SCOTT TADY

FREDERICKTOWN, OHIO — The Beat Box, a  backyard live-music venue featuring a stage built from a converted shipping container, has opened a few miles from the Beaver County line.

Situated off Ohio Route 170, north of East Liverpool, The Beat Box hosts a variety of live music, with an emphasis on singer-songwriters. The atmosphere is casual and intimate, with the feel of a backyard listening room.

The centerpiece of the venue is a shipping container — like you’d see on a large cargo ship — converted into a functional performance stage.

Beat Box owner Brian Peese phoned into the Beaver County Radio Morning Show on Friday to discuss the venue. Hear that interview here:

The next concert there is Sunday, Sept. 6, featuring Grammy Award-winning songwriter Aaron Raitiere, a Grand Ole Opry alum.

“If you were with us for our very first show, you know just how special this night will be,” the Beat Box website says.” Aaron helped us launch this stage… and now he’s coming home. From writing hits for some of the biggest names in music to delivering one of the most genuine, raw live performances you’ll ever experience — this is storytelling at its finest.”

Opening the night is Adam Stasik, a Pittsburgh area singer.

Other shows are Amos Evans and the Joyful Noise Celebration on Sept. 20, and Southern soul-rocker Ben Chapman on Oct. 3.

Food trucks are at some shows, though concertgoers also can bring their own snacks and drinks.

The Beat Box sells tickets on its website, thebeatbox43920.com, which also lists the venue’s goal: “To bring talented songwriters to the East Liverpool area and create a memorable experience for both the artists and the people attending.”

Events are held periodically throughout the warmer months and feature both regional and touring artists.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Chester, PA) The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOC)hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony in Chester yesterday for a new optical laboratory at the State Correctional Institution at Chester (SCI Chester).

The Pennsylvania Correctional Industries (PCI) optical lab is providing additional opportunities for incarcerated individuals to gain hands-on vocational training, develop their skills, and prepare for employment after release.

This optical lab at SCI Chester was opened in late August and is staffed by a crew of 10 incarcerated workers, with plans to increase to 16, who each graduated from a training course to earn their optician certificate.

The men were hired after interviewing with the lab foreman upon certification.

This new optical lab will serve as a finishing facility for glasses started at SCI Cambridge Springs.

The optical lab at SCI Chester will support the local Lions Club because the lab will process donated eyeglasses before they are distributed to people in need.

(Credit and Caption for Photo: Sheetz logo. Courtesy of PRNewsFoto/SHEETZ, INC.)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Sheetz recently announced a series of fuel discounts ahead of the 2026 Labor Day weekend to help drivers cut gas expenses. 

One of these discounts is 20 cents off per gallon on all fuel grades, excluding high-flow diesel, at Sheetz’s over 850 locations through September 8th. 

Customers must select the offer under the OFFERZ tab in the Sheetz mobile app and scan their My Sheetz Rewardz at the pump before completing their purchase to receive the 20-cent discount.

This discount applies to up to 25 gallons per transaction across Sheetz’s seven-state footprint. 

Customers can also earn another 20 cents off per gallon by purchasing any Made-to-Order menu item or specialty drink during the promotional period that ends September 8th.

This offer requires users to activate it in the Sheetz mobile app in the same way as the aforementioned discount before scanning their My Sheetz Rewardz card at the pump.

Customers can earn this additional discount once per day. 

Sheetz is also offering discounted diesel exhaust fluid so they can recognize Truck Driver Appreciation Month in September.

Bulk diesel exhaust fluid is priced at a total of $1.99 per gallon at 55 Sheetz locations across its footprint of seven states through September 30th. 

This reduced rate on diesel exhaust fluid applies exclusively to the bulk sales at truck diesel dispensers.

That fluid is commonly used in heavy-duty equipment and vehicles, which includes agricultural equipment, buses, commercial trucks, construction machinery,  and marine diesel engines.

(File Photo of the American Red Cross Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) Governor Josh Shapiro made an official proclamation in Harrisburg and proclaimed September 4th, 2026 as Blood Donation Day in Pennsylvania.

The American Red Cross is urging people to not wait to give blood to people that need them.

The proclamation also honors donors of blood and it calls on Pennsylvanians to support blood drives in their respective communities.

The date of September 4th falls inside National Blood Donation Week, which is observed September 1st through 7th.

According to a release from the American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania, here are more ways to donate blood:

How to donate blood

Download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org (click here), call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment. A blood donor card, driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements. Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass (click here) or use the Blood Donor App.

(Credit for Photo: Courtesy of Keith Walsh, Caption for Photo: Stoelzle Glass Fire)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Monaca, PA) The largest glass plant in Beaver County has temporarily laid off about half of its employees while it completes a massive renovation. 

According to a recent notice from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, 200 Stoelzle Glass USA workers will be laid off, but the company has promised to bring them back by February when it completes $100 million in upgrades to the plant located at 400 Ninth Street.

This plant has been in Monaca Borough for over 100 years and was formerly known as Phoenix Glass.

Stoelzle Glass Group has been one of the top manufacturers of glass bottles in Europe since 1805.

(File Photo of a Road Work Ahead Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced a lane closure on westbound I-376 (Beaver Valley Expressway) in Potter and Vanport townships will continue. 

From around-the-clock through early November, traffic on westbound I-376 will continue to be reduced to a single-lane between the Monaca/Shippingport (Exit 39) interchange and Beaver (Exit 38B) exit and along the Vanport Bridge.

Crews will continue some operations to steel repairs and painting operations.

The eastbound restrictions are expected to continue through late October. 

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced yesterday that a resident of Morgantown, West Virginia, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of possessing an unregistered firearm.

Twenty-seven-year-old Zachary Velling pleaded guilty on Wednesday.

The Court was advised in connection with the guilty plea that on November 12th, 2024, Velling entered security at the Pittsburgh International Airport and placed his carry-on luggage through the x-ray machine.

Representatives with the Transportation Security Administration noticed a suspicious object that was within Velling’s luggage, which officers from the Allegheny County Police Department ultimately determined to be a MK24 MOD 0,6 Bang/Flash diversionary hand grenade.

That grenade is a firearm and destructive device under federal law and was not registered to Velling in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

Velling’s sentencing is scheduled for January 7th, 2027, and he could face a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both, provided by the law. 

(File Photo of the PennDOT Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(New Castle, PA) PennDOT is inviting the public to attend a job fair on Thursday, September 10th from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. at PennDOT’s Lawrence County Maintenance Office located in New Castle to learn about available positions the department offers in Lawrence County. 

People who are attending this event should bring two forms of identification. 

The available positions for PennDOT in Lawrence County include CDL drivers and winter dispatchers.

Recruitment staff from the state of Pennsylvania will be on-hand to discuss current job openings in Lawrence County and hiring managers will talk with people that are interested in these positions onsite.

The other things that will also be onsite at this event will be assistance with applications, opportunities for interviews, potential conditional offers on certain job titles and road tests.