(Beaver Falls, Pa.) September 11, 2001 started off as a calm peaceful Tuesday morning that took a turn for the worse when 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group Al Qaeda high jacked four airplanes and carried out the worse terrorist attack in the history of the United States.

It all started at 8:45 a.m. when an American Airlines Boeing 767 crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York. At 9:03 a.m. a second plane crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center. A third plane crashed into the Pentagon at 9:45 and finally a fourth plane that was bound for California crashed into a field in Shanksville Pa. after it was taken over by passengers who learned through cell phone calls what had occurred in New York and Washington.

Knowing that the aircraft was not returning to an airport as the hijackers claimed, a group of passengers and flight attendants planned an insurrection.

One of the passengers, Thomas Burnett, Jr., told his wife over the phone that “I know we’re all going to die. There’s three of us who are going to do something about it. I love you, honey.” Another passenger Todd Beamer was heard saying “Are you guys ready? Let’s roll” over an open line.

Forty passengers and crew members died when they fought back against the hijackers of their airplane. It crashed into a reclaimed coal mine field in Shanksville Pa. killing everyone on board.

At the request of the Families of Flight 93, and in order to adhere to public health guidelines, the National Park Service reports on its website, that this year’s observance will be held privately. The event will be live-streamed.

The Flight 93 Memorial grounds in Stonycreek Township, Somerset County, will remain closed until the end of the event. 

President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden are planning to attend the observance.

So on this somber day Let’s Remember those who lost their lives on one of the most horrible days in the history of the United States of America September 11, 2001.

Line Painting an

d Seal Coating Operations Continue Next Week in District 11

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is advising motorists that line painting and seal coating operations on various roadways in Beaver, Lawrence and Allegheny counties will occur Monday through Friday, September 14-18, weather permitting.

Work to repaint lines and seal coat the road will occur from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday in the following locations:

Beaver County

• Route 51 in various municipalities from Monaca Borough to Allegheny County

Allegheny County

• I-79 in various municipalities between PA Route 60 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Southern Beltway
• I-376 (Parkway West) from I-79 interchange to the Fort Pitt Tunnel
• Route 51 in various municipalities
• Route 50 in various municipalities
• Route 88 in various municipalities
• Route 121/Route 3052 (Greentree Road) in various municipalities

Lawrence County

• Route 224 in various municipalities
• Route 422 in various municipalities

PennDOT advises motorists to exercise caution and patience, and suggests allowing at least 250 feet (13 car lengths) behind line painting equipment to avoid damage.  Motorists should avoid passing the paint vehicles unless directed by a paint crew member or flag person to do so.  Passing too quickly can cause damage to fresh paint lines and may result in paint on the motorist’s vehicle.  Line painting vehicles normally pull over every two and one-half miles or when safety permits.  Recent technological advancements on the mix of formulas have produced fast dry paints that are dry to the touch within 2 to 3 minutes.  It is crucial to stay off these lines during the curing period.

Motorists who accidentally get paint on their vehicles should immediately wash the paint off with a high-pressure water stream and detergent.  Dried paint can be removed with de-natured alcohol and a soft cloth.  Generally, PennDOT is not responsible for paint on vehicles.

Roadway line painting is an important part of PennDOT’s highway safety initiatives. Paint lines provide direction, delineation, and guidance to motorists.

Glass beads applied on top of wet paint during the painting process provide retro reflectivity.  These small, spherical beads reflect light during dark hours and periods of low visibility.  As the glass beads become worn or wet, the reflectivity becomes greatly diminished resulting in reduced visibility during dark and wet hours.

Lines need repainting each year because of normal wear, tear, and weather. Winter maintenance activities such as plowing, spreading anti-skid materials, and studded tires are very abrasive to paint lines and can cause fading.  Normal weathering caused by snow, rain, and ice also contribute to line reflectivity reduction.

Motorists should use caution and be aware of changing traffic patterns when driving through the area.

Visit 511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions on major roadways before traveling.

Andrea Sears

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Clean-water advocates are suing the Environmental Protection Agency for approving plans they say will fail to meet required reductions in pollution flowing to Chesapeake Bay.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday in U.S District Court for the District of Columbia by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and partners. It said the agency has failed to require that Pennsylvania and New York develop plans sufficient to meet pollution-reduction goals under the 2010 Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Blueprint. Pennsylvania has more than 25,000 miles of polluted streams, mostly from agriculture.

Harry Campbell, director of science, policy and advocacy in the Pennsylvania office of the foundation, said a favorable ruling would help get the resources needed to meet pollution-reduction goals.

“It would result in increased investments to help those 33,000-plus farms in the bay watershed of Pennsylvania alone implement practices to achieve this goal,” he said.

The attorneys general of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia will be filing a similar, separate federal lawsuit against the EPA.

The blueprint requires Chesapeake Bay watershed states to have plans in place to meet pollution-reduction goals by 2025, but Campbell said Pennsylvania’s plan falls far short.

“Pennsylvania has submitted a plan that only achieves about 75% of the nitrogen reductions that are necessary to meet water-quality standards,” he said, “and also identified a $324 million funding shortfall annually to implement that plan.”

He said the New York plan also falls short of nitrogen-reduction targets and fails to identify funding sources to meet the goals.

Campbell noted that a 2015 federal appeals court ruling affirmed the EPA’s authority and responsibilities under the blueprint, as well as the requirement that state plans include “reasonable assurance” they will succeed.

“It validates the partnership that is a federal-state cooperative and the science behind that approach,” he said. “along with the plans that are predicated and built to achieve the goals and objectives under the blueprint.”

He said the Clean Water Act requires the EPA to ensure that states develop and implement plans to meet their clean-water commitments.

The complaint is online at cbf.org.

(New Brighton, Pa.) Devin Carter, 31, a resident of Brightwood Manor was arrested by New Brighton Police  in connection with an  early morning  home invasion/robbery  in the borough in the early morning hours of Wednesday September 9, 2020.

‘Avengers’ and ‘Game of Thrones’ star Diana Rigg dies at 82
By JILL LAWLESS Associated Press
LONDON (AP) — British actress Diana Rigg, who became a 1960s style icon as secret agent Emma Peel in TV series “The Avengers,” has died. She was 82. Her agent said she died Thursday morning at home with her family. Daughter Rachael Stirling said she succumbed to cancer that was diagnosed in March. Rigg starred in “The Avengers” alongside Patrick McNee’s bowler-hatted John Steed. The pair were an impeccably dressed duo who fought villains and traded quips in a show whose mix of adventure and humor was enduringly influential. Rigg also starred in spy thriller “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” as the only woman ever to marry James Bond.

AAA: Pennsylvania Gas Prices Dip as Summer Driving Season Comes to an End
The average price of gasoline across Western Pennsylvania is two cents lower this week at $2.569 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average                  $2.569
Average price during the week of August 31, 2020                                   $2.584
Average price during the week of September 9, 2019                               $2.747

The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in various areas:      

$2.583      Altoona
$2.569      Beaver
$2.597      Bradford
$2.574      Brookville
$2.580      Butler
$2.521      Clarion
$2.568      DuBois
$2.588      Erie
$2.538      Greensburg
$2.570      Indiana
$2.587      Jeannette
$2.584      Kittanning
$2.563      Latrobe
$2.590      Meadville
$2.599      Mercer
$2.517      New Castle
$2.572      New Kensington
$2.599      Oil City
$2.542      Pittsburgh
$2.594      Sharon
$2.531      Uniontown
$2.599      Warren
$2.529      Washington

Trend Analysis:
At $2.21, today’s national average is two cents less than last week, one penny more than last month and 35 cents cheaper than a year ago. On the week, most state averages are cheaper by a few cents.

Motorists saw plenty of savings at the pump this summer. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the national gas price average was $2.15 – the cheapest since 2004. Demand was decimated this summer, which ultimately meant increased supply and cheap gas prices. It appears that this trend is continuing, as the latest Energy Information Administration (EIA) report shows demand has dropped from 9.16 million b/d to 8.79 b/d. Moreover, total gasoline supply is 5.2 million barrels higher than this time last year.

Moving into fall, pump prices typically move lower as certain trends take hold. While 2020 is by no means an “ordinary” year, if distribution of winter-blend gasoline begins and demand drops even further, pump prices could possibly push even lower than we’ve already seen in this year.

At the end of Friday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate decreased by $1.60 to settle at $39.77 per barrel. The price of crude decreased in reaction to a decline in the stock market at the end of last week. The price decreased despite the EIA’s weekly report revealing that total domestic crude inventories dropped by 9.4 million bbl, lowering total domestic stocks to 498.4 million bbl. For this week, crude prices could decline further if crude demand concerns arise amid another stock market downturn.

Motorists can find current gas prices nationwide, statewide, and countywide at GasPrices.AAA.com.

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 78 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members.  News releases are available at news.eastcentral.aaa.com.  Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

(Beaver County, Pa.) At approximately eleven o’clock this morning Beaver County will be testing the sirens in the 10 mile emergency planning zone for Beaver Valley Power Station.  This is only a test.  There is no emergency, you do not need to respond.

Beaver County is utilizing a mass notification system.  You may also receive these notifications on your mobile devices by going to the Beaver County website, www.beavercountypa.gov and clicking on the Swift911 icon to register.

In a year of social distancing, virus alters Sept. 11, too
By JENNIFER PELTZ Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — The coronavirus pandemic has reshaped how the U.S. is observing the anniversary of 9/11. The terror attacks’ 19th anniversary will be marked Friday by dueling ceremonies at the Sept. 11 memorial plaza and a corner nearby in New York. Vice President Mike Pence is expected at both remembrances. The two ceremonies reflect a divide over how to observe the anniversary in a time of social distancing. The double beams of light that evoke the fallen twin towers were nearly canceled because of virus concerns, until an uproar sparked a change of heart. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden plan to attend a truncated ceremony at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania.