Author: Beaver County Radio

Biden tours collapsed Baltimore bridge where recovery effort has political overtones

President Joe Biden, aboard Marine One, takes an aerial tour of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Friday, April 5, 2024, as seen from an accompanying aircraft. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

BALTIMORE (AP) — President Joe Biden has gotten a firsthand look at efforts to clear away the hulking remains of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. Cranes, ships and diving crews are working to reopen one of the nation’s main shipping lanes. Biden was planning to meet during his Friday visit with relatives of the six people killed in the collapse. The cleanup and rebuild has high economic and political stakes. Though the federal government has provided quick-release funds to start recovery, the White House has called on Congress to approve all that will be needed without seeking a separate, emergency appropriations request. The House Freedom Caucus responded that such funding would have to come with conditions.

Freda Mack Portman (1925-2024)

Freda Mack Portman, 98, formerly of Brighton Township, passed away on April 4, 2024.
Born on November 7, 1925, in Rochester, Pennsylvania, Freda was the daughter of the late Russell and Clara Estelle St. Clair Mack. Along with her parents, Freda is preceded in death by her husband, Homer Portman; and her sisters, Cleo Scheinert, Ethel Koehler, and Doris Patterson.
Freda will be sadly missed by her daughters, Peg Bryant, and Linda (Dr. John) Baska; five grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. She was a member of Four Mile Presbyterian Church, where she had served as a Deacon. Freda also was a former member of Crimson Line Friendship Ridge, Red Hats, Meals on Wheels, and Ft. McIntosh Club. She loved to play bridge and golf, and will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
As per Freda’s wishes, all services were private.
Freda was laid to rest with her husband in Beaver Cemetery.
Professional Arrangements have been entrusted to the Noll Funeral Home Inc., 333 Third Street, Beaver. Online condolences may be shared at www.nollfuneral.com.

​Shapiro Administration Announces $20 Million in Funding for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

Harrisburg, PA – Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced $20 million in investments for Round 1A of the federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) funding. Pennsylvania was one of the first states to open a NEVI-funded charging station in December 2023, and the Shapiro Administration is moving efficiently to drive out federal funding and build critical transportation infrastructure ahead of other states. This funding represents another step in the Shapiro Administration’s commitment to combatting climate change and providing Pennsylvanians with transportation options that are cleaner, safer, more affordable, and more reliable.

Twenty-nine projects in 19 counties across the state were selected to fill in gaps on the Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFC) following NEVI Round 1. Charging stations will expand access to, and the reliability of, electric vehicle (EV) charging within Pennsylvania. The $20 million federal investment is part of the $171.5 million PennDOT will receive and distribute for EV charging infrastructure over five years through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).

“Every federal dollar directed toward EV charging is one step closer to a vision of accessible and reliable infrastructure that supports electric transportation,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “Pennsylvania, under the leadership of Governor Shapiro, has been among the states leading the charge to distribute NEVI funds to give drivers confidence while promoting sustained environmental benefits.”

Together with Round 1 conditional awards announced in 2023, Pennsylvania has committed NEVI funding to 83 projects across 41 counties. In addition, PennDOT has released priority areas for NEVI Round 1B. The Round 1B Funding Opportunity is designed to fill gaps in the AFCs that remain following Round 1 and Round 1A awards. Additional details regarding the Round 1B Funding Opportunity will be released soon. A map of Round 1B priority areas can be found on the PennDOT website.

The NEVI funds support the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of charging sites. The PA NEVI program is a reimbursement program and recipients are required to provide a minimum 20% match. PennDOT received 86 unique funding submissions requesting nearly $56 million for this round of investments.

Round 1A projects selected for conditional awards:

Adams County

  • $652,736 to eCAMION USA, Inc. for a charging station at Perkins in Gettysburg (US-30, Mile Marker 212)

Allegheny County

  • $768,310 to EVgo Services, LLC for a charging station at Sheetz in Pittsburgh (I-76, Exit 48)

Berks County

  • $852,104 to Wawa, Inc. for a charging station at Wawa in Reading (US-422, Exit 316)

Carbon County

  • $451,353 to Universal EV, LLC for a charging station at Hampton Inn in Lehighton (I-476, Exit 74)

Chester County

  • $969,304 to CarCharge, LLC for a charging station at Marriot in Coatesville (US-30, Exit 293)
  • $667,936 to Landhope Corporation for a charging station at Landhope Farms in Oxford (US-1, Exit 7)
  • $907,508 to Wawa, Inc. for a charging station at Wawa in Phoenixville (US-422, Exit 347)

Clearfield County

  • $432,950 to BP Products North America, Inc. for a charging station at BP in Clearfield (I-80, Exit 120)

Columbia County

  • $797,125 to Reliance 3, LLC for a charging station at Your Choice in Bloomsburg (I-80, Exit 232)

Cumberland County

  • $750,000 to Applegreen Electric PA, LLC for a charging station at the PA Turnpike service plaza in Newburg (I-76, Mile Marker 202)
  • $790,000 to Applegreen Electric PA, LLC for a charging station at the PA Turnpike service plaza in Carlisle (I-76, Mile Marker 219)
  • $811,077 to Francis Energy PA, LLC for a charging station at McKinney Station Restaurant and Ice Cream in Newburg (I-76, Exit 201)

Dauphin County

  • $650,000 to Applegreen Electric PA, LLC for a charging station at the PA Turnpike service plaza in Middletown (I-76, Mile Marker 250)

Delaware County

  • $831,803 to Wawa, Inc. for a charging station at Wawa in Wayne (US-30, Mile Marker 317)
  • $800,870 to Wawa, Inc. for a charging station at Wawa in Upper Darby (US-1, Mile Marker 46)
  • $811,434 to Wawa, Inc. for a charging station at Wawa in Media (US-1, Mile Marker 36)

Erie County

  • $851,772 to Blink Network, LLC for a charging station at GetGo in Erie (I-79, Exit 184)

Fulton County

  • $281,934 to Tesla, Inc. for a charging station at 522 Pit Stop in Fort Littleton (I-76, Exit 180)

Lancaster County

  • $672,408 to Francis Energy PA, LLC for a charging station at Sheetz in Columbia (US-30, Exit 257)
  • $556,424 to Lancaster Travel Places, LLC for a charging station at Lancaster Travel Plaza in Lancaster (US-30, Mile Marker 273)
  • $622,333 to TH Minit Markets, LLC for a charging station at Turkey Hill Minit Market in Denver (I-76, Exit 286)

Lebanon County

  • $625,000 to Applegreen Electric PA, LLC for a charging station at the PA Turnpike service plaza in Lawn (I-76, Mile Marker 259)
  • $731,099 to Francis Energy PA, LLC for a charging station at Sheetz in Palmyra (US-422, Mile Marker 276)

Luzerne County

  • $399,768 to FLO Services USA, Inc. for a charging station at Sonic in Hazelton (I-81, Exit 143)

Lycoming County

  • $737,106 to Sheetz, Inc. for a charging station at Sheetz in Muncy (I-180, Exit 13)
  • $794,350 to Wawa, Inc. for a charging station at Wawa in Williamsport (I-180, Exit 28)

Mercer County

  • $704,968 to Francis Energy PA, LLC for a charging station at Shell in Mercer (I-80, Exit 15)

Philadelphia County

  • $815,120 to the Philadelphia Parking Authority for a charging station in Philadelphia (US-30, Mile Marker 331)

Somerset County

  • $281,694 to Tesla, Inc. for a charging station at Wendy’s in Somerset (I-76, Exit 110)

For more information on NEVI funds in Pennsylvania visit the PennDOT website.

District 11 Road Closures and Restrictions – 10 A.M. Update

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is advising motorists that portions of the following state roadways are closed or restricted due to flooding and slides at 10 a.m. Friday:

Allegheny County

  • Route 837 (North State Street) between the McKeesport Duquesne Bridge in the City of Duquesne and McClure Street in Dravosburg Borough – Closed
  • Route 837 (North State Street) between New England Road in West Mifflin Borough and Curry Hollow Road in Dravosburg Borough – Closed
  • Saxonburg Boulevard (Route 1013) south of Berryhill Road in O’Hara Township – Closed (due to a slide)
  • Bunola River Road (Route 2001) between River Hill Road and Elkhorn Road in Elizabeth Township – Closed
  • Church Hollow Road (Route 2003) between Raccoon Run Road and Elkhorn Road in Forward Township
  • Ella Hollow Road (Route 2013) between Guffey Road and Rainbow Run Road in Forward Township – Closed
  • Walton Road (Route 3007) between Dale Road and Riverview Road in Jefferson Hills Borough – lane restriction
  • University Boulevard (Route 3109) at Stoops Ferry Road in Moon Township – Southbound lanes closed (due to a slide)

Beaver County

  • Route 51 (Constitution Boulevard) near the Aliquippa Bridge in the City of Aliquippa – lane restrictions
  • Willoughby Run Road (Route 1023) between Route 989 and Zeigler Road in New Sewickley Township – lane restriction
  • Raccoon Creek Road (Route 3019) between Mowry Road and Moffett Run Road in Potter Township – Closed
  • Shivler Road (Route 3029) between McLeary Road in Greene Township and Gibbs Road in Raccoon Township – Closed
  • Darlington Road (Route 4027) between Beaver Street and Par Avenue in Fallston Borough – lane restriction (due to a slide)

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.

Aliquippa City council to advertise an ordinance regarding excavating and paving

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published April 5, 2024 10:22 A.M.

(Aliquippa, Pa) At the Aliquippa City Council’s Wednesday night regular meeting, council approved the advertising of the ordinance regarding facilities installed within the public right-of-way including authorizing the issuance of permits requiring security and safety precautions, requiring restoration of the work and providing penalties for violations.

Earl Dorsey was promoted to a level 2 street worker in the road department.
Five properties were sold out of the repository based on Code and Zoning Officer Jim Bologna’s recommendation.

Council will hold a work session Wednesday, April 25, 2024 at 7 p.m., and the next regular meeting is Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 7 p.m.

Dave Dragan, Sr. (1935-2024)

Dave Dragan, Sr. passed away on April 4, 2024 peacefully at home with his wife, Kitty, at his side. Born on December 1, 1935, in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, Dave was the son of the late Nicholas and Mary Dragan, who preceded him in death. Dave is survived by his wife Kitty (Binkoski) Dragan; sons, David (Cindy) Dragan of Raccoon Township, and Doug (Nathalie) Dragan, Monaca; daughter, Kellie (Greg) Megahan of Moon Township; brother Gary Dragan of Vanport; grandchildren, Maggie (Jay) Miller of Monaca, Kylie Dragan of Sydney, Australia, McCall (Ben) Inge of Monaca, Michael Megahan, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; great-grandchildren, Amelia Inge, Claire Inge, and Charlotte Miller all of Monaca.He was a faithful member of Living Water Family Church of Monaca, Pennsylvania. Dave graduated from Beaver High School and continued on to attend and graduate from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where her served as President of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. Before his retirement, Dave was the Operations Manager of Kaufmann’s, Rochester and Saks Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh. Dave was a proud U.S. Army Veteran, a former Tipstaff for Judge C. Gus Kwidis at the Beaver County Courthouse, and was formerly active with youth sports, including Brighton Township Midget football and a Little League Coach.
Memorial visitation will be held Tuesday, April 9, 2024, from 4 PM until the time of service at 7 PM in the Noll Funeral Home Inc., 333 Third St., Beaver. The service will be performed by his son, Pastor Doug Dragan, Living Water Family Church. Full Military rites will be conducted at the funeral home at 4:30.
Online condolences may be shared at nollfuneral.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Children & Youth Ministry @ Living Water Family Church, 108 Spruce Dr., Monaca, PA 15061.

Greg Anderson (1953-2024)

Greg Anderson, 70, of Crescent Township, passed away on April 1, 2024 in Heritage Valley Sewickley.  He was born in Sharon, Pennsylvania on May 9, 1953, the son of the late George & Lily (McIntosh) Anderson. In addition to his parents, Greg was preceded in death by his sisters, Carole Lee Prather & Alayne Gayle Brenner.

Greg is survived by his wife of  50 yrs, Sally A. (Thomas) Anderson, a son, Daniel (Jennifer) Anderson, granddaughter, Eva Anderson of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, two step-grandchildren, Abagail & Nick Hudock, and a daughter Elizabeth (Ben) Anderson of Crescent, Pennsylvania, and niece, Layne Anderson.

He is also survived by his brother, John D. Anderson (Fluff), and a sister, Lily Beth Anderson.

Greg loved animals, nature, swimming, and running as a child until he found music in his youth, which quickly consumed his hours; listening to music and learning all of his favorite songs.

While working at Grant’s department store, he met his future wife, Sally.  They adventured across the country as the band, Common Touch.  When this adventure came to end, they returned to western Pennsylvania and made the region their home.

While Greg worked as a steel worker, most knew him for his dedication to work safety for himself and his coworkers.  He continued to pursue music, playing in cover bands throughout his life and his favorite hobby was fishing; spending hours catching fish and then releasing them back to the waters to be caught again another day.

All services are private at this time. The Huntsman Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Moon Township is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The American Red Cross.

John H. Ludwig (1944-2024)

John H. Ludwig, 79, of Beaver Falls, passed away on March 31, 2024, in Good Samaritan Hospice, Beaver.

Born on May 13, 1944, in Beaver Falls, he was the son of the late John J. “Jack” and Margaret E. (Gonnelly) Ludwig.

He is survived by his loving children, Jon T. (Julie) Ludwig and Jennifer L. Ludwig.

John was a Veteran of the United States Air Force serving in Vietnam. He was an electrician by trade and retired from I.B.E.W.  Local 712 after 36 years of service. John was a former member of the Beaver Falls Owls, Elks and Turners.

As per John’s wishes there will be no viewing.

Private interment will be in Grandview Cemetery.

The Ludwig family wishes to extend a special thanks to the doctors and staff of Heritage Valley Health System, Sewickley, Good Samaritan Hospice, Beaver, and Lakeview Personal Care Home for the compassionate care given to John.

If so desired, contributions may be made in John’s name to the Wounded Warrior Foundation, 600 River Ave. Ste 400, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.

The GABAUER-LUTTON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, INC., Chippewa Township, 117 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls, was honored to provide care and guidance to John’s family during this time.

Beaver County eclipse school dismissal guide

FILE – (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)
Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published April 4, 2024 10:12 A.M.

(Beaver County, Pa) Here is a list of how local Beaver County Schools are handling the Eclipse on Monday, April 8:

Aliquippa School District – Early dismissal. Noon for the elementary school, 11:30 a.m. for the Junior Senior high school. After school activities may proceed following the event.

Ambridge students will have a flexible instruction day learning from home.

Beaver Falls Senior High and Middle School students will be dismissed at 10:50 a.m., elementary students at 11:50 a.m.

Blackhawk High School will be dismissed at 12:14 p.m., 12:45 p.m. for the middle school, and the intermediate school and Patterson Primary School at 1:30 p.m.

Rochester middle and high school students will be dismissed at 11:05 a.m., 11:25 a.m. for kindergarten, elementary walkers at 11:40 a.m. and elementary students that are bussed at 11:45 a.m.

Western Beaver will have early dismissal.

New Brighton will have early dismissal.

Central Valley students will have 1/2 day of classes, Noon for the Junior Senior high, and 1 p.m. dismissal for the elementary schools.

Hopewell students will have normal dismissal times and ISO certified sunglasses will be given to the students in grades 3 and 4. Kindergarten, first, and second graders will observe the event indoors.

Midland will dismiss middle school students at 11:30 a.m. and elementary school students will be dismissed at Noon.

No modified schedule is planned for the South Side School District.

Freedom Elementary will be dismissed 3 hours earlier than normal, and the middle school and high school at 11:40 a.m.

Riverside High school and middle school students will be dismissed at 12:30 p.m. Elementary students will be dismissed at 1:00 p.m.

Beaver County Career and Technology Center is dismissing students in the a.m. classes at 10 :45 a.m.

George P. Harmotto (1932-2024)

George P. Harmotto, 91, of Baden passed away peacefully on April 3, 2024. Born on July 14, 1932, he was the son of the late John and Ella Harmotto. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Brian Storar, and brothers, Robert Harmotto and John Harmotto. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Carol (Neuber) Harmotto, children, Charles Storar and Betsy Forrest, five grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren. George served his country in the United States Army. He retired from the Port Authority of Allegheny County. He helped at Economy Cemetery for several years. George was a dedicated Pittsburgh Steelers fan. He enjoyed gardening and tending to his yard. Friends will be received on Monday, April 8, 2024, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM in the Alvarez-Hahn Funeral Services and Cremation, 547 8th Street, Ambridge. A funeral service will be held 10:00 AM on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Economy Cemetery.