(Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio, Published on August 30, 2024 at 10:01 A.M.)

The Hopewell School Board recently hired new staff members as well as accepting several resignations. Nancy Daltorio was named the high school’s English Language Arts chairman, Laura Newton was hired to teach English Language Arts at the high school, Jenna Adams will teach halftime cyber school and half-time special education, and Madeline Richardson will teach special education at Hopewell Elementary School. Karen Talik and Beverly Reed were hired as paraprofessionals for the high school as well. Some staff changes were made with bus and van drivers, including a few resignations.

(Story written by Noah Haswell of Beaver County Radio, Published on August 30, 2024 at 9:42 A.M.)

(Aliquippa, PA) A new athletic and academic center will be joining Aliquippa’s Heinz Field on their school’s campus. The new facility will include offices, an indoor training facility, a locker room, a weight room, and a large space that can be used for hands-on learning. Construction will start in the spring, hopefully to be completed next year. Aliquippa plays their first game of the season tonight against Belle Vernon.

(Story written by Noah Haswell of Beaver County Radio, Published on August 30, 2024 at 9:21 A.M.)

(Pittsburgh, PA) A lucrative operation has a Pittsburgh businessman guilty of several charges including stealing numerous items. After five hours of deliberation from a federal jury, 41-year-old Durrell Waters was pronounced guilty for four counts of money laundering and one count of conspiracy. Waters used three of his businesses to sell over-the-counter medications as well as health and beauty aids online. Waters’ co-owner pleaded guilty on four counts of unlawful money transactions involving property as well on July 24. Waters’ sentence date is to be determined, and he faces a maximum ten-year sentence in prison and a fine for every money laundering count of $250,000, and an additional five-year sentence with a fine of $250,000 or double for the conspiracy charge.

(Story written by Noah Haswell of Beaver County Radio, Published on August 30, 2024 at 6:14 A.M.)

(Pittsburgh, PA) Currently docking in Pittsburgh, the final operating ship that sailed in World War II is wowing locals to tours for the next few days. The USS LST 325, which spends its time mostly in Evansville, Indiana, is in Pittsburgh for the third time in its rich history of eighty years. The legendary ship will be docked near Stage AE on the North Shore and tours will set sail from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting on August 30 through September 3. Tickets are only sold in-person, $15 for adults, $7 for children ages 6-17, and children five and under get free admission.

(Story written by Noah Haswell of Beaver County Radio, Published on August 30, 2024 at 6:05 A.M.)

(Beaver, PA) 25-year-old Jason Banks, Jr., who killed his girlfriend, 20-year-old Treonna Washington last week in an Aliquippa alley stood in front of a judge on Thursday already accused of homicide charges. The court showed a video that was evidence of Banks pushing Washington down stairs. Banks’ roommate testified that Banks walked both him and Washington into the alley and then shot Washington when his back was turned. He also said that Banks wanted him to keep the incident private from everyone and he never spotted a gun with Banks. Banks will return to court for another trial in October with the date planned for some time last year.

(Story written by Noah Haswell of Beaver County Radio, Published on August 30, 2024 at 5:59 A.M.)

(New Castle, PA) The Zambelli Fireworks company has been awarded Festival Grand Champion for 2024 at a fireworks competition in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Zach Taminosian, a designer for the local pyrotechnic giant, created the winning show called “Cosmic Connections,” which was judged based on quality, originality, color brilliance and richness, synchronization of music and fireworks, and overall perspective of the show. According to a Zambelli press release, the show wowed audiences with a story that explored the universal human experiences of love, relationships and heartbreak. The 2024 GlobalFest International Fireworks Competition also featured other firework teams from the United States, Spain, Mexico, and Brazil.

(Story written by Noah Haswell of Beaver County Radio, Published on August 30, 2024 at 5:41 A.M.)

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pittsburgh is planning to make a new program to battle addiction. Saturday, August 31 is also International Overdose Awareness Day, and Downtown Pittsburgh experiences the most situations of overdosing. The program involves intervention teams formed by the city’s Office of Community Health and Safety to stop the overdose when they see it happening. Three teams of two, consisted of a case manager and peers, will investigate the condition and try to reverse them back into recovery from their addictions.

(Story written by Noah Haswell of Beaver County Radio, Published on August 30, 2024 at 4:44 A.M.)

A new Mexican restaurant is creating a fiesta in Rochester. Cantina Bar and Grill, which had its opening last month at 161 Brighton Avenue serves tacos as their top sellers. The family of Chris Garcia, a former Los Angeles native, now a resident of Beaver County, has recipes and experience from a previous restaurant they owned in California. Cantina Bar and Grill is open on Mondays through Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Fridays, 8 a.m. to 1:30 a.m., Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., with happy hours from 5-7 p.m. on weekdays.

(Story written by Noah Haswell of Beaver County Radio, Published on August 30, 2024 at 4:37 A.M.)

(Pittsburgh, PA) A woman’s body was found close to Sandcastle Waterpark in the Monongahela River. First responders went to the scene at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday and the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the dead victim as 36-year-old Latasha Jefferson, who according to the Pittsburgh Bureau of police, was reported missing on Wednesday. No suspicious activity was reported from the Allegheny County police’s homicide unit. After the body was found, Sandcastle closed for the remaining hours of Thursday and has been operating on just weekends, but the waterpark will be open this Labor Day weekend and then close for the rest of their season.

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Departments of Transportation (PennDOT) and Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP), the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), and safety partners gathered today at Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center to urge motorists to celebrate responsibly ahead of the Labor Day holiday.

“Crashes involving impaired drivers are completely preventable,” said PennDOT Executive Deputy Secretary Larry Shifflet. “If your celebration this weekend includes alcohol or drugs, plan to get home safely. Choose a designated driver, choose to use a ride-share service or public transportation, but never choose to drive impaired.”

Over the Labor Day holiday weekend last year (Friday, September 1, 2023, through Monday, September 4, 2023) there were 1,189 crashes statewide, resulting in 20 fatalities and 892 injuries. 133 of those crashes were alcohol related, resulting in eight fatalities and 110 injuries; and 41 of those crashes were drug-related, resulting in five fatalities and 48 injuries.

Over this holiday period, PSP and local municipal agencies will conduct impaired driving enforcement details as part of the National Crackdown on Impaired Driving enforcement and education campaign running through September 2. This effort is funded through PennDOT’s statewide annual distribution of nearly $6 million from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for impaired driving enforcement.

The goal of targeted enforcement is to reduce the number of impaired driving-related crashes, injuries, and deaths on roadways throughout the state.

“DUI enforcement saves lives. Everyone is safer when impaired drivers are removed from our roads,” said PSP Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris. “Please enjoy the holiday weekend responsibly.”

During the 2023 Labor Day holiday enforcement period, PSP troopers made 514 DUI arrests and investigated 61 alcohol-related crashes, two of which were fatal.

Impaired driving enforcement goes beyond checking for alcohol impairment. Law enforcement also work to identify motorists impaired by illegal drugs and prescription medication or some combination of these. Pennsylvania has approximately 250 Drug Recognition Experts (DRE) or specially trained officers who look for impaired drivers and assist in DUI investigations when drug-impaired driving is suspected.

“We know that prevention really is our first line of defense when it comes to combatting impaired driving and helping to ensure substance use disorders don’t develop,” said DDAP Deputy Secretary Kelly Primus. “As we close out the summer season that traditionally brings with it an uptick in opportunities for alcohol use, please know that the Shapiro Administrations offers 24-7 help for anyone who is struggling with a substance use disorder.”

Individuals seeking substance use treatment or recovery resources can be connected to local substance use disorder (SUD) resources by calling the toll-free PA Get Help Now helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or by using Treatment Atlas, a free, online locator tool to help Pennsylvanians confidentially find SUD treatment that meets their needs.

“Impaired driving leads to preventable injuries and fatalities, and many times turns surgeries into life-or-death struggles,” said Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center Medical Director of Trauma Services and Chief of Surgery Dr. Dale Dangleben. “As a trauma surgeon, I see the tragic outcomes firsthand. The consequences extend beyond the obvious injuries to not just the patient but the families and communities.”

Cumberland County Coroner Charley Hall emphasized the importance of sober driving by simply stating, “Impaired driving kills. Don’t become another coroner’s statistic.”

The event featured a demonstration of a drug-detection field sobriety test by PSP Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Program Coordinator Corporal Nathan Zulick. Local municipal police who are participating in the enforcement campaign were also in attendance.

A Penn State Health Life Lion Ambulance was on display, along with the Pennsylvania DUI Association’s Moving DUI Victims’ Memorial. The association has a permanent DUI Victims’ Memorial Garden located in front of their headquarters in Harrisburg, honoring and remembering Pennsylvanians who have been killed in impaired driving crashes. The moving memorial showcases a 25-foot wall printed with all of the names of the DUI victims that have been honored in the garden but is housed in a 30-foot trailer that can travel and be shared with loved ones and advocates around the state.

The safety partners encourage motorists to ensure their safety and the safety of others on our roadways by designating a sober driver or arranging for alternate transportation this Labor Day weekend, and every time they drink. The public can join the conversation on social media by using the hashtags #BeSafePA and #DriveSober.