(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Thompson-Miller Funeral Home, Inc. (Butler))

(Credit for Report: Reported by Ryan Saelar, Butler Radio Network)

(Butler, PA) Longtime WISR Morning Show host and on-air personality Dave Malarkey has died.

Malarkey passed away last weekend in Butler at the age of 78.

The Parker native began his career at WISR in 1973 after graduating from Penn State University. He soon became known as one of Butler’s most trusted and beloved voices.

Malarkey would then spend the next half-century helping listeners in Butler start their morning. Whether it was time and temperature, riveting political stories, or a charming anecdote, the WISR audience could always rely on Dave to begin their mornings with a smile.

Malarkey also spent a near-two decade run as host of It’s Your Turn, WISR’s public affairs program. In his never-ending quest for knowledge, Malarkey engaged in a wide range of conversations with local leaders, politicians, and talked with nearly every organizer of local non-profit events. He also gave listeners a chance to weigh-in the day’s topics as It’s Your Turn served as Butler’s only live call-in talk show.

As the media landscape rapidly changed over his 52-year career, Malarkey consistently cited radio as his favorite form of mass communication.

“Radio is the most intimate form of media,” Malarkey said. “It requires you to use your imagination.”

While known for his radio career, Malarkey was also a well-known local theater player. His numerous performances with the Butler Little Theater, Musical Theater Guild, and more showcased his penchant for entertaining audiences.

Malarkey also saluted his Irish-roots by his love of golf and a pint of Guinness.

Malarkey retired from WISR in February of this year citing health reasons.

His voice was unmistakable, as was his kindness to others. While some Butler residents may never have met Dave in-person, they felt like they knew him personally. He will be remembered for his professionalism, insight, curiosity, and compassion.

(File Photo of a Police Siren Light)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Robinson Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Pittsburgh reported today that forty-one-year-old Joseph McHale of Portersville was suspected of driving under the influence during a single-vehicle crash in Robinson Township on July 5th.

This crash occurred on I-79 North at 2:35 p.m.

According to police, upon further investigation on scene, it was determined that McHale lost control of the vehicle while he was driving through the right hand curve before the Neville Island Bridge.

It was also discovered that the bald tires of McHale’s vehicle and water on the road contributed to the crash.

McHale and his two passengers were transported to Allegheny General Hospital for further evaluation of their possible injuries. 

(File Photo of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) Anglers and boaters throughout Pennsylvania will now be getting access to new places in the future because of a new $2.8 million grant for public easements on private lands. 

 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Monday that it is investing $2.8 million with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) to purchase areas for recreational access along waterways. 

Pennsylvania has over 86,000 miles of streams and rivers in the United States, which is second only to Alaska.

Many of those miles are located along private property where the public cannot boat or fish.

That money will allow the PFBC to negotiate access easements that are permanent with interested property owners to allow the public to enjoy the water. 

(File Photo of Senator Elder Vogel, Jr.)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Cranberry Township, PA) Sen. Elder Vogel, Jr. (R-47) recently announced that Cranberry Township will receive $530,000 in state funding to complete traffic signal upgrades at the intersection of State Route 19 and Brandt Drive/Dutilh Road.

 This grant is provided through PennDOT’s Green Light-Go program.  

 The Green Light-Go program is a competitive state grant program which is designed to improve the efficiency and operation of existing traffic signals that was established by the General Assembly in 2013. 

(File Photo of a Road Work Ahead Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Moon Township, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that a phase change on Montour Run Road (Route 3072) in Moon Township, will begin tomorrow morning, weather permitting.   

Starting at 8:00 AM, single-lane alternating traffic restrictions that are controlled by flaggers will occur on Montour Run Road between I-376 and Hookstown Grade Road while crews will work to shift the eastbound traffic onto the new widened pavement and shift the westbound traffic onto the right-hand shoulder. 

Short-term single-lane restrictions will occur, as needed, during this phase of work on Montour Run Road between I-376 and Hookstown Grade Road according to the following schedule: 

• Monday through Friday 

• 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM 

• 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM 

• Saturday and Sunday 

• Restrictions can occur, as needed, except between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM 

Market Place Boulevard will also be reduced to a single-lane of traffic in each direction between Montour Run Road and Scott Boulevard. 

The traffic restrictions mentioned will remain in place around-the-clock through early October as road improvement work will continue to be conducted by crews. 

(File Photo of the Beaver County Courthouse)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver, PA) Several topics were discussed at this morning’s Beaver County Commissioners’ work session at the County Courthouse.

One of them was a topic that was brought up last week’s work session, which was the ongoing closure of Wildwood Road.

The road in Brighton Township has been closed since 2025 and it has been a shortcut for a long time between Route 51 and Dutch Ridge Road to get to the hospital there.

Beaver County Solicitor Garen Fedeles provided an update on the work to get this road reopened.

Fedeles noted that the meeting was held between the county and PennDOT yesterday, and after PennDOT was called, they told the Commissioners that Wildwood Road is on its list of projects to accomplish.

However, PennDOT confirmed that they are tentatively working on a bid for 2028 Wildwood Road to have work done.

PennDOT also is divided up into several regions through Pennsylvania, and since Beaver County is combined with the Allegheny and Lawrence County region, Fedeles believes that “there is about 60 slides on various roads on that region alone that they’re working their way through.”

The Commissioners talked to PennDOT yesterday and wanted the company to consider putting in a one-way stop sign in each direction on Wildwood Road which would allow traffic to go over the area where it is slid and consider to expediate the road.

PennDOT said that they would try the second option under circumstances.

The Commissioners also reached out to State Representative Josh Kail about Wildwood Road.

Kail noted that there is money in the state budget to work on rural bridges and roads, and he believes that Wildwood Road would qualify for this work.

The Commmssioners want to try to get Wildwood Road open as soon as they can, but Fedeles confirmed that this project is “in PennDOT’s hands.”

Another road that is closed is Achortown Road, which has been closed in Beaver Falls since 2018.

Commissioner Chairman Dan Camp informed the audience of a program that is called “The Takeback Program,” which was also discussed on the Commissioners’ call with PennDOT yesterday.

The state of Pennsylvania has money to fix this road, but if the Commissioners apply for “The Takeback Program,” the state can fix it and then turn it back to the county.

However, the Commissioners will be working with Representative Kail in terms of Achortown Road as well.

Fedeles also noted that boy scouts, girl scouts and other groups from the county are needed if they would like to participate in the America250 parade in Beaver on September 19th, 2026.

If you are interested, contact the Beaver County Recreation and Tourism office, whose contact information can be found by clicking here.

Jenny Stiefel, the Offsite Emergency Preparedness Specialist from the Beaver Valley Power Station, also presented information about an upcoming project that the station is Shippingport is undergoing.

Emergency alerts will be updated from the primary method of outdoor warning sirens to a system that is known as the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS).

The system is in Beaver County, Hancock County in West Virginia, and in Columbiana County in Ohio.

(File Photo of Police Siren Lights)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Cranberry Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Gibsonia reported today that an unidentified driver was cited after a two-vehicle crash occurred in Cranberry Township on Monday.

According to police, this crash occurred at 1:50 p.m. on the on-ramp of Exit 28 on I-76 West on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

The first driver was at the yield sign traveling west and a second driver was also going west.

The second driver rear ended the first driver when their vehicle entered the on-ramp.

There were no reported injuries.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Allegheny County Police Department)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A man from Ohio was recently sentenced in federal court for checking luggage that was filled with ammunition and guns at Pittsburgh International Airport.

According to the Department of Justice, 29-year-old Luis Rojas Cay was previously convicted of robbery and attempted kidnapping in Kansas, making him ineligible to have or own a gun.

Prosecutors confirm that agents found three semiautomatic handguns and more than 200 rounds of ammunition inside a checked bag belonging to Rojas Cay on April 26th, 2024, and he was heading to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The items were reportedly wrapped in foil-backed tape and were placed inside a metal briefcase that was lined with sheet metal.

Rojas Cay was convicted of both carrying a weapon on an aircraft and possessing a firearm as a felon.

A judge sentenced him to 51 months in jail on July 29th.