Officials with U-P-M-C say the first trial of a wireless eyeball implant is underway. A woman from Ohio had the chip installed last week to act like an artificial retina. If effective, the treatment may be used to help people battling age-related macular degeneration, which causes 14-million people to lose their sight. Four more patients will take part in the trial in the coming months. It may be several years before the method gets broader approval to become an accepted treatment.

A Neshannock Township woman is facing more than 2,000 criminal charges for misusing a Pennsylvania American Water Co. credit card for personal use while she worked there. According to the New Castle police department  in Shenango Township they filed charges against 49 year old Heather Cook of Green Tree Circle. The incidence of credit card charges span various dates between 2015 and 2017, involving more than $106,000. Cook was fired from her job on Sept. 15, 2017.

Family members say they lost two pets during a fire this week in Brighton Township. The Thompson family says they weren’t home when the blaze started in the kitchen in the 100-block of Edgewood Drive Monday evening. The fire caused substantial smoke and fire damage. A GoFundMe account has been set up to raise five grand to help the family, with it about a third of the way to its goal.

GRINDSTONE, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say a one-vehicle crash in Fayette County killed two people and injured two others. Emergency crews in Fayette County were dispatched to the scene on Route 40 n Redstone Township at about 4:45 a.m. Wednesday.No details were immediately available about the circumstances of the crash, which occurred in the southbound lanes. The two people injured were taken to a hospital, but there was no immediate information about their conditions.

WEATHER FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY, JAN. 15TH, 2020

TODAY – CLOUDY THIS MORNING WITH SHOWERS DURING
THE AFTERNOON. HIGH – 52.

TONIGHT – SHOWERS OVERNIGHT. LOW – 34.

THURSDAY – CLOUDY. A FEW FLURRIES OR SNOW SHOWERS
POSSIBLE. MORNING HIGH OF 37 WITH TEMPS
FALLING TO NEAR FREEZING.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

It was another brief work session at the County Courthouse on Wednesday, and the main topic was once again the Maple Syrup Festival. County Solicitor Garen Fedeles made mention of the contracts involved with DPW employees and use of Brady’s Run Park being an item for next week’s public meeting:

The Festival was recently taken over by PUSH Beaver County, who is replacing the Conservation District as organizers and main sponsors of the event.

(Photo of Viking Pride Marching Band drum majors Kelly Kypta and Andrea Majors, taken by Sandy Giordano)

The Hopewell School Board held its work session last night…and the big topic of the night was the proposal transitioning 4th graders to the junior high.
Beaver County Radio News correspondent Sandy Giordano was there. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…