(File Photo of Aliquippa High School Football Coach Mike Warfield)

(Reported by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano, Published on December 5th, 2024 at 10:03 A.M.)

(Aliquippa, PA) The Aliquippa school board held its reorganization and regular meeting Wednesday night and announced the return of Aliquippa High School Football Coach Mike Warfield for the 2025-2026 season after Warfield took a leave of absence this season. The board voted to reinstate Warfield with his salary totaling $12,500. They voted to reinstate Football  Coach Mike  Warfield His salary for the season will be $12,500. The board’s next regular meeting will be on Wednesday, January 15,2025 at 6 p.m. in the Gene Karmazyn Black Box Theater.

 

FILE – Ronald Rowe, acting director of the U.S. Secret Service, speaks to reporters at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, Pool, File) 

By REBECCA SANTANA Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The acting director of the Secret Service is promising accountability for what he called the agency’s “abject failure” to secure the rally where a gunman opened fire on Donald Trump last summer during his presidential campaign.
Ronald Rowe is set to testify Thursday in front of a bipartisan House task force investigating how the Secret Service, which protects the highest echelon of American leaders, performed during two assassination attempts against Trump in two months. A portion of Rowe’s remarks was released before the hearing.
The task force’s inquiry is one of a series of investigations and reports into the July shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, that have faulted the troubled agency for planning and communications failures. Already, the fallout has included the resignation of the agency’s previous director and changes that increased Secret Service protections for Trump before the Republican won the November election.
Trump has not yet named his pick to lead the agency.
A separate independent panel investigating that assassination attempt has said the Secret Service needs new leadership and that “another Butler can and will happen again” without major changes in how candidates are protected. Trump was wounded in the ear, one rallygoer was killed, and two others were wounded.
Rowe said the agency’s internal investigation identified failures by multiple employees. He noted that the quality of the advance work — the people who go to a location before an event and plan how the Secret Service will protect someone — did not meet agency standards.
“It is essential that we recognize the gravity of our failure on July 13, 2024,” Rowe says in the prepared remarks. “Let me be clear, there will be accountability, and that accountability is occurring.”
He did not give specific information, including, for example, how many employees might be disciplined or if anyone would be fired.
This is the task force’s second public hearing and the first time that Rowe has addressed it in public. It is scheduled to release a report on its findings and recommendations by Dec. 13.
Many of the investigations have centered on why buildings near the rally with a clear line of sight to the stage were not secured in advance. The gunman, Thomas Crooks, climbed onto the roof of a nearby building and opened fire as Trump spoke.
Crooks was killed by a Secret Service countersniper, and Trump was surrounded by agents and hustled offstage.
The shooting also exposed communications problems between the Secret Service and local and state law enforcement officials who routinely assist the agency in securing big events.
Another assassination attempt on Trump in Florida two months later also contributed to the agency’s troubles.
Ryan Wesley Routh is accused of lying in wait for Trump on Sept. 15 in the shrubbery of one of Trump’s Florida golf courses in West Palm Beach, Florida. A Secret Service agent saw the firearm poking through the bushes and opened fire, thwarting the potential attack. Routh never fired a shot.
The agency has defended its response as much more in line with how its defensive systems are supposed to operate. Critics have questioned how Routh was able to camp out for so long at a golf course Trump often visited while in town.
Ever since the first assassination attempt, the Secret Service has been under intense scrutiny about its ability to carry out what’s often described as a “zero failure mission.”
Then-Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned a little over a week after the July shooting and one day after she appeared before a congressional hearing where she was berated for hours by both Democrats and Republicans.
Rowe was then announced as the acting director.
In his statement to the bipartisan task force, Rowe noted what he has done to bring about change.
“It has been my singular focus to bring much needed reform to the Secret Service. To be an agent of change. To challenge previous assumptions,” Rowe said.
Among the things he highlighted:
— The agency increased the staff assigned to Trump and expanded its use of drone technology to get a high-level view of venues.
— Secret Service personnel are required to be at the same location as state and local law enforcement while protecting someone to avoid some of the communications failures from the Butler rally.
— In a nod to the stresses on agents and officers protecting a growing list of people in an increasingly divisive political environment, Rowe said he was prioritizing mental health and wellness programs and had hired a chief wellness officer this week.

(File Photo of Beaver Falls Fire Department Truck on Street)

(Reported by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano, Published on December 5th, 2024 at 9:26 A.M.)

(Beaver Falls, PA) A fire occurred in Beaver Falls Thursday morning. According to a report from Beaver County 911, a call came in for a structure fire at a home located at 613 16th Street at 2:30 a.m.  The report also notes that assistance by several fire departments was seen, and a second alarm was called in.  There were no reports of injuries and firefighters were still on scene as of 7 a.m.

(File Photo of Roberto Clemente: Source for Photo: File-Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Roberto Clemente. The Pittsburgh Pirates will honor Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente when they wear No. 21 against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020. The team believes this is an important step into having Clemente’s number retired by Major League Baseball(Pittsburgh Tribune-Review via AP, File)/

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Washington, D.C.) On Wednesday night, according to a release from United States Congressman Chris Deluzio’s office, the House of Representatives passed the Roberto Clemente Commemorative Coin Act, which displays Pittsburgh Pirate baseball great Roberto Clemente on coins. Clemente was not only a legendary baseball player, but also was a man who tried to bring change as an activist off the field. These coins will be produced by the Department of the Treasury, while the coins being sold will be included with a payment to the Roberto Clemente Foundation. The release also stated that Deluzio was originally one of the cosponsors, along with Western Pennsylvania showing Deluzio as their representative for this bill to be official.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Rescue workers search through the night in a sinkhole for Elizabeth Pollard, who disappeared while looking for her cat, in Marguerite, Pa., Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Unity Township, PA) According to police, the search for a woman that probably fell into a sinkhole in Pennsylvania to look for her missing cat continues. State police have confirmed that Elizabeth Pollard was seen previously close to 5 p.m. on Monday calling out to Pepper, the name of her escaped cat. Early Tuesday morning, one of the members of the family of Pollard contacted state police to validate that she was missing. Pleasant Unity Volunteer Fire Department Chief John Bacha has verified that dogs, cameras, as well as other devices that are electronic are being used to try to find Pollard. Bacha also notes that the mine that is the prime location for the search is broken in several areas and is making those looking for Pollard go past just sending people down to rescue her as they are getting worried about Pollard and her level of oxygen. The Bureau of Mines also gave the search party maps that existed back in the 1940’s that were drawn by hand as well. This is a developing story, and we will have updates as soon as they are available.

(File Photo of Third Avenue in New Brighton)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(New Brighton, PA) Beginning on Friday evening and ending this Saturday evening, New Brighton will be holding their Christmas Fest. From 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday night, the seventh year of the Wassail Walk, which is a tour full of hearing carolers sing, along with serving both appetizers and wassail, will occur. The event has tickets worth $20, with children receiving free admission, while the New Brighton Public Library, which is also where the tickets can be bought, will receive the proceeds. The festival continues Saturday with a free look around the main street of New Brighton transforming into a Christmas themed atmosphere from 2 to 8 p.m. There will be several activities for both the adults and the kids. That night will have music, movies for the holiday season, games guests can interact with, vendors selling food, rides on horse-drawn sleighs, a petting zoo, a market with holiday items, a candy cane themed miniature golf course, an auction for wreaths held by the New Brighton Elementary School, a holiday light show with LED lights and drinks themed for the holidays for adults with identification provided. From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Third Avenue and its vehicular traffic will be closed along with its side streets for the festivities on Saturday, and Fifth and Second Avenues will be the detour locations while Third Avenue is closed.

(File Photo of Snowy Weather on Fifth Street)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) According to a release from Jim Garrity, Director of Affairs at AAA East Central, storms in winter, road conditions that are sloppy, and bad weather, are reasons that close to half a million crashes and over 2,000 deaths occur on the road each year. Garrity also provides some tips that you can use to stay safe driving in the snowy weather and to get your vehicle ready for the upcoming winter, and they are:

• Stay Home. If the weather forecast is precarious and you don’t have to be anywhere, this is the number one way to avoid a crash in the winter. 
• Leave Early. Running late to work leads to anxiety, which can cloud judgment and possibly lead to risky driving behaviors.
• Slow down. Accelerate, turn, and brake as gradually and smoothly as possible. This will help maintain control in rough conditions.
• Don’t tailgate. Normal following distances of three to four seconds on dry pavement should be extended to a minimum of five to six seconds when driving on slippery surfaces. The extra time will provide additional braking room should a sudden stop become necessary. 
• Never use cruise control on slippery roads. If a vehicle hydroplanes or skids, motorists will lose the ability to regain some traction simply by lifting off the accelerator. If cruise control is active, it will be harder to recover from the loss of traction.
• If a car begins to skid, continue to steer it in the direction you want it to go.
• Have the vehicle’s battery tested. This is the number one call that AAA receives in the wintertime. If a battery is more than two years old, it should be tested.
• Replace worn windshield-wiper blades. The blades should completely clear the glass with each swipe and should be replaced if they leave streaks or miss spots. Consider installing winter wiper blades that wrap the blade frame in a rubber boot to reduce ice and snow buildup.
• Use the right washer fluid. Fill the windshield washer fluid reservoir with a winter washer fluid blend to prevent it from freezing.
• Inspect tires. Ensure tires have adequate tread depth – at least 4/32” – as worn tires can affect a motorist’s ability to stop in slick conditions. An easy way to check for wear is by inserting a quarter into the tread groove. If the top of Washington’s head is exposed, the tread depth is less than 4/32″ and it’s time to replace tires. Also, check if the vehicle has a spare tire and keep it properly inflated. In harsh winter climates, snow tires may be a wise investment.
• Carry an emergency kit equipped for winter weather. The kit should include sand or cat litter, a small shovel, flashlight, an ice scraper or snow brush, booster cables, a blanket, gloves or mittens and flares or reflective triangles.

 

 

The following school districts have either delayed or canceled for today: 12/05/24 (We will continue to update the list throughout the morning)

Blackhawk Area School District: 2 hour delay Thursday Morning

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Preschool in Moon Township: Opens at 8:30 A.M. Thursday Morning on their Delay Schedule

Moon Area School District: 2 hour delay Thursday Morning
North Catholic High School: 2 hour delay Thursday Morning
Seneca Valley School District: Thursday Morning: 2 Hour Delay, Modified Kindergarten
St. James in Sewickley: Thursday Morning: 2 Hour Transportation Delay For Private, Parochial, and Charter.

St. Killian’s Parish School in Cranberry: 2 Hour Delay Thursday Morning

St. Stephen’s Lutheran Academy in Zelienople: 2 Hour Delay Thursday Morning

Snow watch is sponsored by Munroe Auto Body, the Lisa Lathom Team at EXP Realty, the Cornerstone of Beaver County, and Beaver County Radio.

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published December 4, 2024 3:58 P.M.

(Beaver, Pa) The Beaver County Commisssioners met Wednesday Morning at the County Court House for their weekly Work Session. It was announced that the election vote recount has concluded including an audit that took place some of the votes. According to the Board, everything has checked out regarding the election in the County.

Treasurer Sandy Egley brought up a suggestion that the furniture in the Courthouse Cafe should be replaced. Commissioner Jack Manning relayed that even the chairs in the Commissioners meeting room are getting worn out. The county will explore the options of replacing the aging furniture.

During public comment, the Commissioners were asked about the Styropek plant which has recently went up for sale. Commissioner Manning weighed in on the subject stating that he doesn’t believe there will be a buyer of the plant itself, meaning it will close. Although, he believes the site will likely be redeveloped.

 

 

 

Rescue workers continue to search, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, for Elizabeth Pollard, who is believed to have disappeared in a sinkhole while looking for her cat, in Marguerite, Pa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
By GENE PUSKAR and MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press

UNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) — Rescuers contemplated the safest way Wednesday to search for a woman who apparently fell into a Pennsylvania sinkhole while looking for her lost cat, saying a crumbling old coal mine beneath the surface was complicating efforts and endangering workers.
Crews worked through the night in the Unity Township community of Marguerite to find Elizabeth Pollard, 64. A state police spokesperson said early Wednesday they were reassessing their tactics to avoid putting the rescuers in danger.
“The integrity of that mine is starting to become compromised,” Trooper Steve Limani told reporters at the scene about 40 miles (65 kilometers) east of Pittsburgh.
Sinkholes occur in the area because of subsidence from coal mining activity. Rescuers had been using water to break down and remove clay and dirt from the mine, which has been closed since the 1950s, but that was increasing the risk “for potential other mine subsidence to take place,” Limani said.
“We’re probably going to have to switch gears” and do a more complicated dig, he said.
On Tuesday, crews lowered a pole camera with a sensitive listening device into the hole, but it detected nothing. Another camera lowered into the hole showed what could be a shoe about 30 feet (9 meters) below the surface, Limani said. Searchers also deployed drones and thermal imaging equipment to no avail.
Marguerite Fire Chief Scot Graham, the incident commander, said access to the immediate area surrounding the hole was being tightly controlled and monitored, with rescuers attached by harness.
“We cannot judge as to what’s going on underneath us. Again, you had a small hole on top but as soon as you stuck a camera down through to look, you had this big void,” Graham said. “And it was all different depths. The process is long, is tedious. We have to make sure that we are keeping safety in the forefront as well as the rescue effort.”
Pleasant Unity Fire Chief John Bacha, the operations officer at the scene, said they were “hoping that there’s a void that she could still be in.”
Pollard’s family called police at about 1 a.m. Tuesday to say she had not been seen since going out Monday evening to search for Pepper, her cat. The temperature dropped well below freezing that night.
In an interview with CBS News, Pollard’s son, Axel Hayes, said he is experiencing a mix of emotions.
“I’m upset that she hasn’t been found yet, and I’m really just worried about whether she’s still down there, where she is down there, or she went somewhere and found somewhere safer,” Hayes said. “Right now, I just hope she’s alive and well, that she’s going to make it, that my niece still has a grandmother, that I still have a mother that I can talk to.”
Police said they found Pollard’s car parked behind Monday’s Union Restaurant in Marguerite, about 20 feet (6 meters) from the sinkhole.
Hunters and restaurant workers in the area said they had not noticed the manhole-size opening in the hours before Pollard disappeared, leading rescuers to speculate that the sinkhole was new.
“It almost feels like it opened up with her standing on top of it,” Limani said.
Searchers accessed the mine late Tuesday afternoon and dug a separate entrance out of concern that the ground around the sinkhole opening was not stable.
“Let’s be honest, we need to get a little bit lucky, right?” Limani said Wednesday. “We need a little bit of luck on our side. We need a little bit of God’s good blessing on our side, right?”
Pollard lives in a small neighborhood across the street from where her car and granddaughter were located, Limani said.
The young girl “nodded off in the car and woke up. Grandma never came back,” Limani said. The child stayed in the car until two troopers rescued her.
It’s not clear what happened to Pepper.
___
Scolforo reported from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Kathy McCormack in New Hampshire and Sarah Brumfield in Maryland contributed to this report.