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Beaver County Chamber Monday Memo: 07/21/25
Author: Beaver County Radio
Man in critical condition after crashing his scooter in Pittsburgh without wearing his helmet
(File Photo of a Police Siren Light)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Pittsburgh, PA) An unidentified man got taken to the hospital by medics and is now in critical condition after he crashed his scooter in Pittsburgh on Sunday morning. According to Pittsburgh Public Safety, around 5:45 a.m., police, EMS, and fire units were called to a crash on Bates Street and 2nd Avenue. At the scene, police found the male driver of the scooter, who did not stop at a red light on Bates Street and also hit a side of an SUV when going down on 2nd Avenue on his scooter. At the time of this crash, this man was not wearing a helmet.
Deborah Louise Carr (1956-2025)
Deborah Louise Carr, 69, passed away on July 14th, 2025.
She was born on February 15th, 1956. Her parents were Ralph Richard (Genevieve) Carr, Sr. and Charlotte Esther Cummins Carr. She was the oldest of four siblings: Nora Carr, Ralph (Sharon) Carr,Jr.) and Allan Carr.
Deborah was part of the first class to graduate from Blackhawk High School in 1974. She worked for the Pennsylvania Turnpike for nearly 37 years: six months as summer help, two years supplemental working more than 40 hours a week and 35 years full time. She opened Route 60 Mt Jackson herself. When Toll Route 60 was completed, they added two more people. Then went on to open State Route 576 with three people.
She was known for her most beautiful smile! Her immense kindness and love she poured out on so many. She loved to laugh. Always a strong woman encouraging and uplifting those around her. Going out of her way to do kind things for so many. Making sure her loved ones are taken care of and always there for them. Her love for others she made so clear. She loved gardening flowers, laughing, and watching funny movies. Her laughter roared playing the card game war with her grandson. She also enjoyed shooting guns. She loved her German Shepherd dogs Nitro and Ranger like her own children.
She loved Jesus and was often found reading her Bible. She has always been very talented in painting, making a variety of crafts and sewing, giving most as gifts or donating to raise money for an organization. She would make special clothing and hand sewn items for her loved ones. She would make chocolate candies for gifts or to raise money for an organization. She enjoyed muscle cars and riding motorcycles. Her first car was a 69 SS Chevelle. She was the Abate membership officer notary, serving and volunteering in her community of Homewood Junction. She also volunteered her time, talent and resources to raise money for the firemen.
Debbie was the best Mom and Nanny. The loves of her life are her daughter, Michelle (Matthew) Sokoloski and her grandson, Isaac (Karli) Knight.
She loved all her nieces and nephews dearly: Gregg, Stefanie, Michelle, Kimmy, Michael, Joshua, Alex, Jacob; as well as additional nieces and nephews from marriage. She loved all thirteen great nieces and nephews and four great-great nieces and nephews.
Professional arrangements have been entrusted to Noll Funeral Home, Inc., 333 Third St., Beaver. Online condolences may be shared at nollfuneral.com.
Investigation continues regarding motorcycle crash caused by man not wearing his helmet on his motorcycle in the South Side of Pittsburgh
(File Photo: Caption for Photo: police car lights at night in city with selective focus and bokeh background blur) Credit for Photo: Courtesy of Getty Images/iStockphoto/z1b)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Pittsburgh, PA) An unidentified man got taken to the hospital in critical condition after he caused a motorcycle crash in the South Side of Pittsburgh early Sunday morning. The crash occurred at Arlington Avenue and East Carson Street just after 3 a.m. that day. According to investigators, the man lost control of his motorcycle due to air loss in the front tire and then hit a curb. Even though he did not have a helmet on at the time of the crash, his condition was last listed as stable. The investigation for this crash is ongoing.
Man taken into custody for driving over 100 miles per hour in Aliquippa
(File Photo of a City of Aliquippa Police Department Car)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Aliquippa, PA) An unidentified man was taken into custody early Saturday morning after he drove over one hundred mile per hour speeds in Aliquippa that day. This caused a high-speed chase between him and Aliquippa police. Before the chase began, police were looking for the vehicle of that man for not yielding on southbound Route 51 and for speeding. According to scanner information, the tires of the vehicle blew out possibly in front of the Hopewell Junior High School. The vehicle then rolled over in front of Kendrew’s Lounge in Aliquippa. After the accident occurred, the man got taken into custody.
Couple from New Castle get charges involving both animal neglect and cruelty to animals
(File Photo of a Gavel)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Lawrence County, PA) A couple from New Castle recently got charges after police went to a home and found both almost a dozen dogs that were neglected and dead animal carcasses. Travis Laughrey and Michelle Wilmer have fourteen misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals charges as well as eighteen counts of aggravated cruelty to animals charges. They also have forty-two counts of animal neglect charges. Those charges are for alleged lack both veterinary care and sustenance.
Male pilot dies after his plane crashes near the Lancaster Airport
(File Photo of a Police Siren Light)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Lancaster County, PA) A small plane crashed in Lancaster County on Sunday morning, leaving the male pilot of that plane dead. The unidentified man was the only one that was on the plane at the time. According to a report, from WGAL, the plane went down near the Lancaster Airport around 8 a.m., shortly after takeoff. The lead investigators of the crash are the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Security Board. The identity of the man has not yet been released.
3 people are still missing from deadly July 4 floods in Texas county, down from nearly 100
(File Photo: Source for Photo: Volunteers search for missing people along the banks of the Guadalupe River after recent flooding on Sunday, July 6, 2025, in Hunt, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Just three people remain missing — down from nearly 100 at last count — since the Texas Hill Country was pounded by massive flooding on July 4, officials said Saturday.
Officials praised rescuers for the sharp reduction in the number of people on the missing list: Just days after the catastrophic flooding, more than 160 people were said to be unaccounted for in Kerr County alone.
“This remarkable progress reflects countless hours of coordinated search and rescue operations, careful investigative work, and an unwavering commitment to bringing clarity and hope to families during an unimaginably difficult time,” Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said in a statement.
The death toll in Kerr County, 107, held steady for much of this week even as the intensive search continued.
The flash floods killed at least 135 people in Texas over the holiday weekend, with most deaths along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) northwest of San Antonio.
Just before daybreak on July 4, the destructive, fast-moving waters rose 26 feet (8 meters) on the Guadalupe, washing away homes and vehicles.
The floods laid waste to the Hill Country, a popular tourist destination where campers seek out spots along the river amid the rolling landscape. It is naturally prone to flash flooding because its dry, dirt-packed soil cannot soak up heavy rain.
Vacation cabins, youth camps campgrounds fill the riverbanks and hills of Kerr County, including Camp Mystic, a century-old Christian summer camp for girls. Located in a low-lying area of a region known as “flash flood alley,” Camp Mystic lost at least 27 campers and counselors.
The flooding was far more severe than the 100-year event envisioned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, experts said, and it moved so quickly in the middle of the night that it caught many off guard in a county that lacked a warning system.
In Kerrville, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Austin, local officials have come under scrutiny over whether residents were adequately warned about the rising waters.
President Donald Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott have pushed back aggressively against questions about how well local authorities responded to forecasts of heavy rain and the first reports of flash flooding.
Crews have been searching for victims using helicopters, boats and drones. Earlier efforts were hampered by rain forecasts, leading some crews to hold off or stop because of worries about more flooding.
Pennsylvania bill seeks to repeal the death penalty
(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – This March 22, 1995, file photo shows the interior of the execution chamber in the U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Ind. Activists widely expected President Joe Biden to take swift action against the death penalty as the first sitting president to oppose capital punishment, especially since an unprecedented spate of executions by his predecessor ended just days before Biden took office. Instead, the White House has been mostly silent. (AP Photo/Chuck Robinson, File)
(Reported by Danielle Smith of Keystone News Service)
(Harrisburg, PA) Bipartisan momentum is building around a bill that would abolish the death penalty in Pennsylvania. Kathleen Lucas with Pennsylvanians Against the Death Penalty says Republican Representative Russ Diamond, known for his conservative views, introduced House Bill 888 with support from both parties. Lucas notes that while no vote has been scheduled yet, the bill represents a significant step toward ending capital punishment in Pennsylvania. Lucas points out the state’s moratorium on the death penalty, first issued by Governor Wolf, remains active under Governor Josh Shapiro. She adds that a similar bill, House Bill 999, cleared the House Judiciary Committee last session and had been introduced before by Representative Chris Rabb. Pennsylvania’s death row declined from 246 people in 2001 to 175 by mid-2016.
Two Pittsburgh men die after accidentally drowning in Lake Erie when boating
(File Photo of Police Siren Lights)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Erie County, PA) Two men from Pittsburgh have died after they drowned accidentally in Lake Erie on Saturday. According to the Erie County Coroner, the body of fifty-one-year-old Ronald Young Jr. was recovered by emergency crews near the Walnut Creek Access Area in Fairview. The body of forty-nine-year-old Richard Bofo was found close to Avonia Beach. Before they passed away, the two men were boating. Both deaths were ruled to be from accidental drownings and asphyxiation. The Erie County Coroner also confirms that before the two men were found dead on Saturday in Lake Erie, they were previously reported missing.