The cause of a New Sewickley Township garage fire is under investigation. The homeowner – 49-year-old Ken Castelucci – and two North Sewickley firefighters – Randy Syphrit and Ryan Main – were injured in the blaze. The  victims were treated and released at a local hospital. The garage housed several vehicles, a large inventory of tools and at least one vintage car.

ANOTHER BEAVER COUNTY STRIKE DEADLINE IS LOOMING. 250 COUNTY WORKERS – INCLUDING THOSE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND 9-1-1 DISPATCHERS – COULD BE ON THE PICKET LINES NEXT WEDNESDAY IF A DEAL ISN’T REACHED. AL SMITH AND JOE MANN – WHO ARE BOTH WITH THE S-E-I-U AND REPRESENT THE WORKERS – APPEARED ON TELEFORUM THIS MORNING WITH MIKE ROMIGH. MANN SAID THAT HE’S NEVER SEEN SUCH POOR CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS ON THE COUNTY’S BEHALF AS HE HAS IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION. THE BEAVER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WERE INVITED TO COME ON THE PROGRAM AS WELL TODAY…BUT THEY DECLINED THE OFFER. NO NEGOTIATIONS ARE SCHEDULED.

Police in Ambridge are searching for a man who they believe robbed a local business dressed in all black and armed with a sword Sunday night. Police are calling the man “The Ninja Robber”. He was last seen with a sword walking into the Circle K on Duss Avenue late Sunday night. According to police, the man entered the store, approached the clerk, put the sword on the counter, grabbed an undetermined amount of cash and walked out. Police say it took just 33 seconds for the robbery to occur. Officers believe he fell while running away and may be hurt. Police say he dropped his gloves and mask while getting away. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call police.

A member of a religious order in Ambridge is facing charges for allegedly stealing $220,000 in church funds. According to the Beaver County District Attorney’s office, Thomas Paul Ross – also known as Brother Ambrose – stole $220,695 from the Good Samaritan Parish in Ambridge. The thefts occurred from 2006 through 2015. District Attorney David Lozier says that surveillance cameras were installed in the parish offices after missing funds were discovered. Ross was charged today with third-degree felonies of theft by unlaw taking, receiving stolen property and a third-degree misdemeanor of receiving stolen property.

The boil water advisory has been lifted for residents in New Sewickley Township. Earlier this week, folks in the Freedom Area School District were told they should boil their water because of traces of e-coli that were found in the water supply. But the water was re-tested and now appears to be okay. John Poister, regional spokesman for the State Department of Environmental Protection, calls the Beaver County Radio newsroom this morning and told newsman Pat Septak that residents no longer have to boil water in New Sewickley.

The Beaver County Emergency Services Center wants to remind everyone about Swift911, the county-wide emergency notification system. The system was put to the test one week ago…when the sirens went off at the nuclear power plant in Shippingport. It turned out to be a false alarm….but Emergency Services Deputy Director Eric Brewer says the incident proved that the system does work. Through the Swift911 system, they were able to contact more than 38-thousand residents within 22 minutes. Everyone is encouraged to register with home and work addresses. Brewer tells Beaver County Radio newsman Pat Septak that individuals can have multiple subscriptions, such as to the county and their municipality in order to receive notifications at both levels. The easiest way to register is to go to the website…www.beavercountypa.gov…and click on the Swift911 link.

The 2016 inaugural 5 Star Skills Camp golf outing is set to take place at the Fox Run Golf Course in Beaver Falls on Saturday. The event is to help raise money for their organization, which helps kids play in national games. This year they have 6 student athletes that will represent their brand in North Miami Beach this Fourth of July weekend.  For tomorrow’s event, it’s $320 per foursome or $80 per golfer. For more information, call Stephen Nesmith at (724) 581-3456 or visit the website at www.fivestarskillscamp.net.

A former Aliquippa high school basketball star whose legal troubles likely kept him from the NBA will appear before a federal judge in Pittsburgh today on charges he robbed two banks earlier this year. 26-year-old Herbert Pope is charged in the armed robberies of a Wesbanco branch and Sewickley Savings Bank four days apart in February. Pope is charged with robbing the banks along with another man. Pop starred at Aliquippa Junior-Senior High School then played for Seton Hall before graduating in 2013. The 6-foot-9 prep star was shot in 2007 on the day he was to play in a high school all-star game, and later faced weapons charges in unrelated incidents. Pope faces up to 25 years in prison on the most serious charge he faces, armed bank robbery.