Author: Beaver County Radio

Ambridge author discusses award-winning books and local book-signing Sunday

BEAVER COUNTY RADIO

AMBRIDGE — Award-winning local author J.R. Mason is proving once again that no one is safe from becoming inspiration for her next book.

The Ambridge author’s latest novel, “How to Kill Your Stalker (and get away with it),” is the fourth installment in her wildly popular “How to Kill” series, following “How to Kill Your Neighbors,” “How to Kill Your Coworkers,” and “How to Kill Your Readers (and get away with it).”

Before anyone becomes concerned, Mason would like to remind the public that “the books are for entertainment purposes only – mostly.”

Mason discussed her books in a Thursday appearance on the Beaver County Radio Morning Show. Hear the interview here (just press play):

Known for blending mystery, suspense, and laugh-out-loud dark humor, Mason’s newest novella follows a protagonist whose life takes a dangerous turn when unwanted attention escalates into a deadly game of cat and mouse.

One thing that makes Mason’s books especially popular with local readers is that every installment of this series is set in her hometown of Ambridge,  and her previous psychological thriller series, “Stolen Pieces,” set in Downtown Pittsburgh. Familiar streets, landmarks, and local businesses frequently find their way onto the pages, giving readers a uniquely local experience.

In this new release, readers may recognize scenes set at several beloved Ambridge businesses, including Caffe Nero, Fight or Flight Performance Training, and Bella’s Wishes.

“I love incorporating local businesses and locations into my stories,” Mason said. “It’s fun for readers to recognize places they visit every day – though hopefully not under the same circumstances as my characters.”

J.R. Mason holds aloft her latest book.

The “How to Kill” series has earned a devoted following for its unique blend of mystery and comedy, turning everyday frustrations into wildly entertaining fictional disasters and finding humor in the chaos.

To celebrate the release, Caffe Nero’s Ambridge location is hosting a free book signing event noon to 3 p.m.  Sunday, June 28.

Guests will have the opportunity to meet the author, purchase signed copies of any of the books, and enjoy specially curated menu items inspired by this series.
For more information about J.R. Mason, upcoming events, or any of her nine published works,
follow her on social media or visit her website jrenecreative.com/books.

About J.R. Mason
J.R. Mason is an award-winning author from Ambridge, known for her dark comedy mystery novels and her performance/production of fully-immersive audiobooks. Her  ‘How to Kill ‘ series combines suspense, sharp wit, unforgettable characters, and small-town settings to create mysteries that are as funny as they are deadly.

Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz injured with hamstring issue

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Spencer Horwitz watches his single off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen in the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 21, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz left in the fourth inning against Seattle with discomfort in his left hamstring Wednesday night.

Esmerlyn Valdez pinch hit for Horwitz and had an RBI single during a five-run fourth in which the Pirates took a 5-1 lead.

Horwitz finished 1 for 3 and is hitting .280 with 10 home runs, 33 RBIs and 40 walks in 74 games.

Barbara Corwin (1937-2026)

Barbara Corwin, 88, of North Sewickley Township, passed away on June 18th, 2026 at Heritage Valley Beaver.

She was born on December 17th, 1937, a daughter of the late Frank and Elizabeth (Halas) Vok. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Victor Thomas Corwin, her son, Jeffrey Corwin and her siblings, Frank, Tom, Vicki, and Betty. She is survived by her son, Bruce (Mary) Corwin, her grandchildren, Brandon Scott (Tricia) Corwin and Michael Thomas (Jessica) Corwin, her great-grandson, Bryan Thomas Corwin, her siblings, Joe, Steven, Susan, and Julia; along with numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

Barbara was a graduate of Beaver Falls High School. She spent over 20 years as a dedicated associate with Giant Eagle, where she took great pride in her work and rarely slowed down. Outside of work, she greatly enjoyed visiting casinos, where she loved the excitement, entertainment, and chance to try her luck, but her greatest joy came from gathering with family and friends for holidays, picnics, and special occasions.

All services for Barbara were private. A celebration of life will be announced by her family at a later date. The GABAUER-LUTTON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, Inc., 117 Blackhawk Road Beaver Falls, was honored to care for Barbara and her family during this most difficult time and was the funeral home that was in charge of her arrangements.

Beaver Falls woman hits deer with her vehicle in Hopewell Township

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Hopewell Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported today that a thirty-five-year-old woman from Beaver Falls was not charged after crashing her vehicle in Hopewell Township on June 9th. Melinda Fernandez was driving on I-376 West near Exit 48 (Hopewell) at 9:17 p.m. and a deer entered on the road. Fernandez could not avoid a collision with the deer and hit it with her vehicle. There were no reported injuries. 

Beaver teenager charged after two-vehicle crash in Hopewell Township

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Hopeell Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported today that an eighteen-year-old boy from Beaver was charged after a two-vehicle crash in Hopewell Township on June 5th. Charles Gordon was traveling on I-376 West at 4:26 p.m. and was behind the vehicle driven by twenty-year-old Miracle Moreland of Aliquippa. Gordon hit the vehicle of Moreland after Moreland started to merge into the right lane. The passenger in Moreland’s car suffered a suspected minor injury and was the only person involved in this crash that was injured. 

Former Lincoln Park standout guard and University of Arkansas freshman Meleek Thomas drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft

(Credit and Caption for Photo: Meleek Thomas poses for a photo with NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum after being selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the NBA Draft on Wednesday in New York. (AP))

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Brooklyn, NY) Former Lincoln Park standout basketball player and University of Arkansas freshman guard Meleek Thomas was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the 2026 NBA draft as the 34th overall pick last night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The Sacramento Kings originally owned the 34th pick, but Thomas went to the Cavaliers because of a trade between the two teams. Thomas averaged 15.6 points per game, while shooting 43% from the field and 41% from the three-point line for his first season with the Razorbacks. Thomas is the second former Beaver County high school basketball player to be drafted into the NBA in two years because Los Angeles Lakers forward and Quaker Valley alum Adou Thiero was selected in the second round of the 2025 NBA draft as the 35th overall pick by the Brooklyn Nets before he was subsequently traded to the Lakers. Both Thomas and Thiero were coached at the University of Arkansas by its head coach, Moon Township native John Calipari.

Pirates unveil team memorabilia display hall and event and meeting space at PNC Park called Legacy Hall

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Posted on Facebook on June 24th, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Pirates announced yesterday the opening of Legacy Hall, which is a new event and meeting space at PNC Park that features the largest display of Pirates memorabilia at the ballpark. Legacy Hall is a multi-use space which is located next to the Left Field Entrance along Federal Street at the Willie Stargell statue. The venue has a capacity for up to 150 guests and it will accommodate corporate meetings, family events and networking events. It will also be open to all ticketed fans on game days when not reserved for a private event and will serve as the new starting point for ballpark tours. The unique area will feature a collection of Pirates memorabilia, with many items never previously displayed at PNC Park. 

Darlington teenager charged after two-vehicle crash occurs in Bridgewater Borough

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Bridgewater Borough, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported today that a sixteen-year-old boy from Darlington was charged after a two-vehicle crash occurred in Bridgewater Borough on June 14th. The teenager was traveling on State Route 51 on Riverside Drive at 4:22 p.m. Sixty-two-year-old Kevin Baird of Aliquippa was driving on the same road in the opposite direction. The teenager hit Baird’s vehicle when the teenager turned left while approaching the intersection of Veterans Memorial Bridge and the teenager did not yield for the vehicle of Baird. Both the teenager and his passenger sustained suspected minor injuries and Baird sustained a possible injury. 

No charges filed after two-vehicle crash in Aliquippa

(File Photo of a Pensnylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Aliquippa, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported today that no charges were filed after a two-vehicle crash occurred in Aliquippa on June 3rd. Sixty-five-year-old Arthur Piroli of Aliquippa was driving on Franklin Avenue at 7:50 a.m. and yielded for a police vehicle that was traveling behind the vehicle driven by thirty-year-old Zakery Mata of Beaver. Mata passed Piroli’s vehicle before Piroli yielded to the police vehicle. The front tire on the passenger side and the fender of Piroli’s vehicle hit into the driver’s side front and rear door of Mata’s vehicle. There were no reported injuries. 

Ashcraft, Rodriguez, O’Hearn help Pirates rout AL West-leading Mariners 11-1

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Esmerlyn Valdez, left, celebrates as he stands on first base after driving in a run with a single off Seattle Mariners pitcher Bryan Woo during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Braxton Ashcraft pitched six strong innings, batterymate Endy Roriguez drove in three runs and Ryan O’Hearn had three hits to help the Pittsburgh Pirates rout the Seattle Mariners 11-1 on Wednesday night.

Ashcraft (7-3) had 10 strikeouts without a walk while allowing one run and five hits. He became the first Pirates pitcher to have at least two starts in the same season with at least 10 strikeouts and zero walks since at least 1901.

Rodriguez’s two-run double opened the scoring in a five-run fourth inning against Bryan Woo (6-6) as the Pirates went ahead 5-1. Rodriguez also singled in a run in a four-run seventh that pushed the lead to 9-1.

Carmen Mlodzinski pitched four scoreless innings for his second save.

Tyler Callihan tripled home Rodriguez in the fourth, Jake Mangum, and Esmerlyn Valdez followed with run-scoring singles.

O’Hearn doubled twice, including one that drove in a pair in the seventh. Valdez and Nick Gonzales had two hits and Callihan had two RBIs.

Woo started the game with three hitless innings, but then fell apart in the fourth and was lifted at the end of the inning. He gave up five runs and six hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

The AL West-leading Mariners got their run in the first when J.P. Crawford, Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez hit consecutive singles to begin the game. Ashcraft eventually settled in and retired the last 10 batters.

Rodriguez and Josh Naylor had two hits for the Mariners.

Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz left the game with left hamstring discomfort in the fourth inning. Valdez pinch-hit and delivered an RBI single.

Up next

Mariners RHP Bryce Miller (3-1, 1.58) was set to start against RHP Bubba Chandler (2-7, 4.62) on Thursday in the series finale.