Off-Duty Brighton Township Police Officer Charged with DUI Following Two Vehicle Accident

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano 

(Brighton Twp. Pa.) Brighton Township Police  Officer Donald E. Sanders was driving his  vehicle on Tuscarawas Road  while under the influence of alcohol  Friday night, according to PA State Police.  The second vehicle operated by Mya R. Converso, 19 of Midland  attempted to swerve to avoid a collision with Sanders vehicle, but was unsuccessful, and  her vehicle was struck by Sanders’ vehicle. Converso’s vehicle continued to travel on the road  damaging property at 4620 Tuscarawas Road. Skid marks were observed on the road from Sanders’ vehicle , placing the vehicle in the wrong lane of traffic. The skid marks continued eastbound  and came to  finally rest  on the southside of the road, and damage to his vehicle was evident. Brake Stop towed both  vehicles from the scene, state police reported.

State Police reported while investigating the crash  they determined Sanders was under the influence of alcohol, and placed under arrest for DUI.
Neither driver was injured, according to the report.

Joe Block Says Pitching Won’t Be As “Traditional” In 2021

After a long delay and a shortened season in 2020, should baseball fans expect the sport to return to normal with a full 162-game schedule?

According to Joe Block, the answer is no.

The Pirates broadcaster joined Matt Drzik on A.M. Beaver County to talk about how the Pirates starters, while playing relatively well in Grapefruit League action, will see a diminished role as far as innings pitched. Block sees that as a trend that will happen throughout the season due to last year’s rearranged schedule, and that it may open up a new level of competition throughout the MLB.

To listen to the full Spring Training Report, listen to the link below!

New Castle Women not injured in One Vehicle Accident

(New Castle, Pa.) Pa State Police in New Castle are reporting a one car accident that happened at 6:10 yesterday morning.
Troopers are reporting that a 2017 Buick Regal driven by Deanna Durbin of New Castle struck a deer as she was exiting US 422 and entering Pa. State Route 65. Durbin’s vehicle sustained disabling damage and was towed from the scene.

Jefferson Twp., Butler County Man Dies from Self-Inflicted Gun Shot Wound

(Jefferson Twp., Pa.) Pa State Police in Butler are reporting that 19-year-old Michael Sherrieb was found by State Police outside a residence at 411 West Jefferson Road in Jefferson Twp. Butler County with a self-inflicted gun shot wound.
Troopers were called to the scene yesterday at 12:45 PM when they Sherrieb. He was transported to Butler Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Troopers state via release that there were no signs of foul play.

Mr. Yuk Turns Fifty

(Pittsburgh, Pa.) 50 years ago this week a major contributor in the fight against children and poisons was first introduced to the world. Back in 1971, Doctor Richard Moriarty created a green sticker for people to place on their dangerous household products with a yucky face on it to deter children from getting into poisons.

If it scared you as a kid, that was the point. Moriarty showed the sticker to kids to get their opinion one of whom said, “That looks yucky.” and so Mr. Yuk was born.

The doctor also founded the Pittsburgh Poison Center Network in 1973.

Shell Cracker Plant to be Completed Sometime in 2022

MONACA, Pa. (AP) — Shell Chemicals officials says the multi-billion-dollar petrochemical, or ethane cracker, plant in Potter Twp. is expected to be completed next year. The company said in a statement Tuesday that the company is now in the early stages of commissioning and start-up activities. Shell CEO Ben Van Beurden said in an earnings call last month that the complex, now more than 70 percent complete, would likely be “fully operational” sometime in 2022. The plant will break down — or crack — ethane molecules to produce pellets that can be used to make various plastics for products ranging from automotive parts to food packaging.

New Sewickley Twp. Elderly Man Victim of Homicide by His Son

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano 

(New Sewickley Twp, Pa.) New Sewickley Police Chief Ron Leindecker   reported that 83 year-old John Miklaucic  of new Sewickley Township and his son Michael Miklaucic, 57, of Plymouth Massachusetts met with Police Detective Gregory Pullen on Sunday, March 14, 2021.  The purpose of the meeting was to report a financial scam that John Miklaucic was a victim of. Detective Pullen obtained the information about the scam and opened an investigation into the incident.

On Tuesday morning, March  16, 2021, at approximately 8:05 a.m. New Sewickley police received a 911 dispatch call  from Michael miklaucic  reporting that his father was dead, and he  was the one that killed him. When officers arrived at 657 Fezell Road, New Sewickley Township, Miklaucic was found on the front porch and was immediately taken into custody without incident, according to Chief Leindecker’s report. Township Police conducted an emergency search of the residence  and found John Miklaucic  deceased by strangulation inside . Michael Miklaucic  was transported to the police department , where he confessed to the strangulation death of his father.
Michael Miklaucic was charged with homicide and arraigned  Tuesday in front of District Judge Ed Howe.

Pa State Rep. Aaron Bernstine’s Markie’s Law Bill Passes House

HARRISBURG – In the wake of the 2019 murder of a child in Lawrence County, the House of Representatives today overwhelmingly passed legislation authored by Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) which focuses on the parole process for violent offenders.

House Bill 146, or Markie’s Law, was named after Mark Mason, an 8-year-old boy who was brutally stabbed to death by a man who was paroled at the end of his minimum sentence for homicide, even after committing two separate assaults of other inmates while behind bars.

“I applaud my House colleagues for approving this legislation,” said Bernstine. “My legislation will postpone consideration of a violent inmate’s parole until an additional 24 months following the inmate’s minimum release date for each conviction for a violent offense while incarcerated. In addition, the bill will postpone consideration for parole an additional 12 months if the inmate attempts to escape, smuggles contraband, or retaliates or intimidates witnesses while incarcerated.”

Keith Burley, a convicted murderer, was released from prison in March 2019 after serving 20 years in a robbery/shooting death. Burley was arrested four months later in the stabbing death of Mason, who he abducted in a car with his 7-year-old brother during a domestic dispute with the boys’ mother.

The parole board determined that Burley was not only rehabilitated, but also that he no longer posed a risk to the public at the conclusion of his minimum sentence.

“This legislation will help foster a safer environment in prison as inmates will have a strong incentive to behave,” said Bernstine.

House Bill 146 which the House approved by a 144-58 vote, now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Son Travels from Mass. to Kill his Father in New Sewickley Twp. Tuesday Morning

(File Photo)

(New Sewickley Twp.) A man traveled from Massachusetts to kill his father Tuesday morning in New Sewickley Twp. according to Police. 

The son, who has not yet been identified, is accused of killing his father at a home along Fezell Road. It’s not clear what the motivation was for the killing. New Sewickley Police Department is holding a Press Conference at 3pm Tuesday afternoon. Stay tune to Beaver County Radio Continues to investigate this developing story. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano is working on the story.