Story by Beaver County Radio Staff (Chippewa Twp., Beaver County) Ryan Hardesty, a history teacher at Highland Middle School in the Blackhawk School District has been named as the 2023 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year.
Hardesty received the award yesterday at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center. He was one of 12 teachers from across the state who were nominated for the award that is co-sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the state chapter of the National State Teacher of the Year.
Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News (Beaver, Pa.) Beaver County Coroner David J. Gabuaer has identified the victim of a fire that occurred Just after 10 p.m. on Sunday night in Chippewa Township. Gabauer said via release that 67-year-old Rebecca Crawford was pronounced dead at the scene of the fire at 100 Woodland Road in the township. When first responders arrived they found Crawford unresponsive in the home that suffered severe damage from the fire. Gabauer said the cause and manner of Crawford’s death is still under investigation.
Story by Beaver County Radio Staff (Cranberry Twp, Butler County, Pa.) 34-year-old Darren Michael Martin of Aliquippa is facing several charges following a fatal accident that occurred on Route 19 in Cranberry Twp on Sunday afternoon. Police believe that Martin was driving under the influence at the time of the crash.
Cranberry Township police were dispatched to the scene of the crash at the intersection of Route 19 and Ehrman Road around 2:15 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
Witnesses told police that a U-Haul truck, which was being driven Martin, was traveling at a high rate of speed northbound on Route 19 and drove through a red light, striking a vehicle that was entering Route 19 from Ehrman Road.
The driver of the vehicle, who was pronounced dead at the scene was 46-year-old Bertram Forsyth of Cranberry Township.
Martin is facing charges of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance, recklessly endangering another person, reckless driving and traffic control signals.
He is currently in the Butler County Prison on a $500,000 bond.
Route 19 was shut down for about five hours as officers investigated.
The crash investigation is ongoing. Cranberry Township police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash to contact them at 724-776-5180.
The year will be new come January 1, but most of the New Brighton School Board members and tasks to complete will remain the same. Keyword: most.
The final meetings of the year for the board took place on Monday, starting with the annual year-end reorganization meeting. John Ludwig was reinstated as board president, and Christeen Ceratti was reinstated as vice president for 2023. Both were approved by unanimous board votes. Richard Start was reinstated as Solicitor for another year on the school board. The same schedule as 2022 for alternating meetings on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month was also unanimously approved, as was the date for voting on the proposed final budget (May 22) and the final budget (June 26).
Following the reorganization was the regular meeting, in which Elizabeth Hough was unanimously approved to join the school board. Before the vote, it was revealed that Hough was one of three candidates in the selection process for the open position. Hough replaces the outgoing Travis Whalen, whose resignation from the school board was approved last month. Hough was not present at Monday’s meetings.
Dr. Julian Underwood [second from right, in grey] speaks with New Brighton School Board members following the December 5 meetings. Underwood had his resignation as Middle School principal unanimously approved.Another resignation became official at the regular meeting, as NB Middle School Principal Dr. Julian Underwood had his resignation unanimously approved by the school board. “We do regret ratifying your resignation, we appreciated your time here,” president Ludwig stated. “You were a great asset to this district for a long time. We wish that you could stay, but we understand.” The board then presented Dr. Underwood with a gift, followed by a round of applause.
“It’s been a great fourteen years, almost fifteen,” Underwood stated, noting that January 8 would have been his fifteenth anniversary. “But I don’t think I’ve worked with a board that was so supportive of everything that the Middle School tried to do, and a superintendent as great as Joe (Guarino).” Underwood’s official date of resignation was backdated to November 23 of 2022.
The reorganization meeting and regular meetings were the last for the New Brighton School Board in 2022. Their next scheduled meeting will be in the “Little Theatre” at the high school (their regular meeting space) on January 9, 2023.
(Conway, Pa.) Shortly after 3:30 PM on Monday, December 5, 2022, Patty Then, a spokesperson for the borough of Conway, informed Beaver County Radio that the boil water advisory that was issued last Friday for Conway Borough has been lifted.
(Conway, Pa.) The Boil Water Advisory that was issued for Conway Borough on Friday December 2, 2022 is still in affect as of late Monday morning.
On Friday Conway Borough Council Spokesperson Patty Then issued a statement stating that Conway citizens are under a Boil Water Advisory due to water testing over the next few days. Those with questions are asked to call Councilwoman Patty Then at (724) 312-6660. Stay tuned to Beaver County Radio for further updates on this developing story.
(Photos courtesy of Valerie Pedigo and Bill Roehm)
Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News (Ambridge, Pa.) A flurry of activity took place on Saturday afternoon at 611 Merchant Street in Ambridge. The Una Bella held their grand reopening occurred. The shop is beautifully decorated for the holidays, inside and out. Amanda Bable is the new owner, she worked for Kim Villella, the former owner who retired last summer. Amanda became the new owner in July of 2022.
On hand for the ribbon cutting was Borough Manager Mario Leone, Chamber of Commerce President Valerie Pedigo, who is Huntington Bank’s Business Banking Director, Bill Roehm, the Ambridge Chamber Director, and members of Amanda’s family and customers A tour of the facility included the massage area, the beauty and nail salons, and a handmade crystal jewelry display by IT’S A WRAP BY KRYSTYNA, her jewelry line items are for sale at the spa. Guests had an opportunity to win a prize in Three areas . The shop is open on Monday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. it is closed on Sunday and Tuesday.
Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing the closure of a portion of Lovi Road (Route 2004) in New Sewickley Township, Beaver County, will begin Tuesday, December 6 weather permitting.
Slide repair work requiring the closure of a portion of Lovi Road between Freedom Crider Road and Blackswoods Road will begin at 7 a.m. Tuesday. Through traffic will be prohibited around-the-clock as crews conduct the slide remediation work through early March. Traffic will be detoured.
Posted Detours
West of the Closure
From the intersection of Lovi Road and Freedom Crider Road, follow Lovi Road westbound
Turn right onto Pine Run Road
Turn right onto Big Knob Road
Turn right onto Route 989
Follow Route 989 back to Lovi Road
End detour
East of the Closure
Same detour in the opposite direction
Please use caution when traveling in this area.
Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.
511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.
Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing lane restrictions on Route 3014 (McKees Rocks Bridge) in McKees Rocks Borough, Allegheny County, will occur Tuesday, December 6 weather permitting.
Single-lane alternating traffic will occur on the McKees Rocks Bridge at the Helen Street on- and off-ramps as needed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday. Crews will repair a damaged inlet on the bridge. Bi-directional traffic will be maintained and flaggers will assist motorists through the work zone.
Phase 2 of the $22.4 million McKees Rocks Bridge preservation project extends between Route 51 (Island Avenue) and Route 65 (Ohio River Boulevard) and includes sidewalk repairs and replacement, full-depth concrete pavement reconstruction of the road and four ramps at Helen Street, ADA curb ramp installation, approach pavement work at intersections of Routes 65 and 51, barrier repair, deck overhang and spall repair, fencing installation, and other miscellaneous construction. As work occurs, traffic will be reduced to a single lane in each direction, with occasional truck and turning-lane detours occurring at the West End Bridge as needed. The overall project is anticipated to conclude in the fall of 2024.
The Brayman Construction Corporation and Advantage Steel and Construction, LLC are the prime contractor.
To help keep motorists informed as work progresses, PennDOT has created an email distribution list for the McKees Rocks Bridge preservation including traffic advisories and construction updates. Enroll by sending email addresses to ymanyisha@pa.gov. Please write “Subscribe – McKees Rocks Bridge” in the subject line.
Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.
511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.
Information about infrastructure in District 11 including completed work and significant projects, is available at http://www.penndot.gov/D11Results. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.
(Pittsburgh, Pa.) A federal investigation has found child labor violations involving 101 minor-aged workers at 13 McDonald’s locations in the greater Pittsburgh area operated by Santonastasso Enterprises LLC, based in Bridgeville.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division determined the franchisee, which operates as McDonald’s Restaurant, permitted 14-and-15-year-old employees to work outside permissible hours. These violations included allowing them to work as follows:
More than 3 hours per day and after 7 p.m. on school days when the law forbids work beyond that time.
Later than 9 p.m. on days between June 1 and Labor Day, when they may legally work until 9 p.m.
More than 8 hours on a non-school day, and more than 18 hours a week during a regular school week.
“Permitting young workers to work excessive hours can jeopardize their safety, well-being and education,” explained Wage and Hour District Director John DuMont in Pittsburgh. “Employers who hire young workers must understand and comply with federal child labor laws or face costly consequences.”
The division’s investigation included the following locations and workers affected:
Address
City
Employees
3023 Washington Pike
Bridgeville
11
225 Mt. Lebanon Blvd.
Castle Shannon
9
1010 4th Ave.
Coraopolis
7
1 Poplar St.
Greentree
10
2805 Gracy Center Way
Moon Township
5
3085 Pittsburgh Road
Star Junction
4
600 Pine Hollow Road
McKees Rocks
5
100 Davis Blvd.
Pittsburgh
6
3708 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh
11
500 Liberty Ave.
Pittsburgh
3
6361 Penn Ave.
Pittsburgh
18
273 East Roy Furman Highway
Waynesburg
3
5 Sugar Run
Waynesburg
9
Investigators also found a violation of child labor occupations standards at the 100 Davis Blvd. location in Pittsburgh. A minor under the age of 16 was allowed to operate a deep fryer, which was not equipped with a device to automatically lower and raise the baskets.
Santonastasso Enterprises LLC – owned by John and Kathleen Santonastasso – paid a civil money penalty of $57,332 assessed by the division for the violations.
