The Victra Beaver Verizon Store Grand Opening was a fun celebration for all!

The new Victra Beaver Verizon store was buzzing with excited customers all day! Many locals from Beaver and the surrounding areas visited the Grand Opening site. Beaver County Radio’s Frank Sparks and Ed Hermick had fun greeting visitors and helping them spin the prize wheel, while Taylor Nichol snapped photos of the event. The Beaver County Radio team had lots of fun learning about the promotions and trade-in deals from Store Manager Clark Littlepage! The Verizon team even helped Frank Sparks replace the screen cover on his phone! Check out some photos of the remote broadcast below, and be sure to head to 1701 3rd Street in Beaver and meet the Victra Beaver Verizon team for yourself!

 

Giant Tree falls on home in Beaver Falls

A massive tree toppled onto a house in Beaver County while the family slept Thursday night, leaving the homeowner shocked

“My step-son [came] running out saying the tree fell, I thought the Christmas tree fell,” says Robert Brickner, who lives in the 2000 block of Sixth Avenue in Beaver Falls. Brickner went outside and found the 80-foot silver maple tree toppled over into his house damaging his bathroom, a bedroom, the roof and porch.

The fire department told Brickner it was raining when the tree came down and a large gust of wind may be to blame.

Fortunately, there are no reported injuries.

Photos courtesy of Matt Drzik

Tolls, tolls & more tolls

An 11-year streak of price hikes on the Pennsylvania Turnpike continues as of Jan. 6, 2019

The increase applies to both E-ZPass and cash tolls.
The most common toll will rise from $1.30 to $1.38 for E-ZPass and from $2.10 to $2.25 for cash. If you’re taking a longer trip, the difference really adds up.
To go across the state, starting at the Warrendale Toll Plaza and exiting at the Wyoming Valley Toll Plaza, it will cost E-ZPass holders $41.70 and $58.10 for those paying with cash, according to the toll schedule.
Tolls have increased every year since 2009. Turnpike officials say the annual hikes are needed to meet funding obligations, and for maintenance and improvements to the turnpike system.

The turnpike commission says it is legislatively mandated to offer $450 million in funding to PennDOT each year under the terms of Act 44, a state law enacted in 2007.

Tickets for “Hamilton”

Looking to score tickets to see the Broadway musical “Hamilton” in Pittsburgh in January? There’s hope.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has been quietly releasing more batches of seats available via the official TrustArts.org retailer according to TribLIVE .

Trust spokeswoman Robin Elrod told TribLIVE the additional availability is a piece of the tour’s strategy to combat scalping.

It’s suggested you periodically check the website and sign up for the trust’s email newsletter for updates.

Update on Missing Armstrong County Man

South Buffalo Fire Chief Randy Brozenicksaid said they have decided not to search Friday for missing Armstrong County man 70 year old Kenneth Himes.

During the searches Wednesday and Thursday, a Civil Air Patrol airplane and two state police helicopters flew searches that included use of heat-seeking and special radar before the ground search teams began to slog through the mud and brambles of the Armstrong County countryside.

“We are always hopeful, but six search dogs separately led us to a pond,” said State police Sgt. Rocco Russo. “We’re not leaving until we know.”

Himes, who suffers from dementia, was last seen at his brother’s home on Cadogan Slate Lick Road in South Buffalo Township, Armstrong County, around 11 p.m. Tuesday when his family put him to bed.

State police are asking any property owners or hunters with trail cameras in the area of Cadogan Slate Lick Road near Ford City to check them for evidence of Himes.

Anyone with information should call 724-543-2011.

Westmoreland County Sheriff’s sons in trouble

The Westmoreland County sheriff who has has faced charges that he had his staff do campaign work while on the clock, now has two teenage sons facing charges of armed robbery and grand theft in Florida.

According to police, the victim had set up a Snapchat purchase. He claims the teens pulled up in a minivan, and one of the sheriff’s sons pulled a gun on him demanding money & anything else he had on him. The victim handed over his wallet and cellphone and ran, according to police.

Police tracked down the teens and took them to a juvenile facility.

Florida’s laws are different than Pennsylvania’s, so the juvenile’s names and mugshots have been released. Ryan Tutera, Sheriff Jonathan Held‘s attorney says “They’re children. They’re teenage children, and they have privacy rights that should be respected,”.

Aliquippa Sewer rates go up

The Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa announced a 20-percent rate hike for sewer customers, effective Jan.1. The average residential customer uses 11,000 gallons of sewage per quarter and will see thir bill go up from
$78.25 to $93.00

A state required corrective action plan to reduce overload conditions is what authority officials say is to blame for the increase. The additional revenue will go towards those required projects.

Title for Mister Rogers movie released

There is now an official title for the upcoming biopic starring Tom Hanks as Mister Rogers.It will be titled “A Beautiful Day in the Neighboorhood.” Filming was done in Pittsburgh earlier this year.

According to Sony Pictures, the film will be in theaters October 2019.

Authorities ask for help-missing Armstrong County Man

70 year old Kenneth Himes, who suffers from dementia, was last seen at his brother’s home on Cadogan Slate Lick Road in South Buffalo Township, Armstrong County, around 11 p.m. Tuesday when his family put him to bed. On Wednesday morning, they noticed he was missing.

Police spent much of Wednesday searching for him, but called off their efforts for the night at 5 p.m.

When the search resumed Thursday morning, the search area was expanded to include Northpointe and the river. Authorities are also working at a pond near where Himes was last seen.

State police are asking any property owners or hunters with trail cameras in the area of Cadogan Slate Lick Road near Ford City to check them for evidence of Himes.

Anyone with information should call 724-543-2011.