Author: Beaver County Radio

Hazel A. Withers December 24, 1933 to August 11, 2026

Hazel A. Withers, age 92, formerly of New Sewickley Township, passed away, Wednesday, August 11th, 2026, in Good Samaritan Hospice, of Wexford. Born December 24th, 1933, in New Brighton, Hazel was the daughter of the late Alfred and Sarah Mather Altenbaugh. She was a retired assembler with Westinghouse Corporation, of Vanport, a member of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Rochester, a former volunteer with the Rochester Meals on Wheels organization, former member of the Eastern Star – Naomi Chapter, a longtime volunteer with the Syria Shrine and the Daughters of the Nile, and the Hillbillies Chapter. Hazel is preceded in death by her husband, Theodore L. Withers (2022), as well as two sisters, Dorothy L. Altenbaugh and Roberta G. Black. She is survived by two nieces, Debra and John Newton and Denise and Larry Parks, both of New Sewickley Township, three great-nephews, Greg and Cathy Altenbaugh, Robert Richards, and Chad and Katie Parks, a great-niece, Caitlin Newton, and numerous paternal nieces and nephews, including Deb Garnes, Jack and Neal Klann, and Donna Johnson. The family will receive friends Monday, August 17th, from 2pm until 5pm, at the William Murphy Funeral Home Inc., 349 Adams Street Rochester, PA 15074, with the service following at 5:15. Officiating will be Pastor Gregory Clagg. Interment will be in Sylvania Hills Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers the family wishes memorial contributions be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 2900 N. Rocky Point Drive Tampa, FL 33607.

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

Rose Bable Dec 30, 1938 to Aug 11, 2026

Rose Bable, 87, of Beaver, passed away Tuesday August 11, 2026, surrounded by her loving family, at Good Samaritan Hospice.

Born December 30, 1938, in New Brighton she was a daughter of the late Frank and Catherine Romanchak. Rose enjoyed going to the casino, playing slots, and watching soap operas. She loved animals, her family, especially her grandkids who she talked about constantly.

Surviving Rose is her husband, John Bable, her children, Robin Bauer, Robert Cowie, Lynn (Jason) Phillips, grandchildren, Teddi Bauer, Joshua Bauer, Adam Bauer, Aubrey Phillips, and Brady Phillips.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Robert Cowie, and her 11 siblings.

Private burial will be held at Concord Cemetery, Beaver Falls.

To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit our flower store.

Ashcraft throws complete game, Flores has 2 homers, 6 RBIs as Pirates rout Marlins 13-1

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Braxton Ashcraft (35) aims a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

MIAMI (AP) — Braxton Ashcraft threw a complete-game three-hitter, Rafael Flores had a pair of three-run homers and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Miami Marlins 13-1 on Thursday.

Jared Triolo and Jacob Gonzalez also went deep for the Pirates, who snapped a three-game skid. Pittsburgh’s Jake Mangum went 3 for 4 with three runs scored.

Ashcraft (12-5) struck out 10 and walked one in his 85-pitch outing. The right-hander, who was aided by three double plays, faced the minimum until Owen Caissie homered to lead off the ninth.

Ashcraft became the first Pirate to throw a nine-inning complete since Mitch Keller against the Los Angeles Angels on May 26, 2024. He also was the first Pirate to complete a game under 100 pitches since Ivan Nova accomplished the feat against Miami on April 29, 2017.

The Pirates’ Nick Gonzales had a walk and two singles. His two singles increased Gonzales’ multi-hit games to a major league-leading 48.

The Pirates broke through with a two-run fifth off Tyler Phillips (3-6). Mangum hit a leadoff triple and scored on a balk by Phillips. Triolo followed with his second homer of the season. Triolo went 3 for 4 with three RBIs and three runs scored.

A video review confirmed Triolo’s homer after the Marlins appealed that his drive bounced off and over the wall instead of center fielder Jakob Marsee’s glove.

Pittsburgh added to its lead in the sixth. Reliever Cade Gibson inherited two runners and walked Gonzalez, then hit Mangum with the bases loaded. Triolo followed with a two-run single to make it 5-0.

Flores broke it open for the Pirates with a drive off reliever John King in the eighth. Miami position player Javier Sanoja pitched the ninth and allowed Gonzalez’s two-run drive and Flores’ second three-run blast.

Phillips gave up four runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out six.

Up next

Pirates: RHP Bubba Chandler (5-8, 4.26 ERA) will start the opener of a three-game home series against Boston on Friday. The Red Sox will go with LHP Jake Bennett (7-5, 3.17 ERA).

Marlins: RHP Sandy Alcantara (13-6, 3.52) gets the start on Friday, when Miami opens a three-game series at Cincinnati. RHP Chase Burns (13-2, 2.61) will start for the Reds.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is leaving the Trump administration

FILE – White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, July 16, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will be leaving the Trump administration at the end of the month to spend time with her young family. The 28-year-old Leavitt called it a “bittersweet decision” in a social media post Wednesday shortly after President Donald Trump announced she’d be stepping down. She is the youngest person in history to hold the role and recently gave birth to her second child. She said that, since returning to the White House from maternity leave, she has felt she could not devote enough time or attention to both roles. Trump said she will be one of his “top outside advisors.”

Winning ticket for $1 billion Powerball jackpot was sold in Illinois

FILE – Powerball lottery tickets are displayed Oct. 4, 2023, in Surfside, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

A Powerball ticket sold in western Illinois has won a $1 billion jackpot. Lottery officials say the ticket that won the jackpot on Wednesday night was purchased at a Hy-Vee gas station in Quincy along the Missouri border. It’s not clear if the winner has come forward yet. The prize can be taken as a $1 billion annuity over 29 years or a lump sum of $450.5 million in cash. Most winners take the lump sum. This is the first jackpot win since May 2. The odds of winning the jackpot are one in 292 million. The Powerball jackpot now resets to $20 million for the next drawing on Saturday.

PennDOT Employee Charged with Embezzling $33K

HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that a former PennDOT employee has been charged with embezzling more than $33,000 by overcharging her department-issued credit card.

Tracy Touzalin, 55, of Dingmans Ferry, was charged Wednesday with felony theft by deception and three related felonies regarding conduct between 2023 and 2025, when she worked as a PennDOT Roadway Programs Technician in Pike County.

Touzalin was arraigned Wednesday morning and released on her own recognizance.

“This defendant was entrusted with taxpayer dollars that should have supported much-needed infrastructure projects, but instead went into her personal bank account,” Attorney General Sunday said. “This conduct is criminal theft and a betrayal of the public she was hired to serve.”

According to the investigation, Touzalin created fraudulent purchase orders that allowed her to overcharge her PennDOT-issued Purchase Order Card, with her stealing the overcharges.

It was determined that between June 2023 and March 2025, Touzalin charged a total of $57,920 to PennDOT for “janitorial services.” Of this amount, only $24,470 was actually paid to cleaners. Touzalin deposited the difference of $33,450 into her personal bank account.

The Office of Attorney General accepted the case referral from the Office of General Counsel.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Andrew Biggins. Criminal charges, and any discussion thereof, are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Rochester farm receiving agricultural grant

HARRISBURG – Sen. Elder Vogel, Jr.  announced the approval of two state grants to improve agricultural innovation in the 47th Senate District.

Vogel said the following Agriculture Innovation Grants are being awarded by the state Department of Agriculture:

Tiny Seed Farm, of Rochester, Beaver County, will receive $31,690 for an automated specialty crop system.

Dream, Invent, Inspire, of Evans City, Butler County, will receive $5,247 to help pay for an AI system for vertical garden and crop management.

“Agriculture is a very competitive business, and it’s important that Pennsylvania farmers can access innovation to give them an edge and keep our ag communities strong,” Vogel said.

Agricultural Innovation Grants help farmers and other agriculture businesses implement new technologies and conservation and renewable energy innovations designed to expand their potential to generate profits, enrich soil and water resources, and produce energy on the farm.

Pennsylvania agriculture supports more than 48,800 farms and nearly 600,000 jobs, and contributes $132.5 billion annually to the commonwealth economy.

$999,000 announced for Center Township Waterline Improvements

CENTER TOWNSHIP, PA – Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) announced that Center Township in Beaver County, PA is receiving $999,000 for upgrades to their waterline infrastructure. This funding will pay for a section of replacement waterline. Replacing this waterline will improve water service and reduce maintenance work for the Township.

“Every community should have safe, clean drinking water that they can count on,” said Congressman Deluzio. “I’m glad to announce this funding for the people of Center Township. Thank you to former Congressman Conor Lamb for his work on this project in the 117th Congress.”

“The management and investigative efforts [from this funding] will protect the health and safety of residents,” said Bill DiCioccio, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Supervisorsfor Center Township.

The waterline infrastructure funding was appropriated by Congress in 2022 under the Consolidated Appropriations Act and is granted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the State and Tribal Assistance Grants’ (STAG) State Revolving Fund.

Final Round of Pirates Blood Drives Returns to PNC Park

PITTSBURGH (Aug. 13, 2026) — Vitalant and the Pittsburgh Pirates wrap up their 30th annual blood drive series this August with events at PNC Park and locations across western Pennsylvania. Donors will help maintain a steady blood supply for area hospitals and receive a voucher redeemable for two tickets to a Pirates home game (Sunday through Thursday) during the 2026 season*.

Donors of all blood types are needed this summer. Summer is often referred to as “trauma season,” when the need for blood can increase while donations drop due to busy donor schedules. Type O donors can help most patients in emergencies.

WHEN: Wednesday, August 26, and Thursday, August 27, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

WHERE: PNC Park, Press Conference Room, 115 Federal St., Pittsburgh, PA 15212. Free parking is available in Red Lot 6, 200 W. General Robinson St., Pittsburgh, PA 15212. Additional drives will be held at partner locations throughout the region.

HOW: To schedule an appointment and view the full list of participating community drives, visit Vitalant.org/Pirates, call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825), or use the Vitalant app.

Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are recommended.

“Each donation has the potential to save a life right here in our community,” said Mandi Semple, Vitalant communications manager. “These final summer drives are a way to give back and enjoy a Pirates game as a thank-you for stepping up for local patients.”

Luke Combs to headline Acrisure Stadium

SCOTT TADY

PITTSBURGH– Country star Luke Combs will headline Acrisure Stadium on May 8.

Tickets go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Aug. 21.
A special radio presale will begin at 10 a.m. Aug. 20.
Tickets can be purchased at lukecombs.com
Support acts will be Treaty Oak Revival, Avery Anna, Shenandoah and Wyatt McCubbin
Combs won the Country Music Association’s “New Artist of The Year” award in 2023 for his cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” a year after his “Growin’ Up” won the CMA’s “Album of The Year.” He also was the CMA “Entertainer of The Year” in 2022.
Combs, a 36-year-old North Carolina native, previously headlined Pittsburgh’s pro football stadium in April 2023, and sold out PPG Paints Arena in 2019.