(File Photo, Source for Photo: FILE – Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro arrives before President Joe Biden speaks in Blue Bell, Pa., Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. Shapiro’s administration says he plans next month to propose steps toward fixing a state higher education system that’s among the worst in the nation in affordability. The administration didn’t release many specifics Friday, Jan. 26, and says the Democratic governor will give more details in his Feb. 6 budget address.) (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) The administration of Governor Josh Shapiro met with the Linglestown Fire Company  as well as both the Pennsylvania Insurance Department and the Office of the State Fire Commissioner on Friday to remind Pennsylvanians that fire safety precautions during Thanksgiving should be taken seriously. Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner Tom Cook talked about some tips that can help you to be safe when preparing a meal and to not cause a fire during Thanksgiving, which included possessing a working fire extinguisher and smoke alarm away from the area, set timers ahead of time, do not exit the kitchen when cooking food, as well as turning the burners off or to let someone else take your place after you leave. Some other tips from Cook were to let children and pets stay away from places where cooking occurs and surfaces that are hot, when deep-frying a turkey, follow safe instructions for use, and put a lid over a pot on fire or use a fire extinguisher instead of water to stop the fire.

(File Photo of Ambridge Area School District Logo)

(Reported by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano, Published on November 25th, 2024 at 7:46 A.M.)

(Ambridge, PA) Kailyn Turko, a senior, was announced as the recipient of the Challenge Program’s Academic Scholarship, Bender Leadership, Linda Dickerson School.

(File Photo of Aliquippa Fire Department Truck)

(Reported by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano, Published on November 25th, 2024 at 7:43 A.M.)

(Aliquippa, PA) At 8:30 p.m. Friday night, firefighters went  to a residence located at Washington Street and Seventh Avenue on Plan 11.  A resident was treated on scene, and one was transported by ambulance to the hospital. The source of the carbon monoxide wasn’t identified by the fire department spokesman.

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published November 24, 2024 10:26 P.M.

(Aliquippa, Pa) Emergency crews were called out Sunday evening to a report of a pedestrian struck by a train on the tracks along Route 51.

Multiple departments assisted in the search for the victim and the coroner was later called to the scene.

The incident took place shortly before 7pm.

We are working on gathering more details.

FILE – Chuck Woolery hosts a special premiere of the “$250,000 Game Show Spectacular” at the Las Vegas Hilton Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007, in Las Vegas. (Ronda Churchill/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP, File)

By MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Chuck Woolery, the affable, smooth-talking game show host of “Wheel of Fortune,” “Love Connection” and “Scrabble” who later became a right-wing podcaster, skewering liberals and accusing the government of lying about COVID-19, has died. He was 83.
Mark Young, Woolery’s podcast co-host and friend, said in an email early Sunday that Woolery died at his home in Texas with his wife, Kristen, present. “Chuck was a dear friend and brother and a tremendous man of faith, life will not be the same without him,” Young wrote.
Woolery, with his matinee idol looks, coiffed hair and ease with witty banter, was inducted into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame in 2007 and earned a daytime Emmy nomination in 1978.
In 1983, Woolery began an 11-year run as host of TV’s “Love Connection,” for which he coined the phrase, “We’ll be back in two minutes and two seconds,” a two-fingered signature dubbed the “2 and 2.” In 1984, he hosted TV’s “Scrabble,” simultaneously hosting two game shows on TV until 1990.
“Love Connection,” which aired long before the dawn of dating apps, had a premise that featured either a single man or single woman who would watch audition tapes of three potential mates and then pick one for a date.
A couple of weeks after the date, the guest would sit with Woolery in front of a studio audience and tell everybody about the date. The audience would vote on the three contestants, and if the audience agreed with the guest’s choice, “Love Connection” would offer to pay for a second date.
Woolery told The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2003 that his favorite set of lovebirds was a man aged 91 and a woman aged 87. “She had so much eye makeup on, she looked like a stolen Corvette. He was so old he said, ‘I remember wagon trains.’ The poor guy. She took him on a balloon ride.”
Other career highlights included hosting the shows “Lingo,” “Greed” and “The Chuck Woolery Show,” as well as hosting the short-lived syndicated revival of “The Dating Game” from 1998 to 2000 and an ill-fated 1991 talk show. In 1992, he played himself in two episodes of TV’s “Melrose Place.”
Woolery became the subject of the Game Show Network’s first attempt at a reality show, “Chuck Woolery: Naturally Stoned,” which premiered in 2003. It shared the title of the pop song in 1968 by Woolery and his rock group, the Avant-Garde. It lasted six episode and was panned by critics.
Woolery began his TV career at a show that has become a mainstay. Although most associated with Pat Sajak and Vanna White, “Wheel of Fortune” debuted Jan. 6, 1975, on NBC with Woolery welcoming contestants and the audience. Woolery, then 33, was trying to make it in Nashville as a singer.
“Wheel of Fortune” started life as “Shopper’s Bazaar,” incorporating Hangman-style puzzles and a roulette wheel. After Woolery appeared on “The Merv Griffin Show” singing “Delta Dawn,” Merv Griffin asked him to host the new show with Susan Stafford.
“I had an interview that stretched to 15, 20 minutes,” Woolery told The New York Times in 2003. “After the show, when Merv asked if I wanted to do a game show, I thought, ‘Great, a guy with a bad jacket and an equally bad mustache who doesn’t care what you have to say — that’s the guy I want to be.'”
NBC initially passed, but they retooled it as “Wheel of Fortune” and got the green light. After a few years, Woolery demanded a raise to $500,000 a year, or what host Peter Marshall was making on “Hollywood Squares.” Griffin balked and replaced Woolery with weather reporter Pat Sajak.
“Both Chuck and Susie did a fine job, and ‘Wheel’ did well enough on NBC, although it never approached the kind of ratings success that ‘Jeopardy!’ achieved in its heyday,” Griffin said in “Merv: Making the Good Life Last,” an autobiography from the 2000s co-written by David Bender. Woolery earned an Emmy nod as host.
Born in Ashland, Kentucky, Woolery served in the U.S. Navy before attending college. He played double bass in a folk trio, then formed the psychedelic rock duo The Avant-Garde in 1967 while working as a truck driver to support himself as a musician.
The Avant-Garde, which tourbed in a refitted Cadillac hearse, had the Top 40 hit “Naturally Stoned,” with Woolery singing, “When I put my mind on you alone/I can get a good sensation/Feel like I’m naturally stoned.”
After The Avant-Garde broke up, Woolery released his debut solo single “I’ve Been Wrong” in 1969 and several more singles with Columbia before transitioning to country music by the 1970s. He released two solo singles, “Forgive My Heart” and “Love Me, Love Me.”
Woolery wrote or co-wrote songs for himself and everyone from Pat Boone to Tammy Wynette. On Wynette’s 1971 album “We Sure Can Love Each Other,” Woolery wrote “The Joys of Being a Woman” with lyrics including “See our baby on the swing/Hear her laugh, hear her scream.”
After his TV career ended, Woolery went into podcasting. In an interview with The New York Times, he called himself a gun-rights activist and described himself as a conservative libertarian and constitutionalist. He said he hadn’t revealed his politics in liberal Hollywood for fear of retribution.
He teamed up with Mark Young in 2014 for the podcast “Blunt Force Truth” and soon became a full supporter of Donald Trump while arguing minorities don’t need civil rights and causing a firestorm by tweeting an antisemitic comment linking Soviet Communists to Judaism.
“President Obama’s popularity is a fantasy only held by him and his dwindling legion of juice-box-drinking, anxiety-dog-hugging, safe-space-hiding snowflakes,” he said.
Woolery also was active online, retweeting articles from Conservative Brief, insisting Democrats were trying to install a system of Marxism and spreading headlines such as “Impeach him! Devastating photo of Joe Biden leaks.”
During the early stages of the pandemic, Woolery initially accused medical professionals and Democrats of lying about the virus in an effort to hurt the economy and Trump’s chances for reelection to the presidency.
“The most outrageous lies are the ones about COVID-19. Everyone is lying. The CDC, media, Democrats, our doctors, not all but most, that we are told to trust. I think it’s all about the election and keeping the economy from coming back, which is about the election. I’m sick of it,” Woolery wrote in July 2020.
Trump retweeted that post to his 83 million followers. By the end of the month, nearly 4.5 million Americans had been infected with COVID-19 and more than 150,000 had died.
Just days later, Woolery changed his stance, announcing his son had contracted COVID-19. “To further clarify and add perspective, COVID-19 is real and it is here. My son tested positive for the virus, and I feel for of those suffering and especially for those who have lost loved ones,” Woolery posted before his account was deleted.
Woolery later explained on his podcast that he never called COVID-19 “a hoax” or said “it’s not real,” just that “we’ve been lied to.” Woolery also said it was “an honor to have your president retweet what your thoughts are and think it’s important enough to do that.”
In addition to his wife, Woolery is survived by his sons Michael and Sean and his daughter Melissa, Young said.
___
Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits.

(File Photo of Congressman Deluzio)

CARNEGIE, PA — Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio celebrates a $8,303 federal grant to support operations at Breeze Ridge Farm, a family-owned dairy farm in Marion Township, PA. This U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant will go toward the purchase of a new energy-efficient ventilation system to keep the barn cool for the Beaver County farm’s 125 dairy cows. 

“Family farms face major challenges today, but we know they play a critical role in our communities, economy, and culture,” said Congressman Deluzio. “Our federal government should step up to support our family farms and farmers, and I’m thrilled that Breeze Ridge Farm is receiving this grant to help meet their needs, protect their livestock, and lower their energy bills.” 

The Guidice family has owned and operated Breeze Ridge Farm since 1962. The 300-acre farm is dedicated to dairy production. The farm is home to two different breeds of cows, and all crops grown on the property support the dairy production. The barn requires quality ventilation to keep the interior cool year-round, because proper temperatures are critical for the cows’ health and the quality of milk production. The new fans purchased with this USDA grant money will monitor the air temperature and turn on or off as needed, which saves energy and lowers costs for the farm.

Breeze Ridge Farm proudly participates in the USDA’s Conservation Stewardship Program, and Bob Guidice sits on the Board of Directors for the Beaver County Conservation District. This is the first grant the farm has received from the USDA. The grant covers half of the cost of the new ventilation system, which they would not have been able to purchase without this federal investment.

These federal funds come through USDA’s Renewable and Energy Efficiency Program, a program within the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). REAP provides both guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to farms, agricultural producers, and rural small businesses that either purchase or improve their renewable energy systems. This program seeks to boost American energy independence and increase the overall energy supply. Over time, these investments can also lower the cost of energy for small businesses and farms.

(File Photo of Rep. Matzie)

 AMBRIDGE, Nov. 22 – The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority on Thursday approved distribution of more than 9,100 laptop computers to community entities statewide to help connect residents who lack digital technology, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced.

Matzie, who sits on the PBDA board, said that under the Digital Connectivity Technology Program, the Baden-based Prevention Network and CLASS Academy will receive 75 laptops, and the Ambridge-based computer training school Tech2Elevate will receive 25 laptops.

“Having reliable, high-speed internet means having instant access to job openings, training programs, health and safety information, online shopping and so many other resources,” Matzie said. “But too many people still lack these essential connections. Getting these laptops to organizations that can make them available to residents will help us close that digital divide.”
Matzie said that in addition to the laptops going to Beaver County organizations, more than 2,000 laptops will be distributed to 25 Allegheny County organizations, including 200 laptops to the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh.

Along with the equipment, Matzie said the PBDA will partner with the state Department of Labor and Industry and PA CareerLink® to introduce program participants to SkillUp™ PA, which offers no-cost online job skills training to the public.

The Digital Connectivity Technology Program is funded under the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, which was established under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The program aims to increase access to technology where affordability has been identified as a barrier to broadband adoption and use. The PBDA will distribute $20 million in devices through a competitive grant process to public-facing community anchor institutions and units of local government.
A second round of laptop applications will open in 2025.

(File Photo)

 Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt released the following statement:

“Following Sen. Casey’s concession announcement yesterday afternoon, his campaign submitted a request to the Department of State to halt ongoing recount efforts.

“Last night, the Department informed county elections officials to cease their recount activities because Sen. Casey withdrew and continuing the recount would not be in the best interest of taxpayers.

“Thank you to all of Pennsylvania’s elections officials for their hard work throughout this election cycle, including counting millions of ballots and continuing to diligently conduct two audits to ensure every eligible vote cast in the Nov. 5 election is accurately counted.”

After the completion of those two audits to ensure the reported outcomes are correct, counties must certify election results by Nov. 25.

(Photo Provided With Release)

CHICAGO – (November 22, 2024) – Next year, McDonald’s is giving customers even more ways to enjoy the food they love, for less. Starting Jan. 7, the Golden Arches will introduce its highly anticipated new value platform, McValue^TM, in restaurants across the country.

McValue will include current fan-favorites like the $5 Meal Deal, exclusive in-app offers, and local food and drink deals – plus, a brand-new Buy One, Add One for $1 offer on popular items for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

“When it comes to value, we know there’s no one-size-fits-all. We’ve worked closely with our franchisees to create a new platform that will let our customers define value on their own terms,” said Joe Erlinger, President of McDonald’s USA. “From deals on their personal go-to order to universal favorites like the $5 Meal Deal, we’re excited to give fans more ways to save every time they visit one of our restaurants.”

Buy One, Add One for $1

Customers will be able to customize their own deals, mixing and matching their favorite items, thanks to the new Buy One, Add One for $1 offer. Here’s how it works: buy one full-priced menu item from the McValue menu and add one more item of your choice for just $1.*

McValue Breakfast Buy One, Add One for $1 menu items include:

• Sausage McMuffin®
• Sausage Biscuit
• Sausage Burrito
• Hash Browns

McValue Lunch/Dinner Buy One, Add One for $1 menu items include:

• 6-pc. Chicken McNuggets
• Double Cheeseburger
• McChicken®
• Small Fries

$5 Meal Deal & More

The McDonald’s $5 Meal Deal has officially been extended through next summer and will now be part of the McValue platform. The $5 Meal Deal features the choice of a McDouble® or McChicken® sandwich, small fries, 4-piece Chicken McNuggets® and a small soft drink – all for just $5.**

In partnership with franchisees in communities across the country,*** McDonald’s will continue to offer local deals and in-App offers you can count on as well.

“As local small business owners, my fellow franchisees and I are always listening to what our customers want from their neighborhood McDonald’s,” said Cory Watson, McDonald’s Owner/Operator and National Value Chair for 2025. “No matter the city or the state, they’re telling us how important it is for them to find their favorite meals at affordable prices. And we couldn’t agree more. That’s why we’re committed to continuing to serve up great local deals – from special discount pricing on fan-favorite a-la-carte items to unique meal bundles, you can find great prices on iced coffees, soft drinks, cheeseburgers, chicken McNuggets and more. We have great value for everyone, whether you’re a party of one or feeding the whole family.”

*Valid for item of equal or lesser value.

**Prices and participation may vary. McDouble® meal options may be priced at $6 at select restaurants.

***Local deals and offers will vary, as McDonald’s franchisees are independent business owners who set their own pricing.