The Beaver County Commissioners had a light agenda at their work session today. According to Beaver County Radio’s Greg Benedetti, budget director Ricardo Luckow recommended Huntington National Bank be used for next year’s tax anticipation note. Huntington informed Luckow that the bank needs financial details by December 9th. The Commissioners also heard a report from the public works department that the Human Services building in Beaver Falls needs extensive repairs. Problems include a leaking roof, inadequate heating and air conditioning and some plumbing leaks that have entered the duct work. The Commissioners are going to meet with the building’s tennants to determine how repairs will be financed.

Hopewell  Township police responded to a possible burglary on Ross Dr. in the  township Monday morning  at 7:32 a.m.after witnesses saw 2 men attempting to gain entry into a home on Ross Dr. Chief Brian Uhrmacher  said the witness gave a detailed description  of the 2 males and the vehicle they arrived in .  Responding officers, observed the vehicle fitting the description given by the witness  occupied by the suspects leaving the scene.  Officers stopped the vehicle, and detained the suspects. 23-year-old Jalen Mull and 30-year-old Nathaniel Rossi of Crescent Twp were charged with burglary, criminal trespass, criminal mischief, and possessing instruments of crime.  Rossi was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. The suspects were arraigned before District Justice Janet Swihart, and taken to the Beaver County Jail .  Bond is set at $15,000 straight cash.  Preliminary hearings for both men are set for  Monday, November 28.

The expanded Steamfitters Training Facility in Harmony is now open.  The state has put five-million dollars into the building, where workers are trained for the local construction and energy industries.  Governor Tom Wolf was there yesterday to introduce the facility, saying it will allow for a better, more modern and dynamic environment through hands-on-training.  The facility graduated about 170 apprentices annually but the upgrades will lift that number to 270.

The Midland-based Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School Board of Trustees has hired a new chief executive officer. The board announced Tuesday that former board president Brian Hayden will take over as CEO, beginning January 3rd. The board hired Hayden during a special meeting Monday night.

A representative of the local Staples in Center Township said that messages have been received from a group posing as MICROSOFT   by several customers.  According to Beaver Count Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano, representatives advise not to give out any information, especially credit card info, they are hackers. Messages are either live or tape recordings.  Techs advise customers to just hang up. Technicians are available at Best Buy and Staples stores in the area  if anyone has issues with their computers.  Antivirus protection should also be up to date.

The Shell Cracker plant continues to take shape in Potter Township. Loading up a bus with invited journalists, Shell Chemicals officials led a tour of the 340 acre site now being prepared for the construction of a petrochemical cracker plant. When completed in 2020, the new cracker plant will employ 600 people, but it will take 6,000 people — many local — to build this huge complex beginning in late 2017. Gov. Tom Wolf said that’s just a start — like the first steel mill built in Pittsburgh…and says the project promises jobs for years to come.

Beaver County business leader C.J. Betters has donated $100,000 to the Community College of Beaver County’s Foundation for its Process Technology program. The money will go towards the college’s efforts to train the workforce for current and emerging jobs in our region. CCBC officials say the gift from Betters will  help purchase state-of-the-art training equipment that will be vital to employing Beaver Countians in jobs that are expected to be created during the next five years and beyond.