Panel to make key vote on state House, Senate district lines
By MARK SCOLFORO and MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Some of Pennsylvania’s most powerful elected officials are poised to vote on the first draft of new district maps for the state House and Senate. The vote Thursday in Harrisburg by the Legislative Reapportionment Commission is a key step in the once-in-a-decade process that will reverberate politically for years to come. The commission is expected to vote on preliminary district maps for 203 House seats and 50 in the Senate. There are about two months left before candidates are scheduled to begin circulating nominating petitions to get on the primary ballot. The primary is May 17.
5th person dies in related wrecks on Pennsylvania interstate
HAMBURG, Pa. (AP) — A fifth person has died from his injuries in a series of related crashes on an eastern Pennsylvania interstate. Berks County’s coroner identified the latest victim as a 21-year-old Reading man. State police are still investigating the twin crashes on Interstate 78 in Berks County. Police say the first crash happened Tuesday night when the driver of an empty school bus failed to stop in a construction zone and slammed into two vehicles. Two people were killed. Police say a truck driver then failed to slow down for traffic stopped as a result of the earlier crash, causing a fatal chain-reaction crash that killed three.
(File Photo)
Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News Correspondent
Thursday, December 16, 2021 at 1:55 PM (Center Twp, Beaver County, Pa.) The Center Township Board of Supervisors met Monday night, December 13, 2021 and approved their 2022 budget of $8.9 million dollars. Tax Millage is increased by 2 mills to 12.5 mills, The supervisors will hold reorganization on January 3, 2022 at 7 p.m.
(File Photo)
Story By Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News Correspondent
Thursday, December 16, 2021 at 1:52 PM
(Ambridge, Pa.) Ambridge Council adopted its 2022 budget earlier this week and there will not be a tax increase, according to Borough Manager Mario N. Leone. Revenues expected are $5,105,930, and millage will remain at 34.5. mills. Leone said non-union personnel will receive a 3% increase in wages..
The municipal building will be closed December 24, and 27 for the Christmas holiday, and December 31 for New year’s Council will reorganize at 6:30 p.m. on January 3, 2022 at 6:30 p.m.
Early retirement package for Fire Chief Robert Gottschalk was approved. His retirement will become effective April 30, 2022. Assistant Fire Chief Donnie larrick, Jr. will assum e the duties of fire chief on May 1, 2022.
Friday’s Teleforum program is another busy one-Frank Scrip and Jessica Pyle from Concordia at Villa St. Joseph come for a visit, a Friday show also means a chat with Norm Mitry of Heritage Valley Health Systems, and Friday brings another chance to be funny to win-it’s the Friday Funnies for a chance at a 25$ Al’s Corner gift card. AND_Friday is the last day to register for the 100$ Aliquippa Giant Eagle gift card holiday helper! Teleforum starts at 9:10am on 99.3FM presented by St. Barnabus, 1230WBVP, 1460WMBA, and streaming live on Beavercountyradio.com.
(File Photo)
Story by Frank Sparks, News/Program Director
Thursday, December 16, 2021 at 7:47 AM (Greene Twp., Pa.) Pa State Police are reporting via release that they were called to the scene of a three vehicle accident yesterday morning around 8:40 AM on Pa State Route 168 in front of Jack’s Diner in Greene Twp., Beaver County
Troopers said upon arriving and investigating it was discovered that 84-year-old David Anderson of Georgetown, Pa. was attempting to turn his 2011 Buick Regal left into the parking lot of the diner when his vehicle was struck by a 2019 International Harvester being driven by 56-year-old Kimberley Smithberger of Woodsfield OH. The impact of the crash caused Anderson’s vehicle to then crash into a 2008 Chevrolet Impala being driven by 73-year-old Donald Rawlings of Wellsville Ohio.
Troopers stated in the release that Anderson and his 82-year-old wife Esther Anderson suffered serious injuries and were transported to Allegheny General Hospital. The family told Troopers that both Anderson’s are currently in stable condition and are expected to fully recover .
Smithberger and Rawlings were not injured. Two of three passengers in Rawlings vehicle suffered minor injuries but refused to be transported to the hospital. David Anderson was charged by State Police with not properly yielding while turning left.
(Beaver,Pa) Krisinda Bright has been sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison without possibility of parole in the deaths of her two children earlier this year in Ambridge. The Fifty-eight-year-old pleaded guilty on Tuesday to first-degree murder charges as part of a plea agreement that spared her a possible death penalty. Authorities said Bright called police to her Ambridge home Feb. 22, and officers found 16-year-old Jeffrey Bright and 22-year-old Jasmine Cannady dead of shotgun blasts to the head. The youngest victim was a student at Ambridge High School.
Story and photos by Mark Peterson. Published 5:38 A.M. December 16, 2021.
Feature photo: Central Valley High School football players Landon Alexander, Sean Fitzsimmons and Jackson Tonya talk with show hosts Bob Barrickman and Bruce Frey live on Beaver County Radio during an on site broadcast of “Coaches Corner” at Robert’s Roadside inn on Wednesday Night.
(Bridgewater, PA) It was a celebration two premier high school football programs Wednesday evening at the Sports Patio at Robert’s Roadside Inn. Beaver County Radio hosted its weekly “Coaches Corner” radio show on site in the large venue to showcase the special occasion, and also to accommodate the space needed to have most of the Aliquippa and Central Valley football teams and coaches in attendance partaking in the event. The main stars of the evening were the head coaches of both teams. Head Coach, Mark Lyons, from Central Valley basked in the figurative and literal spotlights, as the program was also streamed with live video online, and thus two bright overhead lights were set up at Robert’s Roadside Inn to aid with lighting for the cameras. Also no stranger to spending time “under the lights”, particularly on Friday nights, was Aliquippa Assistant Coach, Vashawn Patrick, who filled in for Head Coach, Mike Warfield, who was unable to attend.
Aliquippa Assistant Football Coach Vashawn Patrick.
Patrick spoke about his teams great perseverance and desire to win this past season, particularly in the state championship victory over Bishop McDevitt, when The Quips overcame an early 14 point deficit. Patrick also spoke glowingly of his players’ resilience when he recounted a hard fought overtime victory in the playoffs when Aliquippa had to go to overtime to defeat McKeesport.
When it was Mark Lyons’ turn to answer questions tossed out by show hosts Bob Barrickman and Bruce Frey from WBVP, WMBA and 99.3 F.M., he emphasized that Central Valley’s current 27 game winning streak isn’t just 27 Friday game nights, it’s 27 weeks on Monday film sessions, 27 weeks of weight lifting and other training, 27 weeks of practice and preparation and many other activities than go into getting reading ready to play each game.
Central Valley Head Football Coach, Mark Lyons (center), joins Bob Barrickman (right) and Vashawn Patrick (left) from Aliquippa. Making a cameo appearance in the background is Robert Skerlec from Robert’s Roadside Inn.
Over 100 guests in attendance enjoyed the special edition of the weekly sports talk show, that aired from 7 to around 8:30 P.M. and included free food provided by Pizza Joes in Beaver, My Hero’s Sub Shop in Rochester and Robert’s Roadside Inn.
Among many outstanding players from both teams who were in attendance and on the air Wednesday night were Central Valley standouts Sean Fitzsimmons and Landon Alexander. Fitzsimmons had just announced and committed to accepting a scholarship to play football at the University of Pittsburgh and Alexander accepted an offer to play at The University of Albany within the past week as well.
Landon Alexander from Central Valley talks about his recent success on the football field while team mates and fans look on from the background.Central Valley star and Pitt recruit, Sean Fitzsimmons, holds court during “Coaches Corner.”
Here are some other photos from last night’s special championship edition of “Coaches Corner” live broadcast at Robert’s Roadside Inn:
Court to hear arguments in GOP’s election ‘investigation’
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania court will hear arguments over Democrats’ efforts to block a Republican-approved subpoena to state election officials in what Republicans call a “forensic investigation” of last year’s presidential election, spurred on by former President Donald Trump’s baseless claims that he was cheated out of victory. The statewide Commonwealth Court has set aside 75 minutes for arguments Wednesday. Challengers, including Senate Democrats and state Attorney General Josh Shapiro, have sought to block the subpoena issued in September by a Republican-controlled state Senate committee. They say it’s an abuse of legislative power, serves no legitimate legislative purpose and stems from Trump’s efforts to undermine trust in elections.
Pennsylvania asks FEMA for help with COVID surge
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania is asking the federal government to send health care workers to bolster hospitals and nursing homes that are increasingly under strain from persistent staffing shortages and the latest COVID-19 surge. The Wolf administration asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Wednesday to send strike teams to hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and ambulance companies in the hardest-hit areas of the state. Pennsylvania is also requesting that the federal government send 1 million rapid at-home coronavirus tests and increase the state’s allocation of monoclonal antibody treatments. Statewide, hospitalizations are up by two-thirds since last month.
