Author: Beaver County Radio

Lawrence D. Busack (Passed on February 11th, 2026)

Lawrence D. Busack, 80, of Monaca, passed away on February 11th, 2026. He was born in Rochester, New York, a son of the late Carl and Gerda (Malack) Busack. He is survived by his wife, Jean Busack whom he married in 1969, their son, Adam (Natalie) Busack and two grandchildren, Brady Busack and Stella Busack, all of Michigan, and his brother Stephen D. Busack of Rochester, New York.

Lawrence graduated from Rush- Henrietta High School in Henrietta, New York and continued his education at Clarkson College of Technology in Potsdam, New York, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. He was also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers since college. He also earned his professional engineering license in Pennsylvania. Initially, he came to Pennsylvania to work for Michael Baker Engineering. He continued his civil engineering work with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Engineering as a dams engineer for 32 years before his retirement.

Friends will be received on Monday, February 16th from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at SIMPSON FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES, 1119 Washington Avenue, Monaca, who was in charge of his arrangements, and where funeral services will be held on Tuesday, February 17th at 11 a.m. with Reverend James Sands officiating. Interment will follow in Beaver Cemetery, Buffalo Street, Beaver.

To view online condolences, please visit www.simpsonfuneralhome.com.

Matthew James “Jim” Hartman (1955-2026)

Matthew James “Jim” Hartman, 70, of Beaver, passed away on February 7th, 2026, following a yearlong battle with cancer. He was born on a U.S. Army base in Stuttgart, Germany on March 9th, 1955, the eldest son of the late Matthew James and Geraldine Hartman. He is survived by his wife and friend, Anne Hartman, his daughter, Rachel, his brothers, Dave (Cyndy) Hartman and John Hartman, his sisters, Melissa Hartman and Laura (Max) Hartman, his nieces and nephews: Cory (Renee) Hartman, Troy (Leah) Hartman, Rebecca Hartman and Jack Hartman; along with five great-nieces and great-nephews.

After Matthew graduated from Beaver Area High School as a proud member of the Class of 1973, he earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Penn State University. He spent much of his career as a chemist at the Beaver Valley Power Station, then operated by Duquesne Light, before working at TestAmerica, now Eurofins, until his retirement. Matthew’s real passion was numismatics. He was a lifelong collector of coins and tokens who loved “setting up” at flea markets, browsing antique stores and talking shop with fellow enthusiasts. He was a regular fixture at Rogers Flea Market and attended coin shows across the tri-state area, making friends wherever he went. He was also an avid sports fan who particularly enjoyed watching football and cheering on the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Beaver Bobcats. His many interests also included genealogy, playing pinochle, and going fishing. Above all, he treasured time with his daughter, Rachael, with whom he shared his love of learning, music, and storytelling. His larger than life personality and sense of humor will be missed by all.

Friends will be received from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, March 7th, at the Noll Funeral Home Inc., 333 Third Street, Beaver, who was in charge of his arrangements. You can visit www.nollfuneral.com to share online condolences.

Memorial contributions in Jim’s name can be made to the Beaver Area School District Education Foundation, 1300 Fifth Street, Beaver, PA 15009 or to the American Red Cross.

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

Current Fraternal Order of Police building in the Banksville neighborhood of Pittsburgh could house inmates

(Credit for Photo: Courtesy of WPXI-TV Pittsburgh, Posted on February 13th, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The current Fraternal Order of Police building in the Banksville neighborhood of Pittsburgh could soon become transitional housing for 100 federal inmates. Kentucky-based charity Dismas Charities is going through the approval process and presented a plan to Banksville residents yesterday. There is no timetable for when its council could hold a final vote. 

Northbound Route 51 Clairton Boulevard Daylight Lane Restriction Starts Monday in Pleasant Hills

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

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny Coounty, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced a lane restriction on northbound Route 51 (Clairton Boulevard) in Pleasant Hills Borough in Allegheny County will begin on Monday, February 16th, weather permitting. From 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. weekdays through late February, a single-lane restriction will occur on northbound Route 51 at the intersection with North Lewis Run Road as crews from Lindy Paving will conduct ADA curb ramp installation work there. 

Northbound I-579 Overnight Inspection Activities this Weekend in Pittsburgh

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

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that bridge inspection activities on the northbound I-579 “Cap” Urban Connector in the City of Pittsburgh will occur tomorrow night, February 14th and on Sunday night, February 15th weather permitting. Inspection activities will occur on the “Cap” Urban Connector requiring a northbound I-579 single-lane restriction between the Centre Avenue and Bigelow Boulevard overpasses from 9 P.M. tomorrow night through 5 A.M. on Sunday morning. The Northbound I-579 left-hand off-ramp to Convention Center/7th Avenue will be closed and detoured to accommodate these inspection activities, A northbound I-579 lane restriction will also occur in the same location from 9 P.M. Sunday night through 5 A.M. Monday morning. That listed ramp will remain open during this inspection work. According to a release from PennDOT District 11, here is the detour for the work:

Posted Detour

Northbound I-579 to Convention Center/7th Avenue

  •  From northbound I-579, take the right-hand off-ramp to PPG Arena/Centre Avenue
  • Turn left onto Washington Place
  • Turn right onto Bedford Avenue
  • From Bedford Avenue, bear left to take the ramp to 7th Avenue/Fort Pitt Bridge
  • Continue onto Seventh Avenue
  • End detour

Crews from HDR, Inc. and the Sofis Rigging Company will conduct inspection work there and some more ramp closures and mainline I-579 restrictions will occur. Information will also be provided prior of any work occurring.

WPIAL section tournaments for individual high school wrestling playoffs begin

(File Photo of the WPIAL Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) The high school wrestling postseason transitions to the individual playoffs and tomorrow, local wrestlers will be competing in the WPIAL section tournaments at 9:30 a.m. with many aiming to defend their section titles, while others are also looking to punch their ticket to the WPIAL individual championships. Blackhawk, Moon Area and West Allegheny will be competing in the southern sectional tournament at South Fayette in Class 3A. Ambridge, Beaver Area, Beaver County Christian School, Central Valley, Ellwood City, Freedom Area and Quaker Valley will wrestle at the northern sectional tournament at Keystone Oaks, while Hopewell and South Side will compete at Burgettstown in the southern sectional tournament. A preview can also be found by clicking here.

Frozen salmon sold in Pennsylvania and six other states recalled after testing positive for Listeria

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Silver Spring, MD) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced yesterday that a recall has been initiated for frozen salmon sold at BJ’s Wholesale Club in seven states, one of which is Pennsylvania. A sample of the salmon, which was randomly collected by the FDA, tested positive for Listeria, a rare but potentially fatal cause of foodborne illness. No infections have been reported to date.

The recall affects bags of frozen salmon that are produced by Slade Gorton & Co., Inc. that can be identified with the following: 

  • Product name: Wellsley Farms Farm-Raised Atlantic Salmon 
  • Size: 2 lbs 
  • UPC: 888670025963 
  • Lot number: 3896 

This product was sold from January 31st to February 7th, 2026, in BJ’s Wholesale Club locations in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Check your freezer for this salmon and do not eat it if you have it. Call 1-888-628-0730 for instructions on how to obtain a full refund for the product and what to do with the remaining product. 

Contact a healthcare provider if you develop symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea if you think you consumed contaminated salmon.

Northbound Route 65 Daylight Lane Restrictions Next Week in Emsworth

(File Photo of Road Work Ahead Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that lane restrictions on northbound Route 65 (Ohio River Boulevard) in Emsworth Borough in Allegheny County will occur Monday through Wednesday, February 16th-18th weather permitting. From 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, a single-lane and shoulder restriction will occur on northbound Route 65 in the following locations:

  • Monday, February 16 – Near the intersection with Terrace Drive
  • Tuesday, February 17 – Between Greenwood Avenue and Terrace Drive
  • Wednesday, February 18 – Between Camp Horne Road and Orchard Avenue

Crews from State Pipe Services will conduct sanitary sewer work in these locations.

Seven people escape house fire in the South Side Slopes of Pittsburgh

(File Photo of a Fire Background)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Five children and two adults escaped a home that was on fire early yesterday morning in the South Side Slopes of Pittsburgh. Fire crews went to the 2300 block of Salisbury Street, near the border of the city’s Arlington neighborhood around 1 a.m. According to Pittsburgh Public Safety officials, the fire was found in a wall on the first floor of the home and was quickly extinguished. Everyone that was inside was assessed by medics and emergency crews believe the cause is likely accidental. 

New initiative delivers $6 million to help clean up Pittsburgh’s rivers

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – This April 2, 2021, file photo shows bridges spanning the Allegheny River in downtown Pittsburgh. Republicans in Congress are making the politically brazen bet that it’s more advantageous to oppose President Joe Biden’s ambitious rebuild America agenda than to lend support for the costly $2.3 trillion undertaking for roads, bridges and other infrastructure investments. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Yesterday, the group at the front of efforts to clean up the three rivers of Pittsburgh rolled out a new initiative that will fund river trail cleanup. Riverlife and Pittsburgh announced the launch of UpKeep, which will deliver $6 million in maintenance over the next ten years. According to Matthew Galluzzo, the CEO of Riverlife, the rivers are filled with invasive species, and they have a vehicle with a pressure washer meant for getting rid of goose droppings.