Author: Beaver County Radio

Joan M. Perretta-Clark (1938-2025)

Joan M. Perretta-Clark, 87, of New Brighton, passed away at home with her daughter, Annamarie and her son-in-law Mikey by her side on October 21st, 2025.

She was born in Rochester on August 30th, 1938, the daughter of the late Tony “Pap Pap” and Norma (Retzer) Treglia. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Richard “Dick” Clark and a daughter and son-in-law, Janel (Mark) Lavorini. She is survived by four children, Patsy Perretta, John Paul Perretta, Annamarie (Mike) Perretta Rosepink and Toni (Ric) Jones; as well as several grandchildren and great grandchildren and her pets who were known as “The Girls”.

Joan spent over 20 years as an Avon District Manager with Avon, where her passion for people and excellence in service made her a beloved colleague and friend. Before that, she worked with Bell Telephone, contributing to one of the most vital communication networks of its time. She also lent her talents to The New Tribune, where she played a role in keeping her community informed and connected.

Friends and family will be received on Monday, October 27th, from 5 p.m. until the time of a service at 6 p.m. in the J&J Spratt Funeral Home, 1612 Third Avenue, New Brighton, who was in charge of her arrangements. Pastor Greg Clagg will officiate.

The family would like to thank all the staff, doctors, and nurses at Heritage Valley Beaver. They would also like to thank the Amedisys Hospice and their staff for their loving care.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joan M. Perretta-Clark, please visit the flower store of the J&J Spratt Funeral Home by clicking here.

Route 51 Shoulder Closures Begin Monday in Robinson Township

(File Photo of Road Work Ahead Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Robinson Township, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that beginning on Monday, October 27th, weather permitting, shoulder closures in both directions of Route 51 (Coraopolis Road) in Robinson Township will begin. From 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, as needed, through early December, there will be shoulder closures in each direction of Route 51 between the northbound and southbound on-ramps at the I-79 Coraopolis/McKees Rocks interchange and these closures will occur to allow crews to conduct pier work on the structure carrying I-79 over Route 51.

Average Age of First-Time Mothers at AHN Labor and Delivery Units Climbs to 31 Years in 2024, Higher than National Average

(File Photo of the Allegheny Health Network Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) According to recent data from Allegheny Health Network (AHN), the average age of first-time mothers who gave birth at an AHN labor and delivery unit last year was 31.1 years old, exceeding the national average by more than three years. AHN’s higher-than-average numbers in Western Pennsylvania are consistent with trends across the United States, as first-time mothers tend to be older in both areas that are urban and toward the coasts and younger in areas that are rural like the Great Plains and the South. Schooling is the biggest factor for this variation because cities that are big tend to have a larger proportion of college graduates than areas that are rural and women that have college degrees have children at an average of seven years later than women that do not have college degrees.

AAA Urges Parents to Talk to Teens During National Teen Driver Safety Week

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of AAA East Central)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) National Teen Driver Safety Week runs through Saturday, October 25th, and AAA is recommending that parents talk to teens about driving safely. AAA East Central in Pittsburgh also gives a four-step approach called READ the Road to help new drivers increase their safety on the road. Drivers must have the RIGHT speed by following the speed limit and slowing down in weather conditions that are poor, and they must keep their EYES up on the road while avoiding distractions. Those on the road also must ANTICIPATE their next move by reacting to the moves of other drivers and provide a DONUT of space around their vehicle on all sides as a safe buffer. According to a recent release from AAA East Central, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety Culture Index reveals that 72% of teen drivers aged 16–18 admitted to engaging in at least one risky behavior while driving and these include:

  • Driving 10 mph over the limit on residential streets (47%)
  • Speeding 15 mph over the limit on freeways (40%)
  • Texting while driving (35%)
  • Running red lights (32%)
  • Aggressive driving (31%)
  • Driving Drowsy (25%)
  • Driving without a seatbelt (17%)

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has also confirmed that new teen drivers aged 16-17) are more likely than adults to be involved in a deadly crash by three times.

You can also find tips that AAA recommends to ensure teens are driving safely by visiting the link below:

Click here for tips on Teen Driver Safety – AAA Exchange

Aliquippa man sentenced to prison for punching another man in 2021 bar dispute leading to fatal blood clot in the victim

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced in Harrisburg yesterday that twenty-eight-year-old Kijana Lowe of Aliquippa was sentenced to two to five years in prison that day in connection with a dispute in 2021 outside of an Aliquippa bar which led to a man getting killed. Police stated that Lowe punched thirty-eight-year-old Ayo Genes of Aliquippa in the parking lot outside Paris Grill in September of 2021. Genes died about two weeks later in a hospital because of a blood clot even though he underwent surgery there. Lowe has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and he is already serving a ten-year prison sentence on drug charges after he was arrested in November of 2021 for drug trafficking at a Moon Township hotel. Lowe was also ordered to pay a restitution of $3,000 toward funeral costs.

U.S. Steel preparing to restart a Clairton Coke Works plant battery after August explosion

(File Photo: Source for Photo: The Clairton Coke Works, a U.S. Steel coking plant, is seen Monday, Aug 11, 2025, in Clairton, Penn. (AP Photo/Gene Puskar)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Clairton, PA) U.S. Steel is preparing to restart Battery 14 at the U.S. Steel Coke Works plant in Clairton because of the explosion that occurred there on August 11th, 2025 that killed two men and injured at least ten people. This battery has been on hot idle since the explosion, and that means that it is not making any product. U.S. Steel confirmed that the repair work on Battery 14 is complete now and operations on it can continue. Final safety checks are set to be performed today with startup expected to begin this afternoon.

Congressman Chris Deluzio warns premiums for health insurance will increase without tax credit extension

(File Photo of Congressman Chris Deluzio)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Washington, D.C.) Congressman Chris Deluzio, who represents the 17th Congressional District, gave a warning in Washington D.C. recently that without tax credit extension, health insurance premiums will increase. The government shutdown is in its third week, and tax credits from the Affordable Care Act is one of the reasons for it holding up. Deluzio noted that if change does not come in his district, 24,000 people that receive their coverage through the Pennsylvania marketplace Pennie could see their premiums increase by 75%.

Current phone scam in Pennsylvania targets SNAP benefit recipients

(File Photo of Scam Alert Background)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) There is a scam out there in Pennsylvania currently targeting those who receive SNAP benefits. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services stated yesterday that SNAP clients are getting calls from some phone numbers telling them that the benefits are on hold until the eligibility can be verified by providing a pin and calling a number. The cell phone numbers of the scammers are 1-888-239-7710, 1-888-272-8720 and 1-888-737-6551, however; you can call 1-844-347-8477 if you get a scam call.