Nancy L. Drogus (1934-2026)

Nancy L. Drogus, 91, passed away on January 2nd, 2026, at Celebration Villa of Chippewa. She was born in New Brighton on April 1st, 1934, a daughter of the late Laurie and Florence (Boettner) Merriman. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Robert S. Drogus, an infant, Richard Drogus, a daughter, Gaye E. Barber and an infant brother, Laurie Merriman and her granddaughter, Heather Davis. She is survived by her loving husband of 69 years, Robert Drogus, a sister, Norma Jean Hermick, grandchildren: Karolyn (Lee) Leavalle, Andrea (David) Werner, Hilary Bender, Haley Drogus, Robert “Trey” (Presley); as well as her great grandchildren: Lee and Jevoughn Leavalle, Avalon (Kevin) Criswell and Bradyn (Angelina) McCall, Ellie and Owen Bender, Gwen Drogus and her daughter-in-law, Laurie Ann Drogus.

Nancy proudly served for 14 years in food service at Blackhawk High School, where she was known for her dedication and kindness to students and staff alike. She spent much of her career as a medical assistant, serving patients throughout Beaver County with compassion and professionalism. She also spent 11 years as a school bus driver which she found to be very enlightening. Beyond her professional life, she had a deep passion for genealogy. She devoted countless hours to researching her family history, preserving stories and connections for future generations. This work was a true labor of love and a reflection of her appreciation for family and heritage. She was a faithful member of the New Brighton Methodist Church, where she found fellowship, faith, and community. Her quiet strength, generosity, and willingness to help others left a lasting impression on all who knew her. Those who knew Nancy well would say that while she could be feisty, she truly had a heart of gold. Her warmth, honesty, and genuine care for others shone through in everything she did.

Friends will be received Monday, January 5th, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. in the J & J Spratt Funeral Home Inc., 1612 Third Avenue, New Brighton, who was in charge of her arrangements. An additional viewing will be held on Tuesday, January 6th, from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. in the New Brighton Methodist Church, 1033 6th Avenue, New Brighton. Her pastor Gary Hilton will officiate the service.

Private Interment will follow in Sylvania Hills Memorial Park, 273 PA-68, Rochester.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the Love fund at the New Brighton Methodist Church.

Lastly, the family would like to thank the staff of Heritage Valley Hospital P.A.M, Concordia St. Joseph, and Celebration Villa for the wonderful care that they took of Nancy, and especially the love and care from her daughter-in-law, Laurie Drogus.

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

Armstrong Allioth (Passed on December 30th, 2025)

Armstrong Allioth, 56, of Beaver Falls, formerly of Snellville, Georgia, Naples, Florida, and Boston, Massachusetts, passed away at his Beaver Falls residence of natural causes on December 30th, 2025. He was born in Haiti and his journey took him from the vibrant streets of New York City to the historic charm of Boston, and eventually to the warmth of Naples, Florida and the community-centric Snellville, Georgia before he settled in Beaver Falls. He is survived by his parents, Leon J. and Monique (Dubuisson) Allioth of Loganville, Georgia, his former spouse, Charity Simpson-Allioth, and their children: Spencer Alceus, Emmaline, Jaylee, and Arthur Allioth. They were a testament to Armstrong’s viking spirit & love. His granddaughters, Arezabella Alceus and Navi Gardner, were the apples of his eye. Armstrong was a brother to: Harld (Michelle) Allioth, Hermite ‘Mimi’ Grossett, Huguns Allioth, and Shirley (Rory) Woods; and he was an uncle to numerous nephews and nieces. He is also survived by his extended families: The Dubuissons, The Lazarres, The Gelins, The Simpsons, The Davenports, The Kaszers, and countless friends. Professionally, Armstrong was a skilled electrician within the construction trades. He earned many certificates for electrical wiring and an Associates in Electrical Technology. Armstrong’s enthusiasm for life was evident in his interests outside of work. He was an active figure on the sidelines at many of his children’s events. As of late, his concentration was coaching his son’s team, the Steel City Maulers. Everyone knew he was there because he cheered with the greatest thundering voice and passion. He had great pride in all of his children. He especially enjoyed hunting home run balls into the woods and working the concession stand at New Brighton or Beaver Falls youth events. Armstrong was also known for his conversational prowess. He was a talkative person who had a gift for connecting with others. His laughter and stories would fill a room, making every gathering a memorable one. Above all, Armstrong cherished the moments he spent with his granddaughters and children. Whether it was a quiet afternoon or a lively family event, hiking, or baseball games, he found joy in their presence. A celebration of his life is being planned for a later time. Arrangements have been entrusted to Simpson Funeral and Cremation Services, 1119 Washington Avenue, Monaca. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Armstrong, please visit the floral store of Simpson Funeral and Cremation Services.

Ronald “Ron” E. Erhart (1936-2026)

Ronald “Ron” E. Ehrhart, 89, passed away on January 1st, 2026. He lived a long life defined by devotion, kindness, and a deep appreciation for the people who mattered most to him. He was born on February 23rd, 1936, a son of the late Eugene and Jane (Graham) Ehrhart. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Robert Ehrhart, a son-in-law, John Case and a brother, Kenneth Ehrhart. He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Gaetana(Sacco) Ehrhart, his three daughters, Tana (Keith) Wagner, Roxann Case (fiancée Joe Piscitello) and Cindy Ehrhart, his cherished grandchildren, Christana (Tsali) Bentley, Katherine (Brendan) McDaniels, Victoria Wagner, Abigail Case and Faith Wagner; as well as his extended family and friends who will miss him deeply. His legacy lives on through the family he loved so dearly and the many lives he touched.

Ronald proudly served his country in the United States Air Force, a commitment that reflected his sense of duty, integrity, and service to others. He was a member of IBEW Local 712 where he worked as an electrician working from 1958 until his retirement in 1998. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather and found his greatest joy in his family. His children were a source of pride and purpose throughout his life, and his grandchildren were among the great loves of his life, bringing him endless happiness and laughter.

In accordance with Ronald’s wishes, all services were private.

Arrangements have been entrusted to GABAUER-LUTTON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, INC.- 117 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls., www.gabauefamilyfuneralhomes.com.

Candace Susanne (Wigley) Simmons (1954-2026)

Candace Susanne (Wigley) Simmons, 71, of New Galilee, passed away on January 2nd, 2026 at UPMC Shadyside Hospital in Pittsburgh.

She was born in Rochester on June 11th, 1954, a daughter of the late William Bradley and Louise Patricia (Mahue) Wigley of Beaver. She is survived by her beloved husband of 54 years, who she met when she was 12 years old, Howard Ronald Simmons II, her daughters, Stephanie (Dennis) Hritz and Stacie George, her grandchildren, Rebbecca S. (Steve) Surenda, Nathan Hritz and Allison (Riley) Moon, a great-grandson, Hudson Surenda, her two sisters, Cindy (Dennis) Irey and Wendy (Don) Marion and her brother, Brad Wigley.

Candace was an incredibly devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She loved to garden, enjoyed the outdoors, and adored her pets. She was also an active member of First Assembly of God Church in Beaver Falls.

In accordance with Candace’s wishes, there will be no services. The GABAUER-LUTTON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, Inc. 117 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls, was honored to care for Candace and her family during this most difficult time and was the funeral home that was in charge of her arrangements.

In honor of Candace, donations may be made in her name to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, 28 West 44th Street, Suite 609 New York, NY 10036.

Steelers Announce 2025 Postseason Ticket Information

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Pittsburgh Steelers)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) According to a release from The Pittsburgh Steelers, they have now announced that a limited number of tickets are available for the AFC Wild Card Game at Acrisure Stadium where the Steelers will take on the Houston Texans. The game will take place on January 12th with the kickoff set for 8 p.m.
Fans can go to steelers.com/tickets to purchase tickets online.
The Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 AFC North Division Championship gear is also on sale
now at the official Steelers Pro Shop. Fans can purchase directly from the team
at the Steelers Pro Shop online by clicking here or by visiting one of the Steelers Pro Shop locations that are at Acrisure Stadium, Grove City Outlets or Tanger Outlets.

Beaver County Transit Authority launching new Connect service

(File Photo of the Beaver County Transit Authority Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) The Beaver County Transit Authority will launch a new Connect service on February 2nd, 2026. This is their same-day, on-demand public transportation service where riders can download and use a mobile app on either App Store or Google Play to pay for and schedule their trip. The service will operate across Beaver County in both rural and urban areas in three distinct zones. The first zone will include portions of Cranberry Township, Warrendale and Wexford and the common destinations include: Passavant Memorial Hospital, Allegheny Health Network, UPMC Passavant-Cranberry, Thorn Hill Industrial Park RIDC and UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. The second zone will include Leetsdale and Sewickley and common destinations include the Leetsdale Industrial Park, Heritage Valley Sewickley hospital and the Critmore Building. The third zone will include the Pittsburgh International Airport area and Moon Township and cmmon destinations include the airport, Amazon warehouse distribution centers, the FedEx Terminal, the Cherrington area and Robert Morris University. Fares will be worth $4 one way, for up to 10 miles, and worth $5 one way for over 10 miles per passenger. Information, which includes a special tutorial, will be available on BCTA’s website by clicking here.

Penelope “Penny” Mehos (1931-2026)

Penelope “Penny” Mehos, 94, of Masonic Village in Sewickley, passed away on January 2nd, 2026. She was born in Aliquippa on December 8th, 1931, a devoted daughter of the late Angelina and Louis Mehos. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Ethel Spanos as well as her step-brothers, Samuel Mehos, Thomas Mehos and Gus Mehos. She is survived by her sisters, Anna Pleotis of Palatine, Illinois and Antoinette Dimitrakopoulos of Athens Greece and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews including: Sophia Apostolopoulos (Steve) of Bloomingdale, Illinois, Samuel W. Spanos (Judith) of Sewickley, Louis Mehos (Sue) of Wyomissing Hills, Pennsylvania, Mary Mitu (Ciprian) of Itasca, Illinois, Dean Apostolopoulos (Sally) of Wheaton, Illinois, William Apostolopoulos (Laura) of Wheaton, Illinois, Angelo Pleotis of Chrystal Lake, Illinois, Elia Pleotis of Palatine, Illinois.

Penny graduated from Aliquippa High School. Throughout her life, she spent many happy years within the local Greek community, especially as a life-long member of Kimisis Tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church where she was a choir member as well as an enthusiastic volunteer at the annual Greek food festival. She was employed as a customer service representative at American Thermoplastics for many years.  Upon her retirement Penny was pleasantly shocked to discover that the owners erected a billboard sign on Route 28 wishing her well in retirement! Upon retirement, she traveled extensively, visiting nieces and nephews in Chicago as well as joining them on cruises and family reunions in various US locations. More recently, she enjoyed playing mahjong with her friends at Masonic Village.

The viewing will take place on Monday, January 5th, from 11 A.M. until 12 noon at Kimisis Tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church, 2111 Davidson Street, Aliquippa, with a funeral service to follow immediately at the church. Arrangements have been entrusted to the branch of Huntsman Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

Interment will take place in Woodlawn Cemetery, 450 Penn Avenue, Aliquippa.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kimisis Tis Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church, 2111 Davidson Street, Aliquippa, PA 15001.

Report: Penguins suspend newly acquired defenseman Egor Zamula

(Photo Courtesy of Matt Slocum (AP))

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Penguins have reportedly suspended their newly acquired defenseman Egor Zamula for failing to report to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the Penguins’ AHL affiliate. Zamula had been playing for the Philadelphia Flyers’ AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and was expected to report to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton when he was acquired after a trade on Wednesday in which the Penguins traded Philip Tomasino to the Flyers in exchange for Zamula. 

Carmela M. Escoe (1932-2025)

Carmela M. Escoe (née De Grazia), 93, passed away surrounded by her children on December 31st, 2025, in Beaver. She was born in Pittsburgh, a daughter of the late Maria and James De Grazia. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband, James Escoe, her brothers, Frank and Jim De Grazia; and her best friend and twin sister, Rosalie Gyurina. She is survived by her children: Valerie (Stanley) Namola, Carla Escoe, Jim (Gigi) Escoe and Lisa (Mark) Winter. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Chelsea (Eric) Matsko; Jordan Namola; Brianna (Tyler) Strotman; Maria Escoe; and Rowan Winter; as well as her great-grandchildren: Knox, Nash, Palmer, Emery, and Oliver; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Carmela was a devout Roman Catholic and died well-fortified in the sacraments. Widowed at a young age, she met life with remarkable resilience, a positive attitude, grace, and love. She built a warm and welcoming home and became the matriarch of a strong and deeply loving family. There was nothing more important to her than being surrounded by her family.

People loved her, and she made and nurtured friends of all ages. She frequently adopted her children’s friends as her own, whether having coffee at Starbucks or lunch at Mario’s. She enjoyed gatherings and was a great conversationalist.

She was known for her delicious food, including an epic pork sauce, meatballs, and homemade pasta, and for her even more famous baked goods like Christmas cookies, Easter bread, pies, and Texas sheet cake. It was always a delight to be at her table and, if you were lucky, to come away with her recipe or a tip.

Carmela was an avid player of bridge, games, and puzzles. Having been raised on Nancy Drew, she was an avid reader of mystery novels and a fan of Murder, She Wrote. She loved a good whodunit! She was a truth-teller with a dry, sharp wit that would leave you laughing over her comments for years.

Her family is deeply grateful for the friendship, love, care, and kindness shown to her over the years, and especially by the staff at Villa Saint Joseph, where she resided later in life, and they will forever cherish the example she set through her strength, generosity, and unwavering love.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted on Monday, January 5th, at 10 a.m. at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 200 Third Street, Beaver. Private Entombment will take place at Beaver Cemetery Mausoleum, Buffalo Street, Beaver.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Our Lady of the Valley Parish, Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 200 Third Street, Beaver, PA 15009 or Concordia Villa Saint Joseph, 1030 W State Street, Baden, PA 15005.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Carmela M. Escoe, please visit the flower store of the Noll Funeral Home, Inc. by clicking here.

Six local communities receive nearly $900,000 in grants from gaming fund

(File Photo of a Dollar Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) Six local communities are among the eighteen recipients who recently earned more than $3 million in grants from the Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund, which uses funds from gaming revenues to support community and economic development projects in Allegheny County. Leetsdale and Sewickley were two of the six that received funding. According to the Beaver County Times, here is more information about these grants and what communities earned them:

Bell Acres: $200,000 for phase two improvement projects at the borough park, which includes the addition of new pickleball and multi-use courts, upgrades to the basketball court, adding rubber mulch at the playground, installing new benches and making improvements to the parking lot and walkways.

Edgeworth: $251,000 for the Academy Avenue traffic signal project, which includes the installation of new traffic signal equipment at Beaver Road and Academy Avenue to improve safety and traffic flow.

Leet Township: $75,150 to build a salt storage building at its municipal complex to support snow and ice removal in the township.

Leetsdale: $139,500 for an emergency exit study and design project, which includes planning and design work to convert an early 1900s steel and concrete railroad bridge into a one-lane emergency evacuation route.

Sewickley Heights: $84,125 for the Fern Hollow Nature Center addition project, which renovates the center’s historic Sears Roebuck kit home and adds a 1,200-square-foot addition to allow the center to expand its environmental education and community programming.

Sewickley: $150,000 for its Beaver and Broad streets upgrade project, which replaces ADA accessible ramps and crosswalks and includes milling and paving work to improve accessibility and roadway conditions.