Man Charged After Narcotics Bust In New Castle

The Lawrence County Special Investigative Unit executed an undercover narcotics operation in New Castle on Thursday, in the area of Stanton Street. Officers tried to arrest Michael Roberts, who fled on foot and tried to throw narcotics and money as he ran. Eventually, he was taken into custody. Police found 8.4 grams of crack cocaine, 9 grams of heroin, 2.7 grams of powder cocaine, a bag of marijuana and several oxycodone and suboxone pills. Officers also recovered $2, 753 in cash and $2,000 was recovered from another location. Roberts was placed in the Lawrence County Jail.

Beaver County District Court Judge Accused Of Misconduct

A Beaver County District Court judge is accused of misconduct. The Pennsylvania Judicial Conduct Board filed a complaint yesterday against Judge Andrew M. Hladio. The board asked for his interim suspension for the alleged six years of misconduct toward court clerks. Among the alleged incidents was Hladio asking a clerk out on a date. He could be removed from office if found guilty.

Aliquippa City Council Reveals No Tax Increase For City Residents

Aliquippa City council met last night  and Reverend Steven McKeown    led the group in the prayer and to pray for the family of Dimantae Bronaugh who lost his battle with leukemia last week. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano reports that Mayor Dwan Walker showed those in attendance the flag that was supposed to be presented at his funeral, but arrived yesterday.  The orange and black  colors represent leukemia.  T.L. Price, author of tPlaying Through the Whistle will  be at the library on Monday, December 19  at 6 p.m. when  he will autograph the books purchased there.  All proceeds will be donated to the Bronaugh family. The 2017 tentative city budget shows that there shouldn’t be a tax increase for resident.  When approved later this month, the current ax rate of 27.5  mills should  stay the same , City Administrator Sam Gill said. B.F. Jones Memorial Library  has acquired 2  homes across the street from the library  that will be demolished for parking , and they were exonerated from paying back taxes.  Aliquippa School Board solicitor John Salopek said the library received a $40,000 grant to acquire the  property. he is solicitor for the library.  They have to pay 2016 school tax to the school district.  Police officer Tom Lemon has announced he plans to retire  January 20, 2017.  Police Chief Don Couch   said Lemon has been on the force 20 years, and with 5 years military service he has 25 years. Officer Paul Cillo has accepted a job with the City of Pittsburgh Police Department, and  was granted a six month leave of absence.  Chief Couch said if he comes back to Aliquipp, he’ll lose his eniority and have to start over.  If he decides to stay in Pittsburgh, instead of a leave of absence, hello resign from Aliquippa;s force. Aliquippa Code and Zoning Enforcement officer Mike Demcak said that the Joseph Building , Union Grill, and the P.M. Moore buildings on Station  St.  have to be demolished   He said the Joseph Building is on the verge of collapse..   he said that the issues will be addressed with  the county.

Aliquippa School Board Met Last Night

Aliquippa School Board opened last night’s meeting with a moment of silence to remember 2016 graduate Dimantae Bronaugh who lost his battle with leukemia  last week.  Beaver County Radio Correspondent Sandy Giordano reports that the board reappointed Terry Swanson, president and Elverna Cuffie  was reappointed. as vice president. The board approved a Dual Enrollment /High School Academics  with CCBC effective July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2019.  Parents are responsible to pay the students tuition for the program. Post-season  pay adjustments for head football coach Mike Zmijanac and his seven assistants were approved, they total was $4,517.21. Boys basketball assistant coaches Mrryce Smith, junior varsity will earn $5.271.69, and Dwight Lindsey freshman coach will earn $4.011.60.

Beaver County Commissioners Consider Higher Fees To Raise Money

During this morning’s work session at the Beaver County Courthouse, the county commissioners discussed with director of liquid fuels Tammy Frank the implementation of a five-dollar fee for motor vehicle registration.  According to Beaver County Radio’s Greg Benedetti, the fee would be added to the statement vehicle owners receive from PennDOT. The commissioners plan to vote on a resolution next week, making the fee effective April 1st. The registration fee would generate 600-thousand dollars for the county. Director of weights and measures Ron Zucarro  recommended a fee for inspecting scales and gas pumps. Scales would be charged 35 dollars. There are approximately 14-hundred-50 scales in the county. Gas pumps would be charged 30 dollars per grade of gasoline. The two fees would generate between 30 and 40-thousand dollars for the county.

FBI Honors Center Twp. Officer

Center Township Police officer Jeff Housheholder  received  the FBI’s Violent Task Force for Exemplary Service Award  Monday evening at the supervisor’s meeting. According to Beaver County Radio Correspondent Sandy Giordano, Twp. Police Chief Barry Kramer said Householder has been on the force for about 3 years and he was at the Cinemark Movie Theater and  saw a man dresssed in fatigues and long sleeved shirt carrying a backpack.  Inside the backpack was a 25 caliber semiautomatic hand gun and ammo.  He arrested 21 year old Willaim Gossett of Georgia who is a convicted felon, and not permitted to carry any weapons. Kramer said the award was for Householder performing above and beyond the call of duty.FBI Special Agent John Orlando made the presentation. Housheholder was not available to comment this morning.

Center Senior High Rise Evacuated Tuesday

A senior high rise on Brodhead Road in Center Twp. was evacuated on Tuesday  when water flooded the building.  According to Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano, Township Fire marshal Mike Segal said that the cause still hasn’t been determined.  Residents had to be evacuated, and many assisted by the Red Cross. Segal said the residents may return later today or tomorrow. The Senior facility is owned by Action Housing of Pittsburgh. A call to the company hasn’t been returned.

Sentencing For PA Cyber Charter Founder Trombetta Postponed Until March

Sentencing for Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School founder Nick Trombetta, originally set for two weeks from today, has been pushed back until next year, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.  The newspaper reports that on agreement by his lawyers and the U.S. attorney’s office, Trombetta’s sentencing before U.S. District Judge Joy Flowers Conti will now be March 3. The Trombetta sentencing promises to be contentious and could last several days. Government lawyers and his attorneys said they needed more time to prepare to make the sentencing hearing more streamlined and to work out restitution issues. The 61-year-old Trombetta became a federal felon in August when he pleaded guilty to tax conspiracy related to siphoning $8 million from the cyber school to a series of other entities he created. He faces up to five years in federal prison.