Author: Beaver County Radio

Traffic pattern on I-376 Parkway West in Collier and Robinson Townships will continue, weather permitting

(File Photo of Road Work Ahead Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Robinson Township, PA)  PennDOT District 11 announced that on the night of Friday, August 1st, weather permitting, the current traffic pattern on I-376 Parkway West in Collier and Robinson Townships will continue. This will occur through late August and the traffic on I-376 Parkway West in these two townships will keep utilizing the two eleven-foot outer lanes for travel. This will occur in each direction between the Ridge Road Exit 61 and I-79 Exit 64A interchanges. Bridge and median barrier work will be conducted by crews. 

Norman Mitry, Rob Pratte and Samuel Spanos will be honored at the “From Silver to Gold Gala” of the Beaver Area Heritage Foundation

(Photos Courtesy of Beaver Area Heritage Foundation, Museum, Beaver Station)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) According to a Facebook post from the Beaver Area Heritage Foundation, Museum, Beaver Station, the Beaver Area Heritage Foundation will honor three men for their 2025 Enduring Legacy Award who have left an impact on their community. They are Norman Mitry, the CEO of Heritage Valley Health System, Rob Pratte, who is a broadcaster for 100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA and Samuel Spanos from the Spanos Group of Raymond James. The “From Silver to Gold Gala” at the Beaver Station of the Beaver Area Heritage Foundation is the event where these three men will be honored on Thursday, August 14th. You can make a reservation by going to the website below:

https://www.beaverheritage.org/from-silver-to-gold-gala

Joseph M. Kostial (1934-2025)

Joseph M. Kostial, 90, of Baden, passed away on July 28th, 2025 at his residence. He was born in Sewickley on July 30th, 1934, a son of the late John and Emma Zilka Kostial. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth “Betty” Kostial, his brother, Robert Kostial and two grandsons, Jonathan and Adam Kostial. He is survived by two sons, Edward Kostial and James Kostial and his wife, Ann, two daughters, Karen DeMarco and Cynthia Witalis, his sister, Mildred Mucci,  eight grandchildren: Jennifer Moore; Ashley, Aaron, Jayme Kostial; Alexandra and Anthony DeMarco, and Owen and Ean Witalis; as well as two great-grandchildren, Joshua and Avery Moore. Joseph was a veteran of the U.S. Army who retired from Armco Steel, and was a member of St. John the Baptist Church of Baden. Most of all, Joseph enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. He was their biggest supporter who never missed an event. Friends will be received on Thursday, July 31st, from 11 A.M. until the time of service at 12:45 P.M. in the CORLESS-MATTER FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, LLC, 1133 Church Street, Ambridge, who was in charge of his arrangements and where full military honors will be performed. Private interment will follow in Saints Peter & Paul Cemetery, 1691 Ridge Road Extension, #1601, Ambridge.

Dolores Ballack McIntosh (1930-2025)

Dolores Ballack McIntosh, 94, of Beaver, passed away peacefully on July
24th, 2025, at Franciscan Manor in Beaver Falls following a brief illness.
She was born in Monaca on November 24th, 1930, the daughter of the late Stephen and Louise (Krebs) Ballack. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Walter E. McIntosh, her daughter, Kathleen McIntosh and her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Mary Louise (Ballack) and Rudolph Hiber. She is survived by her children, Leslie McIntosh Gasior, Leigh A. McIntosh (William C. Witkouski, Jr.) and Stuart McIntosh, her grandchildren, Jason (Emily) Gasior, Jennifer Gasior (Anthony Perna) and Shannon Witkouski, her great-grandchildren, Jackson Gasior and Avery Perna and her extended family. Dolores was a graduate of Monaca High School with the Class of 1948. She attended Duff’s Business Institute and worked for the Beaver Area School District until her retirement.
A private Funeral Mass was celebrated at Saints Peter and Paul Church of Beaver, part of Our Lady of the Valley Parish, followed by interment at Beaver Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Dolores’s name to the Beaver Area Memorial Library, 100 College Avenue, Beaver, PA 15009. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Noll Funeral Home Inc., 333 Third Street, Beaver.

Aliquippa Felon Sentenced to Nearly Four Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of Firearm

(File Photo)
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 45 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of federal supervised release, on his conviction of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV imposed the sentence on Tyland
Witherspoon, 28, on July 28, 2025.
According to information presented to the Court, on or about June 19, 2024, Witherspoon was found to be in possession of a Glock 23 .40 caliber pistol along with Smith & Wesson .40 caliber ammunition. Witherspoon previously was convicted of a felony. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
Upon imposing the sentence, Judge Stickman noted the danger that illegal firearms present to our community and the seriousness of Witherspoon’s offense.
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole A. Stockey prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Witherspoon.

Man gets two life sentences for allegedly killing a pregnant Amish woman inside her Pennsylvania home in 2024

(File Photo of Handcuffs)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Sparta Township, PA)  According to authorities, a man found guilty of murdering a pregnant Amish woman inside her Pennsylvania home last year received two life sentences on Monday. A news release on Monday from the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General confirms that fifty-three-year-old Shawn Cranston got sentenced that day. Cranston was given charges in June of 2025 of first-degree murder, second-degree murder of an unborn child and charges related to those two charges. The judge sentenced Cranston to the mandatory life-without-parole sentence for the conviction of first degree-murder and another life sentence in prison. Cranston received a conviction for allegedly killing twenty-three-year-old Rebekah Byler at her home in Sparta Township on February 26th, 2024. According to authorities, Cranston shot and stabbed Byler to death after encountering her during a robbery of her home on Fish Flats Road. A previously showed autopsy showed Byler passed away of a gunshot wound to the head as well as sharp injuries.

Ten inaugural inductees announced for the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame; induction ceremony will be in October of 2025

(Photo Courtesy of the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) In October of 2025 in the Strip District Terminal of Pittsburgh, an induction ceremony will be held to honor the first ten inductees of the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame. The honorees include a writer for journals, the late Nellie Bly, an industrialist, the late Andew Carnegie, an environmentalist, the late Rachel Carson and a baseball player, the late Roberto Clemente. The other late honorees are a children’s television host, the late Fred Rodgers, a medical researcher, the late Dr. Jonas Salk, an artist, the late Andy Warhol and a playwright, the late August Wilson. Jazz guitarist George Benson and actor Michael Keaton are the surviving inaugural inductees of the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame.

Beaver County Transit Authority expanding their midday service from Ambridge to Pittsburgh on September 8th, 2025

(File Photo of the Beaver County Transit Authority Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) According to Beaver County Transit Authority officials, their midday service from Ambridge to Pittsburgh will be expanded on September 8th, 2025. From 6:03 a.m. to 6:03 p.m., on Mondays through Fridays at that expansion time, people who travel with the BCTA can go southbound to Pittsburgh from the Ambridge Park and Ride. People can also travel from 7:05 a.m. to 7:05 p.m. at that expansion time northbound to Pittsburgh. According to officials, the portion of Route 1 from Ambridge to Pittsburgh will become the new Route 5, permitting time changes in the schedule. Improve connections along other routes of the BCTA will be a result of this change. BCTA officials also confirm that they are in the process of making the fare structure more simple and adding online payment options for it.

Woman gets accused of harrassing and assaulting a teenage ice hockey referee over a call at a youth hockey game at Robert Morris University Island Sports Center

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) According to officials, a woman is accused of harassing and assaulting a sixteen-year-old youth ice hockey referee over a call at Robert Morris University Island Sports Center. A youth hockey game happened on July 20th, 2025 there and thirty-eight-year-old Andrea Bucci got charges for being connected to the incident. Court documents state the Bucci grabbed the shirt of the teenage referee to assault him after he called unsportsmanlike conduct on her son and disqualified him from this game. Police also note that Bucci and her husband allegedly lunged at the referee and used profane language against him at the end of that game. Bucci also faces charges of assault, disorderly conduct and harassment in addition to the charge of assaulting a sports official. Michael Bucci, the husband of Andrea Bucci, did not get charged. The Bucci family got told that they can not return to the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center.

Ongoing investigation held by Allegheny County police regarding an incident of a two-year-old child that died after drowning in the pool of a neighbor in Stowe Township

(File Photo of Police Lights)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) Allegheny County police are holding an ongoing investigation for an incident in which a two-year-old child died shortly after drowning in a pool in Stowe Township on Monday evening. According to police, officers were called Monday to the 1100 block of 12th Street. Residents were performing CPR on the child when officers arrived. Preliminary information confirms that the child drowned in the pool of a neighbor. The child died that day after getting taken to a local hospital.