Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published November 20, 2024 2:05 P.M.

(Beaver, Pa) The Beaver County Commissioners met for their weekly work session Wednesday morning at the Courthouse. Commissioner Jack Manning spoke briefly about the election recount taking place. The county, as of Wednesday, was in their second day of recounting roughly 94,000 ballots.

During the meeting, the Commissioners were visited by the Beaver County Conservation District regarding funding. The District has requested an additional $100,000 of funds. Previously they have been operating at a flat level of $150,000, but would like to see that number rise $250,000.

It was stated that the reason for the request in additional funds is for additional staff to continue the growth of their organization.

During public comment, a resident brought up the location of the Fireman’s memorial which is currently located on the Riverfront in Rochester. There have been recent times when periods of high water in the river causes the memorial to be partially underwater.

The Commissioners relayed that they are in support of moving the memorial and are exploring different possibilities. 

(File Photo)

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Freedom, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court on November 19, 2024, to 74 months of imprisonment, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, on his conviction for receiving material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Chief United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Mark Kriss, 66, also ordering that Kriss register as a sex offender under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and pay restitution in the amount of $3,000 to the minor victim. According to information presented to the Court, Kriss made contact with a 14-year-old minor over an adult dating website and, on May 22, 2021, received digital photographs from the minor depicting her sexual exploitation. Kriss also acknowledged responsibility for meeting the minor for the purpose of engaging in sex acts at a local motel.
Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch prosecuted this case on behalf of the
government. United States Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Northern Regional Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Kriss.

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(Reported by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano, Published on November 20th, 2024 at 9:21 A.M.)

Police received a 9-1-1 call Tuesday night at 9:28 p.m. stating that a male was running in and out of traffic in the area 2729 Brodhead Road in Aliquippa. When officers arrived  they said  Richard  Wilkins  appeared severely intoxicated and smelled of alcohol and urine. According to the report, he told officers that arrived on scene he was waiting for the bus, and had told them that before. A small scuffle ensued with officers  and they reported they were able to arrest him. He is charged with  resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and public drunkenness and is in the Beaver County Jail.

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Source for Photo: FILE – Allegheny County workers scan mail-in and absentee ballots at the Allegheny County Election Division Elections warehouse in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. A federal appeals court must decide if Pennsylvania voters who put the wrong date on the envelope containing their mail-in ballots should have their votes thrown out. The case argued Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Philadelphia could be significant in this year’s presidential contest. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) The retallying of votes for the United States Senate race in Pennsylvania between Democrat Bob Casey and Republican David McCormick in Allegheny County begin today, and some voters may have chosen to ignore this election entirely. Allegheny County Elections Manager David Voye confirms that the number of people that did not vote for a candidate to occupy the Senate position was over nine thousand, while several other elections in the state, including the state treasurer, state attorney general, and state auditor general were also avoided. According to Voye, one hundred and ninety-four people were disqualified as a result of the decision on Monday of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court determining ballots with incorrect dates will not be included to determine an election winner. Different machines to scan the ballots will be used, while close to one hundred workers in Allegheny County will be sworn in before the upcoming United States Senate vote recount. 

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Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Economy, PA) The Pennsylvania Game Commission is investigating the killing of a deer named Ginger this week by a hunter in Economy this week. Ridge Avenue in Economy is home to several folks who enjoyed having Ginger around their residences. However, some were not so fond of the deer, as Ginger was the victim of a crossbow from a hunter in the yard of Economy local Catherine Madjaric. Madjaric confirmed that she refused permission from the hunter who killed Ginger to set foot on her property. It is still under curiosity if the deer that was detailed by some as like another dog to provide company caused any trouble, because another female neighbor did confirm that she was given a concussion from Ginger leaping on her. Since the distance of where the death of Ginger occurred may be close to other homes, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is still investigating this incident as the crossbow hunt could be illegal. 

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(Reported by Danielle Smith of Keystone News Service)

(Pennsylvania) Many Pennsylvania residents could benefit from health coverage known as a Dual Special Needs Plan, but may be unaware of this option. According to KFF, nearly thirty-eight percent of eligible Pennsylvania seniors participate in the plans called “DSNPs.” They are for people who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. Marian Cabanillas with UnitedHealthcare says besides preventive care, DSNPs offer other health benefits, including a monthly amount to help pay for utility bills, groceries or other needs. Her company puts the benefits on its “UnitedHealthcare U-Card.” In 2023, more than five-million dual-eligible individuals were enrolled in D-SNPs. The time to sign up for coverage for next year is now, before the Medicare open enrollment deadline of December 7th. 

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Source for Photo: FILE – Mehmet Oz, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, best-known as the host of daytime TV’s “The Dr. Oz Show,” speaks during a town hall campaign event at Arcaro and Genell in Old Forge, Pa., in this file photo from Jan. 19, 2022. Oz will be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in a ceremony Friday, Feb. 11, just as he’s being attacked 2,000 miles away in a rival’s TV ad saying he’s to “Hollywood.” (Christopher Dolan/The Times-Tribune via AP)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Washington) On Tuesday, the head of the President of the United States’ Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Dr. Mehmet Oz, was announced by newly elected President Donald Trump. Oz, both a heart surgeon as well as a former daytime television show host, will perform his new position which will supervise Medicare, the marketplace for federal health insurance, as well as the Children’s Health Insurance Program, if Oz is approved by the Senate. Oz will also work with Robert Kennedy Jr., who was chosen as Trump’s Health and Human Services Secretary. According to a statement by Trump, he does not see anyone else besides Dr. Oz that is more qualified to “make America healthy again.” Oz is no stranger to the President, as Trump gave an endorsement to Oz when he ran for Senate back in 2022. There is some controversy, however, because Oz tried to promote supplements that were not proven to work and that caught the attention of Congress. Back in June of 2014, Oz was also blamed at a Senate committee hearing for recommending a green coffee bean extract as well as deceiving consumers about the product. 

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(Reported by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano, Published on November 20th, 2024 at 6:27 A.M.)

(Center Township, PA) The supervisors met Monday night and  introduced the tentative budget of $8,987,899.00. A millage increase of 1/10  will be 2.2%, a tenth of a percent more than 2024.

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published Novemeber 19, 2024 8:06 P.M.

(Darlington, Pa) The Big Beaver Borough Council met Tuesday evening for their monthly meeting.

Council swore in and welcomed Karla Meyers as a new Council member.

In other business at the meeting, Treasurer and Secretary Jennifer Gasser spoke about their plan to move the Council meetings back to the Borough Building, as they have been holding them at the fire hall.

In preparation of the move, they will be purchasing 16 new chairs and will be considering flooring work and painting to be performed on the meeting room.

Council also approved 2 resolutions to reapply for Local Share Assessments Grants for funding to perform sewer line extensions on Midvale and Hollowvue Roads, respectively.

A third resolution was approved for reapplying for a grant for a new dump truck and High Lift.