Author: Beaver County Radio

Tammy Lynn Lealand (1971-2025)

Tammy Lynn Lealand, 54, of Hopewell Township, passed away unexpectedly on December 20th, 2025. She was born in Rochester on August 1st, 1971, a daughter of the late Garth and Andrea Wilson. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two siblings, Scott Wilson and Debbie Harding. She is survived by her beloved blue and gold McCaw, Shane, a daughter, Taylor (Austin) Kelly, three grandchildren: Ashley, Scott and Kouvr, a brother, Terry (Tina) Wilson and numerous nieces and nephews.

Tammy was a very giving person, she loved a lot and she lived a lot. She enjoyed her job as a security guard with the Sisters of St. Joseph in Baden for more than 23 years.  She most recently worked as a pharmacy tech for Giant Eagle in their warehouse in Freedom. She loved animals, crafting, and Pepsi. She also loved to volunteer and donate her time and crafts.

All services for Tammy are private. Arrangements have been entrusted to the branch of Huntsman Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Esker D. Casto (1937-2025)

Esker D. Casto, 88, of New Sewickley Township, passed away on December 7th, 2025 in East Palestine, Ohio. He was born in Buckhannan, West Virginia on April 18th, 1937, a son of the late Ottis Casto and Ada Casto Rutherford. In addition to his parents, was preceded in death by his wife Glenna M. “Pritt” Casto, two brothers, Darrel and Archie Casto and one sister, Barbara Coe. He is survived by two sons and daughters in law, Bradley K. and Teresa Casto of Patterson Township, Michael D. and Cathy Casto of Rochester, three grandchildren, Jacob Casto and Tim {Michelle} Casto and Matthew Casto, several great-grandchildren, one brother, Terry {Rita} Casto and his step-sister, Nancy Stinner.

Esker was a retired employee with Wyckoff Steel in Ambridge and Wyckoff Steel in Putman, Connecticut. Esker’s wishes were to be cremated. No events are scheduled at this time. Arrangements have been entrusted to The William Murphy Funeral Home, Inc., 349 Adams Street, Rochester.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Esker, please visit our floral store.

Brielle Marie Adkins (2024-2025)

Brielle Marie Adkins, 1, of Rochester, passed away on December 25th, 2025, at her home. She was born in Brighton Township on October 15th, 2024, the infant daughter of Justin J. Adkins, Jr., and Paige Hubert. In addition to her parents, she is survived by her paternal grandparents, Justin J. Adkins, Sr., and Shannon K. Nelson, her maternal grandmother, Gayle McDonald and her maternal grandfather, Brian Hubert, one aunt, Raven Higbee, one uncle, Joshua Avery, and her great-grandmother, Sonja Krassman. The wishes of Brielle’s family were to have her cremated and a memorial service for her will be held at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to the William Murphy Funeral Home, Inc., 349 Adams Street, Rochester.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Brielle, please visit the floral store of the William Murphy Funeral Home, Inc. by clicking here.

All-Star first baseman Ryan O’Hearn and Pirates agree to a $29 million, 2-year deal, AP source says

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – San Diego Padres’ Ryan O’Hearn celebrates after hitting a grand slam during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Sept. 23, 2025, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)

PITTSBURGH (AP)(December 23rd, 2025) — The Pittsburgh Pirates took another step toward being a contender in 2026, agreeing to a $29 million, two-year contract with All-Star first baseman/outfielder Ryan O’Hearn that’s designed to give one of the worst offenses in the majors a boost.

A person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the deal includes $500,000 annually in performance bonuses. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because it was not yet official.

O’Hearn receives the first multiple-year free agent deal the Pirates have agreed to since 2016. The left-handed slugger is coming off the best season of his big league career. He hit .281 with 17 home runs and 63 RBIs in 2025 and made the All-Star team for the first time while playing for Baltimore and San Diego.

The rare splurge by the Pirates is their second significant acquisition in less than a week. Pittsburgh acquired two-time All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe from Tampa Bay on Dec. 19 as part of a three-team deal that included sending starting pitcher Mike Burrows to Houston.

Pittsburgh has vowed to build around a pitching staff that includes reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes and rookie Bubba Chandler. The Pirates are coming off a 71-91 season in which the offense finished at or near the bottom of the majors in most significant statistical categories, including runs and home runs.

O’Hearn gives Pittsburgh a bit of versatility. He has played both first base and a corner outfield spot. The Pirates have the left-handed hitting Spencer Horwitz at first, though O’Hearn could see time there and perhaps in the outfield alongside Oneil Cruz and two-time All-Star Bryan Reynolds.

O’Hearn is a career .252 hitter, but his numbers improved as he became a reliable contributor during his 2 1/2 seasons with the Orioles, who traded him to the contending Padres at the deadline. He is batting .277 with 46 homers and 182 RBIs since 2023 and now finds himself playing half his games in a ballpark where the 21-foot-high Clemente Wall starts just 320 feet from home plate.

Water main break temporarily closes Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

(File Photo of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium was closed yesterday because of a water main break and it will be closed to the public during the day today as well. Officials told WTAE that a water main break on One Wild Place kept the zoo closed yesterday, which started at 12:30 p.m. Wild Illuminations, the Pittsburgh Zoo’s holiday lantern experience, was also closed last night. In addition, Donation Day at that zoo, which was scheduled for today, will be rescheduled to a later date. 

Three deer in roadway cause four-vehicle crash in North Sewickley Township

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(North Sewickley Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Gibsonia reported via release today that three deer entering the roadway of I-76 East caused a four-vehicle crash in North Sewickley Township at 3:22 p.m. on December 17th, 2025. All four drivers involved were driving on I-76 East when traffic became congested before coming to an abrupt stop. These four drivers were neither charged nor injured. The three deer that caused this crash were also dispatched at the scene.

Eastbound Pennsylvania Turnpike reopens in New Stanton after crash occurs in Somerset County

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Vehicles move past signs that indicate payment methods for driving on the Pennsylvania Turnpike at the entrance ramp in Gibsonia, Pa. in this file photo from Aug. 30, 2021. Gov. Tom Wolf gave final approval on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022, to legislation aimed at getting owners or operators of some 25,000 vehicles to pay their overdue bills for turnpike usage, The law that could trigger the suspension of thousands of vehicle registrations early next year. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Somerset County, PA) The Pennsylvania Turnpike eastbound reopened in New Stanton this morning after a crash occurred east of the Allegheny Tunnel. According to Pennsylvania State Police in Somerset, a commercial vehicle rolled on its side shortly before 6 a.m. near mile 129 between the Somerset and Bedford interchanges, blocking all of the lanes. Forty-three-year-old Ying Fu of La Puente, California lost control of the tractor-trailer that he was driving while trying to stop for the overturned vehicle, and he hit a guide rail and crashed, which also blocked all of the lanes. Fu was taken to a hospital with a suspected minor injury and he was charged by police. A few hours after the incident, the Pennsylvania Turnpike east from New Stanton Exit 75 to Breezewood Exit 161 reopened.

Former Ellwood City police officer pleads guilty to a charge from June incident at a Lawrence County Sheetz store

(Original photo credit: Courtesy of Rachel Rausch, Screen shot from social media post)  

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) Former Ellwood City police officer Robert Magnifico of Ellwood City pleaded guilty on December 18th, 2025 to a single summary charge of harassment, while five second-degree misdemeanor charges were withdrawn in the case. According to public court records, Magnifico appeared at a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Jerry G. Cartwright Jr. Five misdemeanor charges were withdrawn at that hearing, including two counts of official oppression and one count each of tampering with public records, unsworn falsification to authorities and simple assault and the summary charge of harassment was moved to a non-traffic case. Court documents show that Magnifico pleaded guilty to the summary charge of harassment and was fined $100. Magnifico was charged in October of 2025 by Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday regarding a June incident at a Sheetz store. Magnifico, then a sergeant with the Ellwood City Police Department, pushed a 19-year-old man, denied the man of his rights, then filed a report about the incident that was not an accurate version of what took place. On June 6th, 2025, the 19-year-old victim and a 16-year-old friend purchased food at the Sheetz store on 5th Street in Ellwood City. Realizing he forgot his phone, the 19-year-old called the store and was told he could return and retrieve the phone. At the store, staff did not return the phone to the victim and police were called. The victim provided information about the phone, including its passcode, but still did not receive the phone back. The victim, who was in a public area of the store, became verbally frustrated. Magnifico came from behind a counter and shoved the man to the ground and verbally berated him. The 16-year-old recorded the interaction on his phone. The 19-year-old asked for the officer’s badge number and name. Magnifico provided the information while walking towards the man and bumping into him in an intimidating manner. Magnifico then grabbed the 16-year-old’s phone and threw it onto a table. The two customers then left the store. The 19-year-old was treated at an area hospital. Magnifico is also the current Riverside Varsity Football Coach.

Mark E. Byers named as the new Executive Director of the PIAA

PIAA logo

(File Photo of the PIAA Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Mechanicsburg, PA) Mark E. Byers was recently named as the new Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc. (PIAA). Executive Director with unanimous support from the PIAA’s Board of Directors. Byers will begin his new position on January 1st, 2026 and he will be the ninth Executive Director of the PIAA since 1913, the year it was founded. Byers has been a member of the PIAA Administrative Staff since 1999, was brought on that staff as an assistant executive director, and in 2012, was promoted to chief operating officer.

Pitt promotes assistant coach Corey Sanders to defensive coordinator

(Photo Courtesy of the Pitt Panthers, Posted on Facebook on December 28th, 2025)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The University of Pittsburgh college football team has promoted Corey Sanders from assistant coach to its new defensive coordinator. The announcement of this move came yesterday from head coach Pat Narduzzi after longtime Pitt defensive coordinator Randy Bates announced he would retire following the bowl game that Pitt played against East Carolina University on Saturday. Sanders has served as Pitt’s assistant head coach since 2024 and he will enter into his ninth season on the Pitt coaching staff in 2026.