(File Photo of Aliquippa Elementary School)
(Reported by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano)
(Aliquippa, PA) The pre-Kindergarten through 3rd grades at Aliquippa Elementary School need donations for their STEAM & Story Walk. The time to donate expires at the end of the day today and the money will purchase items which include camping gear for the sixteenth year of the event. The website to donate can be found using the link below:
Thomas Renzo, Sr., 58, passed away on March 26th, 2025. He was born on
May 12th, 1966. He was preceded in death by his parents, Beverly and Robert, his son, Nicholas and his siblings, Debbie(George) and Sherri. He is survived by his loving wife, Michelle Renzo, his children: Tommy(Katie), Alyssa, Dominic, Matthew, Brandon, Kristin(Jarod) and Kenny, his siblings, Robert, Dawn(Mike), brother in-law, Mike(Becky), sister in-law, Marilyn, his grandchildren: Alayah, Frankie, Amoir, Keimyn, Kyra, Shay, Ju’elz, Tristian and Alivia; as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews and numerous other relatives.
Thomas was a fighter in every sense of the word. He faced life’s challenges with determination, always putting his loved ones first and never backing down from what was right. He was a devoted husband, a loving father, a proud grandfather and a loyal friend. His presence brought warmth, laughter, and wisdom to those around him.
He had a deep passion for riding his Harley Davidson, finding freedom on the open road and embracing the thrill of the ride. His love for motorcycles was a reflection of his spirit, which was bold, fearless, and full of life.
Above all, Thomas was a family man. He inspired them, instilling values of love, perseverance, and integrity. He cherished his role as a grandfather, embracing every moment with his grandchildren and making memories that will be treasured forever. His love for his family knew no bounds, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of those who loved him.
Thomas often said he wanted the world to know the name “Thomas Renzo,” not just as a name, but as a symbol of strength, success, and goodness. His family will continue to honor that wish, carrying his name forward with pride and purpose.
Friends will be received on Monday, March 31st from 3 p.m. until the time of a funeral Service at 6:30 p.m. in the Huntsman Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Rochester, 502 Adams Street, Rochester, conducted by Pastor Bill Blume. A memorial gathering will be held at The Rochester Turners338 Pennsylvania Ave, Rochester, directly following the service.
Deloris R. Housholder, 96, of Daugherty Township, passed away on March 27th, 2025
at the Rochester Manor. She was born in New Sewickley Township on September 2nd, 1928, a daughter of the late Elmer J. and Flora Lutz Pflug. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Richard C. Householder, one granddaughter, Cheryl Strobel, one son-in-law, C. Frank Doyle, one sister, Alma Pflug, and four brothers, Russell, Clayton, Raymond and Merrill Pflug. She is survived by three daughters and two sons-in-law, Janet M. Doyle and Elva J. and Wayne Harley and Joy M. and Gale Zahn, seven grandchildren: Douglas and Danielle Harley, Jodi and Bronson Strobel, Jeri and Bryan Yeck, Thomas and Katherine Harley, Gena and Thad Tokar, Mark and Kelley Harley and Aaron Harley; as well as twelve great grandchildren, one great-great-granddaughter and numerous nieces and nephews. Deloris worked for the former New Brighton Hospital as a Stenographer. Deloris was a homemaker and housewife during most of her adult life who spent a lot of her time working at the family farm. She was a lifetime member of St. John Burry’s Church of New Sewickley Township, where she was a former Sunday school teacher as well as a member of Faith Circle. She also traveled on many mission trips for them.
Friends will be received on Tuesday, April 1st , from 3-7 p.m. at the William Murphy Funeral Home Inc., 349 Adams Street, Rochester, and on Wednesday, April 2nd at St. John Burry’s Church from 10 a.m. until the time of a service at 11 a.m. Reverend Jim Richwine will officiate. Interment will follow in St. John Burry’s Cemetery. The family wishes for memorial contributions in lieu of flowers, be made to St. John Burry’s Church 1835 Route 68 Rochester, PA 15074. The family would like to thank the staff and caregivers at Rochester Manor and Vitas Hospice for the care and comfort provided to our mother.
(Photo Provided with Release)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Beaver, PA) According to a report from the Beaver Borough Police Department, an individual was arrested after spray painting antisemitic symbols on the side of a building in Beaver. According to a release, from the Beaver Borough Police Department, the incident was reported on Friday and the person was a contractor who painted the symbols after an argument involving business. The person was not local and confessed his crimes. The symbols have been taken off of the building and officers located a vehicle that was used by the suspect which led to the identification of the suspect. If you have any other details or questions regarding this incident, you can contact 724-775-0880.
(File Photo of Police Lights)
(Reported by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano)
(Aliquippa, PA) Aliquippa Police arrested six people last week in a span of four days. Sixty-five-year-old Gregory McFarland was arrested on Friday and faces filed charges of disorderly conduct and harassment. Thirty-four year-old Terrance Bennett was arrested on Thursday and faces filed charges of criminal trespass and criminal mischief. Forty-one-year-old Corey Tucker was apprehended on Thursday and is in the Beaver County Jail for public intoxication and four misdemeanor charges. Twenty-one-year-old Aaunisty Price was arrested on Wednesday and faces filed charges of stalking and harassment. The Beaver County Sheriff’s Department had warrants for thirty-five-year-old Chanae Humphries and thirty-nine-year-old Megan Platz. Both women were apprehended on Tuesday and are currently in the Beaver County Jail.
(File Photo of a Gavel)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Honululu, HI) A preliminary hearing will occur today for a former doctor who used to work at UPMC after he attempted to kill his wife in Hawaii. Forty-six-year-old Gerhardt Konig hit his wife with a rock after she did not want to take a selfie on the edge of a cliff. His wife also noted that Konig tried to force an injection of an unknown liquid into her. Konig was put in custody after being charged with second-degree murder and he has a bail of $5 million.
(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Badge)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the Pennsylvania State Police will be performing Operation Orange Squeeze in April. According to a press release from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, troopers will look out for speeders and distracted drivers on Pennsylvania Turnpike system work zones. According to data from turnpike officials, there were two deaths and forty-eight injuries from 176 reported crashes in active turnpike work zones.
(File Photo: Caption for Photo: PennDOT, PSP, PTC, Construction Industry Highlight National Work Zone Awareness Week)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Pittsburgh, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that beginning Monday, March 31st weather permitting, overnight lane restrictions on I-376 Parkway West will occur. On weeknights from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. through the middle of June, single-lane restrictions will occur in both directions between the Route 60 Crafton Exit60B and the Rosslyn Farms Exit64B. Shoulder closures will also happen at the same times through early April on the eastbound I-376 ramp to southbound I-79 and the southound I-79 ramp to the eastbound I-376 for drainage improvements.
(File Photo of the United Way of Beaver County logo)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Center Township, PA) On Thursday, April 24th, PA Career Link and the United Way of Beaver County will have a Volunteer Fair from 1-7 p.m. at the Beaver Valley Mall. This event will help participants to discover needs of nonprofit organizations for the communities that impact them. For more information or to register your organization for the fair, you can call 724-774-3210.
File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – A health worker administers a measles test on Fernando Tarin, of Seagraves, Texas, at a mobile testing site outside Seminole Hospital District, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, in Seminole, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
(AP) At least five states have active measles outbreaks as of Friday, and Texas’ is the largest with 400 cases.
Already, the U.S. has more measles cases this year than in all of 2024, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said. Other states with outbreaks — defined as three or more cases — include New Mexico, Kansas, Ohio and Oklahoma. Since February, two unvaccinated people have died from measles-related causes.
The new outbreaks confirm health experts’ fears that the virus will take hold in other U.S. communities with low vaccination rates and that the spread could stretch on for a year. The World Health Organization said this week cases in Mexico are linked to the Texas outbreak.
Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.
Here’s what else you need to know about measles in the U.S.
Texas’ outbreak began two months ago. State health officials said Friday there were 73 new cases of measles since Tuesday, bringing the total to 400 across 17 counties — most in West Texas. Forty-one people have been hospitalized since the outbreak began, and Andrews and Midland counties were new to the list.
New Mexico announced one new case Friday, bringing the state’s total to 44. New Mexico health officials say the cases are linked to Texas’ outbreak based on genetic testing. Most are in Lea County, where two people have been hospitalized, and two are in Eddy County.
A school-age child died of measles in Texas in late February, and New Mexico reported its first measles-related death in an adult on March 6.
Kansas has 23 cases in six counties in the southwest part of the state. Kiowa and Stevens counties have six cases each, while Grant, Morton, Haskell and Gray counties have five or fewer.
The state’s first reported case, identified in Stevens County on March 13, is linked to the Texas and New Mexico outbreaks based on genetic testing, a state health department spokesperson said. But health officials have not determined how the person was exposed.
Oklahoma stayed steady at nine cases this week — seven confirmed and two probable cases. The first two probable cases were “associated” with the West Texas and New Mexico outbreaks, the state health department said.
A state health department spokesperson said measles exposures were confirmed in Tulsa and Rogers counties, but wouldn’t say which counties had cases.
Ohio has 10 cases of measles in Ashtabula County in the northeast corner of the state, nine of those newly reported this week. The first case was in an unvaccinated adult who had interacted with someone who had traveled internationally.
And in central Ohio, Knox County officials are tracing exposures from person who visited while contagious with measles. A measles outbreak in central Ohio sickened 85 in 2022.
Measles cases also have been reported in Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, and Washington.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines an outbreak as three or more related cases. The agency counted five clusters that qualified as outbreaks in 2025 as of Friday.
In the U.S., cases and outbreaks are generally traced to someone who caught the disease abroad. It can then spread, especially in communities with low vaccination rates. In 2019, the U.S. saw 1,274 cases and almost lost its status of having eliminated measles.
The best way to avoid measles is to get the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.
People at high risk for infection who got the shots many years ago may want to consider getting a booster if they live in an area with an outbreak, said Scott Weaver with the Global Virus Network, an international coalition. Those may include family members living with someone who has measles or those especially vulnerable to respiratory diseases because of underlying medical conditions.
Adults with “presumptive evidence of immunity” generally don’t need measles shots now, the CDC said. Criteria include written documentation of adequate vaccination earlier in life, lab confirmation of past infection or being born before 1957, when most people were likely to be infected naturally.
A doctor can order a lab test called an MMR titer to check your levels of measles antibodies, but health experts don’t always recommend this route and insurance coverage can vary.
Getting another MMR shot is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says.
People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don’t need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective measles vaccine made from “killed” virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said. That also includes people who don’t know which type they got.
Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.
The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.
Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to dangerous complications such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.
There’s no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.
In communities with high vaccination rates — above 95% — diseases like measles have a harder time spreading through communities. This is called “herd immunity.”
But childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots.
The U.S. saw a rise in measles cases in 2024, including an outbreak in Chicago that sickened more than 60.