Bob Barrickman Previews The WPIAL Basketball Playoffs

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

21 local teams. Six classifications. One goal.

February 18 marks the beginning of the 2022 WPIAL Basketball Playoffs, and Beaver County Radio sports director Bob Barrickman joined Matt Drzik on A.M. Beaver County to discuss the contenders, dark horses, and teams vying for a chance to hoist District 7 gold at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh.

Six teams in the valley have earned #1 seeds–the OLSH boys and girls in Class 2A, the Rochester girls in Class 1A, the Blackhawk girls in Class 4A, the Ellwood City boys in Class 3A, and the Quaker Valley boys in Class 4A. (A full list of local teams and games can be seen here.) Beaver County Radio’s coverage of the playoffs begins Friday night with a matchup in the Class 4A Boys’ bracket, as #13 Central Valley battles #4 North Catholic. Pregame from Cranberry is 6:30, and tip-off will be at 7:00.

To hear the full preview with Bob and Matt, click on the player below.

Property Reassessment Forms To Be Mailed Next Week In Beaver County

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

Beaver County’s ongoing process in dealing with the process of property reassessment will enter its next chapter soon, as daily mailers will be sent to homeowners next week. The announcement was made by Garen Fedeles, the Beaver County Solicitor, at the Wednesday work session.

Fedeles said that the forms that will be sent out from Tyler Technologies will inquire about the basic details regarding the properties, such as overall size, number of rooms and other information.

“There is no real time frame,” Fedeles said in regards to a deadline to submit the forms, “[but] obviously we’d want it back sooner rather than later. What would happen is that a representative from Tyler would most likely reach out to that individual about a discrepancy.”

Victims in Deadly Shippingport Head-on Crash That Killed Two Identified

(File Photo)
Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano
(Beaver, Pa.) Beaver County Deputy Coroner Bill  Pasquale released the identities of the two men who lost their lives as a result of a two vehicle head-on accident that occurred Wednesday night, February 16, 2022, on the Shippingport Bridge in Shippingport, Beaver County. Pasquale said via release that 56-year-old Raymond Rock, of Midland, and 20-year-old Nikola Dordevic, also of Midland were both killed in the accident. Pasquale said the cause of death for both men was blunt force trauma.

There is no word on what caused the accident as police continue to investigate.

Man Shot in McKees Rocks Earlier This Month Dies

(File Photo)

(McKees Rocks, Pa.)  A man that was found shot in the 400 block of Broadway Avenue in McKees Rocks on February 5 has died
According to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office, 51-year old Keith Glaser died at a local hospital last night.
Police are continuing to investigate what led to Glaser being shot.

Keselowski Leads Jack Roush Back to Daytona’s Victory Lane

(AP Photo)
By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Brad Keselowski celebrated a sweep of the Daytona duels as he debuts with his new team. Keselowski took an ownership stake in Jack Roush’s organization and rebranded as RFK Racing. Keselowski drove the flagship No. 6 Ford to a win in the first 150-mile qualifying race for the Daytona 500. Chris Buescher won the second race for RFK and he and Keselowski will start side-by-side on the second row Sunday. A team owned by Floyd Mayweather Jr. qualified for the Daytona 500, and 52-year-old Greg Biffle came out of semi-retirement to make the field for upstart NY Racing. Biffle will be the oldest driver in the field when he makes his 15th start in the 500.

Various Roads Closed or Restricted Due To Flooding in Beaver County Friday Morning

(File Photo taken in New Brighton during flooding of Feb. 2018. Taken by Frank Sparks)

(Beaver County ,Pa.) PennDOT District 11 is advising motorists that portions of the following state roadways are closed or restricted due to flooding:

Beaver County

Route 18 southbound lane restriction between Parkside Drive and Anderson Hozak Road in Hanover Township
Route 30 between Long Road to Hookstown Frankfort Road (PA-168) in Greene Township
Shenango Road (Route 4017) between Route 551 (Wallace Run Road) in Big Beaver Borough to 37th Street Extension in Chippewa Township
Mercer Road (Route 1006) between Route 65 and PA-288 (Zelienople Road) in Franklin Township
North Camp Run Road (Route 1011) between PA-288 and American School Road in Franklin Township
Barclay Hill Road (Route 4037) between Midland Beaver Road and John E Gray Drive in Industry Borough
Brush Creek Road (Route 1019) between Powell Road and Mellon Road (Route 1018) in New Sewickley Township
Service Creek Road (Route 3020) between Parrish Drive in Hopewell Township and Clearview Road in Independence Township
Hartzell School Road (Route 1015) between PA-588 in Marion Township and Fombell Road in Franklin Township
Park Road (Route 3023) between E. Hookstown Grade Road and Hookstown Grade Road in Independence Township
Independence Road (Route 3013) between Tank Farm Road in Independence Township and Bryson Road in Hopewell Township
Soap Run Road (Route 1008) between PA-288/Zelienople Road Intersection and Celia Road in Franklin Township

Allegheny County
Little Pine Creek Road (Route 4017) between Kiwanis Park Road and Wise Lane in Shaler Township
Lawrence County

Old Plank Road (Route 1003) in Neshannock Township from Woodland Drive to Oakwood Way
Houston Road (Route 3011) in Little Beaver Township from Scott-Wallace Road to Beaver Dam Road
Route 351 from Gilmore Road to Route 351/551 intersection
Route 551 from Gilmore Road to Route 551/351 intersection
Mt. Herman Church Road (Route 2013) between Frew Mill Road and Princeton Station Road in Slippery Rock Township

Flood Warning for Ice Jam Issued for Beaver County

The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for Beaver County at 8:32 P.M. that will last until 2:30 A.M. Friday.  Flooding of rivers, creeks, streams and other low lying locations is imminent or occurring.  Any release of the ice jam could result in sudden rises of water, leading to a rapid flooding situation.

...FLOOD WARNING FOR AN ICE JAM IN EFFECT UNTIL 230 AM EST FRIDAY...

* WHAT...Flooding caused by an ice jam is expected.

* WHERE...Portions of west central and western Pennsylvania,
  including the following counties, in west central Pennsylvania,
  Butler. In western Pennsylvania, Beaver and Lawrence.

* WHEN...Until 230 AM EST.

* IMPACTS...Flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying
  and flood-prone locations is imminent or occurring. Depending on
  ice behavior, any release of the ice jam could result in sudden
  rises of water, leading to a rapid flooding situation.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
  - At 832 PM EST, emergency management reported an ice jam near
    the warned area. Flooding is ongoing or expected to begin
    shortly. Between 0.5 and 1.2 inches of rain have fallen.
  - Additional rainfall amounts of 0.2 to 0.5 inches are possible
    in the warned area.
  - Some locations that will experience flooding include...
    Ellport, Harlansburg, McConnells Mill and Rose Point Park.
  - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.

			

Vacant Seat Filled at New Brighton Borough Council Meeting

The featured image above shows the exterior of the New Brighton Borough Building
Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published February 17, 2022 8:15 P.M.

(New Brighton, PA) The New Brighton Borough Council appointed a new member at their meeting Thursday evening.  Borough Manager Tom Albanese swore in Carrie Lofaso to take the vacant fifth ward seat created by the resignation of Richard Haddox.  Council also adopted Resolution 2022.02-01 which will allow for an application to be placed for a local share account grant program to make improvements to the Grove Avenue playground.  In addition, council gave the okay to Fischer’s Beverage for a facade renovation on the former Foodland building, where the business will move to.  The Borough also extended their contract with Valley Waste to run through June 30, 2023 at a fee increase of 4.7%.

The Cornerstone of Beaver County Secures Funding To Begin Construction of Beaver County’s Long-Awaited 24-hour Men’s Emergency Shelter

(South view rendering of the Vanport building soon to be renovated to serve as the TCBC Men’s Emergency Shelter. Rendering by architectural partner, WTW Architects. Photo provided by TCBC)

(Beaver Falls, Pa.)  The Cornerstone of Beaver County (TCBC) has secured funding to begin construction of Beaver County’s long-awaited 24-hour men’s emergency shelter. The shelter will fill a critical gap in the county’s housing-related crisis solutions.

Early in 2021, TCBC purchased the building at 697 State Street in Vanport and worked with WTW Architects on the renovation design.

Through a bidding process completed last December, Graham Construction was selected by the Community Development Program (CDP) of Beaver County and approved by Beaver County to serve as construction partner for the project. To move forward, however, additional funding was needed.

In a recent resolution of the Beaver County Board of Commissioners, $1 million of the county’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding was allocated for shelter construction. Funding from the Community Development Grant (CDBG) CV funds, Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) CV funds, and Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund (PHARE) funds were also approved.

Beaver County Commissioners said in a joint statement, “The men’s emergency shelter is a priority. The lack of an in-county, 24-hour shelter that accepts men has created hardship and vulnerability that was significantly exacerbated by the pandemic. We are excited and honored to commit our support to The Cornerstone of Beaver County to ensure their successful completion and operation of this vital project. The men’s emergency shelter and all of its supportive services will strengthen and uplift our community.”

Community donations also play an important role in the men’s shelter build-out and ongoing operations. In December, TCBC received a major gift of $10,000 from PennEnergy Resources to assist with initial shelter construction costs.

“We are pleased to support construction of the new emergency men’s shelter in Beaver County. This is a critical need that has been lacking in our community and we are honored to partner with the dedicated staff at TCBC to help make it happen,” said PennEnergy Resources Chairman and CEO, Richard D. Weber.

With funding secured, plans are underway for a wall-breaking ceremony to celebrate the construction commencement of this highly-anticipated project.

It is estimated that the shelter will open in the summer of 2022.

“We are deeply grateful for the county’s unwavering commitment to this project, and we are inspired by the increasing support coming from the community,” said TCBC Executive Director Marie Timpano.

Timpano continued, “Since the beginning of winter, we have expressed our hope that this will be the last winter our community has to endure without a men’s emergency shelter. I’m thrilled to say that it looks like that hope is going to become a reality.”

Shelter build-out plans include accommodations for 24/7 emergency shelter and safety, case management and basic needs provisions, and a variety of supportive services to help shelter participants transition successfully to permanent housing, stability, and long-term independence.

TCBC Men’s Emergency Shelter FAQ can be found at TCBC’s website, CornerstoneBeaver.org. Shelter updates can be found on the TCBC website and Facebook page @cornerstonebeaver.

For more information about TCBC’s emergency and permanent housing programs as well as utilities and basic needs assistance, visit CornerstoneBeaver.org or call 724-846-6400.