Category: News

State Police Tell Beaver County Radio Officers Are Frustrated Over Growing Problem Of Texting While Driving

Despite efforts to get creative, police are frustrated in the fight against the growing bad habit of texting while driving . Police say they don’t seem to be making much headway. Pennsylvania State Police Lieutenant Eric Hermick tells Beaver County Radio newsman Pat Septak the problem is getting worse because such incidents are hard to prove. He says Pennsylvania’s laws don’t go far enough. He’s calling on state lawmakers to ban any phone use while driving that does not involve a hands-free unit.

Man Killed In Daughter Township Tractor Rollover

A man is dead after a farm accident in Daughtery Township. It happened Monday, just after noon on Tulip Drive. The 64-year-old victim was coming down a hill while towing a mower, when the tractor turned and rolled sideways. The machine rolled into the woods, and the man was pinned to a large tree. It took emergency responders about an hour to remove him. He has not been identified.

Ambridge Went Back To School This Morning

Students in the Ambridge School District start classes today. Ambridge is the last of the districts in Beaver County to go back this year. According to Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano, the school board recently hired 2 school psychologists.They are Stacy Boal and Donald Dennison. Genna Risenbauer was hired as the district’s new speech therapist. Daniel Kornosky is the new Spanish teacher…and Sarah Bogan will teach Spanish and English. The board’s next meeting is Wednesday, September 21 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

Brighton Rehab And Wellness Caregivers Plan Informational Picket

Nurses and Caregivers at Brighton Rehab and Wellness in Beaver will hold an informational picket on Tuesday. Neil Bhaerman of S.E.I.U. Healthcare tells Beaver County Radio News that the employees will demand management follow their contract and improve staffing and resident care. The informational picket will take place Tuesday afternoon from 2 to 4 at the facility on Dutch Ridge Road and Friendship Circle.

Court Rejects Appeal Of Lawrence County Teen In Pregnant Woman’s ’09 Murder

A Superior Court panel is rejecting the appeal of a boy who was 11 when he was charged with killing his father’s pregnant fiancee in Lawrence County. The three-member panel ruled Thursday that it had found no error in how a county judge handled the case of Jordan Brown, now 18. A judge last year denied Brown’s request to dismiss the charges or grant a new juvenile court trial. Defense lawyers had challenged the sufficiency of the evidence and how the judge had considered it. Brown was charged as a juvenile and adjudicated delinquent in the 2009 shotgun slaying of 26-year-old Kenzie Houk, who was eight months pregnant. In June, the judge put Brown on probation in the custody of an uncle who lives in Ohio, just across the border from Lawrence County.

State Reviewing License Of Zelienople Youth Home After Employee Overdose

The state Department of Human Services said Thursday it is reviewing an incident in which an employee of Glade Run Lutheran Services in Zelienople passed out in a facility bathroom after police say he injected heroin. 37-year-old Paul Ream Jr. of Cranberry was supposed to be on duty in the Zelienople youth home monitoring five children under age 18 on Aug. 23 when a co-worker found him around 4 a.m. after he had disappeared for about 20 minutes, according to a Zelienople police affidavit. Ream, who was fired, is being charged by summons with five counts of endangering the welfare of children.

Aliquippa City Council Approves Plans To Build A Burger King In City

Aliquippa City council approved plans  last night for the construction  of  the city’s newest fast food restaurant, Burger King.  Mayor Dwan Walker tells Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano that they plan to start the project in March 2017, and open in August. The site is currently a vacant lot at 2624 Brodhead Road. In other business…Alicia (Hunt) Williams was appointed chairman  of the Vacant Property Blight  Committee. She said in a recent interview she wants to get rid of the blight in her home town. Zoning and code enforcement officer Mike Demcak  said he wants a training session for the persons to be chosen for the blight committee’s 8 zones so they know what we are looking for.  He said the training will include how to document blight in each of the zones.  City Administrator Sam Gill praised Demcak and Police Captain Ryan Pudik  for all their work on the Blight and Vacant property Review Committee ordinance. , and also the The International Property Maintenance Code Ordinance. Council meets in regular session on Wednesday, September 7 at 7 p.m.

Pizza Hut Closing Its East Rochester Store On Route 65

The Pizza Hut  on Route 65 in East Rochester has announced it is shutting its doors for good. One likely reason for the closing is the ongoing road construction and traffic congestion on Route 65 that has significantly affected businesses in the East Rochester Plaza. The owner of the Pizza Hut has no intentions of re-opening the store. Local officials are working to find a new business to fill the spot.

Former WBVP General Manager Passes Away

Hall Communications mtg Bill Baldwin at The Host Inn 1983
Bill Baldwin during his tenure at WBVP and WWKS, around 1983.

Former WBVP General Manager, Bill Baldwin,  passed away on Monday, August 29 after reportedly struggling with cancer for many years.  Bill was brought to Beaver Falls by then station owner,  Hall Communications, from New Bedford, Massachusetts, to oversee WBVP and sister FM station, WWKS around 1979.  During Baldwin’s tenure, the stations moved from the basement of a bank building at 1400 7th avenue, to the current office and studio location at 1316 7th Avenue in Beaver Falls.  In recent years, Baldwin served as an Executive Vice President with Hall Communications and worked on site as a general manager at one of the Hall properties,  WLPA in Lancaster.  Hall Communications  bought WBVP and WWKS in the early seventies from Beaver Valley Broadcasting and sold the pair of stations in 1985 to  M.T. Communications,  a local company from Hopewell operated by Ted and Marilee Ruscitti.

Bill Baldwin’s Obituary.