Author: Beaver County Radio

Linus “Bud” J. Donahue, Jr. (1938-2025)

Linus “Bud” J. Donahue Jr., 87, of Beaver, formerly of Pittsburgh, passed away on December 5th, 2025 at his home.

He was born in Pittsburgh on January 10th, 1938, a son of the late Linus J. Sr., and Genevieve Droznynski Donahue. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four sisters: Bernadine Dee Aiken, Loretta O’Neil, Delores Schnurr and Alberta Bates; as well as one brother, Gerard L. Donahue. He is survived by his wife, Sharon C. “Crain” Donahue, one son and daughter in law, Sean Crain Donahue, PhD. and his wife Diana Cabanis of Hong Kong, two daughters and sons in law, Renee and Mike Plevel of Aliquippa and Claudene and Don Walasik of West Mifflin and three grandchildren, Brandi, Faith, Tim Walasik.

Linus was a retired Pittsburgh Police Officer for 30 years. He was also a member of Saints Peter & Paul Church in Beaver and Our Lady of the Valley Parish. He was also a peacetime Navy veteran and a member of both the Police Veteran’s Association and the F.O.P. Pittsburgh Lodge #1. He was also a former coach of the Beaver Mighty Mites and Lil’ Bobcats for several years.

Friends will be received on Thursday, December 11th from 1-3 p.m. followed by a service at 3:15 p.m. in The William Murphy Funeral Home, Inc., 349 Adams Street, Rochester, who was in charge of his arrangements. Steve McGrew will officiate the service. Private interment will take place at Beaver Cemetery, Buffalo Street, Beaver.

Mary Reed Cochran (1929-2025)

Mary Reed Cochran, 96, of Chippewa Township, passed away peacefully on December 7th, 2025, in the comfort of her home, surrounded by her loving daughters.

She was born in Beaver Falls on January 18th, 1929, a daughter of the late Curtis and Margaret (Young) Reed. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Cochran and her sister, Sandra Jernberg. She is survived by her loving daughters, Suzanne (Robert) Brandon and Amy (Jerry) Divijak, her grandchildren, Andrew (Jamie) Brandon, Jennifer (Ryan) McCann, and Kaitlyn Divijak, her great-grandchildren: Abigail, Caleb, Patrick, and Eloise; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

Mary graduated from Geneva College with a bachelor’s degree and taught first grade and later nursery school. She was a member of Chippewa United Methodist Church in Beaver Falls and enjoyed her summers in Chautauqua, New York. She was an active and devoted member of several organizations throughout her life, including the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the Outlook Club, the League of Women Voters, the Herb Society of America and the United Methodist Women. Her involvement in these organizations reflected her deep commitment to lifelong learning, civic engagement, faith, and the beauty of nature. A private graveside service for her family will be held at Beaver Cemetery, Buffalo Street, Beaver.

Memorial contributions may be made in Mary’s memory to Chippewa United Methodist United Women in Faith.

The GABAUER-LUTTON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, INC., 117 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls, was honored to provide care and guidance to Mary’s family during this time and was the funeral home that was in charge of her arrangements.

Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Certifies 2025 Election Results

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Mail-in and absentee ballots are seen at the elections warehouse in Pittsburgh, April 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) According to a release in Harrisburg today from the Pennsylvania Department of State, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt certified the results of Pennsylvania’s 2025 municipal election today after county officials confirmed the accuracy of their reported results through two pre-certification audits. It was roughly 42.45% of registered voters in Pennsylvania who cast a ballot in the November election, which happens to be well above the turnout of 36.77% for the 2023 municipal election. It was emphasized by Schmidt that before counties certified their results, they again conducted two audits of their vote tallies successfully. Different approaches were taken by the two audits to reach the same goal of confirming whether all results have been correctly reported. One of these audits is a statutorily required statistical recount in each county of a random sample of at least 2% of all ballots cast, or 2,000 ballots, for whichever is fewer and after every election, all counties must perform this audit. The other of these audits, known as an RLA and is a statistically based risk-limiting audit, which involves randomly chosen counties hand-tallying votes for one randomly chosen statewide race in randomly selected batches of ballots. In addition, In total, auditors that were in nine counties reviewed 4,343 ballots manually and determined that the reported outcome of the randomly selected retention contest for Superior Court Judge Alice Beck Dubow was correct. You can go to vote.pa.gov/audits by clicking here to learn more about how Pennsylvania verifies the results of every election. The official vote returns for all of the statewide races in November are on the website of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by clicking here.

Local drive or walk through Christmas light displays to light up your mood

(File Photo of a Lit Christmas Tree)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) If you are looking for something to do with your family to get away from the Christmas hustle and bustle, there are some local drive or walk through Christmas light displays that can light up your mood. Some are for general viewing while others have special events with activities like an appearance from Santa Claus. According to the Beaver County Times, here are some local light displays that are either walk through or drive-through this winter:

Drive-through lights displays

  • Christmas in the Park, Ellwood City. It is open from 6-9 p.m. nightly through to December 23rd at Ewing Park along Washington Avenue.
  • Parade of Lights, New Castle. It is open from 5-11:30 p.m. nightly through to Janaury 1st at Pearson Park, 179 Pearson Park Drive. Use the Mercer Road entrance to the park.
  • Christmas Light Up Celebration, Findlay Township. It is open from 5-10 p.m. nightly through January 3rd at Clinton Park, 600 Clinton Park Drive. For GPS directions, you can use Findlay Township or Imperial for the city. A $10 admission fee is charged per car with cash only. Proceeds go to community charitable organizations.
  • Moon Holiday Lights, Moon Township. Open from 5-10 p.m. nightly from December 6th to January 7th at Moon Park, 1350 Joe DeNardo Way.
  • Holiday Laser Show, Wexford area. It is open from December 17th-23rd at the North Park pool parking lot, 9901 South Ridge Drive and it is a 40-minute drive-through show with laser lights synchronized to holiday music. Shows are at 6:30 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 per vehicle and will be sold online by clicking here starting at 10 a.m. on December 1st. Tickets will be provided via a QR code.
  • The Joy of Christmas light show 2025, 298 East Park Avenue, Columbiana, Ohio. It is open from 6-9 p.m. through December 28th. There will be a light show, concessions, photos with Santa, indoor train display, gingerbread house displays and more. The light show is only on December 24th-28th, it is closed on December 25th and it is walk-it night only on December 26th. The drive-thru cost is $20 per vehicle for single-day entry.
  • Oglebay Festival of Lights, 465 Lodge Drive, Wheeling, West Virginia. It is open nightly, dusk to dawn through January 4th. This 6-mile, drive-through light show features over 100 displays and places to shop, eat and have fun along the way.

Walk-through lights Displays

  • Overly’s Country Christmas, 116 Blue Ribbon Lane, Greensburg. Open from 5:30-9 p.m. on select days through December 30th; visit their website by clicking here for more details. There will be a walk-through Christmas village display with lights, a model train display, Santa’s workshop, a talking Christmas tree, a Country Kitchen and more.
  • Kennywood Holiday Lights, West Mifflin. It is open through January 4th and hours are either 3-9 p.m. or 5-9 p.m., depending on the date. New this year are the Gingerbread Express, a train ride through a gingerbread village; as well as a meet and greet with Santa Claus in Gingerbread Junction and new shows and entertainment. More information and ticket sales are available online at Kennywood Holiday Lights by clicking here.
  • Wild Illumiations: A Holiday Lantern Exprience at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, 7370 Baker Street, Pittsburgh. It is open for walk-through only this year, on select nights through January 11th. This year’s show features silk and steel lanterns paired with light displays. Guests who need a wheelchair or an electric scooter should reserve one in advance. Show times, prices and ticket reservations are available online by clicking here.

PennDOT: Online Voting Open for 2025 Paint the Plow Program in Pittsburgh Region

(Photo Courtesy of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, (PennDOT), Posted on Facebook on December 8th, 2025)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) PennDOT District 11 recently announced that public voting is now open for the Paint the Plow program in 2025. Paint the Plow is a statewide initiative in Pennsylvania that highlights winter driving that is safe while showcasing the artistic talents of students there. This year’s theme is “Don’t race. Allow some space.,” which encourages motorists to keep a distance that is safe from plows and other vehicles during conditions of winter weather. Seven snowplows were painted creatively by PennDOT District 11 high school students in Beaver, Allegheny and Lawrence counties. Students from Beaver Falls High School, Blackhawk High School, Fox Chapel Area High School, Neshannock Senior High School, New Brighton High School, Union Area High School, and the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf put their creativity to work to transform PennDOT plow blades earlier this year. Voting runs from December 8th through December 14th, 2025 and the plow that has the most votes in each district will earn the “Fan Favorite” title, while a “Judges’ Pick”will be selected by PennDOT staff based on overall appearance, creativity and theme execution. Winners will be announced later in December and participation is limited to one vote per person per district. The public is invited to vote for their favorite design this year through an online survey posted on the PennDOT website www.penndot.pa.gov/PaintthePlow, which you can click here to access. The voting form can be found by clicking on the county names that are within the table or visiting District 11’s form directly by clicking here.

American Airlines flight makes emergency landing at Pittsburgh International Airport

(File Photo of the Pittsburgh International Airport Airside Terminal)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) An American Airlines flight had to make an emergency landing at Pittsburgh International Airport last night. The flight that was going from Chicago to Boston experienced a mechanical issue and was then diverted to Pittsburgh, where it safely landed. According to American Airlines, the plane had been taken out of service to be inspected by the maintenance team. Passengers that were going to Boston went on a replacement aircraft and continued on their flight.

Southbound Interstate 79 Single-lane Restriction Tuesday in Franklin Park

(File Photo: Caption for Photo: PennDOT, PSP, PTC, Construction Industry Highlight National Work Zone Awareness Week)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that tomorrow, weather permitting, a single-lane restriction on southbound Interstate 79 in Franklin Park Borough in Allegheny County will occur. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow, there will be a single-lane restriction on southbound I-79 between the on-ramp from Wexford Bayne Road to approximately the I-79/I-279 split to allow crews from Bronder Technical Services to conduct repair work on an overhead sign structure there. December 2nd, 2025 was when this work was previously scheduled to occur but it was postponed due to inclement weather.

Robin Lee Smith (1973-2025)

Robin Lee Smith, 52, of Eastvale, passed away on December 5th, 2025 at her residence. She was born in Butler on July 19th, 1973, the daughter of the late Plummer and Mary Jane Hartle. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her grandson, Zaedyn and her sister, Deborah Smith-Fare. She is survived by her ex-husband of 27 years, William Cleaver III, three children, Amanda (Trevor) Frelin, Justin Cleaver and Shane Cleaver, her sister, Lucinda (Robert) Doctor, her brother, David Smith (Carrie Huff), her brother, James Smith, her sister, Jennifer (Dan) DeWalt, her brother, Jonathan Smith (Renee Miller), her brother, Frank (Leah) Hartle, her two grandsons, Colton and Phoenyx, her three step granddaughters, Ciarrah Henagan, Tailyn Frelin and Alasaundra Frelin and many other relatives, including many beloved nieces and nephews.

Robin retired after working with the U.S. Postal Service as a Supervisor. She enjoyed her gambling and going on vacations with family, but most of all spending time with her grandsons. Friends will be received on Thursday, December 11th from 4-8 P.M. in CORLESS-KUNSELMAN FUNERAL SERVICES, LLC, 3801 4th Avenue, Beaver Falls, who was in charge of her arrangements. We encourage all who knew Robin to share your memories and upload photos to the memorial page by clicking here.

Rosalie DeChellis (1934-2025)

Rosalie DeChellis, 91, of White Township, passed away peacefully surrounded with family by her side on December 6th, 2025, at Cambridge Village in Beaver Falls. She was born in Beaver Falls on May 12th, 1934, the only daughter of the late Guisseppi and Perrina (Villa) Ferrario. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Arthur, Fatty (Mary Jane), Coolie (Mary Lou) and Carl (Olga), Herky, her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Ida (Bob) Mancini, Dech (Fay) DeChellis, Ed (Emma) DeChellis, Dick Lasse. She is survived by her children: Deb (Ed) Kasparek, Sherrie (Joe) Spratt, Mike (Theresa) DeChellis, Robin (Brad) Palmer, and Nick (Tracy) DeChellis; as well as her grandchildren: Kris (Kimmy) Kasparek, Zac (Anna) Kasparek, Zep (Shannon) Spratt, Jordan Spratt, Brooke (Jeremy) Greilsheimer, David (Ashley) DeChellis, Lindsay (Matt) Thompson, Bradley (Margaret) Palmer Jr, Frank DeChellis, and Chelsey DeChellis; along with her sisters-in-law, Juanita Ferrario and Dorothy Lasse and numerous nieces and nephews, as well many life-long friends.

Rosalie was an extraordinary wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, whose presence was a blessing to everyone she touched. She built her life around love, faith, and service, and in doing so, created a legacy that will continue to shape her family for generations. Rosalie’s greatest joy was family. Her home was more than a place to gather, it was the heart of the family. The aroma of her delicious pasta sauce prepared with devotion from the tomatoes she grew in her garden and canned, welcomed everyone who walked through her door. She understood that food could be an expression of love, and every meal she made carried warmth, comfort, and the joy of togetherness. She created a space where stories were shared, laughter was abundant, tears were protected, and no one ever left hungry or unnoticed. She was a servant leader in the truest sense, she offered help before others even knew they needed it. She worked hard in every season of her life. While raising her five beautiful children with her late husband Frank DeChellis, she earned her nursing degree. She was a dedicated nurse at Heritage Valley for 24 years, referred to by her colleagues as “Saint Rose”, she cared for countless individuals throughout her career, offering comfort not only through her skill but through her remarkable kindness. Her unwavering dedication to Jesus guided every step she took. She was also a life-long, active, and respected member of Life Family Church in New Brighton, formerly New Brighton Christian Assembly, where she served faithfully as her church’s bookkeeper for many years, offering her time and talent with quiet devotion and integrity. As the soprano in a beloved family quartet, she joyfully shared her voice throughout different churches, singing praises that lifted spirits and reflected the depth of her faith. She generously gave to Christian charities and missions to spread the gospel of Jesus throughout the world. Yet, for all her strength and determination, she carried herself with a gentle spirit and a humble heart. She never sought praise, only opportunities to make life a little brighter for the people around her. She was a steady source of encouragement, wisdom, and unconditional love to her family. She celebrated every accomplishment, soothed every sorrow, and gave her loved ones a sense of home no matter where they were. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren will forever remember her gentle hugs, her warm smile, and the way she made each of them feel uniquely cherished. Though her absence leaves an ache that cannot be measured, her life leaves a legacy that cannot be forgotten. The lessons she taught, about kindness, generosity, family, and faith will continue to guide those who loved her. Her spirit lives on in the traditions she created, the love she nurtured, and the countless lives she quietly uplifted.

Friends will be received on Wednesday, December 10th, from 3-7 p.m., in the J&J Spratt Funeral Home Inc., 1612 3rd Avenue, New Brighton, who was in charge of her arrangements. She will lie in state on Thursday, December 11th from 9 a.m. until the time of a Funeral Service at 10 a.m., in Life Family Church, 1810 Valley Avenue, New Brighton, with Pastor Sam DeMarco officiating.

Private interment will follow at Beaver Falls Cemetery, 2045 Darlington Road, Beaver Falls.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Rosalie DeChellis, please visit the flower store of the J&J Spratt Funeral Home, Inc. by clicking here.

Carol A. Franc (1939-2025)

Carol A. Franc, 86, of McCandless, passed away on December 4th, 2025. She was born on October 5th, 1939, the daughter of the late Carl and Zelma Farrell. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 58 years, Victor G. Franc and her brother, Richard Farrell. She is survived by her seven children: Bryan (Angie) Franc, Christopher (Sue) Franc, Kevin (Ambur Murphy) Franc, Terri (Jerome) Fancsali-Franc, Marlene Pena, Ashley (Jamie) Palkovic, and Karen Franc; as well as eleven grandchildren and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Carol was a graduate of Mount Pleasant High School who continued her education at Seton Hill University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in music. She went on to teach music and English in the Connellsville School District. Carol and her husband, Victor, shared a remarkable legacy of love and compassion, proudly fostering 21 children throughout their life together. She adored her cats, cherished classical music, especially the works of her favorite composer, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and enjoyed taking spontaneous weekend road trips with her husband, never needing a final destination. Above all, she treasured every moment spent with her family and was devote in her Catholic faith.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 10th, from 9 A.M. to 10:15 A.M. at Alvarez-Hahn Funeral Services and Cremation, LLC, 547 8th Street, Ambridge, who was in charge of her arrangements. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow on Wednesday, December 10th at 10:30 A.M. at Good Samaritan Catholic Church, 725 Glenwood Avenue, Ambridge. Interment will take place at Holy Savior Cemetery, 4629 Bakerstown Road, Gibsonia, following the Mass.