Koppel borough council is looking to buy a former church for its baseball field. Council president Tom Vannoy tells Beaver County Radio newsman Pat Septak that they are in the process of finalizing plans to buy the former Queen Of Heaven Catholic Church because of a nearby baseball field connected with the property. Vannoy says the diocese required them to buy the entire property in order to get the ball fields. He says the both the ball field and the building have a very rich history. Vannoy tells us that boro and police services also could be relocated to the church building but he says no decision on that will be made until the property is thoroughly examined.  He expects the purchase to be finalized within a month.

Amtrak is trying to figure out what mystery object hit a train in Philadelphia last night, leaving the train with a cracked window but not causing any injuries. The incident comes as federal investigators release information on their probe into last May’s derailment that killed 8 people in the city.

A suspect and a K-9 dog are both dead after an incident involving police in Wilkinsburg yesterday afternoon. Police say Bruce Kelley Jr. stabbed the dog and then was shot by police officers. One officer who fought with Kelley also had to be hospitalized.

New Sewickley Township police have charged two men in connection with a January 4th burglary of a home off Route 68. The police have identified the suspects as Aaron Taft and Bret Tuma. Taft is also facing similar charges from the New Brighton police department.

The owner of a Leetsdale industrial park plans to rebuild a chemical warehouse destroyed in a $10 million fire last year. The Beaver County Times reports Chapman Properties has introduced plans to rebuild the Lubrizol Corp. Oilfield Chemistry site to the Leetsdale Planning Commission. Under Lubrizol’s lease with Chapman, the company has 180 days to rebuild the warehouse which burned Nov. 17. Chapman owns the Leetsdale Industrial Park which has housed Lubrizol since 2000. The fire started when workers were pouring hydraulic fracturing chemicals into a production tank. More than 70 nearby homes were evacuated and three workers and several firefighters suffered minor injuries. The planning commission is expected to take action on the rebuilding plans next month.

A hiring freeze has been issued for all Beaver County offices. Commissioners Chairwoman Sandie Egley’s office confirmed to Beaver County Radio newsman Pat Septak in a phone call this morning that the move is in effect until the commissioners finish reviewing the 2016 budget.

The Ranch, a popular neighborhood bar and grill in Lawrence County, is no more after a fire destroyed the establishment Thursday. First responders say the building in Wayne Township is now a total loss after a grease fire quickly shot through the roof. Two people were inside the bar at the time of the fire. Firefighters from three counties were called in to battle the flames, which could be seen from 10 miles away. The bar was well known for its motorcycle clientele and motorcycle fundraisers. At this point, it’s unclear whether the owners will rebuild, but they say they do not have insurance.

A pedestrian was struck and killed by a truck early this morning on Route 65 on Avalon. The Allegheny County medical examiner’s office was called out around 5 a.m. The incident took place in the 900 block of Ohio River Boulevard. The victim’s identity has not been released. A portion of Route 65 is closed in both directions in Avalon.

This is National School Choice Week in Pennsylvania and all across the country. It is the largest celebration of educational opportunity in U.S. history. More than 700 events will be held to celebrate School Choice Week in the Keystone state alone. Among the schools participating is the Holy Redeemer School in Ellwood City. The school’s principal – Sr. Joanne Kokosinski – tells Beaver County Radio newsman Pat Septak that now is a great opportunity for parents to explore school choice options for their children. For more information on National School Choice Week, please visit the website at www.schoolchoiceweek.com.