Keystone State News Connection

Emily Scott

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – They work with students in the classroom, in the school office or even in the cafeteria – and in celebration of American Education Week, one state organization is honoring a Pennsylvania education support professional for her dedication to students.

Dee Scales has been named the Dolores McCracken Education Support Professional of the Year by the Pennsylvania State Education Association. Scales, a paraprofessional and union leader in the Woodland Hills School District in Allegheny County, said she’s thankful for the award and for the work support professionals do to keep schools running.

“It means so much to me because it actually highlights all the hard work that not only myself, but other support professionals do throughout the whole United States,” she said. “We have other support staff such as bus drivers. We have our custodians and maintenance workers. There are so many different titles that we support staff carry within the public school system.”

Today also marks Education Support Professionals Day. Scales has been a paraprofessional at Woodland Hills for 26 years, where she currently works with students in an emotional-support classroom.

Outside school, Scales also is heavily involved in her town of Braddock, where she recently was elected council member-at-large. She’s a volunteer with the annual 15104 Clean Up Day, focused on picking up litter in Braddock, and the 412 Food Rescue, which helps feed thousands around Pittsburgh.

Rich Askey, president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, called Scales “a role model.”

“Dee is making such a tremendous difference in the lives of her students every day,” he said. “She brings with her such knowledge and dedication; that’s what the key to Dee’s success is with children. She also gives so much back to her colleagues, because she’s a powerful advocate for educational support professionals.”

Scales serves as president of PSEA’s Education Support Professionals Western Division and sits on the organization’s Racial Justice and Equity Taskforce, among other committee positions.

Tuesday November 16, 2021 at 1:18 PM
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The newest entrant to the crowded Republican gubernatorial field, Jake Corman, says he’ll set himself apart in the primary by emphasizing his ability to break through gridlock and get things done with lawmakers in the institution where he has worked for more than two decades. Corman, the Senate’s highest-ranking member, confirmed for the first time Monday that he’s running for governor. The Republican primary field for governor is double-digits deep, something party officials can’t remember ever confronting, and Corman enters the race as a familiar face to donors. He has spent most of his 22-plus years helping lead the Senate’s Republican majority.

(File Photo)
Tuesday, November 16, 2021
Harrisburg, PA – The Wolf Administration, along with the National Weather Service, today provided information on the dangers of snow squalls, how alerts and warnings are issued and how people can stay safe during these dangerous winter weather hazards.

“State agencies have been preparing for winter weather for several weeks with coordination calls and exercises,” said PEMA Director Randy Padfield. “It’s important that the public understand their role in winter weather safety, not only to protect themselves and their loved ones but also first responders.”

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), a snow squall is a brief but intense period of heavy snow (up to 2 inches in 30 minutes), strong winds (30+ mph), and whiteout conditions (visibility less than ¼ mile). Snow squalls often occur on days with otherwise partly cloudy skies. Coming on so suddenly, snow squalls can catch drivers off guard and lead to major transportation impacts, including deadly multi-vehicle accidents.

“One of the things that makes snow squalls so dangerous is their tendency to produce icy roadways, or what we call a flash freeze,” said NWS Meteorologist John Banghoff. “Because they come on so suddenly, snow squalls can catch drivers off guard and lead to major transportation incidents, including deadly multi-vehicle accidents.”

The National Weather Service, along with PEMA, the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), PennDOT and the PA Turnpike have created a number of tools to help educate motorists about the dangers of snow squalls, including dramatic videos that show the impact of these hazards on roadways.

“The National Weather Service issues Snow Squall Warnings to alert for the sudden onset of life-threatening conditions encountered by highway travelers during snow squalls,” said NWS Warning Coordination Meteorologist Jonathan Guseman. “If you are driving on an interstate when a Snow Squall Warning is issued, the best thing to do is to exit the roadway at the next opportunity.”

“Snow squalls can produce whiteout conditions that are difficult for everyone on the road to see other vehicles and even the lanes of travel. These conditions have led to major pileup crashes with multiple injuries and even deaths, ” said Major Robert Krol, Director of the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Patrol. “Drivers are encouraged to use extreme caution while traveling during the winter months. Turn your headlights on, slow down, wear your seatbelt, and limit distractions in the vehicle.”

While PennDOT recommends not traveling during winter storms, motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

More information about how to prepare for any type of emergency, including free downloadable checklists of items to keep in your home, car, and at work, and specific information for people with access and functional needs or pets, is available on the Ready PA webpage.

For more information on the Pennsylvania State Police, visit psp.pa.gov.

(File Photo)
Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at 7:19 AM
(Moon Twp., Pa.) WPIAL officials said they are looking into claims of racist comments made by players during Friday night’s high school football game between Steel Valley and South Side Area.
The family of Nijhay Burt, Steel Valley’s star running back who was injured during the game ending his senior year made the accusations and the the Steel Valley School district filed a complaint with the WPIAL.
WPIAL executive director Amy Scheuneman said in a statement that “After a report from the Steel Valley Administration we have asked for reports from South Side Area as well as game officials to review possible inappropriate comments and/or actions that may have occurred. Once reports are received we will determine the appropriate course of action.”
Southside players are all accused of standing over Burt after he was injured and cheering his injury.

(File Photo of Rep. Bernstine from a recent appearance at Beaver County Radio)
Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at 6:54 AM
HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine’s (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) motion to table all amendments associated with Senate Bill 565 passed the House of Representatives today.
The legislation proposes to preserve the constitutional right of legal gun owners by eliminating the requirement of a License to Carry a Firearm (LTCF) should an individual wish to possess or “carry” a firearm on their person in a concealed fashion. If passed, Pennsylvania would be the 22nd constitutional carry state in the United States.
Bernstine issued the following statement:“These amendments seek to dilute and distract from our constitutional rights and therefore violate Article 1 Section 21 of the Pennsylvania State Constitution. I will not stand by while politicians continue to attack our rights as law-abiding citizens.”
The full House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on Senate Bill 565 Tuesday, Nov. 16.

(File Photo)
Story by Frank Sparks, News/Program Director 
Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at 6:49 AM
(Center Twp., Pa.) Pa State Police in Beaver are reporting that they were dispatched to the scene of a one vehicle accident on Interstate 376, the Beaver Valley Expressway, in Center Twp. at 11:25 PM on Saturday night, November 13, 2021.
Upon arriving on the scene and investigating it was learned that 19-year-old Luke Marvenko of Aliquippa was operating a 2007 Volkswagen Golf at an unsafe speed causing him to lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle struck a concrete barrier and was not driveable according to the release. Marvenko’s passenger 18-year-old Abigail Glumac of Monaca suffered a suspected minor injury but was not transported to a hospital.
Marvenko was cited by State Police with not driving a vehicle at a safe speed.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano
November 15, 2021 at 2:44 PM
(White Twp., Pa.) Patterson Township Police were called to the scene of a one vehicle accident at 7:20 p.m. Sunday night, November 14, 2021,  on Steffin Hill in White Township. Monique Tyson, 48 of Ambridge was traveling westbound when she lost control of her vehicle and she struck a utility pole. Tyson was injured in the accident and was transported by Med-Rescue to Heritage Valley, Beaver. The road was closed for several hours until Duquesne Light was notified and the pole was replaced.

Pittsburgh, PA – The Southwestern Pennsylvania (SWPA) Connected initiative is asking community members to take a brief survey online or by phone to provide information about their current internet access and experience.