Route 18 Frankfort Road Bridge Inspection Wednesday in Potter Township

(File Photo of a Road Work Ahead Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Potter Township, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that inspection work on the Route 18 Frankfort Road Bridge in Potter Township will occur tomorrow, weather permitting. 

From 9 A.M. to 3 P.M., there will be single-lane alternating traffic restrictions controlled by flaggers on the Route 18 Frankfort Road Bridge just north of the intersection with Raccoon Creek Road. Bridge inspection activities will be conducted by crews from Mackin Engineering and the Sofis Rigging Company. 

Group opposed to proposed data center development project on former Pitt Race property hosts town hall in Big Beaver

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Pitt Race International Complex)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Big Beaver Borough, PA) A group that is opposed to a proposed data center development in Big Beaver hosted its own town hall last night, drawing nearly 100 people to the Big Beaver Volunteer Fire Department. 

This meeting comes about a month after the data center company Switch⁠ held a community meeting about its plans for the former Pittsburgh International Race Complex property. 

Among the organizers was Dan Dennehy-Rodriguez with the Three Rivers Motorsport Preservation Society, which is a group formed by supporters of the former Pitt Race complex. 

According to Dennehy-Rodriguez, the goal of that town hall was to educate residents about data centers and help them better understand how the proposed development could affect the community. 

Switch is proposing a campus that consists of three data center buildings on roughly 400 acres of the former Pitt Race property, which is approximately the size of 300 football fields. 

Dennehy-Rodriguez stated that he hopes the concerns that were raised during the meeting reach both Switch and local elected leaders. 

Big Beaver officials voted in September of 2025 to amend an ordinance allowing data centers in the township. 

Several local officials were invited to attend this meeting and some council members were also present, but no representative from Switch attended. 

William Lloyd James (Passed on June 28th, 2026)

William Lloyd James, 78, of Freedom, passed away on June 28th, 2026. He was born in Homer City, Pennsylvania, and was raised in Freedom.

William was a graduate of Freedom High School and went on to continue his education, earning an Associate degree in accounting. He honorably served his country in the U S Army during the Vietnam War, stationed in Korea.

He spent his working years with the Construction and General Laborers Local 833, from which he later retired.

He really enjoyed sports. He was a talented basketball player in both high school and college, and his love of the game remained with him throughout his life. He later continued to give back to the sport as a referee for junior and senior high school basketball games, and coaching his grandson’s youth teams. He was also an avid golfer and found great enjoyment in the friendships and time outdoors that the game provided. He loved watching sports on TV and never missed his grandchildren’s sporting events, cheering them on at every soccer game, basketball game and track meet.

Another important part of his life was his 25 years of service with the Freedom Volunteer Fire Department.

Above all, he cherished his family. He was devoted to his wife of 54 years, Eleanor. He was a proud father to his son, William (Bill) James and his wife, Autumn, and his daughter, Jessica Melvin and her husband, Jason. He found great joy in being a grandfather to Jarek, Javin, Jersee, Adlee, and Brylee, and he treasured every opportunity to follow their activities and celebrate their accomplishments. He was also blessed to know his great-grandchildren, Tessa and Levi, who brought him additional happiness and pride.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Lillian James, and a brother, David James. He is survived by his wife, his children, his grandchildren, his great-grandchildren, his siblings, Charles James, Dorothy Fraser and Clair James, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Friends will be received on Thursday, July 2nd from 2-5 p.m. at SIMPSON FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES, 1119 Washington Avenue, Monaca where military honors will be provided by the Beaver County Special Unit and a blessing service will be held at 5 p.m.

Carole Ann Alberts (Passed on June 27th, 2026)

Carole Ann Alberts, 87, a lifelong resident of Freedom and New Sewickley, passed away on June 27th, 2026 at Ridgecrest in Cranberry Township, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was preceded in death by her husband Ken Alberts, her sister, Joan Coe and her parents, Erma and William (Bud) Adair.

She is survived by her three children, Sharon Alberts – Campbell (Mike), and their children, Jonathan Reagle and Brandy Reagle (Branden), and their children: Maysn, Jayce, Caroleena, Lalayna, Bella and Kal, daughter Tracy Alberts – Wilde (Jim Wilde), and her two children, Matthew Wilde (Marissa Dobson) and their children, Wyatt and Ryleigh Wilde and Brett Torres (Cassidy Negri), and son, K. Scott Alberts (Hyun-Joo Kim) and their children, Juni, Minu, and Seann, along with her lifelong friend, Chris Murphy.

Family and friends will be received at SIMPSON FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES, 1119 Washington Avenue, Monaca, on Wednesday July, 1st from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., where a service will be held on Thursday, July 2nd at 10 a.m. SIMPSON FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES was the funeral home that was in charge of her arrangements. Interment will take place at Sylvania Hills Memorial Park, 273 PA-68, Rochester.

In lieu of flowers contributions can be mailed to Prince of Peace, 60 Rochester Road, Freedom, PA 15042 in Carole’s name.

Jason Gregory “Badger” Vos (1977-2026)

Jason Gregory “Badger” Vos, 48, of Bridgewater, passed away unexpectedly on June 24th, 2026, at his home.

He was born in Rochester on December 2nd, 1977, the son of Ruth (McCready) Vos and the late Charles Raymond Vos.

Jason worked at dDaniel Advertising for many years and was a devoted member of the Bridgewater Borough Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years. He was a member of the Marion Hill Alliance Church in New Brighton. He was a selfless man who would do anything to help anyone, at any time. He was proud to volunteer with Heaven Sends Help, a non-profit organization that worked to provide for the needs of others. Often known as an adventurer, he loved to be outdoors, exploring and bearing witness to the beauty of God’s creation.

In addition to his mother, he is survived by two brothers, James and Benjamin Vos, his aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, as well as his firefighter brothers and sisters.

In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by an infant brother, Daniel Vos.

Friends will be received on Monday, July 6th from 2-4 P.M. & 6-8 P.M. in the GABAUER-LUTTON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, INC., 117 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls, who was in charge of his arrangements, and where a funeral service will be held in the funeral home chapel on Tuesday, July 7th at 11 A.M. with Pastor Jim Krouse officiating. Friends will be received one hour prior to services at 10 A.M. on Tuesday July 7th.

A procession will follow to Bridgewater Borough Volunteer Fire Department, 619 Market Street, Bridgewater for a fireman’s memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Jason’s honor may be made to Heaven Sends Help, 307 Russell Drive, New Brighton, PA 15066.

Phyllis (Buse) Cotter Raymond (1926-2026)

Phyllis (Buse) Cotter Raymond, 100, of Chippewa Township, passed away on June 26th, 2026, at Celebration Villa of Chippewa.

She was born in Mineola, New York, on May 16th, 1926, the daughter of the late Frederic and Emily (Stauderman) Buse. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands, Warren Cotter and Roger Raymond, her grandson Christopher Cotter and her sister-in-law, Dorothy “Dot” Buse.

Phyllis’ life was marked by steadfast resilience, lifelong learning, and calm determination. She faithfully kept her family connected across generations. Her legacy was built on family meals, holiday dinners, Sunday phone calls, and birthday cards. Her steady presence turned ordinary moments into lasting memories, and her open, generous heart made everyone feel welcomed and loved.

After the death of her first husband, Warren Cotter, she was 33 years old and raising four young children with steady determination and quiet strength. She helped define what it meant to be a modern woman before the phrase was commonly used, serving as president of the local Parent Teacher Organization, taking seven years of night classes earning her Banking Certificate through the American Institute of Banking at Hofstra University, and working for what is now Chase Bank where she worked at the same branch and greeted customers by name until her retirement 25 years later.

A few years before retirement, she married her long-time companion, Roger Raymond. Together, they loved life in Massapequa Park on Long Island, New York, and later enjoyed spending winters in Sarasota, Florida. In Sarasota, she continued her lifelong love of music and playing piano, became actively involved in many local committees, was crowned her community’s Wii Bowling champion, and earned her amateur ham radio license. She remained engaged and contributing there until the remarkable age of 98.

To be near her daughter, she moved to Chippewa Township at the age of 87. There she quickly became a fixture in the community. She was a dedicated walker, an active card player, a member of the Chippewa Women’s Club, and a member of St. Monica Catholic Church in Beaver Falls, part of St. Augustine Parish, where she participated in the VSP (Very Special People) Club. At the age of 90, she converted to Catholicism, a meaningful step in a life filled with faith and trust in God.

She loved to meet new people, introducing herself simply as “Nana.” She openly shared news of her 12 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild on the way. Nana encouraged each of them to pursue their own interests and talents, and she marveled at their achievements. She was particularly proud of the 50-year history of family members attending SUNY Maritime College, her family’s service in the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy, and the many callings they pursued in engineering, port management, government, education, entertainment, communication, computer sciences, sales, and marketing.

Sunday phone calls were her norm. “Just checking in,” she would say, before launching into stories, updates, memories, and reflections, often peppered with her signature phrase, “In any event…” Her family encouraged her to finish her memoir, fittingly titled To Be Continued, because there were always more stories and more life she wanted to share.

She is survived by her children: William (Kathleen) Cotter, Warren “Peter” (Karen) Cotter, Timothy (Pamela) Cotter, and Phyllis (Richard) Faust, her brother, Frederic “Bill” Buse, her grandchildren: Lauren (P. Kevin) Brobson, Kristen (Mark Holland) Cotter, Justin (Jennifer), Cotter, Raymond (Molly) Cotter, Daniel Cotter, Timothy (Heather) Cotter, Matthew (Natassia) Cotter, Jaclyn Cotter, Stacey (Edward) DelBeccaro, Jodie (Aaron) Safer, and Phillip Faust; as well as her great-grandchildren, Claire (Nathaniel) Stennett, R. William Brobson, Gabriel “Gabe” Brobson, Miranda Cotter-Holland, Phoebe Cotter-Holland, W. Michael Cotter, Megan Cotter, Liam Cotter, David Cotter, Ian Cotter, Jackson Cotter, Riley Cotter, Hayley Cotter, Cameron Cotter, Eleanor “Nora” DelBeccaro, and Maya Safer; along with her nephew, Ronald (Katie) Buse and all the many friends and community members who said, “I want to be like Nana when I grow up.”

Friends will be received on Thursday, July 2nd from 2-4 P.M. and 6-8 P.M. in the GABAUER-LUTTON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, INC., 117 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls, who was in charge of her arrangements, and where departing prayers will be offered on Friday, July 3rd at 9:30 A.M. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 A.M. at St. Monica Catholic Church of St. Augustine Parish, 116 Thorndale Drive, Beaver Falls.

In honor of Phyllis’ life, memorial contributions may be made to Boys Town, a nonprofit, nonsectarian child and family care organization she appreciated for their good work. Donations may be made at boystown.org or sent to Boys Town, 14100 Crawford Street, Boys Town, NE 68010.

Interment will be private at Calverton National Cemetery, 210 Princeton Blvd., Calverton, NY 11933.

Carol Effie (Merriman) Pisano (1948-2026)

Carol Effie (Merriman) Pisano, 78, of College Hill in Beaver Falls, passed away on June 27th, 2026. She passed away peacefully with her husband Joseph and family by her side. She was born on January 30th, 1948, a daughter of the late Dale Edwin and LauraBelle Vogler Merriman.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her mother and father-in-law Joseph and Angeline Pisano; her sister Georgia Wickline; brother-in-law Joe Oldaker; sister-in-law Cathy Pisano; nephew Scott Taylor; and niece Jessica Pisano.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughters, Stephany Pisano Tepsic, Jennifer (Paul) Hawthorne and Kimberly (Kevin) Enderle. “Nana” Carol cherished her surviving grandchildren: Nicholas (Carissa) Tepsic, Zachary Tepsic, Lindsay Tepsic, Peyton Hawthorne, Olivia Hawthorne, and Cadence Enderle; as well as being especially blessed with her great-grandchildren Ayla (2024) and Carmine Tepsic (2026).

She is also survived by her loving sisters, Ruth Cote and Sandy Blake, her brother, Robert Merriman, her sister-in-law, Marie Oldaker, her brothers-in-law, Anthony Pisano, Ronald (Amy) Pisano, and Robert (Kelly) Pisano and many dear nieces and nephews.

Carol was a graduate of New Brighton High School with its Class of 1965. She married Joseph P. Pisano Jr. on August 24th, 1968. Together they raised their three daughters and shared 58 wonderful years as their family grew. She was a faithful child of God who served Marion Hill Alliance Church in New Brighton as a beloved Sunday School teacher for many years. She also learned to play handbells and ministered through music in the church bell choir, “Joyful Noise.” Through card clubs and Bible studies, she formed many cherished friendships over the years.

In the mid-1980s, she pursued further education and joined the medical staff of surgeon Dr. Brandt and his associates, which later became Heritage Valley Surgical Associates. She retired in 2010 and was honored with a celebration hosted by the wonderful physicians and coworkers she deeply valued.

She deeply loved her family and cherished time spent with her sisters and brother, playing parlor games while sharing laughter and memories of their childhood on Marion Hill. The Annual Merriman Family Reunion, which lasted over two decades, created treasured memories for generations.

The family extends sincere appreciation to the staff of Three Oaks Hospice and Good Samaritan Hospice for their compassionate care, and especially grateful for the loving care, friendship, and support of their wonderful neighbor Sandy Taylor.

Her life was a reflection of faith, love, and devotion. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who knew her.  Well done, good and faithful servant!

Friends will be received on Monday, June 29th from 2-4 p.m. & 6-8 p.m. in the GABAUER-LUTTON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, INC., 117 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls, who was in charge of her arrangements, and where a funeral service will be held on Tuesday, June 30th at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel.

In accordance with Carol’s wishes, she will be cremated following services.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Good Samaritan Hospice House Wexford, 146 Neely School Road, Wexford, PA 15090.

A United States flag ends worldwide tour with Western Pennsylvania visits at 13 sites

(File Photo of a United States Flag)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A United States flag has been on a year-long adventure around the world visiting U.S. territories as well as military cemeteries overseas and all 50 of the United States of America, in honor of the 250th anniversary of the country. The flag is on the last leg of its tour going through thirteen sites in Western Pennsylvania to represent the original thirteen colonies of the nation. It will be in Washington D.C., the nation’s capital, on the Fourth of July. This trip is part of Sojourn250, which was organized by the National Flag Foundation (NFF) and America250’s America Waves program as a way to bring people together in a “project of national unity” to honor the American flag and its people for the 250th anniversary, especially the veterans who gave their lives in service to the United States. According to a report from the Beaver County Times, here are the dates, times and locations where people can see the U.S. flag as it travels across the area for the Pittsburgh Regional Sojourn250:

July 1st

  • 3-4 p.m. at the United Steel Workers headquarters, 60 Boulevard of the Allies, where Pittsburgh welcomes the flag in honor of the workers who helped to build the nation.

July 2nd

  • 9-10:30 a.m. at Fort Ligonier, 200 South Market Street, where the flag will be raised at the Upper Fort.
  • “To Rise and Fight Again,” a new American250 exhibit, opens at the fort on July 4th and continues through December 2026.
  • 12-1 p.m. at Fort Pitt, Point State Park, 601 Commonwealth Place, Pittsburgh.
  • 1:30-3 p.m. along Pittsburgh’s North Shore. An honor service and walk starting at the Fred Rogers statue and passing the memorials on the North Shore, ending with a flag raising just past PNC Park.
  • 6-7:30 p.m. at Soldiers & Sailors Hall, 4141 Fifth Avenue. A flag raising along Fifth Avenue and a presentation of the colors at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s Americana Concert, which starts at 7 p.m. The concert is free, but reservations are required (click here to reserve your spot); register for tickets at the orchestra’s website.
  • 8:15-9 p.m., a sunset honor guard presentation on Mount Washington.

July 3rd

  • 8-9 a.m. at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, 1158 Morgan Road in Bridgeville, recognizing those who gave their lives for our nation.
  • 10-11 a.m. at Flag Plaza, 1275 Bedford Avenue in Pittsburgh. Flag raising hosted by Scouting America and joined by sheriffs from around the region.
  • 12-1:30 p.m., at Freedom Corner, Crawford Street in the Hill District, in recognition of the unfinished work of equal justice and democracy.
  • 4-5 p.m. at Bakery Square, 6425 Penn Avenue. A Happy Hour celebration of Pittsburgh’s growing leadership in healthcare, life sciences, information technology, artificial intelligence and robotics.
  • 6-8 p.m. at the Carrie Blast Furnaces, 801 Carrie Furnace Road, where a community picnic is planned honoring the workers who helped to power America.

July 4th

  • 5:45-6:30 a.m. along Grant Street, where the Allegheny County sheriff will hand over the U.S. flag to the American Legion Riders for the trip to Washington, D.C.

Dominican Republic Resident Illegally in U.S. Sentenced for Transporting Stolen Money from Skilled Gaming Machines

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today that a citizen of the Dominican Republic illegally residing in The Bronx, New York, has been sentenced in federal court to time served of approximately 35 months of imprisonment and ordered to pay restitution totaling more than $896,000 to dozens of victims on his
convictions for conspiracy to transport stolen money in interstate commerce and interstate transportation of stolen money. Forty-three-year-old Stalin Acosta Paulino was sentenced and he is expected to be deported to the Dominican Republic.
According to information presented to the Court, Paulino participated in a complex fraud with numerous other individuals then living in New York in which they traveled to various states, including Pennsylvania and Virginia, and stole cash from skilled gaming machines they had broken into. Paulino and his conspirators then transported the money that was stolen to the New York area.

Butler Man Sentenced for Willfully Failing to Pay Employment Taxes for Two Businesses

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today that a resident of Butler has been sentenced in federal court to three years of probation and ordered to pay restitution of $711,253.10 to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on
his conviction of willful failure to collect or pay over tax. Fifty-one-year-old Michael D. Funovits was sentenced, and according to information presented to the court, between 2016 and 2023, he failed to pay over to the IRS payroll taxes he collected on behalf of his businesses, PennRo Associates LLC and Penn Exteriors LLC.