(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

Though not a lot of people turned out for Tuesday’s primary in Beaver County, those who did so have finalized the matchups for local elections that will determine who will be running Beaver County for the next four years.

Only 26,571 ballots were cast from 111,347 registered voters during the May 16 primary in Beaver County; a voter turnout of just 23.86%. Broken down by party, 29.44% of Democrats submitted a ballot while 25.77% of Republicans submitted a ballot. By contrast, the voter turnout for the 2022 primary was 32.03%.

In the race for County Commissioner, incumbent chairman Dan Camp narrowly edged incumbent commissioner Jack Manning by a total of 8,754 to 8,634 in the Republican primary. Meanwhile, Democratic incumbent commissioner Tony Amadio finished with the majority of votes in the Democratic primary, garnering 10,301 votes to the 8,476 of challenger Julian Taylor. However, all four men qualified for the general election in November, where three of them will be voted as Beaver County Commissioners.

The Democratic primary for Recorder of Deeds was won by Sandra Gill, who defeated Michael J. Jackson 7,669 to 5,565. Gill will now face off with incumbent Ron Alberti, who ran unopposed in the Republican primary, for the general election in November.

Most other primary races for row officers were uncontested, leading to many battles for the November election seemingly decided before any votes were cast. Those battles include (incumbents listed with “(I)” next to their name:

Treasurer
R- Sandie Egley (I)
D- Leonard Seanez
Sheriff
R-Tony Guy (I) [UNOPPOSED]
District Attorney
D-Nate Bible
R-David Lozier (I)
Prothonotary
R- Jodi Janicki Jones
D- Michael Rossi (I)
Coroner
R- David Gabauer (I)
D- Antonio Pitts
Controller
R- Maria Longo (I)
D- Tina Price Genes

The general election is set for November 7, 2023.

(Sandy Giordano/Beaver County Radio)
(Photo by Keith Walsh)

Beaver County Coroner David Gabauer has ruled that hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease was what caused the death of Industry resident Kenneth Vinyard. The manner of death has been ruled accidental.

The 48-year-old Vinyard died while rendering aid to 20-year-old Rashaun Smith, who had been shot in the parking lot of the Walmart in Monaca back in November. The death led to a lengthy investigation of potential misconduct.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published May 16, 2023 7:15 P.M.

(Rochester, PA) Rochester Township Police reported Tuesday morning that they responded to an accident at 5:15 p.m. Monday night in the area of the Veterans Bridge on Route 65.  According to Sgt. Kevin Foltz northbound vehicle turned left on a yellow light in front of a southbound car causing the accident. Sgt. Foltz said both drivers were life flighted to a Pittsburgh hospital.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published May 16, 2023 7:18 P.M.

(Center Township, PA) Chipotle Restaurant has intentions of locating in the shopping area where Marshall’s and other businesses are located. A conditional use hearing will be held at the township building on Monday, June 19, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio News Director. Published May 16, 2023.

(Aliquippa, PA) A large group gathered at the former site of the Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation Tuesday morning for a groundbreaking ceremony of a new steel mill set to be built on the site. 72 Steel LLC, a Chinese-American Company based out of Brooklyn, New York are in agreement with Chuck Betters to purchase the site and develop a new mill. The proposed mill would feature the newest and most advanced steel technology and environmentally friendly equipment.

72 Steel President, Jack Lin, gave a speech saying that 72 Steel wants to “rise to new heights”, and they’re on a “mission to revitalize economy”. He says that mission will start in Aliquippa. Lin noted that the development will be a driving force for other development in the surrounding area. He said this is the beginning of bringing steel back to the steel city.

Aliquippa Mayor Dwan Walker made a speech on the impact that the plant will have on the region, stating that he can’t wait for cars to drive through the old J&L tunnel, by people going to work with families in communities throughout the county.   Mayor Walker spoke to Beaver County Radio before the event started, and described the whole thing as “a blessing”, saying that he is “eternally grateful”. Not only is Aliquippa set to exit their Act 47 status soon, but having this announcement on top of that made for an emotional day for Walker. Walker also presented Aliquippa flags to both Jack Lin and Chuck Betters, quoting the towns motto “Why Not Us?”. Walker describes the flags as the “key to the city”.

72 Steel says they will be investing 218 million dollars into the mill and be able to produce hundreds of thousands of tons of steel per year. Chuck Betters announced he will invest 1.5 million into the project.  The deal between 72 Steel and Betters has not closed yet, with no exact timeline stated. If all goes well, the mill is expected to be operational by 2025. A large ceremony is set to take place upon completion, celebrating a return of steel to Beaver County.
Photos from the event can be viewed below:

Darlington, PA – The Shapiro Administration will hold a Small Business Resource Fair on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 in Darlington Township, Beaver County. This is an opportunity for small businesses, farmers, and residents to receive the resources they need as they recover from the impacts of the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The resource fair will be open from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Small Business Ombudsman’s Office and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture will be joined by local partners to connect residents and small businesses with information on grant and loan opportunities and other state resources.

“We want to help the residents of this community get their lives back to what they were before the Norfolk Southern train derailment,” said Acting DEP Secretary Rich Negrin. “This resource fair demonstrates the Shapiro Administration’s continued commitment to the people affected by the derailment. From environmental sampling, to health screenings, and – now – small business assistance, the Commonwealth is standing behind Beaver and Lawrence counties.”

“The Shapiro Administration has been a united front in directly addressing the concerns of Pennsylvanians whose lives and businesses were upended when the train derailed,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “We are working together diligently to provide and verify the test results they need to restore their families’ and customers’ confidence in the safety of food grown and produced in the region, to connect Pennsylvanians with the resources they need, and to hold Norfolk Southern accountable for the costs.”

The Small Business Resource Fair is open to the public. More information on the programs offered can be found here 

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published May 16, 2023 8:55 A.M.

(Hopewell Township, PA) Community Discussions in regards to the March swatting scare are taking place in Hopewell. One will be held tonight in a high school classroom at 6p.m. On Wednesday, May 17, 2023 the discussion will be held at Independence Elementary School in the library at 6 p.m. The last of the community sessions is scheduled for Thursday, May 25 in the Margaret Ross Elementary School Library at 6 p.m.

President Joe Biden attends his granddaughter Maisy Biden’s commencement ceremony with first lady Jill Biden and children Hunter Biden and Ashley Biden at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Monday, May 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joe Biden took a break from being president on Monday to focus on just being “pop” at his granddaughter Maisy Biden’s graduation from the University of Pennsylvania. The president’s grandchildren call him “pop.” Maisy is the youngest daughter of Biden’s son Hunter. Other than a few waves to students who waved at him and took photos, President Biden was just another face in the crowd. Also attending the ceremony were first lady Jill Biden, Maisy’s older sisters, Naomi and Finnegan, and the Bidens’ daughter Ashley Biden. The family went to lunch afterward at a Vietnamese restaurant in Philadelphia.