(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

The first official work session had a sense of newness to it, as new Commissioner Jack Manning and new Chief Clerk Tony Caltury joined previous Commissioners Tony Amadio & Dan Camp and Solicitors Garen Fedeles & Nathan Morgan. Caltury replaces Cynthia Cook as Chief Clerk, while Manning replaces new County Treasurer Sandie Egley in the Commissioner’s spot.

But the new group’s first work items came in a familiar setting, as two of 2019’s major topics kicked off 2020. First was Brush Creek Park, for which the Board of Commissioners received some good news in the form of a grant check presented by Marion Township resident Jodi McElwain:

 

The new playground is expected to be built in the same location as the previous iteration, but that will be up to the Beaver County DPW to make official.

The other major revelation in the work session came when an audience member asked about the ongoing possibilities with the Maple Syrup Festival, for which the Board of Commissioners responded as such:

 

The meeting took place at 1 PM Wednesday with the Conservation District, who recently announced they would not be the head sponsors of the yearly festival.

The first public meeting for the new Board of Commissioners will be Thursday, January 9, at 10 AM in the Courthouse.

Pennsylvania could soon join 20 other states in banning drivers from using handheld cellphones while operating a vehicle. The bipartisan bills recently received approval by the PA House Transportation Committee. One of the bills was filed by Rep. Rosemary Brown (R-Monroe County). The other was filed by Rep. Tony DeLuca (D-Allegheny County). The law in place bans texting while driving, but DeLuca believes that language needs to include all types of cellphone use. Versions of this bill have failed repeatedly over the last several years, but DeLuca is confident 2020 will be different since it’s gaining bipartisan support.

A landslide continues to block Route 51 in Moon Township after several days. The hillside gave way late Thursday, bringing down trees and power lines. There was hope that the stretch of roadway between Purdy and Stoops Ferry roads would reopen Monday, but that was not possible. PennDOT officials said geotechnical engineers determined the slide continued to move over the weekend. However, the rock that needs to be removed is on private property, so PennDOT has to wait to get authorization from the property owner before moving forward.
The continued closure of Route 51 is bad news for business owners in the area. Northbound drivers must detour around the closure by turning left onto Flaugherty Run Road. Southbound drivers need to take Brodhead Road.

The New Castle Police Department are searching for a missing woman. 39-year-old Sabrina Salamon has been missing since Dec. 20 from the City of New Castle. Salamon is 5 feet, 4 inches tall and has brown hair and green eyes. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call New Castle police at 724-656-3586 or you can leave a tip on their website, newcastlepd.com.

WEATHER FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY, JAN. 8TH, 2020

 

TODAY – CONSIDERABLE CLOUDS THIS MORNING. SOME
DECREASE IN CLOUDS LATER IN THE DAY.
HIGH – 33.

TONIGHT – MOSTLY CLEAR. LOW – 16.

THURSDAY – PARTLY SUNNY. HIGH – 42.

Iran strikes back at US with missile attack at air base
By NASSER KARIMI, AMIR VAHDAT and JON GAMBRELL Associated Press
Iran has struck back at the United States for the killing of a top Iranian general. Iranian state TV says Tehran fired a series of surface-to-surface missiles at an Iraqi air base housing U.S. troops and warning the United States and its allies in the region not to retaliate. U.S. officials confirmed airstrikes at the air base. There was no immediate word on injuries.