Tonight is the last night of the heroin epidemic seminar in Beaver Falls, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Beaver Valley Council 604. Mike Donnadio – the organizer of the event – tells Beaver County Radio newsman Pat Septak that tonight’s program will feature the story of a recovering addict and her family. Donnadio tells us that they had over 100 people at each of the first 2 nights and Beaver County District Attorney David Lozier commented last night in his talk that it was one of the larger crowds he has spoken to about the heroin epidemic in the county.  The seminar concludes tonight at Saint Monica’s parish on Thorndale Drive in Beaver Falls from 7 to 9 p-m. It is open to the public and is free of charge.

Today is the last full day of summer…and it’s actually going to feel like summer for the next couple of days. Enjoy it while it lasts though. Mike Fries of the National Weather Service was in town yesterday to tour the Beaver County Emergency Services facility in Ambridge. Fries tells Beaver County Radio newsman Pat Septak that he predicts a much more seasonal winter this season this last year, which means we can expect colder temperatures and more snowfall, and snow events that stick around a lot longer. Fries say the Beaver Valley usually gets an average of 41.1 inches of snow a year.

The Center Twp. Board of Supervisors approved a request from Police Chief Barry Kramer to order intel service online investigation software for the police department . According to Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano, Kramer said there is a discount on the books with the 3 year deal..  Cost for the first year is $119 a month, second year $123 a month, and $127 the third year.  Chief Kramer told the supervisors  using the new system officers can do online solicitations, check on new hires, check on transient workers, , the motor vehicle code, and the crimes code, and others if necessary.

Parkway West Career and Technology Center on Steubenville Pike in Oakdale  is the newest location of the Community College of Beaver County’s Aviation Sciences Academy.  Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano was at yesterday’s  ribbon cutting ceremony with officials from both school’s participating. Retired Air Force Colonel Bill Pinter, is the director of the  Aviation Sciences Center. He was hired as the school’s dean of Aviation Sciences 3/3/2014.  The academy began at the site 1/2015 next to the Beaver County Airport, Chippewa Township as a dual enrollment program between local  high schools and the college.. Pinter said that  the program is a success, and   12 Allegheny County high schools are participating s.tudents spend 1/2 a day at their home schools, the  other portion  at CCBC;s Aviation Sciences Academy. The new facility is located in a building that  was used for another program previously, and has been decorated with aviation logos and photos. Currently, 38  students are enrolled  at the new academy, and 95 at the Chippewa facility  Pinter said 39 schools are participating in the program.  If they spend 2 years in the program, they can earn almost 1/2 of an associate degree, and complete one year of college by the  time they graduate high school. Pinter said he loves teaching, he’s an  Air Force vet, and retired as a full “Bird Colonel” He flew a F15E Strike Eagle in the Air Force, and a photo is on the wall of the center.

Now that the State House is back in session, State Representative Jim Marshall of Beaver County is eager to tackle one of his big concerns…and that is autonomous car safety. Marshall is sponsoring a bill in the House that would regulate self-driving cars. Marshall tells Beaver County Radio newsman Pat Septak that he’s not against new technology but he says safety is paramount especially when it comes to driverless cars. He says the actual text of the bill is still a work in progress.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held this afternoon to commemorate a new, additional location of the CCBC Aviation Academy. It’s being held at the Parkway West Career and Technology Center on Steubenville Pike in Oakdale. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano will be there. She’ll be taking a tour of the new location and will talk with academy instructors about the innovative aviation academy. Be listening for Sandy’s reports on Beaver County Radio news.