Beaver County ESU involved in Beaver Drug Raid

Beaver County District Attorney David J. Lozier reported a short time ago that there is no comment on this morning’s drug raid  by the ESU at a rental  property located at 455 Turnpike Street. According to an unconfirmed report the renter was involved in the bust, not the owner of the property.

Ambridge Mayor Dave Drewnowski Announces PNC Bank Closing

Ambridge Mayor Dave Drenowski announced at last night’s meeting that PNC Bank has closed and its employees have been furloughed. He informed  council he made every effort  to keep the bank in the borough.

On Tuesday, June 16 at 5 p.m.  there will be a  special commemoration  with Quilts of Valor being presented  in memory of  Terry Bonnage  who was aboard the USS Kennedy,  and Leonard Gazda who served in the U.S. Army in Viet Nam.  The Mayor and Councilman Mike Mikulich  were very emotional when the announcement was made.

Man Says Holding Crystal Meth. “For A Friend” After Wallet Found At Rivers Casino

(File Photo)

(Pittsburgh, Pa.) PA State Police at the Rivers Casino are reporting that an unknown male suspect dropped his wallet without knowing while leaving a slot machine on Sunday June 06, 2021 around 5:40 PM.

Troopers say via release that a patron found the wallet at the slot machine and turned it into Rivers Casino Security. Security stated that when they check the wallet for ID they located a small baggie of suspected Crystal Meth. Security contacted Rivers Surveillance and video showed the suspect dropping his wallet when he exited the machine. Surveillance stated in the release that the suspect was exiting the parking garage via the rear entrance as a passenger in a vehicle. Troopers made contact with unidentified suspect who stated that the wallet was his and the baggies was indeed crystal meth. but he was holding it “For a Friend”. The unidentified male suspect was taken into custody and issued a lifetime ban from the casino and was escorted off the property. Charges are pending waiting for lab results.

Ambridge Council Approves Law Enforcement Memorial Donation

Ambridge Council approved a $1,000 donation to the National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum in memory of the late Police Chief, Mark Romutis. The costs will be for the engraving and the plaque. In a separate motion made by Councilman, Jerome Gill, a plaque in the late chief’s honor will be  placed in council chambers. He suggested that one also be placed in the police station.

Mr. Gill reported that there are  several family owned businesses with 50 years of existence in the borough. He said: Action Tire, Bohn Funeral Home, City Heating and Plumbing, Michael Harris Dental,  Kasper-Hahn Funeral Home , now Hahn/Alvarez, Orbit Inn, Stangl’s Bakery(there used to be 2), Pournaras Tax Agency, & Valley Realty and they should be recognized.

An emergency access gate for emergency vehicle use in Alley “A” on 11th  Street near Country FAB The cost is $1,250.  It was recommended by the police and fire chiefs, and borough manager.

Pennsylvania’s New Unemployment Claims System Has Issues After Going Live

Pennsylvania’s new unemployment claims system goes live
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM Associated Press
Pennsylvania’s long-awaited overhaul of its unemployment claims filing system is now live. Some users immediately complained about glitches Tuesday, while the state agency that runs the program reported a phone outage that temporarily prevented it from making or receiving calls. Officials promised the replacement computer system would be easy to use and both simplify and speed up the process of filing a claim. But people trying to migrate to the new website quickly ran into trouble. The state says it’s working on fixes. By midday Tuesday, more than 62,000 people had successfully filed using the new system. That’s about a quarter of all people receiving benefits.

Dollar General Plus Store Coming To Ambridge

Story and Photo by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Ambridge, Pa.) A new Dollar General Plus Store is coming to Ambridge and the site plan was approved pending  the borough’s  planning commission conditions.  GDF Nashville representative Bob Gage told council it will be located at 1900 Duss Avenue on .85 acres.  Gage told council it’s going to be a Dollar General Plus Store. The size of the store will be 10,640 square feet  with more space for groceries.. Councilman Tony Cafarelli asked the cost of the building and Gage said  a little over $900,000, may be close  to $1 million.

NIRA, the borough’s engineering firm  representative  Jim Northquist announced  and introduced t James Brunner , the new Ambridge Borough Engineer who is expected to take over in the spring of 2022.  The previous engineer resigned from the borough and NIRA recently. Northquist  will  be working with Brunner during the transition.

Pa. House Approves Veto-Bound Bill To Help Block Local Gun Laws

(File Photo)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Resuming a long fight over local gun laws, Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives is approving veto-destined legislation to help gun owners and gun-rights organizations force cities to repeal firearms restrictions. The bill passed the Republican-controlled chamber Tuesday, 124-79. But Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf has promised to veto it. Under the bill, gun owners and gun-rights organizations would have standing in court to sue municipalities over firearms ordinances that they contend are more restrictive than state law. A city could also be ordered to pay damages. Similar provisions were once law, signed in 2014 by then-Gov. Tom Corbett, a Republican, but later struck down in court on a technicality.

Pa House Advances Ban on Abortions Over Down Syndrome Diagnoses

By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A bill to ban abortions prompted by a prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis is headed to the Pennsylvania Senate after passage in the House. State representatives voted 120 to 83 on Tuesday for the bill, which provides criminal penalties for doctors who violate it. The bill passed with Republican support. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf has vowed to veto it if it makes it to his desk. If it becomes law, the proposal will require a doctor who performs an abortion to provide a written statement that it was not motivated in any way by a prenatal diagnosis or test indicating Down syndrome.

Domino’s Pizza in Robinson Twp. Robbed

(Robinson Twp., Pa.) Robinson Township police are searching for a man who robbed the Domino’s Pizza at gunpoint in Robinson Court Monday night around 11:30 PM. It’s being reported that the man pulled out a gun, demanded cash and then forced workers into the cooler. The Robber escaped out a back door with around $400.

Police are investigating this case and anyone with information should call 911.

Jury Selection Expected to Finish This Morning and Sheldon Jeter Jr. Trial To Start This Afternoon

(Beaver, Pa.) Jury selection is expected to finish up Wednesday morning and the trial of Sheldon Jeter Jr. should get underway after lunch break on Wednesday afternoon according to Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano who spoke with Beaver County District Attorney David Lozier yesterday afternoon.

Jeter is accused of killing his childhood friend Tyric Pugh in Aliquippa on May 15 of 2020.

Investigators say that Jeter’s trial will focus on May 15, 2020 when Pugh was found dead lying on Kiehl Street in Aliquippa after being shot multiple times. Investigators found seven spent .380 shell casings lying on the road around Pugh’s body and surveillance video showed a vehicle they believe belonged to Jeter.

Investigators say when they went to Jeter’s home, they found a weapon matching the shell casings found at the crime scene. Jeter’s attorney has denied that Jeter has any involvement in the case.
Lozier said the trial should last for a few weeks.