Beaver County Radio News Staff. Published January 19, 2024 11:56 A.M.
(Hopewell Township, Pa) Hopewell School District Superintendent Jeff Beltz has announced that the district canceling all evening events for Friday night. The Hopewell vs Blackhawk varsity boys basketball game is being postponed.
(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)
PennDOT has lifted restrictions on all major roadways, which had restricted vehicles and reduced speed limits on highways due to the winter weather.
The restrictions that were placed on Interstates 79, 279, 376, and 579 are no longer in place, and normal speed limits are being recognized.
Motorists are still being advised to prepare accordingly and use caution when necessary.
(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)
The Dollar General store in Franklin Township has received a citation from the Pennsylvania State Police for excessive false alarms at its store located at 297 Route 288.
Police had responded to an alarm at 2:49 in the morning on Christmas Eve only to discover that it was a false alarm, the fifth such occurrence at that particular Dollar General within the span of one year. It was after that incident that the premises was cited for excessive false alarms.
(Sandy Giordano/Beaver County Radio)
The Central Valley School Board discussed the latest updates on the construction at Center Grange Primary School.
The playground for the school is not in place yet according to Grounds Chairperson Marsha Decenzo, and Superintendent Dr. Nick Perry reported that the playground will be back in place by Spring. Perry also stated that the general contractors for the project cannot be paid until several items are completed.
The board also heard of the retirement of its secretary, Colleen Kearns, in April. She was thanked for her ten years of service in that position, along with the seventeen years in total that she’s been a part of the school district.
Barbara Ann Riggio, 81, of Chippewa Twp., passed away on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, in Concordia at Villa St. Joseph.
Friends will be received on Friday, January 26th from 2-4pm and 6-8pm and Saturday, January 27th from 8:30am-9:30am in the GABAUER-LUTTON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, INC.- 117 Blackhawk Rd., Chippewa Twp. Prayers will be held at the funeral home Saturday at 9:30am, followed by a mass of Christian burial at 10am at St. Monica Church of St. Augustine Parish- 116 Thorndale Dr. Beaver Falls PA 15010.
Robert W. Potts, 82, of Moon Twp., passed away peacefully on January 17, 2024 at Good Samaritan Hospice at Heritage Valley Beaver. He was born in Coraopolis on August 27, 1941 the son of the late James & Irma (Miller) Potts.
Robert graduated from Moon High School in 1960. Following, he worked various jobs and eventually found his passion in carpentry. For over 40 years, Robert was the proud owner of Bob Potts Remodeling where “No Job was too Small”. Robert enjoyed hunting, camping, and gambling at the casino. His greatest achievement was becoming a loving grandfather and following them around to all their activities as their biggest supporter.
Robert is survived by his wife of 62 years, Joyce A. (Schnelzer) Potts. Two children, Lisa Wellhausen (Bob), Ellwood City & John Potts, Pittsburgh. Grandchildren: Tiah Dungan (Andy), Anthony Meneice (Ashley), Michelle Patterson (Doug) & Steven Potts. A step grandson, Tim Wellhausen. Two great grandchildren, Maci Patterson & Alena Dungan. A brother James Potts, North Dakota and loving dog, Oakley will miss him as well.
In addition to his parents, Robert was preceded in death by two sisters, Eleanor Bruzzese & Judy Carson.
A private memorial service will be held for immediate family members.
The Huntsman Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Moon Twp. is in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to: Good Samaritan Hospice (www.concordialm.org) and New Bethlehem Presbyterian Church in Aliquippa.
Pittsburgh, PA – Due to the winter storm, PennDOT is temporarily reducing the speed limit on several roadways in Allegheny, Beaver and Lawrence counties.
PennDOT is urging motorists to avoid unnecessary travel but those who must head out will see speeds reduced to 45 mph on the following highways:
Allegheny County
Beaver County
Lawrence County
On roadways with speed restrictions, commercial vehicles not affected by restrictions on these or other roadways must move to the right lane.
Although PennDOT crews have been treating roadways, the department’s primary goal is to keep roads passable, not completely free of ice and snow. PennDOT will continue to treat roadways throughout the storm until precipitation stops and roads are clear.
While PennDOT recommends not traveling during winter storms, 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.
The department also asks motorists to allow plenty of space when driving near plow trucks. Also, for their own safety and the safety of plow operators, motorists should never attempt to pass a truck while it is plowing or spreading winter materials.
PennDOT reminds motorists to pack an emergency kit for their vehicles. A basic kit should include non-perishable food, water, blanket, small shovel and warm clothes. When preparing an emergency kit, motorists should take into account special needs of passengers such as baby food, pet supplies or medications and pack accordingly.
PennDOT also reminds citizens that downloadable materials, including home and car emergency kit checklists and emergency plan templates, are available at www.Ready.PA.gov or by downloading the free ReadyPA app for Apple or Android devices. Citizens can also find information about getting involved in local emergency response efforts and other volunteer opportunities through the ReadyPA website.
For more winter driving tips and information on how PennDOT treats winter storms, visit www.PennDOT.gov/winter.
Follow PennDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mike Tomlin remains “on go” in Pittsburgh.
Both in 2024 and likely beyond.
The NFL’s longest-tenured head coach said Thursday he plans on returning to the Steelers for an 18th season, brushing aside speculation that he was on the cusp of burning out and considering taking a step back.
Tomlin shook his head and chuckled “no” when asked if he told anyone he needed a break, saying his passion for his job has only intensified the deeper he gets into a career that includes a Super Bowl ring, but also a playoff-win drought that sits at seven years and counting following a 31-17 loss to Buffalo in the opening round on Monday.
The Steelers finished 10-8 in Tomlin’s 17 seasons and have never finished below .500 since he took over for Bill Cowher in January 2007.
Yet Pittsburgh has also been stuck on a treadmill of sorts since reaching the AFC title game in 2016, a stretch that includes five seasons of somewhere between 8 to 10 wins and four quick playoff exits.
While Tomlin believes the Steelers have closed the gap on the teams playing in the divisional round this weekend, he also allowed it doesn’t matter.
“It all sucks, it does,” Tomlin said. “It’s not degrees of suck. It all sucks. I’d rather be working.”
Instead, Tomlin will spend the coming weeks interviewing for an offensive coordinator — a candidate he said will come from outside the organization — and start prepping for the NFL draft and free agency.
Tomlin is entering the final year of a contract extension he signed in 2021. He stormed off rather than answer when asked about it moments after the Steelers fell to the Bills. Three days removed, Tomlin admitted “I could have handled the situation better than I did” but added he felt that wasn’t the time or the place to discuss his future.
A future that will be in Pittsburgh. He declined to get into specifics on whether he will seek a multi-year deal from team president Art Rooney II, but also isn’t concerned about the length (or lack thereof) of a new contract being any sort of sticking point.
“I imagine it is going to get done in a timely manner at the appropriate time,” Tomlin said. “But my mindset is to coach this football team, certainly.”
Tomlin’s presence may be one of the few constants during an offseason for a team that has plenty of questions to answer in the coming months.
The biggest one is at quarterback, where Kenny Pickett sputtered as much as he shined during an uneven first full season as the starter. Pickett threw just six touchdowns in 12 games before needing surgery to repair his right ankle in early December. The 2022 first-round pick recovered but spent the final weeks watching former third-stringer Mason Rudolph lead a late push that propelled the Steelers into the playoffs.
Tomlin remains “extremely confident in Pickett” and praised the intangibles Pickett brings to the table. Still, entering his third season, Pickett needs to start providing tangible evidence of progress too.
“We acknowledge that it is a huge year for him,” Tomlin said, drawing out “huge” as he spoke. “But I’m also excited about just watching him wear that component of it, because I just I know how he’s wired and built. I’m excited about watching him attack it.”
Rudolph went 3-1 as a starter while passing for five touchdowns against just one interception. He is also scheduled to become a free agent in March, though Tomlin indicated the team is interested in bringing Rudolph back to compete with Pickett next summer.
“We’re less speculative about (Rudolph’s) capabilities because there is evidence of it and evidence of it under (tough) circumstances,” Tomlin said.
It’s unlikely that backup Mitch Trubisky, who struggled in relief of Pickett and is set to count $8.3 million against the salary cap, will be in the mix. While there’s a chance the Steelers could bring in a veteran quarterback from outside to join the fray, Pittsburgh has a lot invested in Pickett and needs to find out in 2024 if he’s “the guy” or if it’s time to move on.
Who calls the plays will have a significant impact on Pickett’s future. After promoting from within for an offensive coordinator in 2018 and again in 2021, the Steelers will look elsewhere in search of someone to bring to life an offense that’s finished in the bottom third of the NFL in points scored four of the past five years.
While there was an uptick in production over the final weeks a fter Matt Canada was fired in November, interim offensive coordinator Eddie Faulkner and interim play-caller Mike Sullivan are not under consideration.
“I want us to be versatile and dynamic, ”Tomlin said. “Obviously, we got to score more points. I want to be able to keep defenses off balance. I want to utilize all the talent that we have at our disposal.”
Tomlin’s goal remains to help the Steelers figure out a way to win another championship, an emotionally and physically draining task he believes he’s still up for nearly two decades after Pittsburgh plucked him out of relative obscurity and handed him the keys to one of the NFL’s marquee franchises.
There have been a few downs through the years, but not as many ups as he’d like. And the older he gets, the deeper the disappointment when the season doesn’t end under a blizzard of confetti at the Super Bowl.
“Sometimes I don’t want to move past (the disappointment),” he said. “Sometimes I just want to be here for a minute, in an effort to improve. And so that’s probably where I’m at, honestly, as I stand here today.”
(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)
(Photo/Frank Sparks)
PennDOT, in lieu of today’s winter weather event, has enacted Tier 2 vehicle restrictions throughout the majority of the Interstates and major highways, including the entirety of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Under Tier 2, commercial vehicles towing loaded tandem trailers and all loaded or unloaded school buses are not permitted on the roadways, along with all vehicles under Tier 1 prohibition which include any and all school buses, motor coaches, commercial buses, RVs, motor homes, and motorcycles among others.
The entirety of Interstates 76, 376, 279, and 579 are under Tier 2, along with the section of Interstate 79 from West Virginia up to the Interstate 80 interchange.
Drivers that are allowed on the roadways are being urged to exercise caution and allow for space for drivers and plows along the highways.