Category: News

Shell Cracker Plant Continues To Take Shape In Potter Township

The Shell Cracker plant continues to take shape in Potter Township. Loading up a bus with invited journalists, Shell Chemicals officials led a tour of the 340 acre site now being prepared for the construction of a petrochemical cracker plant. When completed in 2020, the new cracker plant will employ 600 people, but it will take 6,000 people — many local — to build this huge complex beginning in late 2017. Gov. Tom Wolf said that’s just a start — like the first steel mill built in Pittsburgh…and says the project promises jobs for years to come.

 

State Revokes Glade Run Residential Care Facility’s Operations License in Zelienople

State investigators say lax oversight at a Zelienople residential treatment facility for children with autism and other developmental disabilities continues to jeopardize the safety of those who live there. On Monday, the state Department of Human Services once again revoked Glade Run Lutheran Services license to operate. Glade Run, in Zelienople, was already on notice, operating on a provisional license after the state found that lax supervision allowed sexual abuse among residents. A lawsuit filed on behalf of a 13-year-old boy alleges he was repeatedly raped there by residents in their later teens while the overnight staff slept or watched television. But Glade Run was given a second chance under a plan for correction from the State Department of Human Services, requiring the hiring of additional staff and the retraining of the existing one. However, the state has now moved to close the facility, citing two more cases where the supervision had not improved. In one, a staff member failed to check on a suicidal resident who was eventually discovered hanging from his or her bathroom door by a bedsheet. The other incident involved a heroin overdose. Glade will have 10 days to file an appeal.

Beaver County Business Leader C.J. Betters Donates $100,000 to CCBC Foundation For P.T. Program

Beaver County business leader C.J. Betters has donated $100,000 to the Community College of Beaver County’s Foundation for its Process Technology program. The money will go towards the college’s efforts to train the workforce for current and emerging jobs in our region. CCBC officials say the gift from Betters will  help purchase state-of-the-art training equipment that will be vital to employing Beaver Countians in jobs that are expected to be created during the next five years and beyond.

Hearings Resume Today At Beaver County Courthouse On County Budget

The Beaver County Commissioners today continue work on the 2017 Beaver County budget. Budget hearings resume this afternoon in the commissioners’ conference room of the county courthouse. Here is the schedule for today: at 2pm…The commissioners will meet with the folks from district court…at 2:30, the assessment office…at 3:00, they’ll meet with the treasurer’s department and at 3:30, the register of wills. All budget hearings are open to the public.

Wrong-Way Crash On PA Turnpike Kills Two People And Injures 1 In Cranberry Township

Authorities say a wrong-way crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Cranberry Township claimed the lives of two people and injured a third. State police say the two-vehicle crash occurred shortly before 2 p.m. Saturday in the westbound section of the turnpike that runs through Cranberry. Police said 85-year-old Robert Humble of Cranberry was driving the wrong way when he crashed into a vehicle driven by 56-year-old Helen O’Halloran of Ridgeville, Ohio. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in O’Halloran’s vehicle was flown to UPMC Presbyterian, where he was reported in stable condition. The westbound lanes of the turnpike were closed for more than four hours. Police are investigating the cause of the crash.

Teen Headed To Trial For Two Other Teens’ Killings In Aliquippa

A teenager is headed to trial for two other teens’ killings in Aliquippa. With emotions running high and before a packed courtroom, a 17-year-old accused of fatally shooting two other teens in Aliquippa went before a judge Thursday. Lawrence Reddick Jr. is charged as an adult in connection with the deaths of William Cade Booher and Dane Mathesius. According to a criminal complaint, Reddick and two other teens conspired to rob Booher of marijuana and money. Police said Mathesius and Reddick set up the drug deal, citing phone records that showed they were in contact with each other just before the shooting. The killing happened in late September, when police said the two victims and a 13-year-old boy drove to Aliquippa to sell Reddick 22 grams of marijuana worth about $140. The 13-year-old was with the victims sitting in the front passenger seat. On Thursday, the teen testified about the drug deal, the shooting and what he witnessed. He said, before the three arrived in Aliquippa, there was talk that it might be a setup. The teen testified that Reddick got in the car and Booher asked if Reddick had the money. Reddick said yes, then pulled out a gun and cocked it.  Autopsy results showed that six shots struck Booher, who was in the backseat: five to his head and one to his neck. Mathesius was shot once in the chest. More than a day after Booher was shot and killed, Mathesius’  body was found behind a nearby abandoned home. Ronald Foster Jr. and Deontae Jones are also charged in connection with the shooting. Reddick’s case has been held for trial. The next step for defense attorneys is to try to get the cases moved to the juvenile court system.

Aliquippa Basketball Coach Charged With Possession Of Child Pornography

The Aliquippa head basketball coach has been charged with possession of child pornography. Nick Lackovich, the head coach of Aliquippa’s boys basketball team and a Beaver County probation officer, was arrested today after police said they found child porn on his computer. Police said the images were found while they were investigating Lackovich’s alleged role in hosting a dogfighting operation. He’s charged with two counts of sexual abuse of children by knowingly possession child porn. Lackovich turned himself in to a magistrate this morning. According to a press release from the Beaver County District Attorney’s office, his lawyer said he plans to retire from Beaver County and resign as the Aliquippa basketball coach.

Center Township Police Officer Arrested After Being Accused of Stealing Drug-Related Evidence

Criminal charges have been filed against a Center Township police officer who authorities said admitted to theft and attempted concealment and destruction of evidence. A 54-count criminal complaint was filed Thursday against police Officer Jeffrey Stone. Stone is charged with theft, receiving stolen property, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and obstructing the administration of law. Stone resigned last month after he was confronted over missing narcotics in the police department’s evidence room. A state police investigation confirmed that heroin, cocaine, fentanyl, prescription drugs, and cash had been stolen from the evidence room. Stone was the primary evidence room custodian. The Beaver County district attorney’s office said in a statement that, bags had been tampered with, the drugs and cash removed and replaced and then resealed, thus compromising evidences in ongoing criminal cases which are now in jeopardy. Stone turned himself in to the magistrate’s office and was given a $25,000 bond. The officer is expected to be released later today after posting bond.