Christine Kroger Celebrates Opening Of “Neighborhood North: Museum Of Play” In Beaver Falls

After months of research, development, and focus…a new land for learning has taken up residence on 8th Avenue in Beaver Falls.

Neighborhood North: Museum Of Play opened last week, and executive director Christine Kroger joined Matt Drzik on A.M. Beaver County to talk about the new learning center for children and their families. The museum is located in the old SkyBank/Huntington Bank building at 716 14th Street in Beaver Falls, located just a few block from the Big Beaver Falls Area School District. The facility is open three days a week–Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday–and admission is free through the end of January 2022.

Kroger spoke about the importance of bringing Neighborhood North to the community not just in Beaver County, but throughout all of Beaver County as well. She highlighted the communication with the Beaver Falls community and its leaders as a key contributor to the development of the museum, and a key component to its future, too–Kroger hopes to see Neighborhood North take up permanent residence at the old News-Tribune building located across from the Carnegie Free Library.

To hear the full interview with Matt and Christine, click on the Facebook feed below!

PIAA Championship Football Coverage Will Be On Beaver County Radio This Week

Two Beaver County teams are entering the chocolate capital of Pennsylvania, and they hope to leave with a sweet taste in their mouth–not of candy, but of gold.

The Aliquippa Quips (12-1) in Class 4A will join Central Valley (14-0) in Class 3A in going for PIAA State Championship titles on the gridiron of Hersheypark Stadium this week, and Beaver County Radio will be live for all the action.

The Quips, making their first state title game since 2018 when they won it all, will battle Bishop McDevitt (12-1) out of District 3 on Thursday night at 7:00pm. Coverage on Beaver County Radio begins with pregame at 6:30.

The Warriors will also be battling a District 3 foe, as the rematch with Wyomissing Area (15-0) takes place Saturday afternoon at Noon. Last year Central Valley knocked off Wyomissing 35-21, and the Warriors are riding a 26-game winning streak heading into the championship match. Coverage on Beaver County Radio begins with pregame at 11:30 AM on Saturday.

Coverage of both games can also be heard on the Trib Live High School Sports Network.

Beaver Man Dies After Falling Off Over Pass on I-376 in Hopewell Twp.

(File Photo)
Story By Frank Sparks, News/Program Director
(Hopewell Twp., Pa.)PA State Police in Beaver are reporting that 41-year-old Timothy Baclit of Beaver was pronounced dead after he fell from an overpass on Interstate 376 in Hopewell Twp. early Sunday morning when he stopped to assist a motorist according to a release.
Troopers say the incident happened around 1:10 a.m. westbound on I-376 at Bryson Road.
Another motorist crashed into the guard rail and Baclit and another motorist stopped to check on the driver who crashed.
According to a release Baclit suffered critical injuries and was pronounced dead when police found him at the bottom of the hillside.
The incident is still under investigation.

Reward Increased to $10,000 This Week Only In 1976 Ambridge Cold Case

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Story by Frank Sparks, News/Program Director
Monday December 6, 2021 at 6:56 AM
(Ambridge, Pa.) Pa Crime Stoppers is upping the reward for one week for a Beaver County Cold case from 1976.
Crime Stoppers is offering a $10,000.00 reward for information leading to the death of then 12-year-old Heidi Morningstar for this week only, December 5, 2021 to December 12, 2021.
Morningstar disappeared from her home at 1514 Church Street in Ambridge in the middle of the night on September 17, 1976 when her parents were called away due to a family emergency. The Ambridge Police Department and the State Police started an investigation into her possible abduction and 18 hours later on September 18, 1976 her body was found at 330 Shields Lane in Edgeworth.
No one has ever been convicted of the crime.
For this week only Crime Stoppers of Pa is already offering a $5000.00 reward and Beaver County Crime Stoppers is matching it with another $5000.00 for this week only for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Morningstar’s death
Anyone with information can call Pa Crime Stoppers at 1-800-472-8477 or Beaver County Crime Stoppers at 724-774-2000.

Bob Dole dies at 98-Years-Old

By JOHN HANNA and CALVIN WOODWARD Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Elizabeth Dole has posted on social media that her husband, Republican political icon Bob Dole, has died at age 98. Dole overcame disabling war wounds to become a sharp-tongued Senate leader from Kansas, a Republican presidential candidate and then a symbol and celebrant of his dwindling generation of World War II veterans. Dole announced in February 2021 that he’d been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. During his 36-year career on Capitol Hill, Dole became one of the most influential legislators and party leaders in the Senate, combining a talent for compromise with a caustic wit, which he often turned on himself but didn’t hesitate to turn on others, too.

Festive Songs & Christmas Cheer Light Up Rochester For 2021 Light-Up Night & Carol Sing

After a year’s absence, it was up to the Rochester Area School District and the Beaver Valley Choral Society to bring back the festive spirit of Christmas back to the citizens of Rochester.

Blessed with beautiful weather surrounding them, both the RASD and the BVCS did just that, as the 2021 Rochester Light-Up Night & Carol Sing brought a great crowd to participate in many different Christmas activities, culminating in a medley of classic Christmas carols sung by the crowd in conjunction with the BVCS.

The “big man” made an appearance on a fire truck to join in the fun, Frye Transportation filled a bus with non-perishable food items to be taken to the Families Matter Food Pantry in Monaca, and anyone could write letters to Santa or their favorite military member for the holiday season.

On top of that, Beaver County Radio was there recording the songs, which will become part of Christmas Music Round The Clock, and the Prize Wheel was as busy as can be with dozens of people taking their shot at the BCR Personality Prize Wheel that was manned all throughout the celebration by Matt Drzik and Curtis Walsh.

Check out these photos from Rochester’s 2021 Light-Up Night & Carol Sing:

Christmas On Merchant Lights Up Ambridge Once Again

The Ambridge Chamber of Commerce called for a “reverse” play for Christmas On Merchant for another year, and it turned out to be another year of success.

Just like they did in 2020, those who were behind the Christmas On Merchant parade made it a “reverse parade”; one in which the usual parade-goers awaiting marching bands, floats, and fire trucks would themselves be the parade. Over two hundred vehicles gathered at Ambridge High School on Duss Avenue, and they were escorted through the lighted street posts along Merchant Street, along with the merchants and music-makers that added to the festive nature of the parade route.

Also adding in that festive nature was the annual appearance of the Prize Van and Personality Prize Wheel from Beaver County Radio, who broadcasted from P.J. Caul Park for the evening’s festivities. The two morning men, Matt Drzik (A.M. Beaver County) and Eddy Crow (Teleforum) worked the night shift as several of those who strolled down Merchant Street took their shot at the Personality Prize Wheel to win great prizes.

To check out photos from the 2021 edition of Christmas on Merchant, take a look below:

Central Valley Superintendent Updates School Board on Masking Policy

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Story by Sandy Giordanno, Beaver County Radio News Correspondent
Friday, December 3, 2021
(Center Twp., Pa.) The Central Valley School Board received a report from Superintendent Dr. Nick Perry  during Thursday night’s meeting about the state’s masking mandate that will continue until further notice. He said that the state Supreme Court is expected to make a decision on the matter,  Dr. Perry said he will update the board and community  with any new information.

The next meeting is January 20, 2022.

Hopewell Police Department Closed to The Public

(File Photo)
Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News Correspondent
Friday, December 03, 2021 at 10:20 AM
(Hopewell Twp., Pa.) Hopewell Township Police Department  issued a statement on Wednesday  that the department’s facility is going to be closed to the public. If the public is  in need of an officer there is a  red box outside the police department that will connect you  to the non-emergency dispatch desk. During business hours 8 a.m. to 3 :30 p.m. you can call 724-378-0557. The release stated that you must be masked when an  officer answers the door.

Face masks and 6 feet of social distancing are required in all township buildings, the release stated.

Bob Barrickman Previews The PIAA Football Semifinals

(Photo by Sly Washington)

Two teams that have claimed WPIAL gold for Beaver County will take their shot tonight in making one step closer to obtaining PIAA gold.

Bob Barrickman joined Matt Drzik on A.M. Beaver County to preview the two games tonight–Central Valley vs. Central (Martinsburg) and Aliquippa vs. Jersey Shore–that feature the two top teams in Beaver County looking to prove that they are the best in the state as well. The Central Valley/Central game will be on Beaver County Radio tonight with a 6:30 pregame and a 7:00 kickoff.

Central Valley enters their match with a 13-0 record for 2021 and a 25-game winning streak overall, tying the all-time Beaver County record. Their last game was a victory in the Class 3A WPIAL Championship over North Catholic at Heinz Field by a 52-15 decision. Central (Martinsburg) enters the game with a 14-0 record following a 35-6 win over Grove City last week.

Aliquippa is the only team of the four aforementioned schools with a loss this season at 11-1; that loss being to Central Valley back on September 10 by a score of 21-12. Since then the Quips haven’t missed, winning ten straight including last week’s 28-13 victory over Belle Vernon to secure the Class 4A WPIAL Championship. Jersey Shore comes into their match with the Quips following a 30-6 win over Meadville, holding a record of 14-0 on the year.

If both teams win tonight, as Barrickman points out, it’ll be the first time since 2002 that multiple teams from Beaver County have made it to Hershey, when Hopewell and Rochester took the trip 19 years ago. The Beaver Valley has had at least one team represented at Hershey each year since 2014, with Central Valley making three appearances during that span (2014, 2019, 2020) and Aliquippa appearing twice (2015, 2018).

To hear the full interview with Bob and Matt, click on the player below!