Author: Beaver County Radio

New amenity added to Ambridge Borough park, two sets of concrete cornhole boards

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Borough of Ambridge, Posted on Facebook on September 17th, 2026) 

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Ambridge, PA) Another recreational amenity was recently added to the Ambridge Borough Park, which is located on 1035 Breitenstein Road. 

Two sets of concrete cornhole boards were installed by the Ambridge Borough Public Works Department next to the fitness court of the park.

The Beaver County Realtor Association place making grant fully funded this project. 

The cornhole boards will be ready for public use after the grass of the surrounding area is planted.

Wampum woman arrested for DUI 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-seven-year-old Krystal Rocco of Wampum was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol/controlled substances on August 18th.

According to police, Rocco was traveling north on State Route 168 in Hickory Township at 3:21 p.m. and then proceeded to make a left turn into the business at 2851 Eastbrook Volant Road, crossing into the oncoming lane of travel without properly checking for traffic.

This caused seventy-one-year-old Gale Gee of Middlebury Center, Pennsylvania to hit the vehicle of Rocco with his vehicle. 

Rocco suffered a possible injury but left the scene of the crash.

Gee stayed on the scene and was not injured.

Police found Rocco away from the scene and she was subsequently arrested for suspicion of DUI. 

Beaver Valley Artists meeting on new time and day; Ron Thurston first guest artist for BVA fall season

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Beaver Valley Artists)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(New Brighton, PA) The Beaver Valley Artists will now meet on a new time and day.

They will meet at the Merrick Art Gallery in New Brighton on Saturdays from 12 noon to 3 p.m., and the first meeting will be on Saturday, September 26th. 

The first guest artist for the Beaver Valley Artists’ fall season is Ron Thurston.  

Thurston recently won a 2nd place award in the National Watercolor Society’s International Exhibition, which will begin in October of 2026.

He has also won awards in juried annuals, which included the American Watercolor Society, The Pennsylvania Watercolor Society and other national exhibitions.

He is also a graduate of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and is a past president of the Pittsburgh Watercolor Society.

He is represented by Mark Rengers Gallery in Sewickley.

His painting called “Paint Escape” has been selected for the cover of the 49th edition of Art of Watercolor Magazine including an eight-page feature article.

Eugene Ostavitz (1949-2026)

Eugene Ostavitz, 76, passed away on September 6th, 2026at AHN Beaver Hospital. He was born in Youngstown, Ohio on September 18th, 1949, the son of the late Eugene and Helen Ostavitz. He is survived by his son, Jason (Amanda) Ostavitz, his grandchildren, Bryce, Tanner and Sophia, his sister, Deborah (Eddie) Dorbish, several nephews, great nephews and great nieces, special friends, Albert Dulovich and Ron Dorbish and all of his church family. Eugene worked as a carpenter for the majority of his career, which was a labor of love that he pursued with passion and dedication. He was a proud Vietnam Veteran who served in the United States Marine Corps. A memorial service will occur on Saturday, September 26th at 2 p.m. at Valley Christian Fellowship, 935 Wallace Drive, Rochester, with a luncheon to follow. Pastor Patti Elliott will be officiating the service. Professional services were entrusted to the CORLESS-MATTER FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, LLC., 1133 Church Street, Ambridge.

PA License to Carry a Firearm Satellite Event Saturday in Pittsburgh

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) There will be a PA license to Carry a Firearm Satellite Event tomorrow. 

The location of this event is 1520 Roosevelt Road in Pittsburgh and it will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  

People should bring $20 cash, a valid identification and a completed application to either get a new license or renew their existing one. 

These events in Ohio Township are part of the effort by Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin Kraus to bring government services to the local community and make it more convenient for people who can not get to the Allegheny County Courthouse during its normal working hours. 

Pennsylvania Unemployment Rate Drops to 3.7 Percent in August of 2026, Lowest Level in Over Two Years

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) released its preliminary employment situation report for August of 2026 today.

The unemployment rate in Pennsylvania was down two-tenths of a percentage point over the month to 3.7 percent in August, which is the lowest rate since May of 2024.

The rate for unemployment in Pennsylvania was four-tenths of a percentage point below the unemployment rate in the United States, which was unchanged over the month at 4.1 percent.

The unemployment rate in Pennsylvania has declined by seven-tenths of a percentage point from its level of 4.4 percent in August of 2025.

The unemployment rate in the United States has declined two-tenths of a percentage point over the past 12 months.

REMINDER: Route 65 Bridge over Connoquenessing Creek Replacement Begins Monday in Beaver County

(File Photo of Road Work Ahead Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) PennDOT District 11 is reminding travelers a 33-day closure of the Route 65 bridge over the Connoquenessing Creek in North Sewickley and Franklin townships will begin on Monday, September 21st weather permitting.

A full closure and detour of Route 65 that is between Country Club Road and Mercer Road (Route 1006) will occur around-the-clock from 6 A.M. on Monday, September 21st through 6 A.M. on Saturday, October 24th.

Crews from Swank Construction Company will complete the demolition of the existing structure and use accelerated bridge construction techniques so they can install the new precast modular concrete structure.

All traffic will be detoured, and the detour routes can be found below, according to a release from PennDOT District 11:

Posted Detours

Car detour

South of the closure

  • From Route 65 take Chapel Drive
  • Turn left onto Celia Road
  • Turn left onto Shadyrest Road
  • Turn left onto Route 288
  • Continue to intersection with Route 65/River Road
  • End detour

North of the closure

  • Same detour in the opposite direction

Truck detour

Trucks from south of the closure to north of the closure

  • From northbound Route 65, turn left onto Route 588
  • Turn right onto the Eastvale Bridge and cross over the Beaver River
  • Turn right onto north Route 18
  • Turn right onto eastbound Route 351
  • Turn left to continue on eastbound Route 351
  • Turn left onto Fifth Street
  • End detour at intersection with Route 65/Route 288

Truck detour

Trucks from north of the closure to south of the closure

  • From Route 288 continue past southbound Route 65
  • Turn left onto Fountain Avenue
  • Turn left onto Fifth Street
  • Turn right onto Spring Avenue
  • Turn left onto 6th Street
  • Turn right onto Beaver Avenue
  • Turn left onto 8th Street
  • Turn right onto Lawrence Avenue/westbound Route 351
  • Turn right to stay on Route 351/Arthur Street
  • Turn left onto southbound Route 18
  • Turn left onto eastbound Route 588 across the Eastvale Bridge
  • Continue to the intersection with Route 65
  • End detour

Barbara “Bobbie” J. (Dray) Jobe (1944-2026)

Barbara “Bobbie” J. (Dray) Jobe, 82, of South Beaver Township, passed away on September 16th, 2026 at her residence.

She was born in East Liverpool, Ohio on May 21st, 1944, the daughter of the late Russell and Maybelle (Torrence) Dray. She has been a resident of South Beaver Township since 1974.

Barbara was a Sunday School teacher, church secretary, deacon, and was a member of the Blackhawk Band Boosters. She was a homemaker all of her life and was a member of the East Liverpool High School Class of 1962. She was the consummate nurturer. She devoted herself to her family and was always ready to help anyone in need. She never met a baby she didn’t want to feed, change, hold, or rock all night long. She loved playing cards with her grandchildren, shopping and visiting with friends, Sunday dinners with family, attending church, and her Friday trips to Rogers Sale with Kenny. She had a keen attention to detail and an uncanny ability to pinpoint the exact location of virtually any misplaced object. Though she never much enjoyed cooking, she cooked anyway, because feeding the people she loved was one more way she cared for them. Above all, she found her greatest joy in being with and taking care of the people she loved.

She is survived by her husband, Kenneth W. Jobe, whom she married on December 20th, 1974, one daughter, Kendra Evans and her three grandchildren, John, Grace, and Theo Evans of Rochester, New York, a brother, Russell (Butch) Dray of East Liverpool, Ohio and her son-in-law, Eryck Webb of Midland. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her youngest daughter, Kristina Webb.

Friends will be received on Tuesday, September 22nd from 12 noon-2 P.M. and 4 P.M. until the time of a funeral service at 6 P.M. in the GABAUER-LUTTON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, Inc., 117 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls, who was in charge of her arrangements.

Interment will be private in Highland Cemetery, 339 Salem Church Road, Midland.

To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit the flower store of the Gabauer Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services by clicking here.

Christy L. Sexton (1976-2026)

Christy L. Sexton, 49, of Ambridge, passed away on September 16th, 2026, at UPMC Presbyterian.

She was born in Sewickley on December 16th, 1976, a daughter of Debbie Hoko and the late David Muders.

In addition to her mother, she is survived by her loving husband, Justin Macurak, her son, William Sexton, her sister and brother-in-law, Dina and Jake Johns, her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jared and Krystel Smith, her aunt, Robin Holtzman, her cousin and friend, Kyla McManigal and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by her brother, Jimmy Willgruber.

Christy had a unique gift for connecting with people, using this talent to touch lives both in person and through her popular Facebook and TikTok platforms, amassing over 16,000 followers. Her generosity extended beyond her professional work as she was always eager to lend a helping hand. Her special talent for art was most visible in her incredible ability to transform faces with her exceptional skills in makeup artistry, especially her special effects for Halloween makeup.

A celebration of life for Christy will be held at a later date.

Professional services and arrangements were entrusted to CORLESS-MATTER FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, LLC 1133 Church Street, Ambridge. Online condolences may be shared at www.corlessfuneralhomes.com. Those who knew her invite you to share your memories and upload photos of Christy to her memorial page by clicking here, as a tribute to her life.

Penguins 2026-2027 training camp underway in Cranberry Township

(File Photo: Credit for Photo: Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby (87) celebrates his goal with Bryan Rust after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Cranberry Township, PA) Pittsburgh Penguins President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas announced on Wednesday that the Penguins invited 69 players to their 2026-2027 training camp, which is presented by UPMC. 

The training camp roster for the Penguins this year, which can be seen by clicking here, includes seven goaltenders, 23 defensemen, 36 forwards and three injured players. 

Training camp opened yesterday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township. 

All practices at that facility are free and open to the public, and all practices unless noted otherwise are at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. 

According to a report from the Pittsburgh Penguins on nhl.com, here is the remaining schedule for the team’s 2026-2027 training camp:

(PASSED: Thursday, September 17th 8:45-10:15 AM – Group A Practice 11:30 AM-1:00 PM – Group B Practice 12:45-2:15 PM – Group C Practice)

Friday, September 18th
8:45-10:15 AM – Group A Practice
11:30 AM-1:00 PM – Group B Practice
12:45-2:15 PM – Group C Practice

Saturday, September 19th
8:45-10:15 AM – Group A Practice
11:30 AM-1:00 PM – Group B Practice
12:45-2:15 PM – Group C Practice

Sunday, September 20th
DAY OFF

Monday, September 21st
10:30 – Morning Skate
7:00 PM – GAME VS. BUFFALO

Tuesday, September 22nd
10:30 – Morning Skate
7:00 PM – GAME VS. DETROIT

Wednesday, September 23rd
DAY OFF

Thursday, September 24th
11:30 AM – Morning Skate
7:00 PM – GAME AT COLUMBUS (Nationwide Arena)

Friday, September 25th
12:00-1:30 PM – Practice

Saturday, September 26th
3:00 PM – GAME AT BUFFALO (KeyBank Center)

Sunday, September 27th
12:00-1:00 PM – Practice

Monday, September 28th
DAY OFF