(File Photo)

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Aliquippa, Pa.) Aliquippa  School Board met last night and discussed whether they want to refurbish or raze the visitors  section of bleachers at Carl A. Aschman Memorial Stadium The section has been closed for a few years due to safety concerns, One of the options discussed was applying for a Community Development Block Grant for the project.

(New Sewickley Twp.,Pa.) Pa State Police in Gibsonia are reporting that they responded to an accident yesterday afternoon around two PM on the Pa Turnpike in New Sewickley Twp.
State Troopers say that 60-year-old Gunjan Gupta of Morgantown West Virginia was traveling west bound in her 2013 Subaru Legacy around mile marker 19 when she struck a metal object in the roadway and lost control of her vehicle. The vehicle traveled of the right side of the roadway and struck a guardrail. Gupta was not injured in the accident but her vehicle did sustain damage to the front and rear. Troopers said via release that Gupta will not be charged in the accident.

(Beaver County, Pa.) The Beaver County Highway Safety Task Force will be conducting  sobriety checkpoints , and /or roving patrols and mobile awareness checkpoints this weekend  and throughout  St. Patrick’s Day  in support of  the state’s Impaired Driving Enforcement Initiative. The county’s Impaired Driving Task Force Coordinator, Greg Durkos reported that the checkpoints and or /roving patrols  will be conducted at undisclosed locations  throughout the county to keep roads safe, save lives, and reduce DUI  crashes. Durkos said  drivers are encouraged  to drink responsibly and assign designated drivers or make alternate arrangements to get home safely. Detective Durkos added, “seat Belt use is your best defense in any crash, the task force reminds all drivers to always buckle up.

(Aliquippa, Pa.) Aliquippa Police  received a call  for a domestic in progress close to 7 p.m. last night, as officers were in  route to 1600 block of Jackson Street they received a call back  that a mixed breed dog was actually attacking a female, Police Chief  John Lane said this morning

Don’t Rely on Luck This St. Patrick’s Day:
AAA Urges Partygoers to Find a Safe & Sober Ride Home 

St. Patrick’s Day is a time of celebration for many, and while AAA East Central wants everyone to enjoy the holiday, there is still a danger for it to turn deadly on the road. Planning ahead to avoid DUI can keep you and others safe throughout the weekend.

“Not only can a DUI result in devastating crashes, but a conviction can weigh heavily on your pocketbook,” says Theresa Podguski, director of legislative affairs for AAA East Central. “Alcohol and driving should never mix, and simple steps taken before a celebration can go a long way towards keeping you and everyone around you safe.”

Tips for avoiding DUI: 

• Make transportation arrangements before you head out for the night.  Some options include;
  • Designate a driver.
  • Take a cab, or a ride share.
  • Utilize local public transit.
• Rent a hotel room or stay overnight where you are.
• If hosting a party, offer non-alcoholic drinks to designated drivers.
• If possible, provide overnight accommodations to guests who’ve been drinking.
• Take the car keys away from friends and relatives who have had too much to drink.
• Commit to never driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

If you suspect a driver is under the influence, stay as far behind their vehicle as possible and as soon as it’s safe to do so, pull over and call 911.

(Photo from FBI-Pittsburgh)

(Pittsburgh, Pa.) Karen Adams of Independence Township was at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort in New Cumberland, West Virginia the evening of March 11, 2007 and hasn’t been seen since. The FBI announced on their Twitter Page yesterday that they are now helping local law enforcement search for Karen.

She was driving a red or maroon 4-door 2005 Suzuki Forenza with Pennsylvania plate ETD5587. Adams was last seen on surveillance video leaving Mountaineer around 3am on March 12, 2007.

The FBI says she has not been seen or heard from since and her car has not been located. Adams was a teacher’s aid at an elementary school and a clerk at a department store.

Adams is 5′ 4″ tall, has brown hair, green eyes and weighs 120 pounds.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact your local FBI office.

Pennsylvania to lift last moratorium on utility shutoffs
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s Public Utility Commission will lift a year-old moratorium preventing utilities from terminating service to all non-paying customers, adopted as Gov. Tom Wolf ordered shutdowns to fight the coronavirus. The commission voted Thursday to lift the moratorium starting April 1 for lower-income customers, as federal aid becomes available to renters to help pay utility bills. Utilities had been permitted to resume disconnections last fall for residential customers above 300% of the federal poverty level, or about $79,000 in annual income for a family of four last year. The commission is also requiring utilities to give additional payment plan options.

(Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Curtis Walsh)

The Blackhawk School Board met virtually tonight for their monthly meeting.  They went over a variety of topics. The district spoke about improvements to their high school building that include a new elevator and also new fridge and freezer systems for the cafeteria.  Board members announced that senior and junior class officers have been working on a plan to host a prom.  The class officers have suggested an event where the students can go out to eat together, followed by meeting at the school for the actual prom, which they would like to be held outdoors.  Holding the prom outdoors will give a sufficient amount of space, opposed to indoors, and allow parents and guests to be in attendance for the grand march.  The Board also spoke about assessment tests that have been given to the students since returning to in class instruction full time. They stated that they have seen a dramatic improvement since the return to class, as opposed to online instruction.  It was also announced that the district intends on using iPads for Keystone and PSSA tests to eliminate the transmission of papers and materials between students and staff members.  One parent spoke out about her concerns that the fact that students wouldn’t be given mask breaks when they returned to school, was not communicated to parents.  The board members stated that they cannot give students masks breaks due to the students not being able to be distanced enough in the building, according to the attestation agreement they signed with the state. Also debated was if the district is in need of new heating and air conditioning systems to improve air quality.  The Board does not believe that there is an issue with the air quality at the moment, but some staff and parents do.