Blackhawk Substitute Teacher and Local Author Releases New Children’s Book About the First Day of Kindergarten

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Lester Warby, III)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Chippewa, PA) Lester Warby III, a Beaver County area author, has a new illustrated children’s book called My Very, Very, Very Long First Day of Kindergarten. 

This book follows a young girl from the moment that she wakes up both excited and nervous about kindergarten as she goes through an eventful day of school. 

Warby is a retired credit union CEO who is now serving as a substitute teacher for the Blackhawk School District.

His work in the local classrooms keeps him connected to the humor, curiosity, and the wonder of young readers and it provides inspiration for his writing.

Warby is the author of over fifteen published books, which includes fourteen books for children, paranormal fiction and non-fiction.

His other children’s books include The Haunted Library, a book that draws upon the history and legends that surround the Beaver Falls’ Carnegie Free Library, as well as, The Ghost of Silent Hollow, A Firefly’s Summer Journey, My First Halloween Night; Bigfoot’s Quest for Friendship and Ten Little Bigfoots. 

Warby gives credit to his family, especially his granddaughter, as another source of inspiration that is major for his stories. 

Pirates pitcher Kirby Yates makes first career start, then retires after 12 MLB seasons

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Kirby Yates, right foreground, is hugged by a teammate after being taken out of the game during the second inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

DETROIT (AP) — Two-time All-Star reliever Kirby Yates says he is retiring after making his first start Saturday in a 12-year big league career.

The 39-year-old Yates, who went undrafted out of junior college, shook hands with teammates and plate umpire Laz Diaz while leaving the field after pitching 1 2/3 innings for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He started opposite Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander, who was also making his last appearance before retiring.

It was Yates’ 518th appearance since debuting with Tampa Bay in June 2014, and he confirmed after the game that it was his last.

“This is it,” he said. “Just didn’t really want to say anything publicly before, until the end. It was great. It was an awesome day. Really cool thing to kind of be a part of, especially what’s going on on the other side. Seeing emotions on both sides was something you don’t forget. It was a good day.”

This was the third time both starting pitchers made their final regular-season appearance in the same game after at least 12 seasons. Hall of Famers Christy Mathewson and Mordecai Brown did it in 1916, and Paul Derringer and Vern Kennedy did it in 1945, according to MLB.com.

Yates led the majors with 41 saves for San Diego in 2019. He finishes 32-29 with 101 career saves, including three this season for the Los Angeles Angels.

The right-hander pitched for the Rays, Yankees, Angels, Padres, Braves, Rangers, Dodgers and Pirates. He was an All-Star in 2019 with San Diego and 2024 with Texas. Yates was left off the Dodgers’ postseason roster last season but did receive a ring as part of the World Series championship celebration.

Yates was born in Hawaii and went to high school there. He was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 26th round of the 2005 amateur draft out of high school, but did not sign. Four years later, he signed with Tampa Bay after going undrafted out of Yavapai College in Arizona.

Despite compiling a 3.19 ERA in 46 outings this season, Yates says he knows it’s time to step away.

“I don’t have anything left, let’s put it that way,” he said. “I’ve been running on fumes here for a while.”

AHN Jefferson Hospital Earns Magnet® with Distinction, Recognizing Highest Level of Nursing Excellence

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Allegheny Health Network)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Jefferson Hills, PA) Allegheny Health Network’s (AHN) Jefferson Hospital recently earned Magnet with Distinction™ honors from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), which is an elite level of recognition within the Magnet Recognition Program® and a designation that is reserved for the highest-performing Magnet® organizations. 

This achievement marks AHN Jefferson Hospital’s second Magnet designation and places the South Hills hospital among an exclusive group of hospitals worldwide which have been recognized for excellence in nursing, professional practice that is innovative, quality outcomes for patients and a strong culture involving collaboration.

AHN Jefferson Hospital is also one of only two Pennsylvania hospitals and the first in the western Pennsylvania region to achieve Magnet with Distinction honors.

Magnet with Distinction recognizes organizations that exceed the rigorous performance thresholds that are required to achieve Magnet designation.

The ANCC describes this distinction as recognizing the highest-performing Magnet organizations around the world and it notes that only the top 1% of Magnet hospitals achieve this level of performance.

That is less than 100 hospitals nationally and sets a standard that is high.

AHN Jefferson Hospital earned 10 exemplars that highlight specific examples of excellence in experience quality, and nursing engagement for patients that demonstrate the breadth and depth of the commitment of the organization to advancing patient care in addition to receiving Magnet with Distinction.

State Police Seek Public’s Assistance and Warn Public of Gold Bar Scam

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Badge)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Milton, PA) The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) are investigating an organized fraud scheme in which scammers impersonate federal law enforcement agencies. 

According to investigators, the scam typically begins with a pop-up appearing on the victim’s computer.

The victim is then contacted by people that claim to represent federal officials. 

The scammers tell victims in this scam that their identity or Social Security number has been connected to criminal activity and that their bank accounts or personal information have been compromised.

They also instruct the victim to then withdraw money from their accounts, buy gold bars or coins and turn the gold over to a courier for its “safekeeping.”

Approximately $6.5 million has been stolen through this scheme to date.

Victims have been identified across the country, including in the state of Washington and Maryland.

Pennsylvania State Police believe that there may be additional victims who have not yet been identified. 

State police are asking anyone who may have been a target of this scam and was instructed to buy or provide gold to a courier in August and/or September to contact their local investigators. 

A vehicle that was involved in this scheme has been identified as a silver 2025 Honda Accord that bears California registration 9TTS143.

Two people were taken into custody after Pennsylvania State Police stopped their vehicle on September 10th, 2026 on Interstate 80 in Union County.

Anyone who believes that they may have been victimized or who turned over gold or money in connection with this scam is asked to call Trooper Eric Dreisbach at 570-560-0625 and reference this code: PA 2026-1166513. 

No legitimate law enforcement officer will give you instructions to buy gold or give money or gold to a courier. 

Route 168 Eastbrook Road Utility Work Begins Wednesday in Lawrence County

(File Photo of a Road Work Ahead Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Lawrence County, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that utility work on Eastbrook Road (Route 168) in Hickory Township of Lawrence County will begin on Wednesday, September 30th, weather permitting. 

From 8 A.M. to 4 P.M. weekdays through mid-October, starting on Wednesday, single-lane alternating traffic restrictions controlled by flaggers will occur on Eastbrook Road at Hunters Lane/Rich Drive.

Gas line replacement work will be conducted by crews from Peoples Gas.

Congressman Chris Deluzio Celebrates Federal Funds for Next-Generation Cancer Treatment Research Based in O’Hara Township

(File Photo of Congressman Chris Deluzio)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Carnegie, PA) Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) announced on Thursday that the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has awarded a $306,756 grant to KaliVir Immunotherapeutics of O’Hara Township, Pennsylvania for cancer treatment research.

This federal funding is a Small Business Innovation Research Grant (SBIR) – Phase II, which comes from the National Cancer Institute.  

KaliVir Immunotherapeutics develops viral-based therapies (oncolytic viruses) that are from the next generation and they both destroy tumor cells directly as well as activate and attract an anti-tumor immune response.   

Route 18 Utility Installation Work Begins Monday in Lawrence County

(File Photo of a Road Work Ahead Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Lawrence County, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that sanitary sewer line installation work on Route 18 (Wilmington Road) in Neshannock and Wilmington townships in Lawrence County will begin today, weather permitting. 

From 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. weekdays through late December, alternating single-lane restrictions will occur on Route 18 between Glen Road and Honeybee Lane.

Sanitary sewer installation work will be conducted by crews from Rudzik Excavating, Inc.

Griffin’s homer helps Pirates finish with winning record, beating Detroit 4-2

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Konnor Griffin runs the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

DETROIT (AP) — Konnor Griffin homered and the Pittsburgh Pirates recorded their first winning season in eight years with a 4-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday in the final game for both teams.

Pittsburgh (82-80), which improved by 11 wins over 2025, hadn’t finished with a record over .500 since going 82-79 in 2018.

Detroit, which made the postseason the previous two years, finished 76-86, an 11-win drop from 2025.

Griffin led off the game against River Ryan (0-1) with his sixth homer, and the Pirates doubled the lead in the second on an RBI single by Jake Mangum. Pittsburgh had the bases loaded with one out later in the inning, but Beau Brieske came out of the bullpen to get Griffin to hit into an inning-ending double play.

Pittsburgh increased the lead to 4-0 with a pair of runs in the fourth. Billy Cook’s two-out double brought home Nick Gonzales, and Griffin followed with an RBI single.

Detroit got on the board with two homers off Antwone Kelly in the seventh.

Kevin McGonigle, who had Detroit’s only hit in the first six innings – a fourth-inning single – led off with his 18th home run to make it 4-1. After Riley Greene grounded out, Eduardo Valencia homered for the second straight game.

The Tigers, though, didn’t score again. Mason Montgomery pitched the ninth for his 18th save.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch removed McGonigle in the top of the eighth, allowing him to receive a standing ovation after a season that has made him the favorite for the American League Jackie Robinson Award.

The 21-year-old finished the season hitting .278 with 18 homers, 97 runs and 95 walks, becoming the fourth rookie to finish with 95 runs and 95 walks since 1947. He joins Jim Gilliam (1953), Joe Morgan (1965) and Aaron Judge (2017).

Pirates left fielder Bryan Reynolds started, but came out of the game in the third inning, allowing him to play in all 162 games this season.

The game drew a crowd of 30,165, bringing Detroit’s season total to 2,322,353 – a 3.8% drop from last season.

Beaver man charged in Brighton Township for not complying with Megan’s Law registration requirements

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Brighton Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported yesterday that twenty-seven-year-old Adam Casciato of Beaver was charged on July 10th.

Casciato was found by police at 8:11 p.m. along 3800 Dutch Ridge Road in Brighton Township.

According to police, Casciato was charged because he failed to comply with Megan’s Law registration requirements.

Canonsburg man arrested for driving under the influence of drugs in Aliquippa

(File Photo of Police Siren Lights)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Canonsburg, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported yesterday that thirty-eight-year-old David Conway of Canonsburg was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs in Aliquippa on July 8th.

Conway was stopped by police because he committed a vehicle code violation in the 700 block of Sheffield Avenue at 6:04 p.m.

According to police, Conway was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence of a controlled substance.

Charges against him are pending.