McDonald man given warning after crashing vehicle in Chippewa Township

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Chippewa Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported today that thirty-six-year-old Vincent Scappe of McDonald was given a warning by police after crashing his vehicle in Chippewa Township on August 2nd.

Scappe was driving on I-376 West at about 1:35 p.m. and he lost control of his vehicle.

He went off of the road with his vehicle, and his vehicle hit a guide wire.

There were no reported injuries. 

Philadelphia man suffers medical emergency, crashes vehicle in New Sewickley Township

(File Photo of a Police Siren Light)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(New Sewickley Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Gibsonia reported today that forty-one-year-old Stewart Rodes of Philadelphia crashed his vehicle in New Sewickley Township yesterday.

According to police, Rodes was traveling on I-76 East south of Harkins Mill Road in an area within a warning zone leading up to a construction zone at 8:55 p.m.

Rodes suffered a medical emergency and lost consciousness while he was driving and traveled off of the road.

His vehicle then hit a concrete barrier. 

There were no reported injuries and no charges were filed in connection with this incident. 

PennDOT Driver’s License, Photo Centers Closed for 2026 Labor Day Holiday

(File Photo of the PennDOT Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) PennDOT announced today that all of its driver’s license and photo centers will be closed from Saturday, September 5th through Monday, September 7th in observance of the 2026 Labor Day holiday.

Customers can still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle services and products, which include driver training manuals, forms and publications at PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website by clicking here.

Incarcerated Ambridge Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Machinegun and is Sentenced to Five Years of Prison

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today that a resident of Ambridge, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to one count of possession of a machinegun and was sentenced to 60 months of
incarceration on his conviction.

Twenty-one-year-old Nasean Hunt received this sentence and he is already serving a sentence of 15 to 40 years in prison for a conviction in Beaver County for conspiracy to commit murder of the third degree in connection with his possession of a machinegun.

According to information presented to the Court, on July 9th, 2023, Hunt was found in possession of a loaded Glock 17 pistol equipped with a “switch” or auto-sear that rendered the semi-automatic handgun capable of fully automatic fire.

Hunt also had gunshot residue on his hands when he was apprehended.

Hunt is also one of two suspects who was accused of killing a fifteen-year-old boy on Church Street on the exact same date of July 9th, 2023.

Hunt’s federal sentence will run concurrently with the sentence that he is currently serving.

AAA: Cruises, National Parks, and European Cities Popular Among Labor Day Travelers

(File Photo of the AAA East Central Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Many travelers are taking advantage of the last long holiday weekend of the season during Labor Day weekend as summer comes to an end.

According to AAA booking data, Seattle, Orlando, Boston, Denver, and New York are the top domestic destinations, while Rome, Vancouver, London, Dublin, and Paris top the international list.

This is also the point of year when travelers start planning vacations for next spring and summer.

According to a release from AAA East Central, here are AAA East Central’s Top Labor Day Weekend Destinations:

RANKING

DOMESTIC

INTERNATIONAL

1

ANCHORAGE, AK

NASSAU, BAHAMAS

2

ORLANDO, FL

VANCOUVER, CANADA

3

HAWAII

LONDON, ENGLAND

4

LAS VEGAS, NV

DUBLIN, IRELAND

5

ANAHEIM, LOS ANGELES, CA

PARIS, FRANCE

6

CHICAGO, IL

CALGARY, CANADA

7

ANAHEIM/LOS ANGELES, CA

BARCELONA, SPAIN

8

LAS VEGAS, NV

ATHENS, GREECE

9

ANCHORAGE, AK

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS

10

ATLANTA, GA

HALIFAX, CANADA

Rush returning to Pittsburgh

Scott Tady

PITTSBURGH — Rock legends Rush will perform in Pittsburgh on Nov. 15.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees, and co-founders Geddy Lee [bass, keys, vocals] and Alex Lifeson [guitar, vocals], today announced four new arena shows on their celebrated 2026 headline tour, Fifty Something.

The band will perform at PPG Paints Arena. General on-sales begin 10 a.m. Friday with presales beginning on Tuesday, also at 10 a.m., for Citi cardmembers.

Lee and Lifeson shared about the significance of these newly added dates, “When we initially booked this tour we didn’t know how well we would hold up to the rigors of the road – so we played it safe with lots of days off to recover – but life is nothing if not surprising and we’re doing fine and having a blast – so why not try to hit a few more of the cities that have always treated us so well.”

Rush returns to Pittsburgh. (Richard Sibbald)

Julie Chirstner Belcher Baskal (1951-2026)

Julie Christner Belcher Baskal, 74, of Baden, passed away peacefully on August 26th, 2026. She was born on October 21st, 1951, the daughter of the late Bud and Bessie Christner.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald Baskal, and her son, Richard J. Belcher.

She is survived by her son, Brian (Kathy) Belcher, her grandchildren, Brandon Belcher, Tristin Lippert, and Chloe Lippert and a very special friend, Nancy.

Julie was a graduate of Ambridge High School and later worked for many years at Eat ’N Park. She enjoyed shopping, gardening—especially tending to her roses—and watching the Home Shopping Network. She also loved decorating for every holiday and making each occasion special.

Above all, she cherished her grandchildren, whom she loved and adored.

She was affectionately known as “GiGi,” and she treasured the time she spent with them and the special memories they shared.

Services are private for Julie.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Alvarez-Hahn Funeral and Cremation Services, LLC, 547 8th Street, Ambridge.

CCBC Foundation Welcomes Four New Board Members

(File Photo of the CCBC Logo, Credit for Four Photos Below: Photos Provided with Release Courtesy of the Community College of Beaver County)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Monaca, PA) The Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) Foundation recently welcomed four new members to its Board of Directors: Aubrey Plane, Pamela M. Johnson, Dr. Joseph A. Guarino, and Paul Duty.

They will assist CCBC and its mission to expand opportunities for students.

Aubrey Plane (pictured below) graduated from CCBC and she currently serves as a Business Development Manager at BELFOR Restoration.

 

 

Pamela M. Johnson, RN, BSN, (pictured below) also graduated from CCBC. She is a retired hospice nurse that has 47 years of experience in clinical care and administration. She previously served for 10 years as a trustee for CCBC and Beaver
County residents, which included serving as Chairperson of the Board during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Joseph A. Guarino (pictured below) currently serves as the Superintendent of the New Brighton Area School District and will be serving as the Superintendent of both the New Brighton Area School District and Rochester Area School District through a shared superintendent model in the future. Guarino has spent over 23
years working with the New Brighton Area School District, starting his career there as a teacher before becoming the principal of New Brighton Middle School.

Paul Duty (pictured below) is an airline captain with the regional carrier of American Airlines, Envoy Air. He is currently a flight instructor and an aviation curriculum developer with over 20 years of experience in aviation training and leadership. Duty graduated from CCBC’s Professional Pilot program in 2002.

New York man cited after hit-and-run crash in Big Beaver Borough

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Big Beaver Borough, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Gibsonia reported today that forty-six-year-old Giorgi Bokuchava of Brooklyn, New York was cited after a hit-and-run crash occurred in Big Beaver Borough on Thursday.

The crash took place on I-76 East on the Pennsylvania Turnpike at 11 a.m.

Bokuchava was driving in the work zone for the Big Beaver River bridge construction project and sideswiped a vehicle driven by seventy-one-year-old Arsenios Paliobeis of Cleveland, Ohio.

Bokuchava kept driving after the collision and was given three citations after his vehicle was located during a traffic stop on I-76 eastbound at the Cranberry acceleration ramp.

There were no reported injuries. 

Maurice Shawan Fisher (1975-2026)

Maurice Shawan Fisher, 50, formerly of Baden, passed away unexpectedly on August 25th, 2026.

He was born in Aliquippa on September 3rd, 1975, a son of James and Naomi Steals.

Maurice was a graduate of Ambridge High School, Class of 1992, and continued his education by earning a bachelor’s degree from Penn State University and a master’s degree from Point Park University.

Following his education, Maurice began his career with Pittsburgh Regional Transit, where he dedicated more than 10 years of service. During his time there, he formed close friendships with his coworkers, Terry and Shelley, who held a special place in his life.

He was also passionate about giving back to his community. From 2005 through 2012, he was an active part of Ambridge youth sports, helping coach basketball, soccer, and baseball. He enjoyed being involved with the youth and sharing his knowledge, encouragement, and love of sports with others.

Outside of work and coaching, he enjoyed traveling, continuously gaining knowledge and learning in many different ways, and most of all, spending time with the people he loved. He will be remembered for the love he had for his family and the many lives he touched throughout the years.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Patrice, his two children, Christian and Jacqueline, his two beloved grandchildren, Dezmond and Dru (“Dru-Bear”), whom he adored and lovingly called his grandchildren. He is also survived by his three siblings, Richard, Niecey, and Jawaya, all of Ambridge, his niece, Raven, the daughter of his late brother Tekoah, as well as many other loving family members and friends.

Maurice’s memory will live on through the family, friends, and community who were blessed to know and love him.

In accordance with Maurice’s wishes, there will be no formal service. The family appreciates the love, prayers, and support extended to them during this difficult time.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Alvarez-Hahn Funeral and Cremation Services, LLC, 547 8th Street, Ambridge.