(Photo provided by CCBC)
Monday, January 10, 2022 at 2:13 PM
Monaca, PA – Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) is announcing the appointment of Angela Hamilton as vice president of student affairs. She will be responsible for overseeing all student affairs functions, including student life, student services, and enrollment services. Hamilton reports directly to President Dr. Roger W. Davis and serves as a member of the Senior Executive Cabinet. 

“We are thrilled that Angela is once again expanding her role at CCBC and joining the senior leadership team,” said Dr. Davis. “She has a proven track record of putting students first, improving processes that advance the college wholistically and departmentally, and collaborating to build effective teams. Her experience and passion throughout her career will play a key role in benefitting our students and culture as we continue to look to the future.”

As a Beaver County native and CCBC alumna, Ms. Hamilton has 14 years of progressive experience at CCBC. Previously, she was associate vice president of student affairs, registrar, and director of enrollment services, as well as served on the admissions staff. She joined CCBC in 2007 and has also taught as a part-time instructor on campus. 

During her time at CCBC she has spear-headed such initiatives as the degree audit, online registration, a remodel of the Enrollment Services area for concierge-style service, and most recently, the launch of community classrooms and the return of athletics post-pandemic.

“Angela exceeds her commitment to CCBC and the students, so this promotion is well-deserved,” stated CCBC’s registrar Rose Whelpley. As a supervisor, she encourages me to achieve my goals and promotes a positive work environment.”

Hamilton is one of only 50 individuals internationally to earn a Strategic Enrollment Management Endorsement from the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers. 

“I am proud to be a part of the CCBC community and to take on this new opportunity,” said Hamilton. “I look forward to representing the student body while helping students unlock their highest potential, providing students with a web of support and opportunity inside and outside of the classroom.”

Hamilton earned her M.S. from the University of Pittsburgh, B.S. from Robert Morris University, and associate degree from CCBC. She resides in Center Township with her husband, two children, and therapy dog Bailey, who she volunteers with on campus and at nursing homes throughout the community.

(File Photo)
Monday, January 10, 2022 at 7:58 AM
(Hanover Twp., Beaver County, Pa.) Pa State Police in Beaver are reporting that they were dispatched to the scene of two vehicle accident on New Years Day on Lincoln Highway in Hanover Twp, Beaver County at 3:06 AM.
Upon Arriving on the scene and investigating it was learned that 19-year-old Alexander Vuckovich of Aliquippa was operating a 2020 Subaru Legacy at the intersection of US 30 and Pa 18 when he failed to stop at a stop sign causing a 2005 Chevy Silverado being driven by 28-year-old Wade Searight to collide with Vuckovich’s vehicle. Vuckovich was charged by Troopers with a stop sign and yield sign violation. His vehicle had to be towed from the scene and no injuries were reported.

(File Photo)
Monday, January 10, 2022 at 7:26 AM
(Glasgow Boro, Beaver County, Pa.) Pa State Police in Beaver are reporting that they were dispatched to a residence on Liberty Ave in Glasgow Boro , Beaver County last Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at 7:14 PM for a report of a physical altercation involving an ex-boyfriend and ex-girlfriend.
Upon arriving and investigating Troopers arrested 27-year-old Tyler Laughlin of Beaver on charges of strangulation, simple assault, and terroristic threats in the incident involving him and 28-year-old Kelsea Campbell of Midland.
Troopers did not release any further information involving the incident.

(File Photo)
Monday, January 10, 2022 at 7:16 AM
(Patterson Twp., Pa.) Pa State Police in Beaver are reporting that they were involved in a pursuit with an unnamed person driving a 2013 Ford Fusion on Darlington Road in Patterson Twp. at 12:40 PM last Wednesday, January 5, 2022.
Troopers said via release that the vehicle crashed during the pursuit when the operator of the vehicle left the road and drove through a yard losing control of his vehicle. The vehicle came to a final rest touching the porch of a residence on Darlington Road. The vehicle was towed from the scene due to disabling damage caused during legal intervention during the pursuit and not due to the crash. The porch of the home was slightly damaged. Photos on social media also showed damage to at least one State Police Vehicle. No other information was released by State Police.

(File Photo)
Monday, January 10, 2022 at 6:40 AM

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin), a commissioner on the Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission, said Friday that it was clear after two days of commission hearings on the proposed plans that changes must be made to the preliminary House map.

“Whether it has been testimony about how communities of interest in southwestern Pennsylvania have been broken apart, how Cumberland County deserves an additional House seat based upon population gain, how the preliminary House map dilutes the voice of Hispanic voters, or any number of other concerns that have been submitted to the commission, it is clear that significant changes are needed to the preliminary House map,” Benninghoff said.

“I have said from the beginning of this process that I want to work toward a product that is both good for Pennsylvania and can receive a unanimous vote. However, two days of hearings on the preliminary House map confirms it fails to achieve either goal.”

Benninghoff also noted he has continued the process of reaching out to fellow commissioners to further discussions on improving the preliminary House map.

“I have had discussions with both Commission Chairman Mark Nordenberg and House Minority Leader Joanna McClinton, and I am confident we will work more collaboratively toward a final House map,” Benninghoff added.

“I look forward to those discussions and reaching consensus on a product that will ensure fair and constitutionally sound representation for Pennsylvanians for the next decade.”

(AP Photo)
Monday, January, 10, 2022 at 5:50 AM
Bob Saget, beloved TV dad of ‘Full House,’ dead at 65
By LYNN ELBER AP Television Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Bob Saget, a comedian and actor best known for his role on the sitcom “Full House,” has died. He was 65. The Orange County, Florida, sheriff’s office says it was called Sunday about an “unresponsive man” and found Saget dead in a hotel room at the Ritz-Carlton in Orlando. Detectives found no signs of foul play or drug use. Saget was in Florida as part of his “I Don’t Do Negative Comedy Tour.” Saget was also the longtime host of “America’s Funniest Home Videos” and the narrator of “How I Met Your Mother.” Tributes from friends and fellow comics noted both his humor and kindness.

(Photo Provide by Keystone News Exchange)

Monday, January, 10, 2022 at 5:47 AM

Keystone State News Connection

January 10, 2022

Emily Scott

A devastating fire in a Philadelphia public-housing rowhome last week killed 12 people, eight of them children.

In the aftermath, advocates say government leaders need to address the city’s affordable-housing crisis to ensure the tragedy doesn’t happen again.

According to officials, 26 people were living in the duplex apartment at the time of the fire. The Philadelphia Housing Authority does not limit the number of people who can live in a single unit.

Jenna Collins, staff attorney for Community Legal Services, pointed out there are very few large affordable-housing units for multigenerational families. She said it is a symptom of inadequate funding for subsidized housing.

“If you look at the HUD budget for public housing today adjusted for inflation, it has gone down significantly since 30 years ago,” Collins observed. “As families do grow, there’s nowhere to transfer them and allow them to keep that subsidy that is often the difference between them affording rent and becoming homeless.”

An investigation by Philadelphia Fire, the city’s police department and federal support from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is under way. The property, which is owned and operated by the Philadelphia Housing Authority, last received an inspection last April and May.

The Philadelphia Housing Authority said the cost of repairs to its buildings exceeds one billion dollars. It could receive some increased funding if Congress passes the Build Back Better Act. Collins said PHA struggles to keep up with repairs that do not appear immediately life-threatening.

“The housing authority is trying to respond to things that feel emergent in the moment like three inches of sewer water in a basement,” Collins explained. “So they do not have the funds to update the really old housing stock, so we really are seeing the result of that lack of funds to improve infrastructure.”

Some solutions PHA could implement to make older units safer include hard-wiring smoke detectors, which new public housing units in Philadelphia already have. All six smoke alarms in the building were inoperable at the time of the fire, officials said.

Story, photos and Video by Mark Peterson. Published 4:00 P.M. January 8, 2022

Featured photo- The new 2 bay F.M. Antenna mounted atop the WMBA broadcast tower in Bell Acres, PA.
(Ambridge, PA)  January was already the birthday of a very famous entity in the entertainment industry, that being Elvis Presley.  Today, one can only wonder how pleased “The King” would have been looking down from Rock ‘N Roll Heaven on his 87th birthday and witnessing the birth of what will most likely become another entertainment legend, in Beaver County, PA.  That’s because on a 19 degree Saturday morning, Beaver County Radio and St. Barnabas Broadcasting engineers, Jim Roush and Greg Resh braved the elements and officially turned on a new F.M. radio station, 95.7 F.M.

The new station is an additional license  grant to bolster the coverage of existing Ambridge A.M. radio station, 1460 WMBA.  The construction of the new station, W239CR-95.7 F.M. was completed in December, and final approval to turn on the bright, new F.M. signal was just received on Friday.  Shortly after firing up the transmitter, e mails and texts began coming in from other station staffers in Brighton Township and New Brighton reporting that 95.7 was coming in great. One company official even chimed in that the “Signal was strong in Gibsonia!”

Video of the historic moment when 95.7 F.M. went on the air:

95.7 F.M. will be the fourth radio station in the Beaver County Radio cluster of stations operated by St. Barnabas Broadcasting Inc.  The new station joins 1230 WBVP and 99.3 F.M. in Beaver Falls and 1460 WMBA in Ambridge.  95.7 F.M. will be another simulcast outlet for the popular mix of local news, talk and sports programming already being aired on the other radio stations .  Listeners will most likely notice a larger coverage area that will add a significant geographic footprint farther south and east to the current robust Beaver County Radio market area. St. Barnabas Broadcasting, Inc. also owns and operates conservative talk juggernaut, 1320 WJAS and it’s F.M. counterpart, 99.1 F.M. in Pittsburgh.

WMBA originally went on the air via the same tower and transmitter site still in use in Bell Acres, PA on September 19, 1957.  The addition of an F.M. radio station to the broadcast site marks a very significant improvement and upgrade to the class B A.M. station that was founded by a group of  businessmen from Pottsville, PA sixty-five years ago.

While it’s only conjecture, it’s pretty safe to assume that in 1957, the station was entertaining the masses by playing an Elvis tune or two, just as it is today in honor of his birthday.

Live deer found in car’s hatchback during traffic stop
NEWBERRYTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Police who pulled over a suspected drunken or drugged driver in Pennsylvania discovered a live deer that had apparently been hit and then placed in the hatchback area of her car. The animal was freed after the stop Thursday by police in Newberry Township. Police say the car’s occupants told officers they had realized the deer was still alive but kept driving. Police told a passenger to release the deer. It was seen in a video posted by police struggling as it was carried across the road. Police say the 19-year-old driver is being investigated for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

(Story by Matt Drzik/Photo by Mark Peterson)

“I do believe that Beaver County will be the fastest-growing county in the Commonwealth.”

That statement, said (twice, in fact) by Commissioners Chairman Dan Camp, summed up the optimistic attitude of the Board of Commissioners at the 2022 State Of The County breakfast event. The event was presented by the Beaver County Chamber of Commerce, who acknowledged their 50-year anniversary coming up in July of 2022, with BCCoC president Helen Kissick as the master of ceremonies.

Camp spoke along with fellow Commissioner Jack Manning at Geneva College’s Alexander Hall about many of the different concerns and issues involving Beaver County citizens, with Tracy Lawless of K&L Gates mediating the ceremony. Commissioner Tony Amadio was absent from the ceremony due to personal reasons.

Major topics of optimism were the ongoing push towards broadband connection for households in Beaver County, the beginning of many infrastructure creations and renovations for the county with the $17 million ARPA grant money the commissioners are allotting, and the continued success in areas such as the development of the Shell Ethane cracker plant and the ongoing success of the AHN Cancer Center and the St. Barnabas Health System.

“We’ve really tried to work hard to diversify the economy as much as we can,” Manning said. “And a lot of the expenditures that we’re doing with the money coming in through the CARES Act and now with the American Rescue Plan Act is to build the infrastructure and foundation for greater growth and development…residential growth and  development as well as business and industry.”

On the other side though, were the challenges and roadblocks that lie ahead in 2022 for Beaver County; chief among them being the continuance of the reassessment process for county buildings and residences. “At the end of the day we have to follow what the law says, and the law says we have to reassess,” Camp said. “It’s costing the county up to $10 million…it might have been something that was long overdue, but we’re going to fight through it.”

Other roadblocks mentioned were the ongoing struggles to cooperate with CSX–whose reluctance is delaying the final inspection of the Ambridge-Aliquippa bridge and (if funded) the creation of the Blacks Run Bridge–and the continuance of the coronavirus pandemic as it enters its third calendar year.

Still, the overwhelming aura at the State of The County was that of optimism, and both Commissioners stated that the motivation for them to see Beaver County succeed hasn’t abated. “I’ve found that my niche in life,” Manning stated, “has been to be able to listen and relate to people, muster resources, solve problems, bring people together, and make things better. And the best avenue for me to continue to impact folks is at the commissioner level.”

The full replay of the 2022 State of the County address by the Commissioner will be on Beaver County Radio following Noonday at 12:35 on Monday, January 10.