Author: Beaver County Radio

The Pennsylvania State Police Station in New Castle will conduct a sobriety checkpoint in Lawrence County during the 2025 Labor Day Weekend

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Badge)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Lawrence County, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in New Castle made a recent public service announcement that their police station in New Castle will conduct a sobriety checkpoint in Lawrence County during the holiday weekend of Labor Day, specifically, from Saturday, August 29th through Monday, September 1st, 2025. This sobriety checkpoint will be performed because it is an effort to deter and combat drivers that are impaired who drive on the roads of Pennsylvania. Other sobriety checkpoints in the Pennsylvania State Police New Castle Troop D Area will be in conjunction with this sobriety checkpoint that will be conducted in Lawrence County during the 2025 Labor Day weekend. According to police, other roving and mobile enforcement details about this sobriety checkpoint will be ongoing and motorists as well as members of the public are reminded to drive safely, drive sober and conduct themselves responsibly and appropriately.

2025 Little League Baseball World Series Attracted an Estimated 70,000 People to Williamsport and Generated Nearly $40 Million for Pennsylvania’s Economy

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Tourism Office)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Williamsport, PA) According to a release from the Pennsylvania Tourism Office and the Lycoming County Visitor’s Bureau, more than 70,000 players, coaches, and fans recently descended on Williamsport for the 78th Little League Baseball World Series in 2025, injecting an estimated $40 million into Pennsylvania’s economy. Memorial Park in Williamsport is where the Little League World Series first started back in 1947 and has featured teams from 44 of the 50 states of the United States of America and teams from 29 countries around the world. At least $523,000 has been approved to support various activities and improvements around the Little League Baseball World Series since the beginning of the Shapiro administration. This includes the funding going through the Marketing to Attract Tourists program of the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development. The funding supports the street festival called Williamsport Welcomes the World as well as the Grand Slam Parade for the local community of Williamsport which increases traffic on foot to shops that are local there and supports improvements at the site of the Little League World Series, Bowman Field.

Governor Josh Shapiro Congratulates 173rd Cadet Class of the Pennsylvania State Police Academy, Highlights Historic Investments in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Initiatives Across the Commonwealth

(Photo Courtesy of Commonwealth Media Services)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Manhiem, PA) Governor Josh Shapiro joined Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris on Friday in Manhiem, Pennsylvania to congratulate fifty-nine new troopers of the 173rd Cadet Class of the Pennsylvania State Police Academy graduating that day after twenty-eight weeks of comprehensive training. As these troopers go across Pennsylvania to serve their respective communities, one of the topics that Shapiro talked about was the massive responsibility that comes with putting on a Pennsylvania State Police uniform. Shapiro said in his remarks on Friday: “I believe the Pennsylvania State Police is the finest law enforcement agency in the entire country.” Shapiro also addressed the graduating troopers and told them that he has the confidence that they will serve their communities with the distinction that comes with being a trooper for the Pennsylvania State Police and to keep other Pennsylvanians safe for the future.

Electrical explosion at Ellwood City Forge causes two of its workers to get taken to the hospital

(File Photo of an Ellwood City Police Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Ellwood City, PA) An electrical explosion occurred at the Ellwood City Forge in Ellwood City yesterday which sent two people that work there to the hospital. According to Ellwood City Fire Chief Rick Myers, around 11 a.m. yesterday, crews responded to Ellwood City Forge on Commercial Avenue for a reported electrical explosion. Meyers also confirmed that the power inside the whole facility got turned off and all of the other employees got sent home and a ground-level electrical room was where the explosion was contained. About an hour was the amount of time that firefighters were on scene during this incident. One person injured from this explosion suffered burns that were severe and that person was flown to a hospital in the Pittsburgh area for treatment. The other person that was injured from this explosion had injuries that were less severe and got taken to a local hospital to be evaluated. According to fire officials, the explosion occurred in a large fuse panel inside the facility. The cause of the explosion is unknown at this time and the investigation into this explosion is still ongoing.

Bridge cleaning activities on the Route 168 Shippingport Bridge will occur, weather permitting

(File Photo: Caption for Photo: Construction Industry Highlight National Work Zone Awareness Week)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that beginning today, weather permitting, bridge cleaning activities on the Route 168 Shippingport Bridge over the Ohio River in Industry and Shippingport Boroughs will occur. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays through Tuesday, September 2nd except for Monday, September 1st, single-lane restrictions on the Shippingport Bridge will occur as bridge cleaning operations there will be conducted by crews from Green Acres Contracting.

Congressman Chris Deluzio Hosts Bipartisan Roundtable Discussion on Smartphones in Classrooms

(File Photo of Congressman Chris Deluzio)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Sewickley Borough, PA) Congressman Chris Deluzio was the moderator of a conversation with Pennsylvania State Senator Devlin Robinson, a parent, a student and educators in western Pennsylvania on Friday that was bipartisan to talk about the impact of smartphones in classrooms. Earlier in the summer of 2025, Deluzio sent letters to the 59 school districts in the 17th Congressional District to ask them if they will ban cellphones in the classroom this year and recently launched a survey that was public to ask Western Pennsylvanians if they think schools should ban smartphones in classrooms for grades K-12. This conversation was to collect information for Deluzio for his efforts to help ban cellphones from classrooms to stop the distraction and addictiveness that phones can cause in school. The office of Deluzio also plans to release a report including this information. According to a release from Deluzio’s office, other participants in the roundtable included: PA State Senator Devlin Robinson (SD-37), who recently proposed bipartisan legislation in Harrisburg to make every PA school phone-free all day; Melissa Costantino-Poruben, a PA State Education member who has taught math for 26 years at all levels in Avonworth School District and currently teaches 6th grade; Erin Ruggiero, also a PSEA member and Teacher at Moon Area School District; Kelly Marsh, PhD, the PA legislation lead for PA Unplugged and a local parent worried about how smartphones are hurting their kids; and Kim Francisco-Martinez, a senior at Duquesne University and 2022 High School graduate who grew up in the smartphone era.

Two-vehicle crash in Hanover Township causes tractor-trailer to be overturned and shuts down a part of Route 22 for almost 6 hours; two people taken to the hospital

(File Photo of Road Closed Signs on a Road)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Hanover Township, PA) A two-vehicle crash that occurred in Hanover Township yesterday which overturned a tractor-trailer shut down Route 22 close to Burgettstown for about six hours and caused two people to get taken to the hospital. According to a Washington County 911 supervisor, the crash at mile marker one on westbound Route 22 in Hanover Township was first reported at 6:13 p.m. yesterday. A tractor-trailer and another vehicle were involved and two people were taken to hospitals in the area of the crash and one of them was taken to an area hospital in a medical helicopter. After the crash, Route 22 between Exit PA 18 – Florence/Burgettstown and the West Virginia line was closed in both directions for almost 6 hours. This crash is being investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police.

Man from West View in Pittsburgh indicted on federal charges related to the sexual exploitation of a child

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A man from West View in Pittsburgh recently got indicted on federal charges that are related to the sexual exploitation of a child. According to the Department of Justice, twenty-five-year-old Kevin Patrick Brown Jr., is accused of producing, receiving, and possessing child sexual abuse material. In August of 2019, Brown allegedly coerced, enticed, induced, persuaded and used a minor to engage in conduct that was sexually explicit to make a visual depiction of the minor of that conduct. The penalties that are potential for the charges against Brown include an up to thirty-year prison sentence and an up to $250,000 fine. The sentence that will be put on Brown will be determined by both the seriousness of the offenses that he committed and if any, the previous criminal history of Brown. Brown got another charge for receiving material of child sexual abuse in the same month and having possession of it in October of 2021.

Martha Marie Wharton (1928-2025)

Martha Marie Wharton, 97, formerly of Freedom, passed away on August 20th, 2025 in Providence Health and Rehabilitation Center of Beaver Falls. She was born in Sewickley, PA on February 24, 1928, the daughter of Alvina Porter. When her mother died when Martha was four years old, she was then raised by her grandmother, Elizabeth Hegner. In addition to her parents and grandparents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 75 years, Robert W. Wharton Sr., two daughters, Christine Simmons and Dawn Ruckert, three grandchildren, Erica Warshol, Robbie Dukovic and Dean Stauffer and her brother, Arthur Seng. She is survived by three children and their spouses, Robert W. Wharton Jr & Delores, Susan Markovich & Joseph and Valerie Ruckert & Harvey, ten grandchildren, eighteen great grandchildren, five great great grandchildren and one step-grandson. Martha worked for many years as a waitress, an apartment complex manager, and a nanny. She volunteered at Passavant Memorial Homes and was a member of the Housing and Development Committee. She was an extremely social person. She loved to go shopping, out to lunch, reading, and dancing and was an amazing mother, grandmother, great and great-great grandmother. Martha was always there to help her family.  She will be deeply missed by all who loved her.

Friends will be received on Tuesday, August 26th from 2-4 p.m. & 6 p.m. until the time of a service at 7:30 p.m. in the Huntsman Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Rochester, who was in charge of her arrangements.

Philip Robert Chiappetta (1979-2025)

Philip Robert Chiappetta, 46, of Beaver Falls, passed away at his home unexpectedly on August 20th, 2025.

He was born in Rochester on July 26th, 1979, a son of Leonard L. and Christine M. (Gruber) Chiappetta. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his siblings: Stephen Chiappetta, Joseph Chiappetta, Felicity (Jeremy) Miller, Renata (Jon) Lucci, Monica Chiappetta, and Anthony (Kierstin) Chiappetta; along with his cherished nieces and nephews: Isaac, Avery, Bella, Giules, Rocco, Chessa, Audri, Enzo, Sarina, and Gia; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. 

Philip was a graduate of the Community College of Beaver County with an associate’s degree in criminal justice and has been employed at the Beaver Falls Municipal Authority for close to 20 years. He was a self-made entrepreneur alongside his brother, Anthony. He was our go-to guy who could fix anything and would lend a hand to anyone in need.  His joys were simple; nothing brought him more happiness than spending time with his family. Philip had wanderlust in his soul and just returned from a 10-day motorcycle trip to one of his favorite places, Maine. While he had no children of his own, he took his nieces and nephews on countless camping trips over the years, creating memories they will always remember. Philip was an avid outdoorsman and loved hunting, fishing, and boating. His talents were evident in all that he accomplished, and he loved to share them with those close to him. Philip will be dearly missed by all who knew him. He could befriend anyone, anytime and anywhere. 

Friends will be received on Wednesday, August 27th from 2-4PM & 6-8PM in the GABAUER-LUTTON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, INC., 117 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls, who was in charge of his arrangements and where departing prayers will be offered on Thursday, August 28th at 9:30 A.M. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 A.M. at St. Monica Church of St. Augustine Parish, 116 Thorndale Drive, Beaver Falls. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Philip’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, https://www.stjude.org/donate.