Author: Beaver County Radio

Margaret Grace (Marchetti) Aurin (1935-2025)

Margaret Grace (Marchetti) Aurin, 89, of Sewickley, passed away on March 24th, 2025 in Good Samaritan Hospice House, Wexford. She was born in Saltsburg, Pennsylvania on June 7th, 1935, the daughter of the late Luigi & Annie (Straka) Marchetti. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Aurin, her daughter, Patricia Thomas and her son, Kenneth Aurin. She is survived by her son-in-law, David Thomas (Dawn) and her three grandchildren, Cara Blyzwick, Afton Thomas-Thangaraj and Matthew Thomas, her three great-grandchildren, Abby, Eli and Zofia and her brother, Dave Marchetti (Carol).

Margaret graduated from Ambridge Area High School and pursued a career as an Administrative Assistant for the VA. She then retired after a distinguished career at the Charles E. Kelly Army base in Oakdale. She enjoyed sewing, gardening, cooking, and baking.

Friends will be received on Friday, March 28th from 6-8 P.M. in the Huntsman Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Moon Township, 1522 Coraopolis Heights Road, where a Funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 29th at 11 A.M. Private interment will take place at Sewickley Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Good Samaritan hospice: Donate – Concordia Lutheran Ministries https://concordialm.org/donate/

Richard Martin Travis (Passed on March 24th, 2025)

Richard Martin Travis, 56 , a longtime Conway resident, passed away on March 24th, 2025, at St. Joseph Warren Hospital in Warren, Ohio, where he had been patient for the past week.

He was born in Beaver and was a son of the late Harold M. Jr. and Erma Brandenburg Travis, who preceded him in death. He is survived by his two beloved sons, Stephen and Joshua Travis, his brother, Scott Travis, his nephew, Ren, his niece, April, his Aunt Mary, his former spouse, Kathy George and his girlfriend, Marlo Nascone-Stivison. From his early years, Richard’s life was marked by courage and determination, having been diagnosed with leukemia at the tender age of nine. His battle with the disease showcased his strength as he entered remission during his teenage years.

He was raised in Conway. Richard’s educational journey was punctuated by his love for sports. He channeled his energy and passion onto the football field in high school.

For years, he was the familiar face delivering Stroehmann Bakery goods to stores throughout the Beaver County area. Later, he shifted gears and became a shuttle van driver for Norfolk Southern Railroad.

Music was a refuge and a source of joy for Richard. His eclectic taste ranged from the twang of country tunes to the rock anthems of KISS and Nickelback. Richard’s love for music was matched only by his enthusiasm for sports. He was a devoted fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Penguins, and Oakland A’s.

Richard also found pleasure in the strikes and spares of bowling. As a former member of a bowling league at Baden Lanes, he enjoyed the friendly competition and the bonds formed over the lanes.

All services will be private. Arrangements have been entrusted to Simpson Funeral and Cremation Services, 1119 Washington Avenue, Monaca.

Pennsylvania school support staffers push for $20 ‘living wage’

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Twenty dollar bills are counted on June 15, 2018, in North Andover, Mass. The number of Americans who do not have a bank account fell to a record low last year, as the proliferation of online-only banks and an improving economy is bringing more Americans into the traditional financial system, according to a report Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)

(Reported by Danielle Smith of Keystone News Service)

(Harrisburg, PA) Amid a severe teacher and staff shortage, school support workers and their union allies rallied Tuesday in Harrisburg for a better living wage. The group says House Bill 777 would raise wages for more than 41-thousand school staff members. More than 100 people gathered on the Capitol steps and met with lawmakers to gauge their support for the bill. Aaron Chapin with the Pennsylvania State Education Association says it would raise the pay for support staff in public schools to a living wage of at least 20 dollars per hour. Chapin says it would raise support staff wages by about 3 dollars an hour. A PSEA survey from last fall found four out of five Pennsylvania voters would support a 20 dollar minimum wage for school support staff.

Former University of Pittsburgh professor and former UPMC doctor arrested after attempting to kill his wife in Hawaii

(File Photo of Handcuffs)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Honolulu, HI) A former UPMC doctor and former professor at the University of Pittsburgh was arrested Monday after attempting to kill his wife in Hawaii. According to Honolulu Police, forty-six-year-old Gerhardt Konig tried to push his wife off a hiking trail and hit her in the head with a rock. According to a police document, Konig has been charged with attempted second-degree murder. Konig has a bond of $5 million and his wife is in critical condition at a hospital.

 

Former UPMC doctor pleads guilty to child pornography charges

(File Photo of Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Federal prosecutors announced Wednesday that a doctor who used to work at UPMC Children’s Hospital pleaded guilty to charges of child pornography. Fifty-three-year-old Ashok Panigrahy knew that in November of 2022, he had material that showed a minor being sexually exploited. Panigrahy will be sentenced on July 17th, and he could receive up to twenty years in jail, a $250,000 fine, or both.

Hopewell School Board makes several decisions at their recent meeting including acquiring property for school purposes

(File Photo of the Hopewell Area School District Board Logo)

(Reported by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano)

(Hopewell, PA) The board of the Hopewell School District acquired property and made several decisions on Tuesday. A home on 1207 Longvue Avenue will be used for school purposes including building, alterations, parking and additional vehicle traffic in the area. Administrators that have served for three years also got an increase of $3,000. Mark D’Alessandris resigned as the high school basketball coach effective Wednesday, March 26th, 2025. Charles Piroli was hired as the Director of Facilities and Grounds no later than April 24th and will earn $80,000,00 under the one year contract. The Comprehensive Plan of the district that begins on September 1st, 2025 and ends on June 30th, 2028 was approved. The next work session meeting of the board will be held on Tuesday, April 8th, 2025 at 7 p.m. and the next regular meeting will be on Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025 at 7 p.m. in the boardroom at the junior high school.

Man arrested for alleged repeated harassment of female juvenile co-worker at his workplace in Aliquippa

(File Photo of Police Lights)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Aliquippa, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver report that a man from Aliquippa was arrested after alleged repeated harassments of a female juvenile victim in Aliquippa. The supervisor of the victim, forty-year-old Mark Olsavicky, harassed her while at work at 2719 Broadhead Road on March 7th, 2025. According to police, police are investigating a Childline and Olsavicky was charged with harassment. 

 

Aliquippa woman apprehended for harassing her child

(File Photo of Police Lights)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Aliquippa, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver report that a woman from Aliquippa was apprehended after harassing her child in Aliquippa on March 15th, 2025. Thirty-three-year-old Jaleesa Watkins hit a male juvenile victim in the face with her fist multiple times at 354 Linmar Terrace. According to police, Watkins was arrested for assault, harassment and endangering the welfare of a child and she was committed to the Beaver County Jail on a $50,000 bond.

Congressman Chris Deluzio addresses the state of the Democratic party along with other Democratic congressmembers

(File Photo of Congressman Chris Deluzio)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Washington, D.C.) According to a release from Congressman Chris Deluzio’s office, Deluzio and other Democrats who work in Congress sent a message to other Democrats about the state of the party at the House of Representatives. Deluzio and the others mentioned that the American Dream should be fought for again through populism and economic patriotism. They also made their stand against companies that are monopolies in their respective districts in several speeches.

The Community College of Beaver County is training air traffic controllers for the future

(File Photo of the Community College of Beaver County logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Monaca, PA) The Community College of Beaver County is training air traffic controllers for the next generation. According to officials, not enough people are in the position. The Federal Aviation Administration can hire students with a salary of six figures after a program of five semesters. The college is also preparing for a new campus building as a planned groundbreaking ceremony will occur in April.