(File Photo)

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Aliquippa, Pa.) Aliquippa City council received word from the PA DCED  that they received an  intermodal grant for the Fifth Avenue hill, according to Mayor Dwan B. Walker. Act 47 coordinator Debbie Grass congratulated city officials  for their recently announced Governor’s Excellence Award. The virtual ceremony is on   Wednesday, May 5 at 10 a.m.

Harrisburg, PA – On behalf of Pennsylvania’s Highly Automated Vehicle (HAV) Advisory Committee, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced the launch of a survey designed to gain an understanding of Pennsylvanians’ perceptions and knowledge of automated vehicles.

By Mark Peterson, Beaver County Radio Special Assignment Correspondent.

(Beaver County, PA)  April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Beaver County Radio has partnered with The Women’s Center of Beaver County to raise awareness about the topic.  Four weekly segments will air throughout the month with each focusing on different aspects of sexual assault.

Today’s installment is the final one in a four part series and deals with the subject of how often times follow up therapy following an assault can mean much more than just  talking about it.  Introducing physical activity can be a key factor in having a positive outcome. Beaver County Radio spoke with Jodie McGovern earlier in a live on air interview about this very subject and the potential impact of utilizing modal therapy in addition to traditional methods.  Ms. McGovern is a therapist available to victims of Sexual Assault through the Women’s Center of Beaver County.

The Women’s Center of Beaver County provides these services and welcomes inquiries.  Raising awareness of this valuable therapy service is all part of local initiatives from the Women’s Center of Beaver County to coincide with National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which happens in April of every year.

For more information, call the Women’s Center of Beaver County at 724-775-0131. Help and counseling are available 24 hours a day.

Thank you for listening to this four part  special series is  from Beaver County Radio and The Women’s Center of Beaver County.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

The current hockey season may be heating up in Pittsburgh, but just a few minutes up north in Beaver County the focus is already on next season.

At the County Commissioners’ work session, the planned date for when the Ice Arena would re-open its rink was announced by Parks & Recreation director Tony Caltury. The rink area is being renovated with the assistance of a grant from the Pittsburgh Penguins awarded in late winter 2020.

“Work should be done throughout the summer,” said Caltury at the Wednesday work session, “and be ready for reopening in late August.” The plans for renovation were delayed by the general contractors and the Penguins organization shortly after the initial announcement was made, due to the sudden emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Caltury also mentioned that the contractors for the project were given a “lengthy wish list” during their tour of the facility, which took place in recent days. The grant budget is $100,000.

(File Photo)

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Aliquippa, Pa.) On Monday at approximately 5 p.m. security officers at the Valley Terrace Housing  Complex In Aliquippa  spotted Richard Mcleod 21, who they knew had an outstanding warrant for his arrest  on a gun possession charge without a permit. According to the report, he fled into one of the apartments, and ultimately fled the scene., Aliquippa Police were called, and at 5:10 p.m. Beaver County ESU (SWAT)  responded  to clear the apartment. Search warrants were obtained  for McLeod, a search of the apartment revealed that the suspect fled the scene. With additional search warrants, Guns and drugs were  seized.. The incident is under investigation and additional charges may be filed .

State bar leader charged with patronizing prostitute quits
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The president of the Pennsylvania Bar Association is quitting after being charged with patronizing a prostitute who police accused of trying to extort him. David Eric Schwager was also put on leave from his job as an assistant solicitor in Luzerne County. His attorney is declining comment. Luzerne County detectives say that in late December 2019 the 58-year-old Schwager answered an advertisement for an escort by going to a house in Wilkes-Barre and paying Emily Ann Merth to engage in sex acts. The 25-year-old Merth faces charges of prostitution, theft and sexual extortion. She’s accused of demanding hundreds of dollars or she would release a video she recorded of him.

(Hopewell Twp., Pa.) Pa State Police in Beaver are reporting that they were called to the scene of a two vehicle accident Monday, April 26, 2021, at 5:10 PM  on Interstate 376 in Hopewell Twp.

Troopers reported via release that when they arrived on scene and investigated they found that both vehicles were traveling West on I-376 in Hopewell Twp. . The vehicles were in the left lane when traffic slowed. The driver of a 1996 Peterbilt truck did not notice traffic slowing and and rear ended a 2001 Mercedes Benz E320 pushing it into the grassy median. Both vehicles were able to be driven away from the scene only sustaining minor damage. Neither driver was identified in the release and no injuries were reported. The driver of the Peterbilt truck was given a citation for following too closely.

(Hopewell Twp., Pa.) Pa State Police in Beaver are reporting via release that they were called to the scene of a one vehicle accident on Interstate 376 Eastbound in Hopewell Twp. on Monday, April 26, 2021, at 3:15 PM.
Troopers reported upon arriving on the scene and investigating they found that a 2013 GMC Sierra was traveling Eastbound when the trailer that it was towing got a flat tire and became unattached from the truck. The trailer continued traveling east on I-376 and struck a guard rail causing damage to both the trailer and guard rail. The trailer came to a final rest on the berm of the road. The drivers name was not released and there were no injuries in the incident.

Harrisburg, Pa. – Acting Secretary of State Veronica W. Degraffenreid reminded Pennsylvanians today that they can vote early in-person by mail ballot until May 11, the deadline to apply for a mail ballot.

“Once your county’s ballots are available, voting early in person by mail ballot is one of the new options under the bipartisan Act 77,” Secretary Degraffenreid said. “It’s simple, secure, easy and convenient.”

Once their county has finalized and printed ballots, voters can visit their county election office or satellite office and apply for a mail or absentee ballot. County election officials will check their eligibility while they wait and, once verified, will provide them with the ballot. Voters can then complete their ballot and cast it all in one visit.

Voters can use this option until 5 p.m. on May 11, the deadline to apply for a mail ballot for the May 18 primary election.

Before making the trip to vote in person by mail ballot, voters should check the hours of their county’s election office or satellite office, Secretary Degraffenreid advised. A list of satellite voting locations designated by county election boards will be updated as information is made available.

Whether voting at home or in person at the county office, voters should make sure they enclose their mail ballot first in the inner secrecy envelope and seal it, insert the inner envelope into the outer envelope and sign and date the outer envelope.  Voters must complete these steps in order for their ballots to be counted.

Voters have until 5 p.m. on May 11 to apply for a mail ballot through their county election board. Voted mail ballots must be received by county election boards by 8 p.m. on May 18, Election Day. More than 677,500 Pennsylvanians already have applied for a mail-in ballot and more than 36,000 Pennsylvanians have applied for an absentee ballot.

Pennsylvania voters can choose to vote by mail ballot or to vote in person at their polling place on Election Day. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 18.

The deadline to register to vote in the municipal primary, May 3, also is fast approaching. Pennsylvanians can register to vote and check their registration status online. Or they can download and print a registration form and mail it to their county election board. Applicants using the online voter registration system must complete and submit their application by 11:59 p.m. on May 3 to vote in the primary. Traditional paper voter registration forms must be received in county voter registration offices by close of business on May 3.

Individuals wishing to register to vote in the May 18 primary must be:

• A citizen of the United States for at least one month before the primary
• A resident of Pennsylvania and of the election district in which the individual plans to register and vote for at least 30 days before the primary
• At least 18 years of age on or before the date of the primary

On May 18, voters who are registered as Republican or Democrat will choose their parties’ nominees for seats on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Superior Court, Commonwealth Court, county Common Pleas Courts, and Philadelphia Municipal Court.

Also on the party ballots will be a wide variety of county, school board, and local seats such as mayor, city or borough council member, township commissioner or supervisor, magisterial district judges, and precinct election officials.

All registered voters, regardless of party affiliation, will be eligible to vote on four ballot questions. Three of the questions are proposed constitutional amendments, and the fourth question is a referendum on making municipal fire departments or companies with paid personnel and emergency medical services companies eligible for an existing state loan program.

In addition, all registered voters in the following four districts, regardless of party affiliation, will be voting in special elections to fill vacancies:

• 22^nd State Senate District (Lackawanna County and parts of Luzerne and Monroe counties)
• 48^th State Senate District (Lebanon County and parts of Dauphin and York counties)
• 59^th State House District (parts of Somerset and Westmoreland counties)
• 60^th State House District (parts of Armstrong, Butler, and Indiana counties)

For more information on voting and elections, call the Department of State’s toll-free hotline at 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772) or visit votesPA.com.