Author: Beaver County Radio

Former Pirate Josh Harrison re-signs with the Washington Nationals

Nationals agree to terms with Harrison on 1-year contract
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with utility man Josh Harrison. The 33-year-old returns to Washington after hitting .278 with two doubles, three home runs, 14 RBIs, six walks and 11 runs scored with the Nationals last season. He hit .309 as a starter as manager Dave Martinez wrote Harrison into the lineup at second base, third base, left field, right field and designated hitter. Harrison is a two-time National League All Star who spent his first eight major league season with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

GOP-led Senate panel advances Barrett despite Dems’ boycott

GOP-led Senate panel advances Barrett despite Dems’ boycott
By LISA MASCARO and MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court nomination to the full Senate. Republicans powered past a Democratic boycott of the session Thursday to keep confirmation of President Donald Trump’s pick on track before Election Day. Democratic senators refused to show up in protest of the GOP’s rush to install Trump’s nominee to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The Senate has never confirmed a Supreme Court nominee so close to a presidential election. Senators plan to convene a rare weekend session for procedural actions ahead of a final confirmation vote expected Monday.

Demolition underway at SUKUP Steel in Ambridge

(Photos by Sandy Giordano)
Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano
(Ambridge, Pa.) SUKUP STEEL STRUCTURES plant  360 14th Street  in Ambridge was the scene of a fire   on Saturday, July 18.  . the plant, which is next to  the Beaver County Emergency Services Center is being demolished, according to Ambridge Assistant Fire Chief Don Larrick, He said completion ix expected by the end of the year.   Cause of the fire is still under investigation  by the property and  building owner, and he said the actual business owner is WELL BUILTY REALTY. He added, “We’ll try and get a new business in  the borough here.”

Council president Mike Mikulich  said, “They were a good employer. We’re sad to see them go.”

No one was on site Wednesday  afternoon.

Fedeles Says Reassessment Personnel Cannot Enter Your Home

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

At Thursday’s work session for the Commissioners at the Beaver County Courthouse, an update regarding the reassessment of county properties by Tyler Technologies was currently reassessing properties in Ambridge, and that they will be making their way towards Economy Borough next week.

Fedeles then proceeded to start talking about the resolutions for the Thursday Public Meeting, but he was halted by Commissioner Tony Amadio before too long. Amadio had received complaints and concerns from county citizens in regard to being safe in their homes, left wondering if reassessment is going to cause any house entrances or similar intrusions.

“So to be clear for everyone, Tyler Technologies is not going to be asking to go into your house,” Fedeles responded. “If anyone asks that question, immediately close the door and contact the police department.”

Fedeles further clarified what will happen during the reassessment process: “It’s just general questions and measurements they’re going to be taking. If you’re not there, they’re going to leave you a tag for you to call them back, that they’ll ask you questions probably over the phone…or arrange a time that they can go back to your house that you’re going to be there.”

Commissioner Dan Camp was not in attendance for the work session; rather he participated via conference call line. Similarly, Tony Caltury (Beaver County’s Chief Clerk) was also absent, and Nicole Long (Administrative Assistant to Commissioner  Amadio) filled in for the brief work session.

The Commissioners will hold a public meeting on Thursday, October 24, at 10 AM at the Beaver County Courthouse.

World Polio Day: Joseph Max Lewis Talks About Eradicating The Disease Worldwide

It’s a battle that has lasted longer than most wars combined, and it’s a battle that is slowly–but hopefully–approaching its end.

World Polio Day, acknowledged every October 24 for many years, once again seeks to spread awareness of the disease in hopes that the last few areas dealing with polio will soon see it eradicated.

Joseph Max Lewis, a Rotarian in New Brighton, joined Matt Drzik to talk about the disease on A.M. Beaver County, including the discovery of the vaccine by Dr. Jonas Salk at the University of Pittsburgh in 1954, the citizen-led fight to make the vaccine available nationwide, and the events that led to polio being eradicated in the United States by 1979.

But Lewis also spoke of the countries worldwide that still are dealing with fighting off polio once and for all, and the everyday factors that have made the eradication a struggle.

For more info or to donate, go to endpolio.org/donate.

To hear the full interview about World Polio Day, click on the player below.

Jones lands iconic No. 43 with Richard Petty Motorsports

Jones lands iconic No. 43 with Richard Petty Motorsports
By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Richard Petty Motorsports will enter the next chapter of its storied history with driver Erik Jones. The pairing gives Petty a proven winner to replace Bubba Wallace. Wallace is leaving at the end of the season. His departure could have crippled the cash-strapped Petty organization, but the team instead landed one of the top available talents. Jones was released after six seasons with Joe Gibbs Racing because the megateam needed a seat for a new prospect. The volatile free-agent market helped Jones slide to Petty.

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma to plead to 3 criminal charges

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma to plead to 3 criminal charges
By MICHAEL BALSAMO and GEOFF MULVIHILL Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department says Purdue Pharma, the company that makes OxyContin, will plead guilty to three federal criminal charges as part of a settlement of more than $8 billion. OxyContin is the powerful prescription painkiller that experts say helped touch off an opioid epidemic. The charges include conspiracy to defraud the United States and violating federal anti-kickback laws. The deal doesn’t release any of the company’s executives or owners from criminal liability, and a criminal investigation is ongoing. One state attorney general says the deal fails to hold accountable members of the wealthy Sackler family who own the company.

Route 65 Bridge Inspection Wednesday in Ambridge

Route 65 Bridge Inspection Wednesday in Ambridge

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing inspection activities on the bridge that carries Route 65 over French Pointe Creek in Ambridge Borough, Beaver County, will occur Wednesday, October 21 weather permitting.

Single-lane restrictions will occur in both directions on the bridge, located near Merchant Street, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday.

PennDOT crews will conduct the inspection work.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

Lawsuit Filed in Beaver County against Brighton Rehab and Wellness for Handling of COVID-19.

(Beaver, Pa.) A press conference was held in front of the Beaver County Court House announcing that a complaint was filed Wednesday morning in the Beaver County Court of Common Pleas by three area law firms against Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center.

Attorney’s from Robert Peirce & Associates, Massa, Butler, and Giglione, and McMillen Urick and Tocci who filed the complaint, on behalf of ten of the families who lost loved ones, held the press conference and they alleging that  throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, from early March to the present, Brighton Rehab failed to follow necessary and vital precautions which would have prevented the rampant spread of COVID-19 throughout the facility. During this time, Brighton Rehab was cited by the Pennsylvania Department of Health for numerous regulatory violations that placed residents in “immediate jeopardy.” Allegations include that the facility failed to make sure proper social distancing protocols were followed by staff, that residents were not tested or quarantined away from other residents who had tested positive for COVID-19, proper PPE was not worn by staff, and proper cleaning protocols were not followed; all which lead to the cross contamination and spread of COVID-19.

In the end, at Brighton Rehab, over 300 residents and staff contracting the virus, and over 73 residents died as a result. In April, cases at Brighton Rehab accounted for approximately 54% of Beaver County’s 298 cases. At the time, 30 residents had died of COVID-19, which was nearly 85% of Beaver County’s total deaths.

Beaver County Radio is in the process of reaching out to Brighton Rehab and Wellness for comment

Kershaw, LA stars shine, Dodgers top Rays 8-3 in WS opener

Kershaw, LA stars shine, Dodgers top Rays 8-3 in WS opener
By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Clayton Kershaw, Cody Bellinger, Mookie Betts and the Los Angeles Dodgers left the Tampa Bay Rays stuck in neutral to open a surreal World Series. Kershaw was dominant for six innings, Bellinger and Betts homered and the Dodgers beat the Rays 8-3 in the first World Series game played at a neutral site. A crowd of just over 11,000 in Arlington, Texas, was limited by the coronavirus and marked the smallest attendance for baseball’s top event in 111 years. Game 2 is Wednesday night.