The Beaver County Commissioners are said to be considering a sizeable tax increase as part of the 2017 county budget. Beaver County Radio’s Greg Benedetti was at this morning’s commissioners’ work session and says that budget director Ricardo Luckow is recommending to the commissioners a property tax increase at a minimum of 4.37 mills and a maximum of 6.85 mills. The 6.85 mil tax would be a 31% increase. The commissioners have offered no other source of revenue to make up for the current 9 1/2 million-dollar deficit. The commissioners say they will think it over during the holiday weekend. A preliminary budget is due December 5th.

Hopewell School Board met last night and  Dr. Michelle Miller congratulated the   Hopewell Elementary School’s staff and families  for hosting Family Fitness Nights to raise funds  to help their peers.  That’s according to Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano. She was the meeting last night. She says the Caring Team  headed by elementary physical education teacher Lisa Kozlowski hosted the program.  Kozlowski, she said was last year’s BEAVER COUNTY TEACHER OF THE YEAR. She  teaches at Hopewell Elementary School. Dr. Miller reported that she joined high school assistant principal Doug Rowe  at a luncheon served by the Life Skills class at the high school  where there was interaction with students and staff. Dr. Jacie Masylk, assistant superintendent,  announced that a $50,000 grant through the Grable Foundation will enable collaboration with Hopewell, Beaver, Rochester, and the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit for a SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING ART AND MATH  PROGRAM  within the schools. The board will reorganize on Tuesday, December 6 at 7 p.m. in the board room at the district’s administration building.

A former high-ranking Democrat in the Pennsylvania House who served jail time for misusing a nonprofit for his own benefit was awarded a new trial Tuesday after a state high court justice called his conviction a “criminalization of politics.” The state Supreme Court ruled a Dauphin County judge erred when he told jurors hearing the case against former Rep. Mike Veon of Beaver County that Veon did not have to gain financially to be convicted of violating the conflict-of-interest law. The Supreme Court’s main opinion said the crime must involve a financial benefit, and that intangible political benefits are not sufficient. The court ordered a new trial on the conflict of interest charge but did not say that also included the nine other counts for which he was convicted. His lawyer, Joel Sansone, argued the decision means a new trial is required on all charges and predicted prosecutors will not have the appetite to retry his client. A spokesman for the attorney general’s office said only that it was reviewing the decision.

The Beaver Falls Lighted Christmas Parade Scavenger Hunt is winding down this week. People have up until the start of the parade Saturday at 7 p.m. to find an ornament. There are 15 ornaments hidden in the area, most of them in Beaver Falls, all reflecting this year’s theme, “What Is Your Reason For The Season?” All those who find an ornament will get to ride in a special float in the parade this Saturday. Nathan Goughnour, the parade president, spoke to Beaver County Radio newsman Pat Septak this morning and said there are 15 clues to help people find the ornaments. They can be found on the parade’s Facebook page and they will also be announced during the Noonday report all this week on 1230 WBVP and 1460 WMBA.