Author: Beaver County Radio

Wayne E. Guy (1933-2025)

Wayne E. Guy, 91, of Aliquippa, passed away on February 9th, 2025. Wayne happily answered with “Lord, thank You for all Your love and blessings.”
He was born on October 13th, 1933, the seventh of eight children to Emanuel George and Garnet (Ripper) Guy of Freedom. He was preceded in death by his dear daughter, Mary Catherine Brodzeller, sisters, Mamie Rice and Helen Retzer and brothers, George, Harry and Wilbur. He is survived by his wife, Liz, two daughters, Bernadette Guy-Marshall (Robert) and Lisa Ann Marchionda (Pete), a son, Anthony (Sylvia) Guy, son-in-law, Ray Brodzeller, grandchildren: Marissa Jo Hayward (Zachary), Justin Michael Marchionda, Christopher Guy Marchionda and Vanessa Rae Marchionda (Elijah Mihalik), great-grandchildren: Cooper Guy Hayward, Noah Paul Hayward, Archer Wayne Mihalik, Adeline Jo Hayward and Callahan Ray Mihalik, two sisters, Gene Cline, and Alice Dyminski, a brother-in-law, Gregory Harding, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Wayne was a graduate of Freedom High School with the Class of 1951. He felt the call to help our nation, and volunteered to the United States Army. He was sent to the 38th Parallel (DMZ), South Korea, as a member of an Artillery Unit, upon the signing of the Armistice Agreement. Wayne was exceedingly proud to be a veteran of the U.S. Military. Upon returning to the States, he followed in his father and brothers’ footsteps, and began a long career working for the Pennsylvania Railroad, as a freight conductor, and retiring from Conrail in 1996. He was a very active member of St. Titus Church, part of Mary Queen of Saints Parish. Wayne was a member of the Holy Name Society, St. Vincent DePaul. He also volunteered to help in the kitchen during fish fries and spaghetti dinners.
Wayne met his wife, Elizabeth Harding on New Year’s Eve of 1956, and they married on June 20th, 1959, at St. Titus Church in Aliquippa. They enjoyed 65 years of being married.
Visitation will be on Wednesday, February 12th from 6-8 p.m. and Thursday, February 13th from 2-4 p.m. & 6-8 p.m. in the Anthony Mastrofrancesco Funeral Home Inc. 2026 McMinn Street, Aliquippa. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, February 14th at 10 a.m. in St. Titus Church, 952 Franklin Avenue, Aliquippa. Everyone is asked to meet at the church for the Mass. Entombment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery where the Beaver County Special Unit will provide military honors for Wayne.
In lieu of flowers, the family recommends contributions be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or Mary Queen of Saints Parish in memory of Wayne.
A rosary service will be held Thursday, February 13th at 5:50 p.m. in the funeral home by the former St. Titus Holy Name Society, Saint Vincent DePaul Society and current members of St. Titus Fellowship Group.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family, please visit the link below:

Linda Marie Ritchie (1953-2025)

Linda Marie Ritchie, 71, of Aliquippa, formerly of California, passed away with her family by her side on February 6th, 2025 at Sewickley Valley Hospital.

She was born in San Francisco, California on October 10th, 1953, a daughter of the late Marie Eloise Estrada and Forest Wayne Ritchie. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Richard Espana and Eddie Joyner and her sister, Tina Joyner. She is survived by her loving husband of forty years, Kenneth Overton, three daughters, Latonia M. Avalos, Natalie M. Mack and Keneisha M. Overton, her grandchildren: Anthony, Raymond, Darrin Jr., Cheyanne, Jaya, Ashantae, Rhylee, Aliyah, and Nina; nine great-grandchildren, as well as several nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Linda was an aspiring cosmetologist as a young woman before she fulfilled her greatest joy of becoming a mother to her daughters. She immensely cherished her family and loved having a good time. She was always the life of the party.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to the nurses and staff at Sewickley Valley Hospital who took care of Linda.

In accordance with Linda’s wishes, she will be laid to rest with her mother at the Live Oak Cemetery in Monrovia, California. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Anthony Mastrofrancesco Funeral Home, Inc., 2026 McMinn Street, Aliquippa.

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Linda Marie Ritchie, please visit the link below:

Click here to visit the Sympathy Store for the Anthony Mastrofrancesco Funeral Home, Inc., 2026 McMinn Street, Aliquippa.

Michael Vuckovich (1950-2025)

Michael Vuckovich, 74, of Industry, passed away at home on February 7th, 2025.

He was born in East Liverpool, Ohio, on May 27th, 1950, a son of the late Pete and Kathryn Torbica Vuckovich. He is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Pam McDade Vuckovich, his sons, Ryan (Casey) Vuckovich and Mark Smith, his brother, David (Vickie) Vuckovich, his grandchildren: Kira Vuckovich, Ashley Smith, Evin Smith and Nicole Acon; as well as his great-granddaughters, Kelsey and Evelyn.

Michael retired following a long career at Koppel Steel. He was a resident of Industry all of his life. He was a member of St. George Serbian Orthodox Church of Midland.

Friends will be received on Wednesday, February 12th from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. in the Schwerha-Noll Funeral Home, 629 Midland Avenue, Midland. A Pomen Service will be conducted on Wednesday evening at 7:30 P.M. A funeral service will take place on Thursday, February 13th at 11 a.m. at St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, 30 10th Street, Midland. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Noll Funeral Home, Inc., 333 Third Street, Beaver. Online condolences may be shared at nollfuneral.com.

Memorial donations in Michael’s name may be made to St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, 30 10th Street, Midland.

Russia Has Released Detained American Teacher Marc Fogel, The White House Says

FILE – A drawn portrait of Marc Fogel, who has been detained in Russia since August 2021, hangs on rails outside of the White House during a demonstration organized by his family, July 15, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough, File)

AP-US-Trump-Putin, 3rd Ld-Writethru

Feb 11, 2025 1:51 PM – 332 words

By CHRIS MEGERIAN and ERIC TUCKER Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The family of American teacher Marc Fogel says it’s “beyond grateful, relieved and overwhelmed” that he’s heading home after his release from Russia. The White House announced Tuesday Fogel had been released. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff left Russian airspace with Fogel on Tuesday. Trump national security adviser Michael Waltz says the U.S. and Russia “negotiated an exchange” but did not say if the U.S. released anybody in return. Waltz describes the development as “a sign we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine.” Trump has promised to find a way to end the conflict. Fogel is from Pennsylvania.

Aliquippa Junior and Senior High School hosting a Dr. Martin Luther King Oratorical Contest for students

(File photo of Aliquippa Jr. and Sr. High School Logo)

(Reported by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano)

(Aliquippa, PA) The Aliquippa Junior and Senior High School will have an oratorical contest on Saturday, February 22nd from 1-4 p.m. The Eugene Karmazyn Black Box Theater will host a Dr. Martin Luther King Oratorical Contest for students. According to a release from the Aliquippa Junior and Senior High School, donations will be accepted.

UPMC brings back mask mandate for those going into their facilities

(File Photo: Caption for Photo: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) N95 face mask)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) UPMC has announced that visitors, staff, and patients must wear masks in their facilities after COVID-19 and flu cases are rising. On Wednesday, the mandate will return for the first time since December of 2023, which was taken into effect because of respiratory illnesses increasing. In May of 2023, UPMC took away the requirement of people wearing masks even though masks were worn during the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

AAA East Central’s gas price report confirms that gas prices increase by three cents in Western Pennsylvania this week

(File Photo: Source for Photo: A customer holds a credit card at the pay-at-the-pump gasoline pump in Rolling Meadow, Ill., Thursday, June 30, 2022. The U.S. economy shrank from April through June for a second straight quarter, contracting at a 0.9% annual pace and raising fears that the nation may be approaching a recession. The decline that the Commerce Department reported Thursday, July 28, in the gross domestic product — the broadest gauge of the economy — followed a 1.6% annual drop from January through March. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) Gas prices are three cents higher in Western Pennsylvania this week at around $3.53 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s gas price report. The report states at that week last year, the average price for gas was around $3.44. The report also notes that the average price that you can expect for a gallon of unleaded gas here in Beaver County is about $3.55. 

According to AAA East Central’s gas price report, here are the prices of unleaded self-serve gasoline in some Pennsylvania areas:

$3.564      Altoona
$3.548      Beaver
$3.574      Bradford
$3.363      Brookville
$3.588      Butler
$3.465      Clarion
$3.519      DuBois
$3.561      Erie
$3.547      Greensburg
$3.589      Indiana
$3.573      Jeannette
$3.533      Kittanning
$3.556      Latrobe
$3.585      Meadville
$3.581      Mercer
$3.387      New Castle
$3.502      New Kensington
$3.599      Oil City
$3.540      Pittsburgh
$3.374      Sharon
$3.589      Uniontown
$3.599      Warren
$3.535      Washington

Big Lots in East Rochester remains open despite Big Lots stores closing around the United States

(File Photo of Open Sign on Door)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(East Rochester, PA) Big Lots is closing stores around the United States. However, one local store will continue operations. According to filings from bankruptcy courts, Variety Wholesalers will run more than two-hundred Big Lots stores, which includes the East Rochester location on Ohio River Boulevard. The locations for Big Lots in both Hopewell and Moon Townships are closed.