(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

New officer, new park, new rules…the city of Beaver Falls made the most of Tuesday night looking toward the future of the city.

The evening started with the official swearing-in ceremony of the Beaver Falls Police Department’s newest member, as Mayor Kenya Johns officially welcomed Tyler Ursida to the force. Ursida had his hiring approved by city council at the behest of Chief David Johnson at their previous meeting on April 11, following a stint with the Beaver Area Police Department. He becomes the second new officer for the city in the last 5 months, joining Christina Good who was sworn in last November.

Following the opening ceremony, the council shifted their attention to upcoming Spring and Summer events. Official approval was given by council to hold the Beaver Falls Car Cruise on June 10, following a request for approval by chairman Tom Gargaro. A trio of recommendations to the Safety Committee for upcoming usage of city streets, parks, and playgrounds were also unanimously approved. Simultaneously, the council also approved for “adopting, defining, and establishing regulations for the use of city parks and playgrounds” as well, ensuring that these upcoming events will have a code for citizens to follow.

One of the major events coming up for the city is the official grand opening of Library Park, which is in its final stages of completion. “The lighting is in place now, they just finished the roof on the pergula,” spoke city manager Charles Jones, “we’re looking to put the benches in on Friday, so we’ll be fully functional for Saturday.” The Saturday Jones refers to is Saturday, April 29, when the Library Park will celebrate its grand opening at 4:00 PM, followed by a event hosted by Beaver Falls CORE later in the evening.

Additionally, the city council approved a request by Treasurer Sandy Wilkins to exonerate taxes from the years 2019 through 2022, along with an agreement with the State Attorney General’s office to coordinate with the guidelines for the Task Force Program. Fire Chief Mark Stowe announced that six more buildings were demolished in the city before collapsing, preventing further damage to adjacent buildings. The city approved General Fund expenditures at an amount of $343,713.65.

The next Beaver Falls council meeting is scheduled for May 9 at 7:00 PM.

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio News Director. Published April 25, 2023 12:02 P.M.   

(Ellwood City, PA)  The Ellwood City Ledger office at 501 Lawrence Avenue in Ellwood City will officially close for good at the end of this month, according to a column by Patrick O’Shea for the Ledger/Times. Ledger staff will move operations to the current site of the Beaver County Times at 400 Corporation Drive in Hopewell Township. O’ Shea stated operating costs of the local office, along with digital functions becoming more prominent led to the decision for the paper to leave downtown Ellwood City, but added that the paper will continue to serve the residents of Ellwood City. The Beaver County Times left their historic location in Bridgewater in 2019.

PITTSBURGH (April 25, 2023) – Allegheny Health Network’s (AHN) Schools of Nursing are seeking applicants to join the next generation of standout nurses.

Applications are being accepted through June 15 for AHN’s two nursing schools: West Penn Hospital School of Nursing in Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield neighborhood, and Citizens School of Nursing in Tarentum.

Both schools offer 22-month registered nurse (RN) programs, with classroom learning and hands-on clinical experiences led by highly qualified faculty members. Small class sizes and one-on-one learning opportunities provide a personalized experience for each student.

The schools’ diploma programs are completed in half the time of a four-year collegiate program. Nursing school tuition is also significantly more affordable than a college-based bachelor’s program.

“AHN’s Schools of Nursing set students up for success from the very beginning,” said Amy Stoker, PhD, RN, director of the West Penn School of Nursing. “Our engaged and caring instructors prioritize relationship-building with each student to ensure they feel comfortable and confident as they pursue their nursing careers.”

Over 90% of graduates who seek employment as entry-level registered nurses will obtain a position in a health care setting within one year of graduation.

“One of the many benefits of attending AHN’s nursing schools is the opportunity to be hired within the network post-graduation, with a highly competitive salary when hired,” said Ruth Tarantine, DNP, director of AHN Schools of Nursing and the Citizens School of Nursing. “The familiarity from clinical experience makes the transition seamless for students who choose to stay in the network to pursue their nursing careers.”

Jacob Tirk, 21, of South Butler, is one of the 25 nurses graduating from the Citizens School of Nursing on May 3, and already has a job secured at AHN’s Allegheny General Hospital (AGH), working in the Cardiothoracic Telemetry unit. He credits his instructors at the Citizens School of Nursing for his remarkable nursing school experience.

“Before attending the Citizens School of Nursing, I heard about how engaging and accessible the instructors were, and I found that to be true during my time there,” shared Tirk. “Their ongoing support was vital to my success and helped prepare me to excel throughout my education. I’m looking forward to applying what I learned to my new career at AGH this spring.”

Daniela O’Neil, 26, is originally from West Palm Beach, Florida, and pursued nursing as her second career. She moved to Pittsburgh to attend the West Penn School of Nursing after living in New York City at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. She’s one of the 40 nurses graduating from the West Penn School of Nursing on May 25.

O’Neil will remain in Pittsburgh after graduation and begin her new job as a NICU nurse at AHN’s West Penn Hospital.

“Nursing school is challenging, but the support provided by the instructors at West Penn School of Nursing allows anyone who wants to become a nurse to succeed in their career,” shared O’Neil.

AHN Schools of Nursing offers types of financial aid such as federal government grants, federal student loans, state grants, scholarships, and private educational loans. On-site housing is available at the West Penn School of Nursing, while the Citizens School of Nursing has free, on-site parking.

AHN is one of just a handful of hospital systems to operate multiple nursing schools. Since the 1970s, as college nursing programs proliferated nationally, hospital-affiliated diploma programs began to close. But the Northeast, and Pennsylvania in particular, maintain a strong tradition of hospital-based education for nurses.

To learn more about the AHN Schools of Nursing, visit https://www.ahn.org/health-care-professionals/education/nursing/schools.

Photo from Bigham Tavern at Bridgewater Facebook Page
 Story by Beaver County Radio News Staff. Published April 25, 2023. 11:13 A.M.   

(Bridgewater, PA) Owners of Bigham Tavern in Mount Washington of Pittsburgh, have announced they are expanding to Beaver County with a location right on the Beaver River in Bridgewater. Bigham Tavern has a sports bar approach at its Mount Washington location, and the same experience is expected in Bridgewater. Pizza, wings, and craft beers are set to be menu items. A summer cocktail menu is also said to be in the works.

The new bar and restaurant will take place of the former Mario’s Dockside site at 1420 Riverside Dr., which moved to the location of the former Thursday’s. The business is currently working on building a staff. They plan to open in June.
A Facebook post made by the business can viewed below:     

Story by Beaver County Radio News Staff. Published April 25, 2023 10:40 A.M.

(Aliquippa, PA) Aliquippa Police Department officers have denied that they unlawfully arrested a 24-year-old Theaughn Lewis, assaulted him while he was in custody and filed false affidavits to justify the arrest after the fact, Pennsylvania Record reports.

According to Pennsylvania Record, Theaughn Lewis of Beaver Falls filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania on Jan. 10 against the Aliquippa Police Department, Officer Bruce A. Tooch Jr. of Coraopolis, Officer Paul Woods and John Doe Officer. The plaintiff is represented by Anthony J. Giannetti of Swartz Culleton, and the defendants are represented by Brian Patrick McLaughlin and Jordan P. Shuber of Dillon McCandless King Coulter & Graham in Butler.

A witness caught most of the arrest on cell phone video and it was posted on social media, which led to discrepancies with the police report filed.  Many actions seen in the video were not accurate to the police report filed.

The initial report filed by Aliquippa Police can be read here:

3 people arrested after brawl with Aliquippa Police in West Aliquippa

Kyan Cepin, who now resides in a motel after being displaced by the East Palestine train derailment walks his dog Opal in North Lima, Ohio, Monday, April 3, 2023. About half of East Palestine’s nearly 5,000 residents evacuated when, days after the Feb. 3 derailment, officials decided to burn toxic vinyl chloride from five tanker cars to prevent a catastrophic explosion. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (AP) — Residents of East Palestine, Ohio, say they’re still living in limbo almost three months after a fiery Norfolk Southern train derailment blackened the skies and sent residents fleeing. They’re unsure how or whether to move on from the accident and worry what will happen to them and the village to which they’re bound by deep family roots, friendships and affordable homes. About half of the nearly 5,000 residents evacuated when state and local officials decided to burn toxic vinyl chloride from five tanker cars to prevent a catastrophic explosion. Most have returned, though many worry about illnesses and soil, water and air quality. Some are staying away until they’re sure it’s safe. Others aren’t allowed back in their homes because of the ongoing cleanup.

FILE – President Joe Biden speaks from the Treaty Room in the White House on April 14, 2021, about the withdrawal of the remainder of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has formally announced he’s running for reelection in 2024. Biden made the announcement Tuesday. The Democratic president is asking voters to give him more time to “finish the job” he began when he was sworn in to office and set aside their concerns about extending the run of America’s oldest president for another four years. Biden would be 86 at the end of a second term. Biden is betting his first-term legislative achievements and 50-plus years of experience in Washington will count for more with voters. Biden faces a smooth path to winning his party’s nomination but a hard-fought struggle to retain the presidency in a bitterly divided nation.

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) today released its preliminary employment situation report for March 2023.

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate declined two-tenths of a percentage point over the month to 4.2% in March. The U.S. unemployment rate was down one-tenth of a percentage point from February to 3.5%. The commonwealth’s unemployment rate was two-tenths of a point below its March 2022 level, and the national rate was down 0.1 percentage points over the year.

Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force – the estimated number of residents working or looking for work – was up 5,000 over the month. Resident employment rose by 12,000 over the month and unemployment fell by 7,000.

Pennsylvania’s total nonfarm jobs were up 12,500 over the month to a new record high of 6,108,900 in March, beating the previous record of 6,096,400 set the month prior. Jobs increased from February in seven of the 11 industry supersectors with the largest gain in leisure & hospitality (+4,500). Professional & business services rose to a record high level.

Over the year, total nonfarm jobs were up 159,000 with gains in all 11 supersectors. Education & health services (+52,000) had the largest volume over-the-year gain among supersectors with three other supersectors adding over 16,000 each.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Staff. Published April 25, 2023 9:44 A.M. 

(Ambridge, PA) The Ambridge School District has announced they have filed a federal lawsuit against Norfolk Southern. The district claims the company was negligent and exposed their buildings and residents to a toxic mix of chemicals. This makes Ambridge the third local district to file suit, following Blackhawk and Western Beaver school districts.