Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published February 28, 2023 1:13 P.M.
(Aliquippa, PA) Aliquippa Police Chief John Lane issued a statement Tuesday morning about a large number of vehicle break-ins that have occurred in the city. The chief said 6 reports have been made in the last 2 nights. Residents are advised, “Lock your doors, secure your valuables, and park in lighted areas.” Chief Lane said Hyundai’s and Kia’s are the main targets in the thefts reported.
He asks residents to file a report about any street lights that are out, and the city will take care of replacing them.
Story by Beaver County Radio News Staff. Published February 28, 2023 1:11 P.M.
(Cranberry Township, PA) Cranberry Township are investigating the report of an armed break-in and the kidnapping of a 17-year-old boy Tuesday in Cranberry at a gated community. Beaver County 911 was contacted from a store in Rochester for the 17 year old and he was able to return home to his mother. Investigators believe the incident was not random, and that the family was targeted. Police are asking anyone with further information to contact them at 724-776-5180.
HARRISBURG– Have you received a text message, email or letter inviting you to participate in a research project as a secret shopper without the need for an interview because you’re the perfect person for the position?
In this scam, the recruiter typically sends a check worth more than the items you buy, so you get to keep the rest as a bonus. They will instruct you to deposit the check right away, buy gift cards, and provide the scammer with the number and pin on the gift cards.
Unfortunately, the check they send you is fraudulent and it will take a few days to clear, but in the meantime, you’ve made these purchases out of your account. When you find out three or four days later that the check was fraudulent, you’ve already bought those gift cards and sent them off to the scammer.
“Pennsylvanians should know the tricks these scammers use so they can proactively keep themselves, their money, and their personal information safe,” said Acting Attorney General Michelle Henry. “Anyone receiving suspicious emails, calls, or texts should report them to my Office to help protect yourself and others.”
Warning Signs of This Scam
A job listing or unsolicited mailing, call, text or email that guarantees you will make a lot of money as a secret shopper.
A secret shopper job that requires you to pay up front to get started.
An “employer” that sends you a check or money order with instructions to deposit it in your account and return a portion to the sender.
Pennsylvania Speaker of the House Mark Rozzi is photographed at the speaker’s podium, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, at the state Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Smith)
HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) on Tuesday made the following comment upon the announcement Rep. Mark Rozzi (D-Berks) has resigned as speaker of the House:
“As former speaker of the House and the twice-elected leader of the House Republican Caucus, I know that trust is the basis of a successful legislative leader and provides the ability to move our chamber forward. Unfortunately, despite the attempt to find a unique solution for an evenly divided House, Rep. Rozzi openly broke that trust essentially from the moment he was elected.
“Right now, the House is in dire need of a reset, and I remain committed to working with anyone who is willing to work with us to find solutions. However, the only way we will be able to move forward is by lowering the temperatures that have risen due to an unforeseen lack of integrity that has set back our ability to work across the aisle.
“It is time to move on. I hope our colleagues on the other side of the aisle will join us in doing so.”
The photo above shows Joe Hamilton (Blackhawk), Pat Tarquinio, and Karl Florie (Riverside) during a Coaches Corner on WBVP/WMBA in 2016.
(Beaver, PA) A longtime well known Beaver educator and football coach Pat Tarquinio passed away Monday. Tarquinio was in the Beaver County Sports and WPIAL Hall of fame. He coached Ellwood City before spending 34 years with the Beaver Bobcats. Gypsy Glen Stadium in Beaver was renamed Pat Tarquinio Field years back in honor of him. Many looked up to him as a mentor over the years. Tarquinio held the title of most winningest coach in the WPIAL when he stepped down from coaching in 1999. He was 89.
Gas prices are four cents lower in Western Pennsylvania this week at $3.766 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.
The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in Beaver County is $3.768.
The national average for a gallon of gas fell five cents over the last week to $3.36. The main reason is the price of oil, which fell into the mid $70s per barrel, nearly $5 cheaper than earlier this month. Today’s national average of $3.36 is 14 cents less than a month ago and 24 cents less than a year ago.
According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand increased slightly from 8.27 million barrels per day to 8.91 million barrels per day last week. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks decreased by 1.8 million barrels to 240.1 million barrels last week. However, decreasing oil prices have contributed to pushing pump prices lower.
Crude prices have declined over the last few weeks due to the strengthening of the dollar and market concerns about increasing domestic oil inventories. EIA reported that total domestic commercial crude inventories increased substantially by 7.6 million barrels to 479 million barrels last week.
The PA Fish and Boat Commission announced they will be stocking 3.2 million trout in 697 streams and 126 lakes in Pennsylvania this year. This will consist of 2.3 million rainbow trout, 707,000 brown trout, 168,000 brook trout, and 14,000 golden rainbow trout. 70,000 trout are trophy size. Opening day for trout fishing is April 1st.
The photo above shows a mobile Primary Health clinic truck outside the Darlington Township Municipal Building. Story and Photos by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio News Director. Published February 28, 2023 11:55 A.M.
(Darlington Township, PA) Residents arrived in Darlington Township Tuesday morning at 10am for the opening of a Health Resource Center in response to the East Palestine train derailment. The resource center was made possible due to efforts made by the Shapiro Administration along with local leaders Senator Elder Vogel, Senator Camera Bartolotta, and Representative Jim Marshall.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health is providing a Primary Health Clinic, along with specialists in behavioral health and chemical exposure at the center along with tables with Department of Health representatives to answer questions and provide information. Nate Wardle, Special Response Project Manager for the PA Dept. of Health, told Beaver County Radio that the center is open to anybody and not limited to just Beaver and Lawrence counties.
The Health Resource Center is located in the rear of the Darlington Township Municipal Building at 3590 Darlington Road. It will be open weekdays from 10am to 8pm until at least March 10th. Signs have been posted outside the building directing people in the right direction.
(Photo of the recent check presentation from left to right: Amy Cole-Operations Manager, Aaron Kniess-Manager & CEO, Jayne Wiggins, Louanne Gordon, Debbie Ramer- Bag & Blessings Treasurer, Robin Redfern- Founder Bags & Blessings, Terri Lenox- Bags & Blessings Secretary, and Brandee Cercone- Bags & Blessings Event Coordinator. Photo provided with release) Story by Frank Sparks, General Manager Beaver County Radio
(Beaver Falls, Pa. ) The Beaver Valley Federal Credit Union and Elan Credit Card have teamed up to make a $15,000 donation to Beaver County non-profit Bags & Blessings.
In a statement that was released by Elan they said they are continuing their commitment to their partners and communities by donating $15,000 to 25 different credit union partners to be given on behalf of the credit union to a local charity.
Elan said that the program is part of the 2023 Charitable Giving Program which has now donated over $1million since it began last year. John Owens, Elan Credit Card General Manager said “Over the last year we’ve heard and seen firsthand how our charitable giving program is making an impact, These nonprofits are doing incredible
work for community members and it’s an honor for us to be able to support them.”
In 2023, Elan plans to organize in-person volunteer events. This will provide the opportunity for Elan team members to work alongside our credit union partners in their communities.
To learn more about each organization, credit union, and the impact Elan is making in communities through its charitable giving initiative visit www.elancharitablegiving.com Bags & Blessings said in a post on their Facebook Page “THANK YOU Elan Credit Card and The Beaver Valley Federal Credit Union for this tremendous nomination!! Having the support from our local community is important to us. Our goal is to be a resource for people when they go through cancer treatment. Our vision for the future is to grow and continue to help the people of Beaver County! We are truly honored and humbled by this nomination.”
The Beaver Valley Federal Credit Union has a strong history of being involved in Beaver County. The credit union’s history can be traced to January 2, 1942 with the chartering of Beaver Valley Federal Credit Union (then B&W Employees Federal Credit Union). At that time membership was opened to those employed in the local plants of the Babcock & Wilcox Tubular Products Group and to their immediate families. And, since then, our member-owned and democratically operated credit union has grown from vest-pocket size to become one of Pennsylvania’s largest.
If you would like more information on Bags & Blessings you can visit their website at https://www.bagsandblessings.org/ or on their Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064780653556 .
For the majority of 2023 so far, the New Brighton School Board meetings have been largely focused towards the return of a competitive spirit team to the school district to compete in the WPIAL.
The nucleus of the dialogue has shifted back and forth between the citizens and students in support of the measure, to the school board’s wary concerns over funding and participation. In the last meeting, superintendent Dr. Joseph Guarino presented the facts and potential outcomes of restoring a WPIAL-level competitive spirit team to New Brighton. The final decision was to be rendered at their voting meeting for February 27.
Lindsay Johnson [at podium] speaks in support of a return to official competitive spirit team to the New Brighton School District at the February 27 school board meeting.As was the case throughout the entire process, a larger-than-normal crowd came out for support of a “yes” vote by the school board. Also similar to prior meetings (as is the case with all meetings of the New Brighton School Board), the citizens had the chance to speak first; allowing for one final chance for those in support of the measure (or against it, had there been any) to make their voices heard.
Four individuals came forward in support, including two of the leaders of New Brighton Cheerleading in Lindsay Johnson and Brittany Briancesco. “[The] Little Lions…have no financial backing from the school and remain successful with parents doing it all,” Briancesco stated. “All of the squads in the community are asking for is the opportunity to try.”
Briancesco also noted that the funding that the school would need to provide wouldn’t be a major issue, which Johnson echoed: “We’re just asking for a shot. There’s nothing you could actually lose concretely by giving us a ‘yes’.”
Going a step further was Little Lions coach Micah Dawn-Rombold, who pointed out that the budget for the school’s football team was at $50,000 while the budget for cheerleading was at $4,000. “If you think about it, most school programs are built strong from kindergarten to high school,” she noted, “but here in New Brighton, everyone seems to only care about the football team that hasn’t seen the section championship in how long.”
After the speaking was done, those in attendance waited patiently as the school board went ahead with their agenda, voting unanimously to finalize approval of the 2023-24 school calendar, the operation of a K-12 summer school, and renewing agreements with Penn State Beaver and the Community College of Beaver County for dual enrollment programs.
The board also unanimously approved two measures with the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit: a $55,520.67 third-installment payment for Special Education Programs & Services for the 2022-23 school year, and a general operating budget for the 2023-24 school year at an amount of $1,608,913. Also approved were new partitions for two Middle School restrooms at a cost of $9,406 and stair tread replacements at the Middle School for $48,735 (using Costars funds).
Finally, the time to decide on New Brighton’s return to competitive cheer had come. With no further discussion from the board, the first two votes were a “no”. The next six, however, were “yes” votes. By a final count of 6-2, the New Brighton School Board voted to create a Competitive Spirit team. (Board member Amy Fazio was absent from the meeting and did not vote). No further details or discussion was provided at the meeting.
New Brighton also approved the stipend hirings of Stephanie Chioochi and Jocelyn Cornman as Student Council Sponsors for the Elementary School and Brittany Caldwell as an Instructional assistant for the current school year before adjourning to a round of applause to those who attended.
The next New Brighton school board meeting is scheduled for March 13 at 7:30 PM.
