Author: Beaver County Radio

Charlene Francis Short Reeder (1946-2026)

Charlene Francis Short Reeder, 79, of Chippewa Township, passed away on April 20th, 2026, at Heritage Valley Beaver Campus. She was born on September 5, 1946, the daughter of the late Charles and Virginia (Logan) Short. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Craft Reeder and her brother, Lance Short. She is survived by her children, Daniel (Kylee Hostetter) Reeder and Matthew Reeder, her stepchildren, Thomas “TC” Reeder, Roderick “Rod” Reeder, and Amy (Mark) Shaffer, her beloved grandchildren: Peyton, Daniel Jr., Bennett, Elida, Charlie, Kellan, Jake, Max, Lilly, and Kyle; as well as her great-granddaughter, Penelope, her brother, Brad Short and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

Charlene dedicated many of her working years working with the mentally disabled at Verland, a role she took great pride in. Her compassion extended far beyond her profession, as she was deeply committed to helping individuals with mental disabilities. She was a faithful member of the Chippewa United Methodist Church. Above all, she cherished her family. She was devoted to her children, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. She was a constant, loving presence in all her family’s lives. She will be remembered for her kindness, her strength, and the love she gave so freely to others.

Flowers are welcome and may be sent to the Gabauer-Lutton Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 117 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls, PA 15010. Memorial contributions may also be made to Charlene’s family to continue the loving support she provided to her children, cash or check donations will be accepted at that funeral home or can be made directly to the family.

Friends will be received for a memorial visitation on Wednesday, April 29th from 5 P.M. until the time of memorial service at 7 P.M. at the Gabauer-Lutton Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 117 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls, who was in charge of her arrangements.

Edward J. Kozel (1955-2026)

Edward J. Kozel, 70, passed away peacefully on April 22nd, 2026, in the comfort of his home, surrounded by the love of his family. He was born on November 29th, 1955, a son of the late John and Katherine Kozel. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, John “Jack” Kozel. He is survived by his devoted wife of 42 years, Cheryl Kozel, and their two daughters, Lauren (Dan) Baker and Stephanie Kozel. He is survived by his grandchildren, Lucas and Cora Baker, whom he adored, his mother and father-in-law, Julian and Margaret Bobrowski, his two brothers-in-law, John (Lisa) Bobrowski and Michael (Candace) Bobrowski, his very good friend, Mike Pauvlinch, and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Edward was a man who found joy in the simple pleasures, spending time at his family camp in Tionesta, hunting and fishing, and rooting for his favorite Pittsburgh sports teams. He was a proud Penn State alumnus who continued to follow their athletic successes with enthusiasm. Above all, his greatest joys came from being with his family and watching his grandchildren, Lucas and Cora grow and flourish. He treasured family vacations, especially the trip to the Grand Canyon and even enjoyed adventures in Las Vegas. He was known to relax with a cigar and had a deep love for music, attending concerts featuring Santana and embracing everything Rock n Roll. His family wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you to Gateway Hospice, especially Dr. Gandhe and Dr. Gehrlein, for their exceptional care and compassion given to Edward. He will be deeply missed but fondly remembered for his kindness, humor, and the lasting impact he had on all who knew him. His legacy of love and devotion will live on in the hearts of his family and friends. He will be forever remembered as a loving husband, father, uncle, cousin and dear friend.
In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America at www.hdsa.org by clicking here.
A visitation will take place on Friday, April 24th from 11 a.m. until the time of a blessing service at 1 p.m. in the ANTHONY MASTROFRANCESCO FUNERAL HOME INC., 2026 McMinn Street, Aliquippa, who was in charge of his arrangements. Entombment will immediately follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, 2186 Brodhead Road, Aliquippa. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Edward J. Kozel please visit the Sympathy Store of the Anthony Mastrofrancesco Funeral Home, Inc. by clicking here.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday Reaches $40K Settlement With Florida-Based Company that Allegedly Posed as Pennsylvania State Agency Targeting New Business Owners

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday’s Office)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) According to a release from Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday’s office, Sunday recently announced a settlement in Harrisburg with a Florida-based company and its owners for allegedly impersonating a Commonwealth agency as part of efforts to get money from owners of newly-registered Pennsylvania businesses. The company will pay $40,000 in total restitution to impacted business owners. PA Corporate Certificates, LLC, contacted Pennsylvania-based business owners to solicit purchases of a Subsistence Certificate, which is a legitimate document offered by the Pennsylvania Department of State (that costs $40), but it is often not necessary for many businesses. PA Corporate Certificates, LLC inflated the price to $102.50 and collected payment from nearly 2,000 Pennsylvania business owners and the company sent letters that appeared to be from the Pennsylvania Department of State and misrepresented the purpose or benefit of a Subsistence Certificate to perpetrate the alleged scam. Not all businesses who paid for a certificate actually received it. The settlement, in the form of a Consent Petition, resolves a lawsuit against PA Corporate Certificates, LLC, and its owners – Brian Capobiano, Dean Marshlack, and David Marshlack. PA Corporate Certificates, LLC has ceased operations in Pennsylvania and the settlement prevents the business or the individuals from operating in Pennsylvania, including soliciting for and/or engaging in the sale of certificates of subsistence. The Consent Petition was filed in the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas and is pending approval of the Court.

Shapiro Administration Reminds Drivers to Slow Down and Pay Attention in Work Zones

(File Photo: Caption for Photo: PennDOT, PSP, PTC, Construction Industry Highlight National Work Zone Awareness Week)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA Turnpike) hosted an event in the state today calling attention to work zone safety and urged drivers to slow down and pay attention in work zones as the weather gets warmer and more construction projects get underway. The Shapiro Administration hosted the event along with the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors (APC). Governor Josh Shapiro proclaimed this week as National Work Zone Awareness Week as part of his administration’s mission to provide a safe transportation system for all Pennsylvanians. “Safe actions save lives,” is the theme of this year’s awareness campaign. According to PennDOT data, there were 1,393 work zone crashes in 2025, resulting in 12 fatalities. One of the most frequent contributing factors in fatal work zone crashes was driving too fast for conditions. In addition to crash data from police reports, PennDOT monitors work zone safety with internal reports. There were 428 reported intrusions in PennDOT work zones in 2025. 16 of those work zone intrusions resulted in injuries to PennDOT employees. Students from across the state were also in attendance to display their original work zone safety solutions as part of the annual PennDOT Innovations Challenge, which is a statewide competition for high school students to develop creative and strategic solutions to real-world transportation issues, while also encouraging them to explore careers in transportation that is now in its ninth year. This year’s contest asked students to develop a concept for the use of artificial intelligence in work zones to dramatically improve safety for road users and work crews. Pennsylvania’s New Driver Work Zone Safety Program, which you can find out more about by clicking here, is a statewide training program to improve new driver safety and roadway worker protection. This online training is free and uses infographics, knowledge checks, testimonials that are powerful and videos that are engaging to teach new drivers key facts, signage, and work zone laws, as well as offering real-life scenarios to enhance understanding. Pennsylvania’s Work Zone Speed Safety Camera program, which you can find out more about by clicking here, uses vehicle-mounted systems to detect and record drivers exceeding posted work zone speed limits by 11 miles per hour or more using electronic speed timing devices. Cameras are only operational in work zones that are active where workers are present. Work zones that have speed safety cameras that are active and present will have high-visibility signs in advance of the enforcement area, which alerts drivers to the upcoming enforcement. Registered owners will receive a warning letter for a first offense, a violation notice and a fine of $75 for a second offense, and a violation notice and a fine of $150 for third and subsequent offenses. These violations are civil penalties only and no points are assessed to driver’s licenses. You can visit  workzonecameras.penndot.gov by clicking here for more information on the Work Zone Speed Safety Camera program, including a list of projects where the units are deployed. Drivers who are caught by police driving 11 mph or more above the posted speed limit in an active work zone, or who are involved in a crash in an active work zone and are convicted of failing to drive at a safe speed, will automatically lose their license for 15 days. Additionally, fines for certain traffic violations, including driving under the influence, failure to obey traffic devices and speeding, are doubled in active work zones. The law also provides for up to five years of additional time in prison for individuals that are convicted of homicide by vehicle for a crash that occurred in an active work zone.

Beaver County announces America250 parade in Beaver to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Visit Beaver County, Posted on Facebook on April 23rd, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver, PA) Beaver County recently announced that its America250 parade to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States of America will be on Saturday, September 19th starting at 10 a.m. on 3rd Street in Beaver. Entertainment, family-friendly activities, and learning about history continue at Fort McIntosh on River Road after the parade. If you want to march in the parade, you can register by going to beavercounty250.com by clicking here.

House adopts resolution from State Representative Rob Matzie designating April pf 2026 as “Limb Loss Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania

(File Photo of State Representative Rob Matzie)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) The Pennsylvania House adopted State Rep. Rob Matzie’s resolution last week in Harrisburg that designates April of 2026 as “Limb Loss Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania. According to Matzie, he introduced House Resolution 404, which the House adopted by an overwhelming bipartisan majority on April 15th, to foster greater awareness about the multiple challenges faced by people who have lost a limb and those with a limb that is anatomically different in size, shape or structure compared to “typical” limbs. Matzie stated that he also introduced this resolution to help people understand that the main cause of limb loss is preventable.

Westinghouse eVinci™ Microreactor in Cranberry Township Selected for Malmstrom Air Force Base

(File Photo of the Cranberry Township Logo)

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Apr 23, 2026– Westinghouse Government Services announces that the eVinci™ microreactor has been proposed for Malmstrom Air Force Base (AFB) by the Department of the Air Force, in conjunction with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), through the Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations (ANPI) program.

This is the next step in the ongoing contract between Westinghouse Government Services and the Department of the Air Force and DIU for the proposed deployment of a contractor-owned and operated nuclear microreactor on a Department of the Air Force installation. Under the ANPI agreement, Westinghouse and its deployment partners will evaluate siting and construction of an eVinci microreactor at Malmstrom AFB.

“Westinghouse’s eVinci microreactor is perfectly suited to ensure our Armed Forces have the reliable and resilient energy they need for mission-critical operations globally,” said Rich Rademacher, President, Westinghouse Government Services. “We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with the Department of the Air Force and the Defense Innovation Unit.”

The eVinci microreactor builds on decades of industry-leading Westinghouse innovation to deliver flexible, portable and resilient energy to remote locations for a variety of defense applications. The highly reliable eVinci microreactor has very few moving parts and provides 5 megawatts of electricity, delivered 24 hours a day, seven days a week for eight-plus years without refueling. The technology is designed to be factory-built and assembled before it is shipped.

Westinghouse Electric Company is the future of energy, providing reliable, innovative nuclear technologies and services globally. Westinghouse pioneered commercial nuclear power, delivering the world’s first commercial pressurized water reactor in 1957. The company has industrialized more nuclear reactors than any other company, with its technology forming the basis of half of the world’s operating nuclear plants. More than 140 years of innovation makes Westinghouse the preferred partner for advanced technologies covering the complete nuclear energy life cycle. For more information, visit www.westinghousenuclear.com and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and X.

FBI: Drones will be banned during the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh

(File Photo: Source for Photo: A serviceman controls an FPV drone of “General Cherry” company at the polygon in Ukraine, on Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The FBI’s Pittsburgh field office confirmed on Tuesday it is working with local, state, and federal partners to ensure that the 2026 NFL draft experience in the Steel City tonight through Saturday is both safe and enjoyable. Therefore, the FBI stated that drones will be banned within miles of the city’s North Shore and Point State Park events. According to the Federal Aviation Administration’s TFR website, the drone restrictions will be in place today from 11 a.m. through the entirety of the draft. The FBI also expressed that anyone found operating a drone near NFL draft-related events will face severe civil and criminal penalties and if anyone sees something suspicious, they can report it to law enforcement by calling 911. The FBI noted that there are no credible or known or threats surrounding the draft during a joint press briefing on Tuesday alongside NFL officials and state and local law enforcement partners.

Route 22/30/60 Steubenville Pike/Lincoln Highway Overnight Lane Restrictions Begin Monday in Robinson Township

(File Photo: Caption for Photo: PennDOT, PSP, PTC, Construction Industry Highlight National Work Zone Awareness Week)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Robinson Township, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that overnight lane restrictions on Route 22/30/60 (Steubenville Pike/Lincoln Highway) in Robinson Township will begin on Monday, April 27th, weather permitting. Center median removal work requiring short-term lane closures will occur on Route 22/30/60 (Steubenville Pike/Lincoln Highway) between Montour Church Road and Campbells Run Road weeknights from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. starting this Monday through late May.

Blaise F. Churney (Passed on April 17th, 2026)

Blaise F. Churney, 87, passed away unexpectedly on April 17th, 2026, at his residence in Monaca. He was born in Aliquippa, a son of the late Maurice and Ann (Radocaj) Churney, who were of Croatian descent. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his former wife, Gloria Churney, his daughter, Patricia Butchki, his son, Mark Churney, his sister and brother-in-law, Bridget (Bruce) Eiselt and his brother-in-law, Fred Rossi. He is survived by his daughter-in-law, Natasha Churney, his son-in-law, John Butchki, two granddaughters, Jessica Butchki-Revier and Carina Churney, his brother, William Churney, Sr., his sister, Maureen (Rodney) Bratich and several nieces and nephews including: Cecelia Baker, Sandra Churney, Collette Churney, Kira Persuitte, Maura Colonias, Raymond Eiselt, Eric Eiselt, and William Churney, Jr. He was also blessed with the friendship of Billy Rains, his best friend, whose companionship meant much to him through the years.

Blaise graduated from Hopewell High School and answered the call to serve his country by joining the United States Air Force. After completing his service, he returned home and built a long career as a steelworker at the Aliquippa works of LTV Steel Corporation. He retired from that work after many years of dedication and was a member of the United Steelworkers of America, Local 1211. He found joy in the simple pleasures of life. He was an avid gardener who took pride in caring for his plants and watching them grow. He also enjoyed golfing and listening to AM talk news radio, interests that gave him comfort and companionship over the years. He especially appreciated spending time at the Beaver Valley senior citizens Center at the Mall, where he enjoyed the company of others and the familiar rhythm of community life.

Private calling hours for Blaise will be observed on Thursday, April 30th from 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at SIMPSON FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES, 1119 Washington Avenue, Monaca, who was in charge of his arrangements. His burial will privately take place at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery, 2186 Brodhead Road, Aliquippa.

In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested memorial contributions be made, if desired to the Disabled American Veterans, 1000 Liberty Avenue, Suite 1606, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.