Author: Beaver County Radio

FDA Authorizes 1st COVID-19 Shots for Infants, Preschoolers

(Pfizer via AP)
By LINDSEY TANNER AP Medical Writer
U.S. regulators have authorized the first COVID-19 shots for infants and preschoolers. That paves the way for vaccinations for children under 5 to begin next week. The Food and Drug Administration’s emergency use authorization Friday follows a unanimous recommendation by its advisory panel. The kid-sized shots are made by Moderna and Pfizer. The FDA’s action allows the companies to begin shipping millions of preordered doses across the country. A final signoff from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected this weekend. The nation’s vaccination campaign began with adults in late 2020, about a year into the coronavirus pandemic.

Vince McMahon will Step Down During WWE Misconduct Probe

(AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)
By MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP Business Writer
Vince McMahon is stepping down as CEO and chairman of WWE during an an investigation into alleged misconduct involving the longtime leader and public face of the organization. McMahon will continue to oversee WWE’s creative content during the investigation, World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. said Friday. McMahon’s daughter, Stephanie, will serve as interim CEO and chairwoman. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the board was investigating a $3 million settlement that McMahon paid to a departing female employee with whom he allegedly had a consensual affair.

“Support The Troops” Rally To Be Held On Sunday, June 26 In Beaver

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

“If you’re coming to this event as a non-veteran, just to be able to look around and see that bond…you’re gonna be impressed.”

The “bond”, as mentioned by Kevin Broderick in that quote, is the bond between veterans from past wars from different decades being brought together at gatherings throughout the country. Such an event is taking place in Beaver on Sunday, June 26 at Irvine Park, as the Vietnam Veterans Of America Chapter 862 will be hosting a Support The Troops rally. Broderick, along with veterans Larry Googins (President of VVA Chapter 862) and Rudy Zetz, joined Matt Drzik on the June 17 edition of A.M. Beaver County to preview the event.

“One of the missions of the Vietnam Veterans of America is that never again will one generation of veterans abandon another,” Googins said about the free event. He also encouraged that anyone who attends–veteran or non-veteran–bring lawn chairs and personal items to Irvine Park to enjoy the event. Zetz will be one of several musical acts performing during the rally as well, along with Hat Trick Band and the Farron Brothers. “Show them–physically show them your support,” Zetz reiterated in regards to the support of those who have served.

(Disclaimer: During the interview the date of June 26 was mistakenly labeled as a Saturday; the event will be taking place on Sunday, June 26 at Irvine Park beginning at 3:00 PM. Thank you to Bob Gwin–who was instrumental in putting this interview together–for pointing out this error so that we could correct it.)

To watch the full interview with Larry, Rudy, Kevin & Matt–click on the Facebook feed below!

Beaver County Impaired Driving Enforcement Begins this Weekend

(File Photo)

Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio
(Beaver County, Pa.) The Beaver County Highway Safety Task Force will be conducting sobriety checkpoints and/or roving patrols and mobile awareness checkpoints throughout the Beaver County beginning this weekend throughout the 4th of July celebration weekend. The The checkpoints and /or roving patrols are in support of  the state’s  Impaired Driving Enforcement Initiative.

The checkpoints and /or roving patrols will be conducted at undisclosed locations to keep roads safe, save lives and reduce DUI crashes. Drivers are encouraged to drink responsibly, assign designated drivers or make alternate  arrangements to get home safely.
Use your seat belt, it is your best defense in any crash, the task force reminds all drivers to always BUCKLE UP!

Northbound Route 65 On-Ramp from Kilbuck Street Reopened in Glenfield

(File Photo)

(Pittsburgh, PA ) PennDOT District 11 is announcing the reopening of the ramp from Kilbuck Street to northbound Route 65 at the Neville Island Bridge in Glenfield Borough, Allegheny County.

The ramp from Kilbuck Street to northbound Route 65 was closed on March 23 to allow for painting operations and structural steel repairs.  The ramp has reopened to traffic.

The $43 million I-79 Neville Island Bridge Rehabilitation Project includes structural steel repairs, full structure painting, bearing and deck joint replacements, deck repairs and overlays, bridge barrier repair, substructure concrete work and drainage improvements.  The project also includes concrete roadway reconstruction, guide rail replacement and preservation work on four sign structures. Additionally, preservation work will occur on the I-79 bridge over Deer Run Road, north of the Neville Island Bridge.  Motorists will see ramp closures and single-lane and shoulder closures in each direction on I-79 during daylight off-peak and overnight hours. Other traffic impacts include four northbound weekend closures in 2021 and four southbound weekend closures in 2022. The overall project is expected to be completed in the summer of 2023.

The Trumbull Corporation is the prime contractor.

To help keep motorists informed as work progresses, PennDOT has created an email distribution list for the I-79 Neville Island Bridge rehabilitation including traffic advisories and construction updates. Enroll by sending email addresses to stcowan@pa.gov. Please write “Subscribe – I-79” in the subject line.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

Structural Fire at C&E Plastics in Hanover Township, Beaver County Reported

Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio

(Hanover Twp., Beaver County, Pa.) The Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal was called in to investigate the cause of a structural fire at C&E Plastics in Hanover Township Thursday night. Firefighters were called out at 5:28 p.m. and were still on scene, at 9;15 p.m., according  to 9-1-1.  No other information, including the  cause, was not available.

City of Beaver Falls Hires Two New Career Firefighters

(Photo of  Curtis Pegley and Seth Stowe provided by City of Beaver Falls Fire Chief Mark Stowe)

Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio
(City of Beaver Falls, Pa.) The City of Beaver Falls has hired two new career firefighters and they are two names familiar to the firehouse. City of Beaver Falls Fire Chief Mark Stowe said that Curtis Pegley and Seth Stowe have been members of the fire department  since they were 14 years old, joining as junior firefighters. They began taking firefighting classes and received certifications. At the age of 18 both joined the department as regular volunteers and received training and experience, according to Stowe. The two  firefighters  obtained PA Department of Health  Emergency Medical Technician and PA State Fire Academy  Firefighter one certification. They are both very active in the department. Curtis graduated  at RMU’s 2022 commencement.  Seth has worked as a full time dispatcher at Beaver County 911.

Central Valley School District Approves 2022-23 Budget

(File Photo)

Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio

(Center Twp., Beaver County, Pa.) The Central Valley School Board approved their 2022-23 budget of $41,179,491 an increase of 4.3%. The budget represents a 2.77 mill tax increase to 67.42 mills.

Bids for the Center Grange Primary  School renovations totaling $10,372,506. were approved by a 6-3 vote by the board. One of the main  reasons for the renovation is to accommodate all day kindergarten.

Aliquippa Man Sentenced to More Than a Dozen Years in Prison for Dealing Drugs and Brandishing a Gun

(File Photo)

(Pittsburgh, Pa.) Dana Penney was sentenced to 188 months in prison for (1) conspiring to distribute cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and Schedule I synthetic cannabinoid controlled substances in2017 and 2018; (2) possessing cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl with intent to distribute on June 19, 2018; and (3) brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on July 18, 2018, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Penney, age 40, of Aliquippa, was sentenced by United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. Penney was on federal supervised release in 2017 and 2018 as a result of a prior federal drug trafficking conviction. Judge Ranjan sentenced Penney to a concurrent term of 12 months in prison for the supervised release violations that corresponded with the convictions mentioned above. Judge Ranjan ordered that the prison sentences be followed by six years of supervised release.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the
United States.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General led the multi-agency investigation that also included the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Beaver County District Attorney’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations, the Pittsburgh Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Munhall Police Department, the Robinson Township Police Department, the McKees Rocks
Police Department, the Stowe Township Police Department, the Etna Police Department, and the Erie County District Attorney’s Office.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force
(OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

I-79 Neville Island Bridge Weekend Lane Restrictions Begin Friday in Allegheny County

(File Photo)

(Pittsburgh, PA) PennDOT District 11 is announcing weekend lane restrictions on the I-79 Neville Island Bridge in Glenfield Borough and Robinson and Neville townships, Allegheny County, will begin Friday night, June 17 weather permitting.

Single-lane restrictions in both directions on the I-79 Neville Island Bridge will occur Friday night at 8 p.m. continuously through Monday morning at 6 a.m. each weekend through late October.  Work will only occur in the northbound direction this weekend, Friday, June 17 through Monday morning, June 20. Crews will conduct bridge deck repair work.

The $43 million I-79 Neville Island Bridge Rehabilitation Project includes structural steel repairs, full structure painting, bearing and deck joint replacements, deck repairs and overlays, bridge barrier repair, substructure concrete work and drainage improvements.  The project also includes concrete roadway reconstruction, guide rail replacement and preservation work on four sign structures. Additionally, preservation work will occur on the I-79 bridge over Deer Run Road, north of the Neville Island Bridge.  Motorists will see ramp closures and single-lane and shoulder closures in each direction on I-79 during daylight off-peak and overnight hours. Other traffic impacts include four northbound weekend closures in 2021 and four southbound weekend closures in 2022. The overall project is expected to be completed in the summer of 2023.

The Trumbull Corporation is the prime contractor.

To help keep motorists informed as work progresses, PennDOT has created an email distribution list for the I-79 Neville Island Bridge rehabilitation including traffic advisories and construction updates. Enroll by sending email addresses to stcowan@pa.gov. Please write “Subscribe – I-79” in the subject line.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.