Author: Beaver County Radio

Hopewell school board heard final options for school consolidation

(Story written by Beaver County Radio News Corespondant Sandy Giordano)

DRAW Collective’s Dan Engen presented the final options and their costs.  At Tuesday night’s meeting, residents and board members were permitted to ask questions at the October 22, 2024 meeting. The board meets in regular session on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 7 p.m. and their decision will be presented.

In the regular business section of the meeting, the board approved the hiring of Valerie kuebel as a paraprofessional for the junior high school. Richelle Montgomery was approved as the high school Best Buddies Club sponsor.
Reorganization of the board will be held at  the Tuesday, December 3, 2024 meeting at 7 p.m.

Congressman Chris Deluzio and wife welcome fourth child, a baby boy

This week, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) and his wife Zoë Bunnell welcomed their fourth child into their family, a healthy baby boy.   

Congressman Deluzio and his family are thrilled to share this news and released the following statement:   

“We are over the moon to welcome our son into our family and are grateful that both the baby and Zoë are healthy and recovering well.   

“We want to thank the dedicated team of nurses, doctors, and staff at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital who helped us begin this new chapter for our family!   

“Our hearts are full, and we thank everyone for their well wishes. We’re so proud to be raising our family in Western Pennsylvania.” 

Pennsylvania school district boards up bathrooms

(Hanover, PA) The superintendent of South Western School District confirmed on Friday that the Pennsylvania school district has boarded up window openings it recently installed that allowed people in a middle school hallway to peer into two gender-neutral-designated bathrooms. After a vote in August from the South Western School District’s conservative-majority school board, the board president asserted that this action was designed to monitor and prevent misbehavior. The windows were not installed in any of the school’s non-gender-neutral bathrooms. Here in Pennsylvania, the Education Law Center wrote in a January analysis that federal appeals courts have ruled students have a right to use bathrooms and locker rooms aligned with their gender identity. 

Panera Bread settles case with family of twenty-one-year-old who passed away after drinking copmany’s Charged Lemonade

(Pennsylvania) Panera Bread has settled a case with the family of twenty-one-year-old Sarah Katz, who passed away after drinking the company’s Charged Lemonade. In 2023, Katz’s family filed an incorrect death lawsuit which stated that Panera Bread did not warn customers of the ingredients in the drink or did not call it an “energy drink.” Katz went into cardiac arrest in September 2022 after drinking the lemonade at a Panera Bread location and died after a second cardiac arrest. The lawsuit said that Katz had no idea how much caffeine the drink had, because she was not warned. According to NBC, this case was supposed to go to trial this month and details of the settlement were not released. 

Some payments from East Palestine train derailment could go out during deal’s appeal

(East Palestine, Ohio) After a train derailment that happened in East Palestine, Ohio in 2023, some residents should still be able to receive personal injury payments even while the bulk of their $600 million class action settlement with Norfolk Southern railroad remains on hold during an appeal. The lawyers haven’t provided any breakdown of how many of the roughly 55,000 claims they received are for injuries and how many are for property damage, nor have they said how much each person will receive. Only 370 households and 47 businesses opted out of the deal. Residents don’t really know exactly how much they will receive. 

Source for Photo: FILE – A black plume rises over East Palestine, Ohio, as a result of a controlled detonation of a portion of the derailed Norfolk Southern trains, Feb. 6, 2023. Norfolk Southern announced new details Monday, Sept. 18, about its plan to compensate East Palestine residents for lost home values since the fiery derailment disrupted life in the eastern Ohio town in February. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Man accused of exposing himself at Scoops Ice Cream Store appeared in court

(Sewickley, PA) A man who exposed himself to children at a Scoops Ice Cream store appeared in court on Tuesday when 82-year-old David Whitten walked into his preliminary hearing and tried to cover his face with a jacket. In the middle of a Wednesday afternoon last month, police say Whitten pulled his pants down near Scoops Ice Cream store, exposing himself, and began touching himself inappropriately. The district judge told Whitten he’s not to have any contact with Scoops’ witnesses or victims, no contact with minors without supervision, and must stay 100 yards away from schools and parks. Whitten’s defense attorney decided to waive the hearing even though there were two female witnesses that were ready to testify if needed.

 

Ambridge CVS reopens

(Story written by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News Correspondant, Published on October 9th, 2024 at 8:01 A.M.)

(Ambridge, PA) CVS in Ambridge is back in operation. Beaver County Radio was told they are back in operation and no other information was available.

Source for Photo: A box of Maximum Strength Zantac tablets is shown at a pharmacy, Monday, Sept. 30, 2019, in Miami Beach, Florida. CVS has halted sales of the popular heartburn treatment and the store generic version after warnings by U.S. health regulators. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Andrew Joseph Mihalik (1931-2024)

Andrew Joseph Mihalik, 93 of Raccoon Township, passed away on October 7, 2024 in his home with his family by his side.  He was born in Aliquippa on September 23, 1931, a son of the late Andrew and Teressa Mihalik.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Mihalik, son and daughter-in-law: Rick & Joyce Mihalik and a son Andrew (AJ) Mihalik; a brother and sister-in-law: Joseph and Kay Mihalik, and a sister and brother-in-law: Margaret & Rusty Heathcock and his beloved dog Bella.

He is survived by his two daughters: Carol and Jerry Olson, and Mary and Thomas Marshall; 6 grandchildren: Sean Marshall, Jamie (Jeremy Gilman), Nicole Marshall (Brian Lockhart), Brandon (Ann) Mihalik, Jerry (Trish) Olson, and David (Sissy) Olson: 11 great grandchildren: Brian, Anne, Landon, Hunter, Emma, Evelyn, Jerry III, Skylar, David Jr. and Kendall; three sisters-in-law: Agnes (Phill) Davis, Barbara Smith and Deb Smith, and numerous nieces and nephews .

Andy was a US Air Force Veteran serving during the Korean War as a mechanic. During his service, he traveled all over the world.  He worked in J&L Steel and then US Steel in their fire departments.  He was a life member of the Raccoon Township Volunteer Fire Department, also a former umpire for Raccoon Twp. Youth Baseball team.   Andy was active in the democratic election committee in Beaver County and was a member of the Beaver County Antique Equipment and Crafts Association. Most of all, Andy was a husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather and will be deeply missed.

A Memorial Gathering will be held on Thursday, October 10, from 2-4 P.M. & 6-8 P.M. in the Huntsman Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Aliquippa. A Firefighters Farwell Service will be conducted by the Raccoon Township Volunteer Fire Department at 7:30pm. A Funeral Service will be held on Friday October 11, at 11 a.m. with Rev. Richard Herbster officiating.  The members of the Beaver County Special Unit will conduct Military Honors immediately following the service.

Private interment is in Service Creek Cemetery, where he will be laid to rest along with his wife, Virginia and son Andrew.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Raccoon Township Volunteer Fire Department, 4061 Patterson Road, Aliquippa.

The family would like to thank the VA Hospice Care and his caretaker Tony, also Amedisys Hospice for their dedication and loving care they had with our father.

John L. Pander (1930-2024)

John L. Pander, 94, of New Sewickley, passed away on October 6, 2024 in Good Samaritan Hospice House in Wexford. He was born in Ellwood City on March 30, 1930, a son of the late Ed and Bertha Pander. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Nell Pander. He is survived by his three children and their spouses: Linda & Andrew Oshop, Diana & Ronald Neal, and John L & Brenda Pander Jr.; 4 grandchildren: Brian (Alison) Oshop, Gretchen (David) Meyers, Ryan (Emily) Neal, and Johnny Pander; and 8 grandchildren: Audrey Oshop, Griffin Potts, Luke Meyers, Peter Oshop, Kyra Oshop, Olivia Meyers, Baylon Neal, and Vivienne Neal.

He was a graduate of Lincoln High School in Ellwood City and the Barber School of Pittsburgh.  He was a retired from Westinghouse and was barber for many years, working at Schlosher’s Barber Shop in Beaver.  He was a veteran, serving with both the Navy and the Army during his 10 years of service.  John enjoyed hunting and fishing, but he especially enjoyed spending time with his family.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Friday October 11, at 11 a.m. at St. Felix Roman Catholic Parish. 450 13th Street, Freedom.

Private interment will take place in Calvary Cemetery of Freedom.

The family wishes to thank the ICU doctor, nurses and staff from Heritage Valley Sewickley, Good Samaritan Hospice and the Visiting Angels, especially Missy and Nicole, for the wonderful care taken of John.