Congressman Keith Rothfus,  the Republican incumbent in the 12 th District from Sewickley  and Erin McClelland of Harrison Township, his Democratic challenger , who was very exuberant  when it was her turn faced off in a debate at Penn State’s Beaver campus last night.  Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano was at the event, which was hosted by the Beaver County Chamber of Commerce. Rothfus, who won over McClelland in 2014  said he’s glad women are running for office, put the right women on the ballot..  McClelland  also said that more women need to be on the ballot, she said there are no women in statewide positions currently. Both candidates talked about the worst opiod epidemic in the country facing the population.  McClelland said she’d write a plan if elected  to bring all addicts in .  She said Johnstown has the highest overdose rate in the state. Rothfus said that the government shuts down early , there are people that won’t fight and  they give up!! He added that there is a better way to teach kids , teach them life skills.  He added, IPADS  are replacing jobs!!   McClelland said I want to fix the problem right here, she told panelist Rebecca Matsco, I love to argue!! Congressman Rotfus  said Aliquippa and Beaver reeling over a drug deal gone bad, teens are trapped in this horrific situation, we have to work on cultural issues Rothfus said all hands are on deck to concerning the OPIOD  epidemic. The 2 debated about waterways bills and gas pipelines, and McClelland  told the crowd about a study Rothfus buried  a study to export natural gas by pipeline to Europe. The two are exact opposites, Rothfus , very calm, and McClelland very  assertive when at the microphone. She said she likes to argue. The debate can be heard in its entirety on Friday at 2pm on Beaver County Radio, 1230 WBVP and 1460 WMBA.

Aliquippa council chambers were packed to capacity last night  and Mayor Dwan Walker addressed residents about the killing of 2 teens last night. According to Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano, Walker said that the teens came to the city looking for trouble, and now six families are affected by the  fatal shootings  last week. He added, “We all have to step up”  , “Parents have to parent their children.””This city has much to offer”. Council approved the hiring of Michael lee Tucker , based on Street Dept. Superintendent Sam Cooper. The Fire Department   received approval to hire a temporary full time firefighter.  Nathan Abbott will fill that position. Police Chief Don Couch commended the fire department and DA’s office for processing the crime scene last Thursday evening , and he said” the young people are  fed up with the violence in this town. A 13 year old, he said, and others stepped forward to solve the case. City Administrator Sam Gill  said, “we appreciate Chief Couch and his department.”  Residents applauded Couch after gill’s and Mayor Dwan Walker’s  praise for the chief who has been serving Aliquippa for 20 years. Public safety chairman Art Piroli, Jr. said there were 4 overdoses in the city yesterday, and 2 on Tuesday.. A grant from the DA’ s office has made Narcan available to the city as of midnight.

The Beaver County Commissioners fired Chief of Staff Joe Weidner yesterday afternoon by two of the three commissioners. Beaver County Radio’s Greg Benedetti says that commisioners Sandie Egley and Tony Amadio made the joint decision to fire Weidner for financial reasons. He says that commissioner Dan Camp was against the move, but the firing only takes two votes to pass. The commissioners cancelled their monthly appearance on Beaver County Radio’s Ask The Commissioners segment just moments before air time this morning on 1230 WBVP and 1460 WMBA.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump comes to Beaver County next week with a rally planned at a  high school. Trumps’ campaign says he’ll appear Monday at Ambridge Area Senior High School. Doors open at noon but the rally won’t begin until 3:30 p.m. It will be held in the school’s athletic field house.

The primary suspect in a double homicide in Aliquippa has turned himself in. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano reports that  Lawrence Reddick Jr. – also known as “Pooh Rat” – is now in police custody. Reddick, along with two other 17-year-olds – are charged with double homicide in connection with last Thursday’s shooting that killed 16-year-old William Booher and 18-year-old Dane Mathesius. The investigation continues.

Beaver County district attorney’s office detectives and Aliquippa police are asking the public’s help in finding the accused killer in a homicide investigation, as well as a possible assault victim who ran off from the crime scene. One person is dead after a shooting in Aliquippa Thursday night in what police called a “drug deal gone bad.” 16-year-old William Booher was shot and killed in a car near the intersection of Wade and Meadow streets on Thursday in what authorities say was a drug deal gone bad. Booher was repeatedly shot in the head after he turned over his money and marijuana in the robbery. Police have a warrant for the arrest of homicide suspect 17-year-old Lawrence “Pooh Rat” Reddick Jr.of Aliquippa. He is to be considered armed and dangerous,” The DA’s office has also announced homicide charges against Ronald Harvey “Reno” Foster Jr. and Deontae Jones, both 17 and of Aliquippa. The criminal complaints allege that Foster, Jones and Reddick conspired to rob Booher of weed and money, and that Reddick shot Booher during the robbery. And Authorities are also looking for the driver who ran off — 18-year-old Dane Reed Mathesius, of the Brighton Township and New Sewickley areas. Police don’t know if he was wounded or is in hiding. Either way, they want to find him. Any person with information about the whereabouts of Reddick or Mathesius is asked to call Aliquippa police at 724-375-6682 or Beaver County 911.

Hopewell Area School District Supt. Dr. Michelle Miller announced yesterday that an anti-bullying program was kicked off at the middle school last Friday .  She said students in grades 5-8  had a 1/2 day on Friday morning to get the students excited and they focused on their expectations.  The program is called  OLWEUS, a positive behavior program. She said a new handbook is  issued to the students annually outlining the expectations. She said” the district is working with the students homes, families, and the students and they know what the district’s expectations are.”Dr. Miller said the students were taught what they can do as a bystander or victim of bullying.” Dr miller added, “our students are serving us well.””