Danielle Smith – Keystone State News Service

The holiday shopping season is already in full swing, and AARP Pennsylvania has some tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft.

The latest AARP study found 76%, or roughly three out of four U.S. adults age 18 and older, have been targeted by at least one form of fraud.

Associate State Director David Kalinoski at AARP Pennsylvania said the most common scams are related to online shopping, empty gift cards and package delivery.

“Sometimes criminals go into stores and scratch off the strips on the back of the gift card,” said Kalinoski. “They get the PIN number and then return it to the store racks. And once the card is loaded, scammers drain the funds because they have technology that can instantaneously let somebody know when that gift card was activated.”

Kalinoski said they recommend purchasing gift cards directly from the card issuer’s website.

He adds that to receive timely updates on the latest scams and fraud schemes, Pennsylvania residents can enroll in bi-weekly fraud alerts via text messaging.

Simply text the abbreviation FWN (which stands for Fraud Watch Network) to the number 50757.

Kalinoski said the AARP Fraud Watch Network offers free resources that help individual identify and prevent fraud, including educational materials and helpline assistance.

He said AARP’s tracking map reveals active scams across the country.

Pennsylvanians can use their ZIP code to pinpoint specific scams in their area.

“The other thing that’s with the Fraud Watch Network is the ability for people to post when they’ve been sort of targeted by a fraud or scam,” said Kalinoski. “They can go online and post on our scam tracking map, something that other individuals should watch out for.”

He warned folks to be aware of social media scams with fake product ads that lead to non-delivery of items.

He recommended not to click in messages and ads, even if the retailer appears familiar, because scammers can create fake websites that look real.

“Instead, take the extra step to open up your web browser and type in a known retailer’s web address into that,” said Kalinoski. “And then you can go directly to that, and if that’s verified by what you’ve received in a pop-up ad, then you know it might be legitimate.”

Kalinoski said if you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam. He pointed out the importance of filing a police report if you’ve been scammed.

He also encouraged victims to report the incident without shame.

Various agencies, including the FBI, Federal Trade Commission, and Better Business Bureau, handle scam reports.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing a lane closure on Montour Street (Route 3081) in Coraopolis Borough, Allegheny County, due to a slide.

A portion of Montour Street has been reduced to a single-lane of alternating traffic controlled by stop signs between Grace Street and Rosedale Avenue.

Please use caution when traveling in the area.

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.

(Monaca, PA) – The Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) is named one of 325 colleges and  universities that is “Best for Vets” as determined by Military Times. This is the largest and most  comprehensive annual ranking of schools for military service members and veterans. 

Ranked number 24 in the Mid-Atlantic region consisting of five states, CCBC strives to provide equal  opportunities for all veteran students with open enrollment, early registration, counseling and academic  services, and a dedicated veteran workspace.  

“We are honored to be included on the list of “Best for Vets” by Military Times. Our veteran students  are enrolled in challenging programs at CCBC, and are also partners, parents, and employees in the  community. I am impressed everyday by their dedication and accomplishments,” said Tambria  Radomski, Military and Veterans Liaison.  

CCBC’s open enrollment and early registration allows student veterans to select programs and classes  that work best for their career goals and schedule. The Military and Veterans Liaison works closely with  veterans, to provide counseling, academic services, and individualized assistance. Veteran students also  have a lounge on campus with resources and workspaces specific to their needs. 

Each year, a survey is sent to colleges and universities across the nation asking about their programs for  veterans. The survey results are then analyzed, along with public data about colleges and universities  obtained from the Department of Education and Department of Veterans Affairs and turned into an  official ranking. 

(PITTSBURGH, PA) – A resident of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to federal hate crime charges, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. 

Tyler Smith, 32, of New Brighton, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy,  and one count of violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act,  before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. 

According to admissions made during Smith’s plea hearing, he and co-defendant Zachary  Dinell were employees of an in-patient health care facility located in New Brighton, Pennsylvania.  Residents of the facility suffered from a range of severe physical, intellectual, and emotional  disabilities, and required assistance with all activities of daily life, including bathing, using the  bathroom, oral hygiene, feeding, and dressing. As members of the facility’s Direct Care Staff, Smith 

admitted that he and Dinell were responsible for providing this daily assistance to residents. 

From approximately June 2016 to September 2017, Smith further admitted that he and Dinell engaged in a conspiracy to commit hate crimes against residents of the facility because of the  residents’ actual or perceived disabilities. Smith and Dinell carried out assaults in a variety of ways,  including by punching and kicking residents, rubbing liquid irritants in their eyes, spraying liquid  irritants in their eyes and mouths, and in one instance removing a resident’s compression stocking in  a manner intended to inflict pain. Several of these assaults were recorded on Dinell’s cell phone. In  one instance, Smith admitted jumping on top of a 13-year-old minor, while the child was lying prone  on his bed, and while Dinell filmed the incident on his cellular phone. Smith further acknowledged  that immediately after recording the video, Dinell texted the video to him. 

As part of the conspiracy, Smith also acknowledged that he and Dinell exchanged text  messages in which they expressed their animus toward the disabled residents, shared photographs and videos of residents, described their assaults, and encouraged each other’s continued abuse of  residents. 

Smith further admitted that he and Dinell were able to avoid detection by, among other things,  exploiting their one-on-one access to residents of the facility and the fact that the victims were non verbal and could not report the defendants’ abuse. Due to their physical disabilities, the residents  also were not able to defend themselves against the assaults.

The maximum penalty for the conspiracy charge is a term of imprisonment of five years and  a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for the hate crime charge is a term of imprisonment of ten  years and a $250,000 fine. 

As part of his plea agreement, and subject to the approval of Judge Ranjan, Smith has agreed  to a term of imprisonment of not less than 60 months and not more than 120 months. Zachary Dinell  previously pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced on January 26, 2023, to 17 years’  imprisonment, followed by three years’ supervised release. 

Assistant United States Attorneys Carolyn J. Bloch and Brendan J. McKenna are prosecuting  this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the  investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. 

Mechanicsburg, PA –Today, the Shapiro Administration kicked off Older Driver Safety Week by highlighting the resources the Commonwealth provides older drivers to address the unique challenges they face. A quarter of Pennsylvania’s licensed drivers are 65 years of age or older, underscoring the critical need for these resources.

Pennsylvania has a network of shared-ride service providers dedicated to keeping older adults mobile, safe, and engaged in their community. This free transportation program allows citizens aged 65 or older to ride for free on a local, fixed-route service whenever local public transportation is operating. During FY 2022-23, there were more than 2.2 million Senior Shared Rides.

“Mobility is essential to quality of life at any age,” said Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll. “While many older drivers have a lifetime of valuable driving experience to draw from, PennDOT continually seeks to balance the safety of our roadways with the need for independence and autonomy.”

Approximately 25 percent of Pennsylvania’s 9.1 million licensed drivers are 65 and older. In 2022, there were 20,590 crashes involving at least one driver aged 65 or older that resulted in 287 total fatalities. This represents 17.7% of all crashes and 24.3% of all fatalities. Older drivers generally have fewer crashes per driver than the national average – but they have more crashes per mile of driving.

“As Pennsylvania’s aging population continues to grow, the Shapiro Administration is committed to ensuring that older adults have the resources they need to remain active in and connected to their communities,” said Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) Jason Kavulich. “Driver safety is an important part of how older adults navigate in our community but what is equally important is working with our partners to provide accessible and flexible transportation alternatives to older adults. Pennsylvania is fortunate that our lottery proceeds help to fund alternative services in transportation for its older citizens.”

Additionally, working with the PA Department of Human Services and transit agencies, PennDOT developed an online tool called Find My Ride that allows older drivers to access free ride services online. The app allows transit agencies to process applications more efficiently, so users can access benefits more quickly. The app can be found at: findmyride.penndot.pa.gov, or at www.penndot.pa.gov by clicking on Travel in PA, then Public Transit Options.

“Along with the unique challenges already faced by older drivers, seasonal factors such as winter weather conditions, longer nights, and heavy holiday traffic create challenges for drivers of all ages,” said Lieutenant Adam Reed, Director of the Communications Office with the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP). “Before getting behind the wheel, older drivers should ensure that their eye exams are up-to-date and understand how prescribed medications could affect their driving. It’s also important for all drivers to remember to buckle up every time!”

Representatives from PennDOT, PDA, PSP, AAA and AARP manned information booths to share advice and methods for helping The Manor at Oakridge residents safely extend their years on the road. Advice ranged from knowledge of current and less emphasized laws to recognizing signs that it may be time to give up driving. For example, one program discussed was CarFit, an educational program created by the American Society on Aging and developed with AAA, AARP, and the American Occupational Therapy Association. CarFit is designed to help older drivers find out how well they currently “fit” their personal vehicle, to learn how they can improve their fit, and to promote conversations about driver safety and community mobility.

“We remind all our older Pennsylvanian drivers that auto insurance is an important financial protection and that there are ways to reduce the cost of it,” said Jodi Frantz, Chief of Staff for the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. “Older drivers can get a break on their insurance rates. If all drivers on your policy are 55 or older, you can take a PennDOT approved mature driver class and qualify for at least a 5 percent discount. We also encourage these Pennsylvanians to talk to their agent or insurance company if they are driving less or if they think there are coverages that they no longer need.”

A list of approved mature driver courses available can be found online on PennDOT’s Mature Driver Improvement Courses page.

While every person ages differently, aging typically brings certain — sometimes subtle — physical, visual, and cognitive changes that could impair an older person’s ability to drive safely. Older drivers and their families should work together to identify potential issues that may affect driving, outline courses of action to assist the older driver, and plan for when it’s time to hang up the keys.

Signs that can indicate it may be time to limit or stop driving altogether include:

• Feeling uncomfortable, fearful, or nervous when driving;
• Unexplained dents/scrapes on the car, fences, mailboxes, or garage doors;
• Frequently getting lost and frequent “close calls” (i.e. almost crashing);
• Slower response times, particularly to unexpected situations;
• Difficulty paying attention to signs or staying in the lane of traffic; and
• Trouble judging gaps at intersections or highway entrance/exit ramps.

The Shapiro Administration encourages older drivers and their loved ones to review PennDOT’s Seniors Driving Safely publication series, which can be downloaded for free from the PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services website. These publications help older drivers assess their abilities and offer guidance on next steps if their medical condition is reported to PennDOT. The series also includes a publication designed to guide family and friends of older drivers in what can sometimes be difficult conversations about deciding to stop driving, as well as information for healthcare providers on PennDOT’s medical reporting program.

The following safe-driving habits, which should be routine at any age, are especially useful to older drivers:

• Plan ahead: lengthy car trips should be made during daylight hours. Morning may be best because most people aren’t as tired as they are in the afternoon.
• Don’t drive in rush-hour traffic if you can avoid it. Plan trips after 9:00 AM or before 5:00 PM. Know what roads near home are most congested and avoid them.
• When driving long distances, especially in winter, call ahead for weather and road condition updates.
• Look ahead. Good drivers get a jump on trouble by looking far down the road and making adjustments before encountering problems that may involve other vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists or animals.
• Maintain a safe speed. This depends on what the road is like, how well the driver can see, how much traffic there is and how fast traffic is moving.
• Keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead of you. The PA Driver’s Manual advises that you should always keep a 4-second gap between you and the vehicle in front of you.

Pennsylvanians with insurance questions can contact the Insurance Department Consumer Services Bureau online or at 1-877-881-6388.

Additional information on older driver safety and mobility resources is available at both PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services and the Department of Aging websites.

Story by Sandy Giordano with contributions by Curtis Walsh and Frank Sparks – Beaver County Radio. Photos courtesy of Ray Labon. Published December 4, 2023 12:58 P.M. 

(New Brighton, Pa) A message was sent out from the New Brighton Area School District at 11:15am Monday morning notifying parents and guardians that the school district was being placed on lockdown.

An incident occurred at 10:43 a.m. in the area of the middle school after a male ran  from police. The lockdown was done as a precaution, according to a police spokesperson. Once the situation was cleared the school was reopened. Numerous Police departments responded.

We received initial reports that the suspect allegedly had a gun, although officials have not confirmed this detail.
As of 11:45am, police started to vacate the area.

Story by Curtis Walsh and Frank Sparks – Beaver County Radio. Photo courtesy of Ray Labon. Published December 4, 2023 11:48 A.M. 

(New Brighton, Pa) A message was sent out from the New Brighton Area School District at 11:15am Monday notifying parents and gaurdians that the school was being placed on lockdown.
We have received reports that the lockdown was allegedly due to a situation involving a person with a gun in the area near the school. Numerous Police departments responded to the area Monday morning.
As of 11:45am, Police started to vacate the area.
We have issued updates on this story, the updated article is here: https://beavercountyradio.com/news/new-brighton-middle-school-reopened-after-lockdown-monday-morning/

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio News Director. Published December 4, 2023 9:32 A.M.

(Monaca, Pa) The United States Coast Guard Natural Response Center filed a report on the release of Benzene from the Shell Polymers Monaca plant on October 21st. The report published by SkyTruth Alerts states that Benzene was released from a processing unit due to a spent caustic thermal oxidizer tripping offline. The report indicated that the release was suspected to be between 10 and 100 pounds.
Local groups are voicing concerns, stating that the public was never notified of the release by Shell, or County officials.

(Photos by Frank Sparks )

(New Brighton, Pa.) Rosalind Candy Castle in New Brighton held their annual open house on Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM. The day was highlighted with a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus from 11 AM to 1PM.  Each child that attended received a sweet treat from Rosalind’s.

The open house gave Mike and Jennifer Crudden the opportunity to show off the nearly completed remodel and new larger retail sales store. They are especially proud of the new chandelier and the armored knights that are in the retail space.

Rosalind Candy Castle is open extended hours for all of your Christmas Candy needs. Check out their Facebook page for more information.