Author: Beaver County Radio

AAA East Central’s gas price report states that gas prices drop three cents in Western Pennsylvania this week

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – In this Monday, Sept. 16, 2019, file photo, a woman pumps gas at a convenience store in Pittsburgh. Industry analyst Trilby Lundberg of the Lundberg Survey said Sunday, March 15, 2020, that gas prices could continue to fall as demand shrinks amid the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Gas prices are three cents lower in Western Pennsylvania this week at about $3.60 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report. The report states that at this time a year ago, the average price for a gallon of gas in Western Pennsylvania was around $3.85. The report also notes that the average price that you can expect for a gallon of unleaded gas here in Beaver County is about $3.69. According to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report, here are theaverage prices of unleaded self-serve gasoline in various Pennsylvania areas:

$3.597      Altoona
$3.691      Beaver
$3.584      Bradford
$3.501      Brookville
$3.634      Butler
$3.466      Clarion
$3.480      DuBois
$3.474      Erie
$3.608      Greensburg
$3.647      Indiana
$3.592      Jeannette
$3.643      Kittanning
$3.605      Latrobe
$3.689      Meadville
$3.679      Mercer
$3.542      New Castle
$3.505      New Kensington
$3.699      Oil City
$3.614      Pittsburgh
$3.561      Sharon
$3.678      Uniontown
$3.699      Warren
$3.644      Washington

Erie County has two more confirmed measles cases and the five total in that county makes the spread an outbreak

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – A health worker administers a measles test on Fernando Tarin, of Seagraves, Texas, at a mobile testing site outside Seminole Hospital District, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, in Seminole, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Erie County, PA) Officials from the Erie County Health Department made an announcement Monday of two new confirmed measles cases, which makes five in that county. An outbreak is occurring because the CDC defined that a link epidemiologically connects the three most recent cases. A person tested positive for measles on March 30th and exposed someone else directly to it. According to a CDC report, 712 confirmed measles cases are across twenty-five states as of April 10th. 

Man charged on Monday for crash on I-376 West that killed two women on Sunday

(File Photo of Police Lights)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) Pennsylvania State Police confirmed Monday that Pedro Olan Morales is being charged after driving a vehicle in a crash that killed two women on I-376 West on Sunday. The charges for Morales, include aggravated assault by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter and reckless driving. Morales also let officials know that before driving he consumed two beers. According to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner, the victims were seventy-seven-year-old Sharon Orlofske of Monroeville and fifty-two-year-old Shannon Morrow of Mount Lebanon.

Suspect who set fire to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s house could face ethnic intimidation charges

(File Photo: Source and Credit for Photo: This image provided by Commonwealth Media Services shows damage after a fire at the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion while Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family slept inside on Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Harrisburg, Pa. (Commonwealth Media Services via AP)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Dauphin County, PA) According to Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo, the man who set a fire at the house of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro on Sunday may face ethnic intimidation charges. Police confirmed that Molotov cocktails were used by thirty-eight-year-old Cody Balmer to cause the fire. Chardo proclaims the search warrant can be in part to Balmer targeting the Jewish faith of the Shapiros. A bail for Balmer was denied by a judge on Monday.

Charges filed for seventeen-year-old that drove during an accident that killed Beaver County teenager in North Sewickley Township in 2024

(File Photo of Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) A seventeen-year-old who was driving when a Beaver County teenager was killed from a crash that occurred in North Sewickley Township last year will now face filed charges. The office of the Beaver County District Attorney confirms to WPXI the charges filed are for reckless endangerment, vehicular homicide and other traffic violation charges. According to Pennsylvania State Police, three teenagers drove along Harpers Ferry Road when the car went off the road and crashed into a tree. Sixteen-year-old Connor Lutz died on November 15th, 2024.

Lois Palitti (1937-2025)

Lois Palitti, 87, passed away on April 14th, 2025. She was born on October 20th, 1937, the daughter of the late Claire and Eva (Farrell) Ritchie of College Hill. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul, her son, Terry Johnke, and her sister and brother-in-law, Nancy (Thomas) Simmons. She is survived by four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, her daughter-in-law, Deane Johnke, a very special and dear friend, Jeannie Biehls, along with special nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great-nieces and nephews. Lois was a member of the 1955 Class of Beaver Falls High School, the Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, and the “Morado Gang” of childhood friends. She was also a member of Big Beaver. She worked in Ford Service for over thirty years. Friends will be received on Monday, April 21st from 3-7 P.M. at CORLESS-KUNSELMAN FUNERAL SERVICES, LLC, 3801 4th Avenue, Beaver Falls. A service will be held on Tuesday, April 22nd at 11 A.M. at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 1154 Shenango Road Beaver Falls, with Pastor Paul Cwynar officiating. Interment will be private in the Williamsburg Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, it was Lois’ wish to have contributions go to the Mt. Olive Lutheran Church.

Hope Charity Harn (1959-2025)

Hope Charity Harn, 65, of Industry, passed away on April 15th, 2025 at Beaver Valley Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, with her husband and daughter by her side. She was born in Sewickley on August 21st, 1959, a daughter of the late James and Mary Holden. She is survived by her husband, Clarence J. Harn Jr. and her daughter, Leeann J. Harn, her sister, Carmen F. Traccio, her brother, Loyd Holden, her sister-in-law, Sherrie Tame, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Hope worked as a baggage handler for U.S. Airways for many years, but left due to an injury. Hope achieved an associate’s degree from DCI career institute as a computer application specialist. She last worked at Heritage Valley Hospital, first as a file room clerk, then as a pharmacy technician.

Hope will be remembered for the joy and laughter, she could bring where ever she went. She would never say no to a shopping adventure and she would always say, “shake the keys and I’ll be there.” Hope loved sharing a cup of tea with a dear friend, and just sitting in the yard admiring the spring flowers. Hope will be sorely missed by all who knew her.

Family and friends will be received from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22nd in the Huntsman Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Rochester, where a funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 23rd at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery of Freedom.

Peggy Sue Kelly (1958-2025)

Peggy Sue Kelly, 67, of New Brighton, passed away unexpectedly on April 13th, 2025 at her residence.

She was born in Rochester on February 17th, 1958, a daughter of the late Ralph and Mary Jane (Wilson) Collins. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, George Kelly. Peggy is survived by her children: Jonica Houk, Scott Collins, Tory Kelly, George Kelly, Brandy Wills and Mistie Stull; along with numerous grandchildren, her sisters, Gertrude Rump and Cathy Tichnel and her brothers, Ernest Patrick Rump and Donald Rump.

Peggy was a beloved well-respected woman. She was a nurse and a loving mother and grandmother. She loved eagles and playing Final Fantasy. She loved riding on motorcycles, traveling, and crocheting.

In accordance with Peggy’s wishes, no funeral service was held. Arrangements have been entrusted to the J&J Spratt Funeral Home, 1612 Third Avenue, New Brighton.

James E. Smith (1942-2025)

James E. Smith, 82, of Cranberry Township, passed away on April 14th, 2025 in the Butler V.A. Healthcare. He was born in New Brighton on April 18th, 1942, the son of the late Elberta Mae Smith Liggett. He is also preceded in death by the grandparents who raised him in West Virginia, Robert J. and Ella Smith, one sister, Betty Liggett Betters Corbin and one niece, Roxanne Betters Albanese. James was a retired Supervisory Commissary Program Manager with the Defense Commissary Agency in charge of worldwide military bases. He was a Vietnam War era veteran of the United States Marine Corp, a graduate of the U.S Army War College of Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. He was a member of the Florida V.F.W., St. Ferdinand Roman Catholic Church in Cranberry Township, part of Divine Grace Parish and was an attendee at St. Cecilia Roman Catholic Church of Rochester. James is survived by his wife of 58 years, Carole F. Rotuna Ondrusek Smith, as well as two daughters and a son-in-law, Tina M. Ondrusek Gerencser, of Clearwater, Florida, and Deborah A. Ondrusek and Joseph Pfaff, of Gordonsville, Virginia, two sons and a daughter-in-law, Anthony G. Ondrusek, of Baltimore, Maryland, and James R. and Nan Smith, of Tampa, Florida, seven grandchildren: Samantha, Margaret, and her fiancé Osvaldo, Cate, Adaline, Aaron, Karsten and Angela, and Connor; as well as two great grandchildren, Kurtus and Rio, one brother and sister-in-law, Ray and Patty Liggett of New Brighton, one beloved niece and two nephews, Jennifer Laracuente, Chuck Betters and Ray Liggett, as well as numerous other nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Friends will be received on Monday April 21st, from 3-7 p.m., at William Murphy Funeral Home Inc., 349 Adams Street, Rochester. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, April 22nd at 10 a.m. at St. Cecilia Roman Catholic Church, Rochester. Interment will follow at St. Cecilia Cemetery. The Vietnam Veterans of America will provide full military honors for their fallen comrade on Tuesday, April 22nd at the Rochester church and cemetery at 11 a.m. Family wishes in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital at 262 Danny Thomas Pl, Memphis, TN 38105.

Beaver County and Pennsylvania primary races get underway on May 20th

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Voting booths are set up at a polling place in Newtown, Pa., Tuesday, April 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) On May 20th, the Beaver County and Pennsylvania primary election polls will open. Some of the races will cause voters to pick and choose their candidates for each party in November. Here are the races for some Beaver County school districts and offices as well as the primary races in Pennsylvania that you can expect to vote for:

Pennsylvania’s contested primary races

  • Judge of the Superior Court (10 Years) – Republican
    • Maria Battista (Clarion County)
    • Ann Marie Wheatcraft (Chester County)
  • Judge of the Commonwealth Court (10 Years) – Republican
    • Matt Wolford (Erie County)
    • Josh Prince (Berks County)

Beaver County’s contested primary races

  • Magisterial District Judge 36-2-01 (Conway, Economy, Freedom, New Sewickley, Rochester, East Rochester) – Cross-filed (Pick one)
    • John Farmer
    • Ronald Leindecker
    • Adam Johnston

Local offices’ contested primary races

  • Ambridge Borough Council (Four Years) – Democratic (Pick four)
    • Scott Prentice
    • Russell G Basalyga
    • Mary Jane Jones Gilliam
    • Nadine Marie Palichat
    • Tony Cafarelli
  • Beaver Borough Mayor (Four Years) – Republican (Pick one)
    • Thomas Todd Hamilton
    • Lincoln Kretchmar
  • Beaver Borough Council (First Ward – Four Years) – Republican (Pick two)
    • Justin Ankrom
    • Margaret Mckean
    • Jarrod Thomas
    • Ron Stidmon
  • Beaver Borough Council (Second Ward – Four Years) – Republican (Pick one)
    • Ellen Kretchmar
    • Phil Oshaughnessy
  • Beaver Borough Council (Third Ward – Four Years) – Republican (Pick two)
    • Bill Egley
    • Roberta Good
    • Rebecca Beem
    • Whitney A Learn Conjeski
  • Bridgewater Borough Council (Four Years) – Republican (Pick two)
    • Anthony Ellis
    • Gage Gimbus
    • Charles Bates
  • Darlington Borough Council (Two Years) – Republican (Pick one)
    • Zander Mckeel
    • Glenda L Tetemanza
  • East Rochester Mayor (Four Years) – Democratic (Pick one)
    • Bob Knox
    • Walter Pat Duffy
  • Economy Borough Tax Collector (Four Years) – Republican (Pick one)
    • Amy L Miller
    • Nicole Thompson
  • Franklin Township Supervisor (Six Years) – Republican (Pick one)
    • Steve Bailey
    • Rod Richard
  • Midland Borough Council (Four Years) – Democratic (Pick four)
    • Patsy Esposito
    • Joseph Donald Checca
    • Connie Ditri Drozdjibob
    • Gregory Gutierrez
    • Ivee Jo Roach
  • Monaca Borough Tax Collector (Four Years) – Democratic (Pick one)
    • Angel Zampogna
    • Barbara J Brummitt
  • New Sewickley Township Supervisor (Six Years) – Republican (Pick one)
    • Artie Evans III
    • Jonathan Stragand
    • Daniel R Plunkett
    • Barbara Blake
  • Shippingport Borough Tax Collector (Four Years) – Republican (Pick one)
    • Kayla Carpenter
    • John G. Depaolis
  • South Beaver Township Supervisor (Six Years) – Republican (Pick one)
    • Jake Rosenberger
    • Caine A Laderer

Local school boards’ contested primary races

Note: Many candidates for school boards are cross-filed in primary races.

  • Aliquippa School District – Democratic (Pick Four)
    • Sandra Gill
    • Tina Price Genes
    • Brian M Sims Sr.
    • Nakita L Strickland
    • Yvonne Jackson
    • Ezra G Lowe Jr
    • Torri Durham Flannigan
  • Ambridge Area School District – Democratic (Pick Four)
    • Kelly Romasco
    • Joshua Gill
    • Kaylin Majeran
    • Amy Fitsko
    • Michael Jackson
    • Thomas Samarco
    • Mark D Reichard
    • Kathleen A Curtis
    • Jesse Hernandez
    • Thomas G Short III
  • Ambridge Area School District – Republican (Pick Four)
    • Mark D Reichard
    • Joshua Gill
    • Amy Fitsko
    • Jesse Hernandez
    • Kathleen A Curtis
    • Thomas G Short III
    • Thomas Samarco
    • Kelly Romasco
    • Michael Jackson
    • Kaylin Majeran
  • Beaver Area School District – Democratic (Pick Four)
    • Michael Litchfield
    • Donald E Phillips
    • Peter Grundberg
    • Aaron Bovalino
    • Celina Petronzi Hendershot
    • Andrea Walker
    • Steven Neeley Jr
    • Karin M Pilarski
  • Beaver Area School District – Republican (Pick Four)
    • Donald E Phillips
    • Andrea Walker
    • Aaron Bovalino
    • Michael Litchfield
    • Peter Grundberg
    • Steven Neeley Jr
    • Karin M Pilarski
    • Celina Petronzi Hendershot
  • Blackhawk School District (Region Two – Four Years) – Democratic (Pick Two)
    • Frank Makoczy
    • Thomas A Wire
    • Chad McMillen
  • Blackhawk School District (Region Two – Four Years) – Republican (Pick Two)
    • Frank Makoczy
    • Thomas A Wire
    • Chad McMillen
  • Ellwood City Area School District (Four Years) – Democratic (Pick Four)
    • Kathy C Tillia
    • Robyn Nicklas
    • Nick J Mancini
    • Norm Boots
    • Victoria Kincaid
    • Brady Guy
    • Claire Fauzey
  • Ellwood City Area School District (Four Years) – Republican (Pick Four)
    • Kathy C Tillia
    • Robyn Nicklas
    • Nick J Mancini
    • Norm Boots
    • Victoria Kincaid
    • Brady Guy
    • Claire Fauzey
  • Ellwood City Area School District (Two Years) – Democratic (Pick one)
    • Robyn Nicklas
    • Brady Guy
    • Victoria Kincaid
    • Kathy Galbreath
    • Norm Boots
    • Kathy C Tillia
  • Ellwood City Area School District (Two Years) – Republican (Pick one)
    • Robyn Nicklas
    • Brady Guy
    • Victoria Kincaid
    • Kathy Galbreath
    • Norm Boots
    • Kathy C Tillia
  • Freedom Area School District – Democratic (Pick Four)
    • Christian A Brenckle
    • Michelle Micija
    • Wes Sterrett
    • Laura B Stofan
    • Monica Grunnagle
  • Freedom Area School District – Republican (Pick Four)
    • Christian A Brenckle
    • Michelle Micija
    • Wes Sterrett
    • Laura B Stofan
    • Monica Grunnagle
  • Hopewell Area School District (Region Three – Four Years) – Democratic (Pick one)
    • Tory Aquino Sims
    • David Piroli
  • New Brighton Area School District (Four Years) – Democratic (Pick Four)
    • Bernadette Saiko Mattica
    • Christeen Deane Ceratti
    • TJ Lofaso
    • Steven Powell
    • Matthew Ledonne
    • Katherine Crisci
  • New Brighton Area School District (Four Years) – Republican (Pick Four)
    • Bernadette Saiko Mattica
    • Christeen Deane Ceratti
    • TJ Lofaso
    • Steven Powell
    • Matthew Ledonne
    • Katherine Crisci
  • New Brighton Area School District (Two Years) – Democratic (Pick one)
    • Matthew Ledonne
    • Katherine Crisci
    • Steven Powell
    • Bernadette Saiko Mattica
    • Christeen Deane Ceratti
  • New Brighton Area School District (Two Years) – Republican (Pick one)
    • Matthew Ledonne
    • Katherine Crisci
    • Steven Powell
    • Bernadette Saiko Mattica
    • Christeen Deane Ceratti
  • South Side Area School District – Republican (Pick Four)
    • Craig Stewart
    • Jonathan Glenn
    • Michael W Rounds
    • Cynthia Cusato
    • Jesse Streeter
  • Western Beaver County School District – Democratic (Pick Four)
    • Shawn Roman
    • Daniel Trent
    • Samantha Trimble
    • Ronald J Bender
    • Michael Smith
    • Erin Majors
    • Peter Kadilak
  • Western Beaver County School District – Republican (Pick Four)
    • Shawn Roman
    • Daniel Trent
    • Samantha Trimble
    • Ronald J Bender
    • Michael Smith
    • Erin Majors
    • Peter Kadilak