Two-hundred and eighty Sheetz stores selling canned cocktails

(Story written by Noah Haswell of Beaver County Radio, Published on September 27, 2024 at 5:50 A.M.)

(Pittsburgh, PA) Close to three hundred Sheetz stores in Pennsylvania will start selling canned cocktails thanks to a new law. A bill that expands places where ready-to-drink cocktails like High Noon and Surfside are sold was signed by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. Sheetz says that effective immediately, more than two-hundred and eighty locations will start selling these drinks. This law allows those to sell spirits with ABV ranging from 0.5% to 12.5% involving cans up to 16 ounces. 

Frances Rossi (1943-2024)

Frances Rossi, 80, of Aliquippa peacefully passed away on September 6, 2024. 
She was born on December 28, 1943, the daughter of the late Angelo and Mary (D’Orazio) Rossi. She is survived by several cousins. 
Frances was retired from the Fine Wine & Good Spirits Stores where she worked as a cashier. 
She looked forward to going to the casino and trying her luck. 
At her request, all services were private. Arrangements were entrusted to the Anthony Mastrofrancesco Funeral Home, Inc., 2026 McMinn Street, Aliquippa. 
She was laid to rest at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. 

New Brighton announces leaf collection schedule

The borough of New Brighton issued the follwing notice to residents regarding leaf collection:

(New Brighton, Pa) Leaf collection will begin in New Brighton Borough on Monday, October 7, in Daugherty Township on Monday, October 14, and in Pulaski Township on Monday, October 21.   All leaf collection programs will continue through December 6, as weather permits.

Borough and Township residents should place their raked leaves along the edge of the street for collection. Leaves that are bagged or that contain any tree branches, brush, stones, garbage/rubbish, grass clippings, or garden debris will not be collected.

Leaf collection in New Brighton Borough will follow the posted street sweeping schedule.

Leaf collection in Daugherty Township will follow the following schedule:

  • Mondays: William Penn Way & Crescent Heights Plan, Rt. 65 (from Valley Avenue to Stuber Road), North Avenue, Franklin Plan, and McGuire Street.
  • Tuesdays: Gulbranson Heights Plan, Daugherty Highlands Plan, and Hillcrest Drive.
  • Wednesdays: Mercer Heights Plan, Klein Plan, Stuber Road, McCreary Plan, Cardinal Drive, Robin Trail, and Rt. 65 (from Stuber Road to Wises Grove Road).
  • Thursdays: Allendale Road, Wallace Drive, Harold Street, Inman Drive, Hogue Drive, and John Street.

Call the Daugherty Township Municipal Building at (724) 846-5337 to schedule a collection on state routes not listed above.

Leaf collection in Pulaski Township will follow the following schedule:

  • Mondays: New England Hill and Blockhouse Run Road area.
  • Tuesdays: Sunflower Road – North to 36th Street.
  • Wednesdays: West Side of Rochester Road from Sunflower Road to 52nd Street.
  • Thursdays: East Side of Rochester Road from Sunflower Road to 52nd Street.
  • Fridays: Tree branches will be collected that have fallen from storms.  Branches must be tied together into manageable bundles and not contain any other type of lawn debris.

Steelworkers lose arbitration case against US Steel in their bid to derail sale to Nippon

FILE – United States Steel’s Edgar Thomson Plant in Braddock, Pa. is shown on Feb. 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

An arbitration board has ruled that U.S. Steel may proceed with its proposed acquisition by Nippon Steel, a deal that faces strong opposition from its workforce.

The board, which was jointly chosen by U.S. Steel and the United Steelworkers to decide disputes between them, said Wednesday that U. S. Steel has satisfied each of the conditions of the successorship clause of its basic labor agreement with the union. It determined that no further action under the agreement was necessary in order to proceed with the closing of the proposed transaction with Nippon Steel.

USW had filed a series of grievances in January alleging that the successorship clause had not been satisfied. The union has previously stated that it doesn’t believe Nippon fully understands its commitment to steelworkers, retirees and its communities. USW has expressed concern about the enforcement of its labor agreements, having transparency into Nippon’s finances, as well as national defense, infrastructure and supply-chain issues.

The arbitration board heard evidence and arguments from U.S. Steel and USW last month.

The board said Wednesday that it recognized the repeated written commitments Nippon made to fulfill the requirements of the successorship clause and that no further actions were required by the company. The written commitments include Nippon’s pledge to invest at least $1.4 billion in USW-represented facilities, not to conduct layoffs or plant closings during the term of the basic labor agreement, and to protect the best interests of U.S. Steel in trade matters.

“With the arbitration process now behind us, we look forward to moving ahead with our pending transaction with Nippon Steel,” U.S. Steel President and CEO David Burritt said in a statement.

USW said in a statement on Wednesday that it disagreed with the arbitration board’s result.

“Nippon’s commitment to our facilities and jobs remains as uncertain as ever, and executives in Tokyo can still change U.S. Steel’s business plans and wipe them away at any moment,” the union said. “We’re clearly disappointed with the decision, but it does nothing to change our opposition to the deal or our resolve to fight for our jobs and communities that hang in the balance in this transaction.”

President Joe Biden has previously voiced his opposition to Nippon Steel buying U.S. Steel, but the federal government appears to be in no hurry to block the deal.

Earlier this month White House officials did not deny that the president would formally block the acquisition. But the necessary report from the government’s Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States has yet to be submitted to the White House.

The proposed takeover carries some heavy political weight in Pennsylvania, a state that both Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump view as a must-win in November’s presidential election. U.S. Steel is headquartered in Pittsburgh.

Biden, Harris and Trump have all come out against the deal. Harris spoke at the Economic Club of Pittsburgh on Wednesday where she pledged to build an economy that is both pro-business and helps the middle class.

Judge approves $600 million settlement for residents near fiery Ohio derailment

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 Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

A federal judge on Wednesday approved a $600 million class-action settlement Wednesday that Norfolk Southern railroad offered to everyone who lived within 20 miles (32 kilometers) of last year’s disastrous derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

Judge Benita Pearson gave the deal final approval after a hearing where the lawyers who negotiated it with the railroad argued that residents overwhelmingly supported it, attorneys for the residents and railroad spokesperson Heather Garcia told The Associated Press. Roughly 55,000 claims were filed. Only 370 households and 47 businesses opted out.

Those who did object to the deal were vocal in their concerns that the settlement won’t provide enough and that the deal was rushed through so quickly that they can’t possibly know what the potential health impact from the derailment will be. They say it’s hard to know all the risks, given the way test results have been reported by the EPA and the fact that the lawyers haven’t disclosed everything they learned in their investigation.

The objectors had hoped the judge would order the plaintiff’s lawyers to release the tests their own expert did after the derailment and address their concerns about a toxicologist who told them at one of the lawyers’ town meetings that they shouldn’t worry because he doesn’t think anyone will develop cancer. That angered residents who have been complaining about unexplained ailments since the derailment and talking with doctors who are conducting studies to try and determine what the health impacts will be. Experts say it’s too soon to know the health impacts.

“These attorneys were bullying people and telling them they were never going to get any money if they didn’t take this. People felt backed into a corner,” resident Jami Wallace said.

The judge’s approval clears the way for payments to start going out quickly. The lawyers had previously said they hoped to get the first checks in the mail before the end of the year.

As part of the settlement, any aid residents received from the railroad will be deducted from their final payments. Wallace and others who had to relocate for an extended period while the railroad paid for hotels or rental homes likely won’t get anything.

Anyone who lived within 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) of the derailment can get up to $70,000 per household for property damage plus up to $25,000 per person for health problems. The payments drop off the farther people lived from the derailment down to as little as a few hundred dollars at the outer edges.

“This outcome would not have been possible without the resilience and support of the East Palestine community and the broader class of impacted residents and business owners,” the plaintiffs’ attorneys said in a statement. “We look forward to beginning the distribution of funds in the coming weeks to help this community rebuild and move forward.”

When the train derailed late on Feb. 3, 2023, tank cars full of hazardous chemicals ruptured and spilled their contents that caught fire just outside the small town on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border. Then three days later officials decided to needlessly blow open five tank cars of vinyl chloride and burn the toxic plastic ingredient inside because they feared they would explode.

Since the derailment, the railroad has offered residents and the community $108 million in assistance and paid for the massive cleanup that has cost more than $1 billion.

“We made a promise to make things right and this is just one piece of that commitment,” the railroad said in a statement. “We remain committed to this community for the long haul and look forward to continuing our relationship with the Village as we work to help the area recover and thrive.”

Tamara Lynn Freeze said she and her husband ultimately decided to accept the deal despite their concerns about giving up the right to ever sue even if someone eventually develops cancer. She said the idea of having to go it alone against the railroad’s army of lawyers one day is daunting.

“It seems like everybody kind of just wanted it to be over with. like the attorneys and obviously Norfolk,” Freeze said.

She and her husband live in his childhood home, which is some 175 yards (160 meters) from the derailment site. They will now decide whether to give up that house that’s paid for or find somewhere they can feel comfortable planting a garden and living their lives normally again.

Former Rochester Township EMS Coordinator passed away

Story by Sandy Giordnao – Beaver County Radio. Published September 26, 2024 1:52 P.M.

(Rochester Township, Pa) Tino A. Yaccich, 57, died on Monday, September 16, 2024. He was the former accountability officer for several county fire departments along with being a firefighter, and a member of the county’s Hazmat Team.

His funeral was held Monday, and he was buried with full military honors  at Sylvania Hills Memorial Park Mausoleum.
He is survived by his wife Leslie, 2 daughters and sons-on-law, 2 grandchildren, 3 brothers, and 1 sister.

Aliquippa City Council approves renewal of Waste Management contract

Story by Sandy Giordnao – Beaver County Radio. Published 26, 2024 1:45 P.M.

(Aliquippa, Pa) The contract extension is for 4 years and was unanimously approved at Wednesday’s work session. Council approved the ending of the truck being weighed each time at Linmar Homes, average tons of 33.91 since it doesn’t have to leave, and return to Linmar to service the remaining commercial containers. This move will help the budget since the tonnage won’t change.

Cindy Gormley, AEDC Director announced that the unveiling of the New Champions of Aliquippa Sign will take place at an event on Kennedy Boulevard. Spectators can stand in the Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church lot across from the sign. Everyone is welcome, especially former coaches, players teachers, Ms. Gormley told council and residents.
Those wishing to participate in the parade are reminded they must sign up by Friday, September 27, 2024.
Council meets in regular session on Wednesday, October 2, 2024.

Aliquippa house fire under investigation

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published September 26, 2024 1:44 P.M.

(Aliquippa, Pa) An Aliquippa house fire is under investigation. Fire Chief Tim Firich reported that the department responded to a fire at 415 Washington Street on Plan 11 Wednesday night. He reported that the fire was confined to a room on the first floor. The home is vacant and there were no utilities. The fire was brought under control in about 10 minutes. The fire is being investigated as suspicious. Assisting Aliquippa at the scene were crews from Ambridge, Center Township, Baden and Crescent Township.

Darlene A. Beeler (Passed on September 24, 2024)

Darlene A. Beeler, 66, passed away on September 24, 2024. She was preceded in death by her parents John and Theresa Russell and her two siblings, John and Rhonda. She is survived by husband Charles (Chicky) Beeler, her four children, Amber (Lee), Ken (Kelli), Melissa (Kris) and Samantha (Bobby), her seven loving grandchildren: Rhiannon, Kayla (David), Kris, Corbin, Sophia, Miles, Oak; greatgranddaughter Isla, her three siblings, Theresa, Brian, and Randy and many nieces and nephews.

Darlene loved working as a CNA and taking great care of her patients. She was also an animal lover and would care for countless pets and animals she rescued along the way. She loved to travel and spend as much time with her family as she could.

In lieu of flowers, Darlene has requested that donations to St. Jude Children’s hospital be made in her name. Arrangements for a celebration of life will be made at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to Simpson Funeral and Cremation Services.