Author: Beaver County Radio

Center Township receives update on renovation of municipal complex

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published February 21, 2024 10:39 A.M.

(Center Township, Pa) Center Supervisors received an update on the municipal complex renovations at Tuesday night’s meeting from the township engineer Ned Mitrovich.

The project should be complete in July or August, according to township chairman Bill DiCiccio, Jr. the park  improvements should also be complete by then, Mitrovich reported.

Ross Youree was hired as a full time police officer based on Police Chief Aldo Legge’s  recommendation.
A street light request for Gardenview Estates was also approved by the supervisors.
The supervisors next meeting is Monday, March 18, 2024 at 7pm.

White House promises ‘major sanctions’ on Russia in response to Alexei Navalny’s death

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby speaks during a press briefing at the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says it is preparing additional “major sanctions” on Russia in response to opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s death in an Arctic penal colony. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the new package would be unveiled this Friday. He declined to detail the new actions, citing U.S. government policy, or share how they would expand on the already stiff sanctions the U.S. and its allies have put on Russia in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine. Kirby said only that the sanctions, which will coincide with the two year anniversary of Russia’s invasion, will be “specifically supplemented with additional sanctions regarding Mr. Navalny’s death.”

Biden wants people to know most of the money he’s seeking for Ukraine would be spent in the US

Construction continues at a building complex in Mesquite, Texas, Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. As President Joe Biden pushes House Republicans to pass needed aid for Ukraine, he wants voters to understand that nearly $40 billion would actually be going to U.S. factories that make missiles, munitions and other gear. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

MESQUITE, Texas (AP) — As President Joe Biden pushes House Republicans to pass needed aid for Ukraine, he wants voters to understand that nearly two-thirds would actually be going to U.S. factories, like a munitions plant set to open this summer in a gleaming new industrial park in suburban Dallas. Administration officials combed through the foreign aid in the $95 billion bipartisan supplemental funding bill passed by the Senate. Of the $61 billion for Ukraine, nearly $40 billion would go to U.S. factories that make missiles, munitions and other gear. House Speaker Mike Johnson refuses to put the bill up for a vote in the House.

Stock market today: Wall Street starts holiday-shortened week on a down note

Pedestrians pass the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024 in New York. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan)

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are off to a weak start at the beginning of a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 was down 0.6% early Tuesday. The benchmark index is coming off only its second losing week in the last 16. Losses in technology stocks were weighing on the market. That helped pull the Nasdaq composite down 1.1%. The Dow held up better, and was mostly unchanged. That was largely thanks to a big gain in Walmart, which rose 5% after reporting stronger-than-expected results for its latest quarter and issuing sales forecasts that came in ahead of what Wall Street was expecting.

US appeals court to decide if Pennsylvania mail-in ballots with wrong date still count

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)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — 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 in Philadelphia could be significant in this year’s presidential contest. The NAACP and several voter groups call the mistakes “meaningless” and want them counted. They say that more than 10,000 ballots in the state were rejected in 2022 over mistaken dates. Republican groups are challenging a federal court ruling last year that the votes should count if they are received in time.

Allegheny Health Network Releases Top Baby Names in 2023

Beaver County Radio News Staff. Published February 20, 2024 12:26 P.M.

(Pittsburgh, Pa) Is your name Noah or Charlotte? If it is, you’ve got a popular name. Allegheny Health Network reported their 10 most popular baby names chosen by parents delivering their newborns in 2023. Topping the charts last year were Noah and Charlotte for the top boy and girl names, followed closely by Owen and Olivia for third and fourth place.

The Top 10 Names Selected at AHN in 2023:

  1. Noah
  2. Charlotte
  3. Owen
  4. Olivia
  5. Henry
  6. Luca
  7. James
  8. Jack
  9. Oliver
  10. Theodore
  • Making the cut: Henry, Luca and James made the 2023 Top 10 list after missing out in 2022.
  • Just missing the cut: Among the popular names falling just outside the top 10 last year were Evelyn and Sophia for girls, and Miles and Levi for boys.
  • Big jumps: Charlotte rose from No. 4 on the charts in 2022 to No. 2 in 2023, and Noah leaped from No. 13 in 2022 to the top spot in 2023.
  • Big drops: Olivia dropped to the fourth spot after being the top-selected name in 2022, while Theodore dropped eight spots from No. 2 to No. 10.
  • Off the list: Names that dropped from the 2022 Top 10 list included Amelia, Logan and Emma.

Out of the 3,200 different baby names chosen by parents delivering last year at AHN facilities, over 2,100 were original to the network, being used only one time.

GOP Senate contenders aren’t shy about wanting Trump’s approval. But in Pennsylvania, it’s awkward

David McCormick, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, speaks during a campaign stop in Erie, Pa. on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Since he became a force in Republican politics, Donald Trump has figured prominently in U.S. Senate races, shaping which GOP contenders get nominated. But that’s not happening in Pennsylvania. There, the likely Republican nominee, David McCormick, and Trump seem to be ignoring each other. McCormick — an ex-hedge fund CEO — is trying to beat Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, the best-known political name in Pennsylvania. For McCormick, there’s the additional baggage of Trump’s tongue-lashings as Trump worked to defeat McCormick in Pennsylvania’s 2022 Senate primary race. Theirs is a complicated relationship that Democrats say is fraught with danger for McCormick and pollsters say steepens his uphill climb against Casey.

Celeste R. (Siano) DiBenedetto (1955-2024)

Celeste R. DiBenedetto (nee Siano) 68, of West View, passed away on February 12, 2024.
She was born March 29, 1955, in Pittsburgh and is the daughter of the late Michael and Joann (Stamerra) Siano. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 37 years, Dario DiBenedetto.
Celeste was a graduate of St. Benedict’s Academy and Indiana University. She worked in several capacities in the food industry, most recently at Giant Eagle Marketplace in Cranberry.
Celeste is survived by her sisters: Rita Bigham and Marlene Usdin. A dear friend, Tony Egizio, who Celeste fondly called her “little” brother. Nieces and nephews: Grace, James and Ella Usdin, and Adrienne Parr, great nieces: Caroline and Anna Parr, great nephew: Simon Parr, a special cousin: Loretta Martella and numerous other cousins and friends.
Family and friends are welcome to attend a memorial Mass on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at 11:30 am in Mary Queen of Saints Parrish, St. Titus Church, 952 Franklin Avenue, Aliquippa, PA 15001.
Celeste will be buried at Mr. Olivet Cemetery next to her husband.

John N. “Hogie” Hannum (1932-2024)

John N. “Hogie” Hannum, 92, of Chippewa Twp., formerly of West Mayfield, passed away on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at Celebration Villa of Chippewa.

Born February 14, 1932, in Clintonville, PA, he was the son of the late Norman “Mike” and Irene (Weckerly) Hannum.  A 1949 graduate of Beaver Falls High School, John went on to graduate from Geneva College in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering, and in 1965 graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a M.Ed. (Master of Education) degree. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he served with the 80th Engineers during the Korean War.

His career included starting as a Warehouse Foreman at City Market in Beaver Falls and then went on to work at Babcock and Wilcox as an Engineer. His love of education then lead him to Blackhawk High School, where he was a math teacher.

A member of the West Mayfield Vets, John enjoyed traveling, fishing, hunting, gardening, woodworking, camping, and boating in his spare time.  He was a loving father and pappy.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Jane (Whitla) Hannum in June of 1987; and a son, Mark Blakely Hannum in August of 2006.

He is survived by his son, Craig J. Hannum; his daughter-in-law, Holly Noel Hannum; two grandchildren and their spouses, Blakely P. and Leigh Hannum and Hannah Jane and Alex Goff; and three great-grandchildren, Colton Blakely Hannum, Jeremiah Woods Hannum and Olive Elizabeth Hannum.

Friends will be received on Friday, February 23rd from 2pm-4pm and 6pm-8pm and Saturday, February 24th from 10am until the time of services at 11am in the GABAUER-LUTTON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, INC.- 117 Blackhawk Rd., Chippewa Twp.  Pastor Gary Bailey will officiate. Prior to services, full military honors will be performed by the Beaver County Special Unit.

Private interment will take place in Sylvania Hills Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in John’s name to the West Mayfield Vets- 1000 Patterson Ave, Beaver Falls, PA, 15010 or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society – 333 E Carson St # 441E, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

The family would like to give special thanks to the staff of Celebration Villa of Chippewa, AHN Hospice, and Gateway Hospice for their exceptional care of John.

Robert Guy “Bob” Peluso (1938-2024)

On February 15, 2024 after 85 and a half amazing years Robert Guy “Bob” Peluso passed away peacefully with his family by his side. Family and friends know and love Bob as a son, brother, grandson, husband, dad, Papa, uncle, brother-in-law, father-in-law, cousin and friend.  Bob was a scholar, scientist, rescuer, inventor, world traveler, conversationalist and story-teller. A Pitt Panther fan, hand baller, bowler, jokester, leader, and listener. The best Shamoo ride giver, wine maker, foodie, pasta maker, provider and helper. A Frank Sinatra aficionado, music lover, and Fox News junkie. He was non-judgemental and endlessly supportive. Impeccable with his word and generous with his time and money. A brilliant mind and a fierce heart. He was simply the best. Bob will be missed by everyone who knew him.

Friends and family will be received on Wednesday February 21st from 2-4 and 6-8 PM in The Huntsman Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Moon Twp. (1522 Coraopolis Hts. Rd.)  Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Thursday at 10 AM in St. Margaret Mary Church, Moon Twp. (everyone please meet at the church) Private interment will be at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery, Hopewell.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: The Wounded Warrior Project www.woundedwarriorproject.org