Boomin’ in Bridgewater: Boom on the Bridge Finds New Home for 2025

(File Photo of 2024 Boom on the Bridge Stage)

Beaver County, PA – March 31 – The much-anticipated Boom on the Bridge, Visit Beaver County’s addition to PUSH Beaver County’s Boom fireworks festival, is making an exciting move to Downtown Bridgewater! This year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever, bringing thousands of visitors to experience an unforgettable celebration in a brand-new setting.

The past two years, Boom on the Bridge has been held on the Veterans Bridge with a footprint spanning Route 51 and Riverside Drive. “From the very beginning, our vision for Boom on the Bridge was to rotate locations every two to three years,” said Tony Caltury, Director of Beaver County Recreation and Tourism. “By doing so, we can bring the excitement of this event to different communities throughout the County, ensuring that more businesses, residents, and visitors can experience the festival’s positive impact.”

Beaver County Boom has been a staple of Beaver County’s summer festivities, attracting over 10,000 attendees for a full day of family-friendly fun. This year, Boom on the Bridge will unite with Bridgewater’s beloved annual Summerfest, merging two vibrant celebrations into one unforgettable event. By joining forces, an expanded festival experience offers more entertainment, activities, and increased connectivity to adjacent events throughout the County. The move to Downtown Bridgewater is a natural progression that brings the festival closer to the fireworks and Boom Headquarters, offers a fresh location with enhanced viewing areas for the award-winning Zambelli Fireworks display, and a vibrant atmosphere for festival goers to explore.

“The Borough of Bridgewater has been fantastic to work with, and their support has been instrumental in bringing this event to the heart of the community,” said Commissioner Daniel Camp. “Their commitment to making this a successful and welcoming experience for everyone is truly commendable.”

Visitors can enjoy the best of both events from a diverse lineup of live music, local food vendors, artisans, family activities, and of course, the annual, award-winning fireworks display over the river to cap off the night, ensuring a breathtaking display for all in attendance. Vendors who have previously participated in Bridgewater’s Summerfest, and other interested vendors should apply at www.boomonthebridge.com.

“We are thrilled to bring Boom on the Bridge to Downtown Bridgewater,” said Caltury. “This new location allows us to expand the event, involve more local businesses, and create an even more immersive experience for residents and visitors alike.”

Mark your calendars for June 28, 2025 and join us in Downtown Bridgewater for an unforgettable Boom on the Bridge! For more information, visit www.boomonthebridge.com.

Aliquippa Elementary School seeks donations for the sixteenth year of their STEAM & Story Walk

(File Photo of Aliquippa Elementary School)

(Reported by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano)

(Aliquippa, PA) The pre-Kindergarten through 3rd grades at Aliquippa Elementary School need donations for their STEAM & Story Walk. The time to donate expires at the end of the day today and the money will purchase items which include camping gear for the sixteenth year of the event. The website to donate can be found using the link below:

Adventure Awaits: Win the Ultimate Family Camping Gear Set! | DonorsChoose project by Mrs. Renee Bufalini

 

Contractor arrested after putting anti-semitic symbols on a building in Beaver

(Photo Provided with Release)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver, PA) According to a report from the Beaver Borough Police Department, an individual was arrested after spray painting antisemitic symbols on the side of a building in Beaver. According to a release, from the Beaver Borough Police Department, the incident was reported on Friday and the person was a contractor who painted the symbols after an argument involving business. The person was not local and confessed his crimes. The symbols have been taken off of the building and officers located a vehicle that was used by the suspect which led to the identification of the suspect. If you have any other details or questions regarding this incident, you can contact 724-775-0880.

Aliquippa police arrest six people in a span of four days

(File Photo of Police Lights)

(Reported by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano)

(Aliquippa, PA) Aliquippa Police arrested six people last week in a span of four days. Sixty-five-year-old Gregory McFarland was arrested on Friday and faces filed charges of disorderly conduct and harassment. Thirty-four year-old Terrance Bennett was arrested on Thursday and faces filed charges of criminal trespass and criminal mischief. Forty-one-year-old Corey Tucker was apprehended on Thursday and is in the Beaver County Jail for public intoxication and four misdemeanor charges. Twenty-one-year-old Aaunisty Price was arrested on Wednesday and faces filed charges of stalking and harassment. The Beaver County Sheriff’s Department had warrants for thirty-five-year-old Chanae Humphries and thirty-nine-year-old Megan Platz. Both women were apprehended on Tuesday and are currently in the Beaver County Jail.

Former UPMC doctor facing preliminary hearing after charge of second-degree murder and attempt of killing his wife in Hawaii

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Honululu, HI) A preliminary hearing will occur today for a former doctor who used to work at UPMC after he attempted to kill his wife in Hawaii. Forty-six-year-old Gerhardt Konig hit his wife with a rock after she did not want to take a selfie on the edge of a cliff. His wife also noted that Konig tried to force an injection of an unknown liquid into her. Konig was put in custody after being charged with second-degree murder and he has a bail of $5 million.

 

Operation Orange Squeeze will be performed by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the Pennsylvania State Police in April

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Badge)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the Pennsylvania State Police will be performing Operation Orange Squeeze in April. According to a press release from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, troopers will look out for speeders and distracted drivers on Pennsylvania Turnpike system work zones. According to data from turnpike officials, there were two deaths and forty-eight injuries from 176 reported crashes in active turnpike work zones. 

Overnight lane restrictions on I-376 Parkway West will occur weather permitting

(File Photo: Caption for Photo: PennDOT, PSP, PTC, Construction Industry Highlight National Work Zone Awareness Week)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that beginning Monday, March 31st weather permitting, overnight lane restrictions on I-376 Parkway West will occur. On weeknights from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. through the middle of June, single-lane restrictions will occur in both directions between the Route 60 Crafton Exit60B and the Rosslyn Farms Exit64B. Shoulder closures will also happen at the same times through early April on the eastbound I-376 ramp to southbound I-79 and the southound I-79 ramp to the eastbound I-376 for drainage improvements.

PA Career Link and the United Way of Beaver County hosting a Volunteer Fair at the Beaver County Mall

(File Photo of the United Way of Beaver County logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Center Township, PA) On Thursday, April 24th, PA Career Link and the United Way of Beaver County will have a Volunteer Fair from 1-7 p.m. at the Beaver Valley Mall. This event will help participants to discover needs of nonprofit organizations for the communities that impact them. For more information or to register your organization for the fair, you can call 724-774-3210. 

Texas reaches 400 measles cases as US deals with outbreaks in 5 states

File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – A health worker administers a measles test on Fernando Tarin, of Seagraves, Texas, at a mobile testing site outside Seminole Hospital District, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, in Seminole, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

(AP) At least five states have active measles outbreaks as of Friday, and Texas’ is the largest with 400 cases.

Already, the U.S. has more measles cases this year than in all of 2024, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said. Other states with outbreaks — defined as three or more cases — include New Mexico, Kansas, Ohio and Oklahoma. Since February, two unvaccinated people have died from measles-related causes.

The new outbreaks confirm health experts’ fears that the virus will take hold in other U.S. communities with low vaccination rates and that the spread could stretch on for a year. The World Health Organization said this week cases in Mexico are linked to the Texas outbreak.

Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.

Here’s what else you need to know about measles in the U.S.

How many measles cases are there in Texas and New Mexico?

Texas’ outbreak began two months ago. State health officials said Friday there were 73 new cases of measles since Tuesday, bringing the total to 400 across 17 counties — most in West Texas. Forty-one people have been hospitalized since the outbreak began, and Andrews and Midland counties were new to the list.

New Mexico announced one new case Friday, bringing the state’s total to 44. New Mexico health officials say the cases are linked to Texas’ outbreak based on genetic testing. Most are in Lea County, where two people have been hospitalized, and two are in Eddy County.

school-age child died of measles in Texas in late February, and New Mexico reported its first measles-related death in an adult on March 6.

How many cases are there in Kansas?

Kansas has 23 cases in six counties in the southwest part of the state. Kiowa and Stevens counties have six cases each, while Grant, Morton, Haskell and Gray counties have five or fewer.

The state’s first reported case, identified in Stevens County on March 13, is linked to the Texas and New Mexico outbreaks based on genetic testing, a state health department spokesperson said. But health officials have not determined how the person was exposed.

How many cases are there in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma stayed steady at nine cases this week — seven confirmed and two probable cases. The first two probable cases were “associated” with the West Texas and New Mexico outbreaks, the state health department said.

A state health department spokesperson said measles exposures were confirmed in Tulsa and Rogers counties, but wouldn’t say which counties had cases.

How many cases are there in Ohio?

Ohio has 10 cases of measles in Ashtabula County in the northeast corner of the state, nine of those newly reported this week. The first case was in an unvaccinated adult who had interacted with someone who had traveled internationally.

And in central Ohio, Knox County officials are tracing exposures from person who visited while contagious with measles. A measles outbreak in central Ohio sickened 85 in 2022.

Where else is measles showing up in the U.S.?

Measles cases also have been reported in Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, and Washington.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines an outbreak as three or more related cases. The agency counted five clusters that qualified as outbreaks in 2025 as of Friday.

In the U.S., cases and outbreaks are generally traced to someone who caught the disease abroad. It can then spread, especially in communities with low vaccination rates. In 2019, the U.S. saw 1,274 cases and almost lost its status of having eliminated measles.

Do you need an MMR booster?

The best way to avoid measles is to get the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.

People at high risk for infection who got the shots many years ago may want to consider getting a booster if they live in an area with an outbreak, said Scott Weaver with the Global Virus Network, an international coalition. Those may include family members living with someone who has measles or those especially vulnerable to respiratory diseases because of underlying medical conditions.

Adults with “presumptive evidence of immunity” generally don’t need measles shots now, the CDC said. Criteria include written documentation of adequate vaccination earlier in life, lab confirmation of past infection or being born before 1957, when most people were likely to be infected naturally.

A doctor can order a lab test called an MMR titer to check your levels of measles antibodies, but health experts don’t always recommend this route and insurance coverage can vary.

Getting another MMR shot is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says.

People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don’t need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective measles vaccine made from “killed” virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said. That also includes people who don’t know which type they got.

What are the symptoms of measles?

Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.

The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.

Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to dangerous complications such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.

How can you treat measles?

There’s no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.

Why do vaccination rates matter?

In communities with high vaccination rates — above 95% — diseases like measles have a harder time spreading through communities. This is called “herd immunity.”

But childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots.

The U.S. saw a rise in measles cases in 2024, including an outbreak in Chicago that sickened more than 60.

Trial will determine who will pay $600 million settlement in disastrous Norfolk Southern derailment

(File Photo: Source for Photo:  FILE – Portions of a Norfolk Southern freight train that derailed the night before burn in East Palestine, Ohio, Feb. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

(AP)Norfolk Southern wants two other companies to help pay for the $600 million class-action settlement it agreed to over its disastrous 2023 train derailment near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border and the toxic chemicals that were released and burned.

The railroad filed the motion that is set to go to trial starting Monday to force the railcar owner GATX and the chemical manufacturer OxyVinyls to share the cost of the settlement because Norfolk Southern believes those companies are partly responsible for what happened in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 3, 2023.

This lawsuit won’t change anything about how much money residents will receive from the settlement or any payments the village or anyone else is set to receive because those are all established in various settlement agreements. This case will only affect which company has to write the checks to pay for the class-action settlement.

Residents are still waiting to receive most of the money from the settlement because of pending appeals, although some payments have started to go out.

An assortment of chemicals spilled and caught fire after the train derailed in East Palestine. Three days later, officials blew open five tank cars filled with vinyl chloride because they feared those cars might explode, generating a massive black plume of smoke that spread over the town and forced evacuations.

Many residents still worry today about potential health consequences from those chemicals.

The derailment was the worst rail disaster since a crude oil train devastated the small Canadian town of Lac-Megantic and killed 47 people in 2013. It prompted the U.S. to focus on rail safety and reforms, which were proposed in Congress before stalling without passing.

Norfolk Southern says companies share the responsibility

Norfolk Southern already lost a similar lawsuit last year when it tried to force GATX and OxyVinyls to help pay for the environmental cleanup after the derailment that has cost the Atlanta-based railroad more than $1 billion. It is making similar arguments again to try to get help paying for the class-action settlement.

“Norfolk Southern alone has paid the costs relating to the derailment despite ample evidence that other parties share in the responsibility. This trial is about reinforcing the role shippers and railcar owners play in transportation safety and ensuring everyone responsible pays their fair share,” the railroad said in a statement.

Norfolk Southern, like most railroads, doesn’t own most of the cars it hauls, and the railroad says everyone involved in shipping hazardous chemicals bears some responsibility for ensuring their safety under federal regulations.

Norfolk Southern argues GATX bears some responsibility for the derailment because it owned the railcar filled with plastic pellets that caused the derailment when its bearing overheated, caught fire and failed that night, sending 38 cars off the rails.

Norfolk Southern also said it believes OxyVinyls should pay because the railroad says chemical manufacturer provided inconsistent and inaccurate information about its vinyl chloride before officials decided to release and burn it.

Companies say Norfolk Southern was responsible for safety

Both GATX and OxyVinyls say it would be ridiculous to hold them responsible for the derailment when Norfolk Southern operated and inspected the train and all the cars and was responsible for delivering the cargo safely.

“Norfolk Southern’s claims against GATX are baseless,” the railcar owner said in a statement.

GATX said it complied with all the relevant regulations for taking care of its railcars. The company said that even if the car was damaged six years earlier by standing parked in the middle of floodwaters from Hurricane Harvey, the railroad should have spotted the problem and repaired it, sending GATX the bill for the repairs.

The National Transportation Safety Board said the crash was caused by the failure of an overheating bearing on GATX’s railcar. The railroad’s sensors spotted the bearing starting to heat up in the miles before the derailment, but it didn’t reach a critical temperature and trigger an alarm until just before the derailment. That left the crew scant time to stop the train.

Norfolk Southern recommended the vent-and-burn operation to release the vinyl chloride based partly on information about the chemical that OxyVinyls had published beforehand suggesting a chemical reaction could happen and cause the tank cars to explode.

But the NTSB confirmed in its investigation that was unnecessary because the tank cars were starting to cool off and the railroad failed to listen to the advice from OxyVinyls’ experts or share their opinions with the officials who made the decision.

“This trial is nothing more than Norfolk Southern’s continued attempt to shift the blame, attention, and financial responsibility for its train derailment, response, and vent and burn decision to anyone other than itself,” the Texas-based company said. “OxyVinyls did not cause the derailment, its tank cars did not breach, and it did not make the decision to vent and burn the VCM (vinyl chloride monomer) cars.”

The trial is expected to last two to three weeks.