(Story written by Noah Haswell of Beaver County Radio, Published on August 30, 2024 at 5:59 A.M.)

(New Castle, PA) The Zambelli Fireworks company has been awarded Festival Grand Champion for 2024 at a fireworks competition in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Zach Taminosian, a designer for the local pyrotechnic giant, created the winning show called “Cosmic Connections,” which was judged based on quality, originality, color brilliance and richness, synchronization of music and fireworks, and overall perspective of the show. According to a Zambelli press release, the show wowed audiences with a story that explored the universal human experiences of love, relationships and heartbreak. The 2024 GlobalFest International Fireworks Competition also featured other firework teams from the United States, Spain, Mexico, and Brazil.

(Story written by Noah Haswell of Beaver County Radio, Published on August 30, 2024 at 5:41 A.M.)

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pittsburgh is planning to make a new program to battle addiction. Saturday, August 31 is also International Overdose Awareness Day, and Downtown Pittsburgh experiences the most situations of overdosing. The program involves intervention teams formed by the city’s Office of Community Health and Safety to stop the overdose when they see it happening. Three teams of two, consisted of a case manager and peers, will investigate the condition and try to reverse them back into recovery from their addictions.

(Story written by Noah Haswell of Beaver County Radio, Published on August 30, 2024 at 4:44 A.M.)

A new Mexican restaurant is creating a fiesta in Rochester. Cantina Bar and Grill, which had its opening last month at 161 Brighton Avenue serves tacos as their top sellers. The family of Chris Garcia, a former Los Angeles native, now a resident of Beaver County, has recipes and experience from a previous restaurant they owned in California. Cantina Bar and Grill is open on Mondays through Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Fridays, 8 a.m. to 1:30 a.m., Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., with happy hours from 5-7 p.m. on weekdays.

(Story written by Noah Haswell of Beaver County Radio, Published on August 30, 2024 at 4:37 A.M.)

(Pittsburgh, PA) A woman’s body was found close to Sandcastle Waterpark in the Monongahela River. First responders went to the scene at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday and the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the dead victim as 36-year-old Latasha Jefferson, who according to the Pittsburgh Bureau of police, was reported missing on Wednesday. No suspicious activity was reported from the Allegheny County police’s homicide unit. After the body was found, Sandcastle closed for the remaining hours of Thursday and has been operating on just weekends, but the waterpark will be open this Labor Day weekend and then close for the rest of their season.

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Departments of Transportation (PennDOT) and Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP), the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), and safety partners gathered today at Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center to urge motorists to celebrate responsibly ahead of the Labor Day holiday.

“Crashes involving impaired drivers are completely preventable,” said PennDOT Executive Deputy Secretary Larry Shifflet. “If your celebration this weekend includes alcohol or drugs, plan to get home safely. Choose a designated driver, choose to use a ride-share service or public transportation, but never choose to drive impaired.”

Over the Labor Day holiday weekend last year (Friday, September 1, 2023, through Monday, September 4, 2023) there were 1,189 crashes statewide, resulting in 20 fatalities and 892 injuries. 133 of those crashes were alcohol related, resulting in eight fatalities and 110 injuries; and 41 of those crashes were drug-related, resulting in five fatalities and 48 injuries.

Over this holiday period, PSP and local municipal agencies will conduct impaired driving enforcement details as part of the National Crackdown on Impaired Driving enforcement and education campaign running through September 2. This effort is funded through PennDOT’s statewide annual distribution of nearly $6 million from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for impaired driving enforcement.

The goal of targeted enforcement is to reduce the number of impaired driving-related crashes, injuries, and deaths on roadways throughout the state.

“DUI enforcement saves lives. Everyone is safer when impaired drivers are removed from our roads,” said PSP Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris. “Please enjoy the holiday weekend responsibly.”

During the 2023 Labor Day holiday enforcement period, PSP troopers made 514 DUI arrests and investigated 61 alcohol-related crashes, two of which were fatal.

Impaired driving enforcement goes beyond checking for alcohol impairment. Law enforcement also work to identify motorists impaired by illegal drugs and prescription medication or some combination of these. Pennsylvania has approximately 250 Drug Recognition Experts (DRE) or specially trained officers who look for impaired drivers and assist in DUI investigations when drug-impaired driving is suspected.

“We know that prevention really is our first line of defense when it comes to combatting impaired driving and helping to ensure substance use disorders don’t develop,” said DDAP Deputy Secretary Kelly Primus. “As we close out the summer season that traditionally brings with it an uptick in opportunities for alcohol use, please know that the Shapiro Administrations offers 24-7 help for anyone who is struggling with a substance use disorder.”

Individuals seeking substance use treatment or recovery resources can be connected to local substance use disorder (SUD) resources by calling the toll-free PA Get Help Now helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or by using Treatment Atlas, a free, online locator tool to help Pennsylvanians confidentially find SUD treatment that meets their needs.

“Impaired driving leads to preventable injuries and fatalities, and many times turns surgeries into life-or-death struggles,” said Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center Medical Director of Trauma Services and Chief of Surgery Dr. Dale Dangleben. “As a trauma surgeon, I see the tragic outcomes firsthand. The consequences extend beyond the obvious injuries to not just the patient but the families and communities.”

Cumberland County Coroner Charley Hall emphasized the importance of sober driving by simply stating, “Impaired driving kills. Don’t become another coroner’s statistic.”

The event featured a demonstration of a drug-detection field sobriety test by PSP Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Program Coordinator Corporal Nathan Zulick. Local municipal police who are participating in the enforcement campaign were also in attendance.

A Penn State Health Life Lion Ambulance was on display, along with the Pennsylvania DUI Association’s Moving DUI Victims’ Memorial. The association has a permanent DUI Victims’ Memorial Garden located in front of their headquarters in Harrisburg, honoring and remembering Pennsylvanians who have been killed in impaired driving crashes. The moving memorial showcases a 25-foot wall printed with all of the names of the DUI victims that have been honored in the garden but is housed in a 30-foot trailer that can travel and be shared with loved ones and advocates around the state.

The safety partners encourage motorists to ensure their safety and the safety of others on our roadways by designating a sober driver or arranging for alternate transportation this Labor Day weekend, and every time they drink. The public can join the conversation on social media by using the hashtags #BeSafePA and #DriveSober.

MONACA, PA (August 29, 2024) — In a powerful demonstration of global solidarity, the Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community (BCMAC) is proud to announce an event that brings together two communities impacted by industrial pollution: Bhopal, India, and Beaver County, Pennsylvania. The event, titled “Eyes on Pollution: Bhopal to Beaver County,” will take place on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Penn State Beaver in the Student Union Building Auditorium, 100 University Drive, Monaca, PA 15061.

The year 2024 marks the 40th anniversary of the Bhopal gas leak disaster, which remains the worst industrial disaster in history. For nearly four decades, gas-exposed communities in Bhopal have continued to face neurological disorders and generational birth defects. Today, more than 150,000 people in Bhopal are battling chronic illnesses, and 500,000 lives remain physically and economically harmed by the disaster. The International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal (ICJB) has organized a U.S. tour of survivors who will present an account of how advocates have continued to persist for four decades.

“Victims of corporate crime, whether in Bhopal or Beaver County, often face a long, hard struggle for justice. Chemicals are treated as innocent until proven guilty, and affected communities are continually forced to prove that the toxic substances they are exposed to are responsible for their health impacts and diseases. It often takes decades to establish these links definitively, and by then, many of the original community members are already suffering the consequences. We are eager to build solidarity with the communities of Beaver County as they work to hold Shell and Norfolk Southern accountable for their actions,” said Rachna Dhingra of the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal.

Beaver County, Pennsylvania, has a long history of industrial pollution, largely tied to its role as a hub of manufacturing and industrial activity dating back to the 19th century. While regulatory efforts and the decline of traditional heavy industry have led to improvements, new challenges, particularly from the petrochemical industry, continue to pose risks to the environment and public health. “This event is more than just a conversation—it’s a call to action. Communities across the globe are forging new solidarities—across generations, cultures, and geographies—transforming pain into power. It’s truly an honor to bring these global advocates into our community and we will continue to uplift stories of survivors within this movement,” said Hilary Starcher- O’Toole, Executive Director of BCMAC.

MOON TOWNSHIP, PA — Yesterday, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) joined local school officials and clean air advocates to celebrate the $10.57 million federal investment to provide thirty-eight fully electric buses to school districts around Pennsylvania’s 17^th Congressional District. Specifically, the leaders spotlighted the $1.2 million for Moon Area School District’s purchase of six new vehicles.  

“I have a lot of fond memories of taking the bus from Thornburg to Ingram Elementary, but I also remember how awful the school bus smelled. We’ve got to do better by our kids and keep diesel fumes from filling their lungs,” said Congressman Deluzio. “I’m excited to see these new buses on the streets of Moon Township along with the Pine-Richland, Woodland Hills, and South Fayette School Districts. It’s a big win for our kids’ health, our climate goals, and this region’s air quality.”  

“Thanks to EPA’s Clean School Bus program, Moon Area School District students will soon have a safer, cleaner, and healthier ride to and from school,” said EPA Mid–Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “This $1.2 million investment from the Biden-Harris Administration will have a positive impact on not only the students, but also the bus drivers and anyone who lives along a route.” 

These electric buses support the work of improving air quality and protecting public health. Unfortunately, Western Pennsylvania is no stranger to the devastating effects of poor air quality. Air pollution is particularly harmful for the developing lungs of children and can result in multiple health problems, asthma being the most common. Health issues like asthma are a leading reason for school absenteeism. Replacing diesel school buses with all-electric school buses would help to improve air quality in PA and reduce children’s exposure to asthma-causing pollutants. 

Electric buses also help address the growing problem of climate change. Transportation is the third greatest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in Pennsylvania. Most school buses run on diesel fuel, which emits harmful soot, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, and other pollutants that significantly worsen air quality. This announced funding will provide school buses that are fully electric, mitigating the effects of dangerous school transit.  

Additionally, depending on location, districts can spend less money on electricity costs than diesel fuel for the buses. There is evidence that electric school buses have a lower lifetime maintenance cost than diesel school buses, giving school districts extra room in their budget to spend on students, families, and teachers.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published August 29, 2024 2:17 P.M.  

(Aliquippa, Pa) Unis Demolition’s bid of $197,000.00 for a demolition project was approved. A bid from another firm for $179,000 was withdrawn even though they were the lowest bidder. Engineer Ron Rizzo said that Uni is able to handle the project. ARPA funds will be used to pay for the project.