Author: Beaver County Radio

Jeffrey Conte (1960-2026)

Jeffrey Conte, 65, of Moon Township, passed away unexpectedly on February 27th, 2026. He was born in Ellwood City on October 27th, 1960, a son of the late Louis and Sally Conte. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Ethan Conte, and his sister in law, Patricia Aulgur. He is survived by his beloved wife, Jill Conte, his daughter and son in law, Kallie and Zachary Kelly, his brothers, Louis (Mary) Conte Jr., Randall Conte, and Kevin (Sandy) Conte, four brothers in law: William (Tracy) Coolidge, Scott (Joda) Coolidge, Jeff (Shirlee) Coolidge, and Todd (Missy) Coolidge; as well as his sister in law, Pamela (Jay) Murphy, and many cherished nieces and nephews: Jacqlyn, Jenna, Allaire, Grace, Patrick, Lyndsey, Zeke, Brad, Megan, Blake, Matt, Kate, Timmy, Todd, Anna, Jake, Tyler, Lauren, and Anna Marie. He is also survived by his beloved dog, Molly.

Jeffrey was a proud graduate of Ellwood City High School and Lock Haven University. After earning his B.A. in Education, he began his teaching career in Elkland, Pennsylvania, and later joined the South Side School District, where he dedicated 34 years to teaching students with special needs. During his time at South Side, he also coached basketball and baseball, sharing his love of sports and positively influencing countless students. He was a devoted Pittsburgh sports fan who never missed the Pirates’ Home Opener and loved cheering on the Steelers and Penguins. He was also deeply involved with Special Olympics for many years, an experience made especially meaningful because he shared it with his brother Ethan. Some of his happiest times were spent cheering on his daughter and her friends during their soccer games: he never missed one. He loved being outdoors: working in the yard, landscaping, boating, and fishing, and he especially cherished family trips to Rehoboth Beach. Music was always a part of his life. His favorite song, “I’m Not Here for a Long Time, I’m Here for a Good Time,” captured his outlook perfectly. He was always dancing, singing confidently (and often off key), and bringing joy everywhere he went. Above all else, he loved his family and friends deeply. His huge, unforgettable hugs and his big, radiant smile will be profoundly missed. His warmth, humor, and loyal heart touched everyone who knew him.

A Memorial Gathering will be held on Saturday, March 14th from 1–4 p.m. at Huntsman Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Moon Township, 1522 Coraopolis Heights Road, Coraopolis, who was in charge of his arrangements, with a celebration of his life to follow at that funeral home.

Rose Marie (Casciato) Sebastian (1930-2026)

Rose Marie (Casciato) Sebastian, 95, formerly of Chippewa Township and West Mayfield, passed away peacefully on February 28th, 2026, with loved ones by her side.

She was born on April 22nd, 1930, a daughter of the late Thomas and Matilda (Gizzi) Casciato, formerly of Homewood-Racine, Pennsylvania. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Christopher J. Sebastian, originally from Monaca. Rose Marie and Chris wed on June 19th, 1954, at St. Philomena Catholic Church.  The couple met dancing at McDanel Hall and danced every chance they could, all the way until just a few weeks before Chris’ passing. She was also preceded in death by 10 siblings, four brothers: Louis (Gladys), Albert (Euna), Johnny (Eleanor), and Dominic (Lorraine) Casciato; as well as six sisters: Angelina Casciato, Ann (George) Berger, Margaret (Emil) Kittner, Carmella (Ted) Zdunek, Esther Riggio, and Gloria (Steve) Vinciguerra; along with her Sebastian in-laws: Caroline and Ralph Sebastian, Arthur Sebastian, Lawrence (Francis), George (Rose), Joseph (Elda), Mark, Elvie (John) Romano, Mary (Steve) Lokey, and Rosie (Mike) Petterson. She is survived by a son and two daughters, Renee (Gary) Sebastian Mills of Dallas, Texas, Art (Ana) Sebastian of Diamond Bar, California, and Nancy Sebastian of East Palestine, Ohio, eight treasured grandchildren: Mackenzie (Thomas) Gross and her great-granddaughter, Bernadette, of Omaha, Nebraska, as well as: Matthew (fiancé Natalie) Mills of Denver, Colorado, Anthony Sebastian Veon of Dallas, Texas, Christina (Tim) Simon of Morristown, New Jersey, Dr. Francesca (Forrest) Johnson of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Christopher (Genesis) Sebastian, Joseph Sebastian, and Lauren Sebastian, all of Diamond Bar, California, a brother-in-law, Marshall Riggio of Hawthorne, California, as well as four generations of dear nieces and nephews.

Rose Marie was a 1950 graduate of Beaver Falls Senior High School, where she was a cheerleader, enjoyed choir, and was elected to the May Prom Court. She was a lifelong member of the former St. Philomena Roman Catholic Parish, now St. Augustine Roman Catholic Parish, and was a member of the Confraternity of Christian Mothers and the Child Study Club. She held employment at Babcock & Wilcox general sales office, also at ACME Photo, Taylor’s Department Store, Megan’s, and the Jeanne Craft Dress Shop, all in Beaver Falls.  She was also employed in the cafeteria at Blackhawk High School. She was a devoted and unselfish daughter, sister, wife, mother, and Nunny. She was a fabulous seamstress and cook, and loved playing bingo.

A Visitation will be on Friday, March 13th from 3-6 P.M. in the GABAUER-LUTTON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, INC., 117 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls, who was in charge of her arrangements, and where departing prayers will be offered on Saturday, March 14th at 11:30 A.M. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Noon at St. Monica Church of St. Augustine Parish, 116 Thorndale Drive, Beaver Falls.  Fr. Kim Schreck will serve as celebrant. A rosary for Rose Marie will be prayed in the Church prior to the Mass of Christian Burial by Confraternity of Christian Mothers at St. Monica Church of St. Augustine Parish, 116 Thorndale Dr., Beaver Falls, PA 15010.

Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, 2927 Clayton Road, Beaver Falls.

William (Bill) Richard White (1934-2026)

William (Bill) Richard White, 91, passed away peacefully on March 2nd, 2026. He was born in Youngstown, Ohio on September 12th, 1934, a son of the late David and Mary White.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Robert White, Jean Bartholomew, and Kay Usher, his grandchildren, Gwendolyn and Margaret Knupp and his son-in-law, Robert Knupp. He is survived by his devoted wife, Helen Childs Kyle White, his son, Adam (Leigh Ann) White, his stepchildren, Jason (Laura) Kyle and Anita Kyle Knupp, his cherished grandchildren: Liam, Aiden, and Brynleigh White, Zachary Kyle, Albany Kyle, Madison (CJ) Pugh and Stephen Knupp; as well as his treasured great-grandchildren, Lane and Adler.

William proudly served his country in the United States Army and later with the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Following his years of military service, he pursued higher education and earned a Master’s Degree in Merchandising from New York University. He went on to build a successful career in the oil and gas industry, working as a Landman. A constant and guiding force in his life was his deep love for the Lord. He faithfully shared his faith with others through active service in his church community. He also served compassionately as a chaplain at local nursing homes and hospitals, bringing comfort and encouragement to many. He had a deep interest in current events and rarely missed an opportunity to watch Fox News, staying informed and sharing his perspectives with those around him. He also greatly enjoyed the traditions and excitement of the Kentucky Derby each year and looked forward to watching college football, cheering enthusiastically and enjoying the camaraderie the games brought. Above all else, he loved his family deeply. He found immense joy in watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow, and he treasured every moment spent with them. His legacy of faith, service, strong convictions, and devotion to family will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.

Friends will be received on Friday, March 6th from 5-7 P.M. in the GABAUER-LUTTON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, Inc., 117 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls, who was in charge of his arrangements, and where a funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 7th at 12 noon with friends will be received one hour prior to service at 11 A.M. Pastor John Dobritch will officiate.

Private interment will take place at East Carmel Cemetery, East Carmel, OH 44455.

Anita Elaine (Daniels) Johnson (1948-2026)

Anita Elaine (Daniels) Johnson, 78, of Ohioville, passed away on February 12th, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born in East Liverpool, Ohio on January 25th, 1948, a daughter of the late George Jr. and Eleanore Daniels. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth A. Johnson, and a son-in-law, Keith E. Martin. She is survived by her son, Dale A. Johnson, her daughter, Sherry L. (Johnson) Martin, her granddaughter, Kiersten Elaine (Johnson) Narad, her great-granddaughter, Trinity Nevaeh Skye Narad, her brother, George A. “Fred” Daniels, her sister, Kathi (Daniels) Yuran and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Anita was a faithful member of St. Monica Parish and St. Blaise Church in Midland. She was a loving wife, mother, and teacher. She graduated from Western Beaver High School and attended Point Park College (now University) before marrying the love of her life, Ken Johnson. She taught at the former Presentation Catholic school before having children. She remained involved with the Church teaching CCD, developing and hosting Family Days, and acting as a Confirmation sponsor when asked. More than anything else, she loved to spend time with her family, travel to visit family and friends, or host family and friends at her home. She also loved animals, always having a dog or cat (or two) as a pet.

Professional arrangements have been entrusted to the Noll Funeral Home Inc., 333 Third Street, Beaver. Online condolences may be shared at www.nollfuneral.com. A Mass at St. Blaise Church, 772 Ohio Avenue, Midland, and a celebration of life will be held at a later date.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Anita E. Johnson, please visit the flower store of the Noll Funeral Home, Inc. by clicking here.

Red Cross installing free smoke alarms across Pennsylvania; Get Involved in March during Red Cross Month

(File Photo of the American Red Cross Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) More people have died in home fires in Pennsylvania last year than in any other state. During Red Cross Month this March, the American Red Cross is calling attention to the home fire crisis and the simple steps that save lives.According to a recent release from the American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania, here is some more information about how you can get involved:

  • SOUNDING THE ALARM Working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half. Through the Sound the Alarm program, the Red Cross installs free smoke alarms in homes across Pennsylvania. Trained volunteers show up, install the alarms, and walk families through an escape plan. Since the program launched, the Red Cross has installed more than 167,000 free smoke alarms across Pennsylvania. To request a free smoke alarm installation, become a volunteer or donate, visit SoundTheAlarm.org/GreaterPA.
  • This March, during Red Cross Month, the Red Cross honors how people today deliver support when help can’t wait. Every contribution matters — visit redcross.org to get involved by volunteering, making a financial donation, giving blood or taking a class in lifesaving skills.
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  • Frequently Asked Questions
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  • Q: Where can people find volunteer opportunities?
  • A: People can find volunteer opportunities that meet their needs at redcross.org.
  • Q: What is Red Cross Month?
  • A: Red Cross Month is a nationwide celebration in March to honor the people who deliver support when help can’t wait. It began as a national call to action during WWII for individuals to address growing humanitarian needs. Now, it’s a community tradition encouraging people to get involved at redcross.org. This year’s campaign includes:
  • The Red Cross is offering free A1C screening in March to test for prediabetes and diabetes on all successful blood, platelet and plasma donations, as part of its efforts to support the health of communities. No fasting is required; it’s always important to eat a nutritious meal before giving blood. In addition, all who come to give blood, platelets or plasma March 1-31 will receive a $15 Amazon.com Gift Card by email. See RedCrossBlood.org/March for details.
  • Financial donations made on March 25 for Disaster Relief will be part of this year’s Red Cross Giving Day, which aims to bring together 30,000 supporters to help ensure families don’t face disasters alone.
  • Q: What is Red Cross Giving Day?
  • A: Red Cross Month culminates with Red Cross Giving Day, which will be held this year on March 25. It’s an opportunity for people to come together on one day to help families recover from a home fire or other disaster across the country. Donations can be made at redcross.org/GivingDay.

Pitt fires embattled women’s basketball coach Tory Verdi amid court struggles and legal issues

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Pitt Head Coach Tory Verdi speaks during a ACC women’s NCAA college basketball media day, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, ,File)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh fired women’s basketball coach Tory Verdi on Tuesday, ending a three-year tenure in which the Panthers struggled to find success on the court and Verdi potentially ran into trouble off it.

Athletic director Allen Greene announced the decision shortly after the Panthers missed the ACC women’s tournament after going 8-23, including a 1-17 mark in conference play.

“After a thorough and thoughtful evaluation of our women’s basketball program, it has been determined that we have not progressed enough competitively and now is the right time to seek a new leader for our program,” Greene said in a statement. “We thank Tory for his dedication over the past three seasons and wish him and his family nothing but the best in their future endeavors. The search process for our next leader is already underway.”

The decision comes just weeks after former Pitt players filed a lawsuit against Verdi and the university, alleging they were subject to Verdi’s abusive coaching methods and their pleas for the university to intervene went unheard. The school has denied the allegations.

Verdi went 29-66 with the Panthers, who hired him in 2023 following a lengthy run at Massachusetts.

Pitt’s next coach will be the program’s third in four years. The Panthers have struggled to find their footing since moving from the Big East to the ACC in 2013. Pitt has just one NCAA tournament appearance since swapping conferences, and that came in 2015 under Suzie McConnell Serio.

Pittsburgh Regional Transit announces update proposal to improve the bus network in the region of Allegheny County

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – This April 2, 2021, file photo shows bridges spanning the Allegheny River in downtown Pittsburgh. Republicans in Congress are making the politically brazen bet that it’s more advantageous to oppose President Joe Biden’s ambitious rebuild America agenda than to lend support for the costly $2.3 trillion undertaking for roads, bridges and other infrastructure investments. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pittsburgh Regional Transit announced an updated proposal on Monday so they can improve the region’s bus network by increasing frequency and strengthening connections across Allegheny County. The project is called “Bus Line Refresh: Familiar Routes, Stronger Connections” and it was shaped by feedback from over 16,000 community members. This proposal marks an evolution of the “Bus Line Redesign” effort that was first introduced in 2023. This updated version will focus on both improving reliability and service hours on existing routes rather than a total overhaul of the system. The agency plans to reinvest over 10% of service hours from low-ridership segments into the areas with higher demand. 

Former Allegheny County and Pittsburgh EOC manager charged with sexually assaulting a child in his care

(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) Sixty-eight-year-old Henry Caparelli of Pittsburgh, a former Emergency Operations Center Manager for Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh is accused of sexually assaulting a child who was in his care. He is charged with multiple counts of aggravated indecent assault, as well as a count of unlawful contact with a minor, along with two counts of indecent assault of a person less than 13 years old, including a count of endangering the welfare of children and two counts of corruption of minors. According to a criminal complaint, a victim wrote the allegations in the notes app on her phone and a parent discovered it. The allegations were then reported to the police and an investigation began. Police state that Caparelli is accused of spanking the victim, watching pornography in her presence and touching her over and under her clothing on multiple occasions. Investigators note that they interviewed the victim at UPMC Children’s Hospital Child Advocacy Center in September of 2025. The victim told an interviewer she kept what happened in her notes app because she did not want to talk about the situation out loud. Caparelli spent almost 20 years with the city of Pittsburgh in emergency operations. He left that position and worked with Allegheny County as the emergency operations center communications manager from 2010 to 2014. Court documents show that Caparelli was arrested by Pittsburgh police and arraigned on Monday. He was released yesterday on unsecured bail. Caparelli is scheduled to appear in court on March 18th, 2026. 

Video shows rat running around a bar in the South Side of Pittsburgh; owner takes responsibility

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of KDKA)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A video on Sunday recently showed a rat running around the beer taps at The Urban Tap, a bar on the South Side of Pittsburgh. The owner of the gastropub and draft house posted a statement on social media yesterday after the video went viral, saying that this was “unacceptable.” The owner went on to say that the Allegheny County Health Department inspected the business and the building and that “maintaining a clean and safe environment is our responsibility, and I take that seriously.” The Allegheny County Health Department’s inspection report from Monday says there is no pest infestation. However, the report said rodent droppings were found in multiple places, including behind the beer tap tower, in the basement, and under the stairs leading to the basement.

Georgia man charged after police say he hid a body under a trailer in the Carrick neighborhood of Pittsburgh

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A fifty-two-year-old man from Statesboro, Georgia has been charged with homicide after police say he hid a body under an eighteen-wheeler in the Carrick neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The body was found on Monday behind the former Shop n’ Save store along Amanda Street at around 8:30 p.m. Court paperwork confirms Steven Thomas has been charged with abuse of a corpse, criminal homicide and tampering with evidence. Police stated in a criminal complaint that investigators determined that the man died of blunt force trauma to the head. Court documents also reveal Thomas admitted to having a confrontation with the victim inside his home on February 27th, 2026. Thomas said the victim was standing in the living room yelling obscenities at him, and he eventually pushed the victim backwards, causing him to fall. He told police he believed the victim hit his head off the wall or stair climber. According to the criminal complaint, Thomas was scared when he saw the victim was not breathing. He told police he put his body in a travel duffel and put him in the back of a car and dumped the body under the semi-trailer, which is near the home of the victim. The preliminary hearing for Thomas is set for March 13th, 2026.