children: Cynthia Kaletz, Lorraine (Francis) Barthold, Vincent LaValle, Chuck (Carol) LaValle and Shari (Tony) Birocco; along with seven grandchildren: Carie (Ken) Michell, Kristopher (Rebekah) Kaletz, Nicole (Matt) Schmidt, Matthew (Madeline) LaValle, Craig (Lindsay) Barthold, Lauren (Tom) Mazzant and A.J. (Amanda) Birocco; as well as eight great-grandchildren: Tyler (Lauren), Drew, Carter, Austin, Ryan, Barron, Kennedy and Niko; along with a sister-in-law, Sandra (Saya) DiCiccio.

Dorine was a devoted mother and wife who loved cooking large meals for her family on Sundays, holidays, and family gatherings. She was a member of St. Blaise Church in Midland, St. Augustine Parish, and the St. Anthony’s Club Auxiliary.

Friends will be received on Friday, March 6th from 2-4 P.M. and 6-8 P.M. in the GABAUER-TODD FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES (Branch), 340 Third Street, Beaver, who was in charge of her arrangements. Departing Prayers will be offered on Saturday, March 7th at 9:45 A.M. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Blaise Church of St. Augustine Parish, 772 Ohio Ave., Midland. Fr. Kim J. Schreck will serve as celebrant. Interment will follow in Beaver Cemetery, Buffalo Street, Beaver.

Memorial contributions in Dorine’s honor may be made to St. Blaise Church Parish Share, 772 Ohio Avenue, Midland, PA 15059.

Dorine’s family wishes to extend a heartfelt “Thank You” to Three Oaks Hospice, especially her nurses, Theresa and Rachel, as well as her caregivers who showed compassion and love, Lisa, Alexis, Deb, Kelly, and Heather.  A special thank you also goes out to Darla.

Myrtle R. Reed (1929-2026)

Myrtle R. Reed, 96, of Villa St. Joseph in Baden, formerly of East Rochester, passed away on March 4th, 2026, in Villa St. Joseph. She was born in Rochester on August 28th, 1929, a daughter of the late Harry M. Sr. and Mary Zubryk Reed. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters and brother-in-law, Mabel Reed, Mary Ann and Robert Amos and Guy Dille, three brothers and sisters-in-law, Harry M. Jr. and Dolores Reed, Herbert and Nancy Reed, and Edward and Eleanor Reed. She is survived by one sister, Dorthy R. Dille, of Valencia, Pennsylvania, and one brother and sister-in-law, Elmer and Josephine Reed of Monaca, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Myrtle was a retired clerical worker with the Greater Pittsburgh International Airport and a member of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rochester. Myrtle’s wishes were to have no viewing or service. Private interment will be held in Beaver Cemetery, Buffalo Street, Beaver. All arrangements are entrusted to William Murphy Funeral Home Inc., 349 Adams Street, Rochester. The family wishes to thank the staff at Concordia Villa St. Joseph, Baden, for the care and comfort provided to Myrtle.

Michael “Mike” Samuel Radella (1943-2026)

Michael “Mike” Samuel Radella, 83, of New Sewickley Township, passed away at Passavant Hospital Hospice in McCandless, on March 2nd, 2026. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Ethel (Perenovich), his son, Mitchell (Brenda) Radella of Cranberry Township, his daughter, Marjorie Radella and his beloved granddaughter, Trinity Metts of Greenville, Sotuh Carolina, his sister, Millie (Neil) Downing, of Medfield, Massachusetts, his sister-in-law, Linda Radella of O’Fallon, Illinois, his nephews, Michael Alexander Downing and Christopher Allan (Emily) Downing and his cousins, David Nicholson, Janice Darnell, Mary Kay Kersey, and Donna Love.

Michael was born in East Liverpool, Ohio on January 13th, 1943, a son of the late Mike and Anna Tonkovich Radella of Midland. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved younger brother, Allan Radella. He was a member of St. Ferdinand Church in Cranberry Township and Divine Grace Parish, and a lifelong member of the Croatian Fraternal Union. She was among the children inoculated in the famed 1954 Pittsburgh Salk polio vaccine field trials. He graduated from Midland High School, where he was a percussionist in band and played pickup baseball and basketball. He worked for the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) collecting data for federal publications including the Consumer Price Index. By the end of his first 10 years for BLS in Washington, D.C., during the tumultuous ’60s, he was supervising over a dozen statistical clerks. He then moved back to Pittsburgh, working for BLS another 26 years surveying the tristate area and retiring as a trainer of surveyor trainers. In his early DC years, he also worked part-time at Hecht Company department store. After retirement, he worked for several years at Office Max. He stayed in touch with many friends from high school, DC, and BLS. He was a daily newspaper reader, as is known by several local journalists with whom he shared his opinions. He was a lover of original rock-and-roll and beyond with a large and wide collection of records, tapes, and CDs; an avid fan of all Pittsburgh sports (also known by several local journalists); and a history enthusiast. He was a collector of stamps and coins, glassware, lighthouse memorabilia, and the designs of Frank Lloyd Wright. He enjoyed bowling and had a mean diagonal strike ball. He also enjoyed taking and sharing photos. He called himself a supervisor, and anyone who knew him would agree.

In accordance with Michael’s request, no services will be held. Private interment to take place at Beaver Cemetery, Buffalo Street, Beaver. Professional arrangements have been entrusted to Noll Funeral Home, 333 Third Street, Beaver. Online condolences may be shared at nollfuneral.com.

The family thanks the ICU and hospice at Passavant McCandless for their care given to Mike.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Michael S. “Mike” Radella, please visit the flower store of the Noll Funeral Home, Inc. by clicking here.

Penn State fires women’s basketball coach Carolyn Kieger after seven seasons

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Penn State head coach Carolyn Kieger directs her team against South Carolina during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, in Columbia, S.C., Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(State College, PA) Penn State fired their women’s basketball head coach Carolyn Kieger yesterday after seven seasons. Kieger finished with an 84-123 record. The Lady Lions had an 11-18 record this season with a 4-14 record in Big Ten play and did not make the 14-team field for the Big Ten conference tournament. According to Penn State, it will conduct a national search for its next coach. 

Leadership Beaver County Applications Now Open

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Beaver County Chamber of Commerce)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) According to a recent release from the Beaver County Chamber of Commerce, applications are open now for Leadership Beaver County.

Click here to find more information about applying for this opportunity and to apply.

Leadership Beaver County is a cohort-based program that has a maximum of twenty participants which is designed for existing and emerging leaders whose primary residence or professional work is in Beaver County with sessions being held at various locations throughout Beaver County. Each of its cohorts meets from September through May, from 8 A.M. to 3 P.M. and it is usually on the 3rd Thursday of each month.

AAA Gas Price Update: Prices Continue Upward

(File Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of AAA East Central)

Noah Haswell,  Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) According to AAA, today’s national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.32, which is 34 cents more than Monday and 42 cents higher than a month ago. Today’s national average is the highest since September of 2024. Some tips that AAA recommends for Pennsylvanians and beyond to improve vehicle gas mileage can be found below, according to a release from AAA East Central in Pittsburgh:

The Daily Drive

  • Slow down and drive the speed limit. On the highway, aerodynamic drag causes fuel economy to drop off significantly as speeds increase above 50 mph.
  • Reduce trips and lighten your load. Limit the amount of cargo in your vehicle when possible.
  • Avoid “jackrabbit” starts and hard acceleration. These actions greatly increase fuel consumption. Accelerate smoothly with light to moderate throttle.
  • Avoid extended idling to warm up the engine. Even in winter, idling, and warming up an engine are unnecessary and wastes fuel.
  • Look ahead. When approaching a red light or stop sign, let off the gas early and allow the vehicle to coast down to a slower speed until it is time to brake.
  • Use cruise control to help maintain a constant speed and save fuel. However, never use cruise control on wet roads because a loss of vehicle control could result.
  • Take advantage of fuel savings programs. AAA members have access to savings when filling up at Shell gas stations. More information is available at AAA.com/Shell by cliking here.

Ownership, Maintenance, and Repairs

  • Keep tires properly inflated. Under inflated tires reduce fuel economy, but more importantly, tires low on air affect handling and braking, wear more rapidly and can overheat and blowout.
  • Maintain the vehicle according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Regular maintenance will ensure optimum fuel economy, performance and longevity.
  • Make all necessary repairs. Take the vehicle to a trusted repair facility by clicking here as soon as possible if the “Check Engine” light comes on.

President Donald Trump fires Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem amid criticism over immigration enforcement

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appears for an oversight hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, March 3, 2026. (AP Photo/ J. Scott Applewhite, File)

(Washington, D.C. – AP) Donald Trump has fired his embattled Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. He made the announcement Thursday. He also said he’ll nominate Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin to replace her. Trump made the announcement on social media, two days after Noem faced a grilling on Capitol Hill from GOP members as well as Democrats. Trump says he’ll make Noem a “Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas,” a new security initiative that he said would focus on the Western Hemisphere. Noem is the first Cabinet secretary to leave during Trump’s second term. Noem’s departure caps a tumultuous tenure overseeing immigration enforcement tactics that have been met with protests and lawsuits.

Former Highlands School District teacher accused of sexually assaulting his students headed to trial; pleads not guilty

(File Photo of a Police Siren Light)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) A former Highlands School District teacher accused of sexually assaulting his students is headed to trial. Fifty-three-year-old Sean Dicer pleaded not guilty during his formal arraignment yesterday in the Allegheny County Courthouse. According to Allegheny County Police, Dicer is accused of sexually assaulting two young boys at his home in 2021. The victims were eleven and twelve years old at the time. Court paperwork gave details of graphic accounts where a victim said that Dicer would buy gifts as well as paying the kids up to 20 dollars after performing sexual acts on one another while Dicer watched. Dicer resigned from his teaching position in 2022. If convicted on all of the charges against him, the maximum amount of time Dicer could face is seventy-nine years in prison. The criminal complaint also stated that Dicer performed sexual acts with one of the victims at least ten times. There were not any victims yesterday in Allegheny County Court, but Judge Jaime Hickton brought up the importance of not violating a “no contact” order that was put in place.

Allegheny County Jail inmate charged with trying to bring drugs into the jail

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – This Oct. 17, 2023 file photo shows the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh. The Allegheny County jail could significantly increase its mental health staffing and provide more training about use of force and restraint after five inmates alleged that the Pennsylvania facility treats those with mental illness unfairly, under proposed settlement filed Tuesday, March 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) An inmate is now charged with trying to bring drugs into the Allegheny County Jail. According to Allegheny County police, detectives were called to the jail on October 15th, 2025 for a reported conspiracy to smuggle synthetic cannabinoids, also called K2, into the jail through the attorney-client mailing process. Detectives alleged that an inmate, forty-four-year-old Edwin Wylie-Biggs worked with people outside the jail to smuggle drugs inside. Police state that witness interviews helped detectives recover documents addressed to Wylie-Biggs that tested positive for K2. Wylie-Biggs is facing multiple charges, including criminal conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility and the investigation into this incident is ongoing.