Category: News

Pennsylvania man enters no contest pleas against charges for murders that happened almost five years ago

(Story reported by Curtis Walsh and posted by Noah Haswell, both of Beaver County Radio, Published on Septemebr 16, 2024 at 10:05 A.M.)

(York, PA) After facing charges that he killed his father and stepmother with a sword in their Pennsylvania home almost five years ago, a Pennsylvania man has entered no contest pleas against them. 43-year-old Levar Fountain, who is scheduled for sentencing on November 8, killed both John Fountain, 74, and Mary Fountain, 65, in December of 2019, and at that time, authorities said Fountain told them he was off his schizophrenia medication. Court documents indicate that Fountain entered the pleas to third-degree murder charges in the York County Court earlier this month, avoiding a trial that was to have begun this week. First-degree murder counts that would have carried a mandatory life without parole term were dismissed. Attorneys agreed during the legal proceedings that Fountain doesn’t remember the deaths due to his mental condition at the time. 

Shots fired while children play at new Aliquippa playground

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published September 16, 2024 8:55 P.M.

(Aliquippa, Pa) Aliquippa Police reported they were called for shots fired at the new playground at Third and Jefferson Streets in Plan 11 at 4:20 p.m. Sunday. A female caller told police that her son and his friends were playing basketball when a black male in a black jeep pulled up, got out of the jeep, began firing shots and the youths ran from the scene. None of the youths were injured.

A nearby ring camera caught the incident of the youths running. Police say they have identified the suspect and and anyone with more information should call the Aliquippa Police at 724-775-0880.

Hopewell Junior High School addresses social media threat

(Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News Correspondent, Published on September 13, 2024 at 8:37 A.M.)

(Hopewell, PA) Dr. Jeff Beltz, superintendent of Hopewell Junior High School, in a message to parents said there will be an added police presence in all district schools Friday after the threat was posted last night. He said the district is continuing to monitor for additional social media posts. The superintendent asks families to have conversations with their children about the proper use of social media. Threats should be reported to parents, police, and the school administration.

Electric buses becoming more prominent in Pennsylvania

Many Pennsylvania students now ride electric buses to school. Some 900-million dollars from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program supports cleaner buses in over 500 school districts nationwide. The Steelton-Highspire District received funding to purchase six electric buses, with chargers and charging infrastructure for each bus. Jenna Condran with the district says kids tell her the electric buses are “quieter and calmer.” Condran sees them as a financial investment that affects the school district, community and taxpayers.

(Story reported by Danielle Smith of Keystone News Service, Published September 13, 2024, at 7:57 A.M.)

Center Township Fire Department called to hotel for microwave fire as Aliquippa woman jailed and charged

(Story written by Noah Haswell of Beaver County Radio, Published on September 13, 2024 at 7:20 A.M.)
(Center Township, PA) The Center Township Fire Department was dispatched to My Place Hotel for reports of a microwave on fire on Monday. The fire department requested the police department for assistance with a highly intoxicated female shortly after. Officers found a highly intoxicated and unresponsive female, identified as Doneshia Jones of Aliquippa, that had created a fire in the hotel room while cooking. The fire department evacuated, and then found that a three year old female child in Jones’ care was unsupervised and running throughout the hotel.
Jones was placed under arrest and is lodged in the Beaver County Jail and faces charges for endangering the welfare of children and disorderly conduct causing a hazardous condition.

Pitt forms new advisory committee to find new athletic director

(Story written by Noah Haswell of Beaver County Radio, Published on Spetember 13, 2024 at 6:08 A.M.)

(Pittsburgh, PA) After firing athletic director Heather Lyke earlier this week, the University of Pittsburgh has formed a new advisory committee to find her replacement. Chancellor Joan Gabel said the university is looking for a leader who will help to elevate the school’s student athletes, coaches, staff members, and donors. The committee includes seven members, which consists of Pitt’s chief financial officer Dwayne Pinkney, a Pitt faculty of athletics member Sheila Velez Martinez, former Pitt executive associate athletic director Donna Sanft, men’s head basketball coach Jeff Capel, and three fomer Pitt football players, Pat Bostick, Peter Varischetti, and three-time Defensive Player of the Year with the Los Angeles Rams, Aaron Donald.

Retired Aliquippa teacher has passed away at age 88

(Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News Correspondant, Published on September 13th, 2024 at 5:49 A.M.)

(Hopewell Township, PA) Eugene (Gene) Karmazyn, 88, of Hopewell Township, a retired Aliquippa teacher has passed away on Thursday, September 12, 2024. After retiring from the Aliquippa School District in 2003, Eugene taught drama, was a play director, and was in charge of the class of 1966’s Commencement Program. According to the family, a banner and a will be placed at the Black Box Theater in his honor along with a plaque outside the Black Box Theater. The theater will also now be renamed the Gene Karmazyn Black Box Theater.

10-year-old Shaler Area School District student facing charges after social media threats to schools

(Story written by Noah Haswell of Beaver County Radio, Published on September 13, 2024 at 5:39 A.M.)

(Pittsburgh, PA) A 10-year-old girl from Shaler Area Elementary School is facing charges after posting threats for violence on social media. Shaler Township Police Chief Sean Frank confirmed the charges against the girl, which are third-degree felony terroristic threats and third-degree misdemeanor harassment. Frank commented that the post showed a list of schools that were threatened with intentions of violence, specifically shootings. All the schools that were mentioned in that post will have increased police presence through Friday. 

Local gathering that gives tribute to 18th century Beaver County village will have final year of event at CCBC

(Story written by Noah Haswell of Beaver County Radio, Published on September 13, 2024 at 5:36 A.M.)

(Monaca, PA) The final year of the Logstown Associates Historical Society Native American Gathering will take place in Beaver County at the Community College of Beaver County on October 12th and 13th. After 35 years, organizer Jeff Jones has confirmed that lack of funds led to the decision to stop the annual gathering. The event pays tribute to Logstown, an 18th century Native American village in modern-day Beaver County that led to westward expansion from treaties and conferences, which involved two days for crafts, Native American dancing and a demonstration of corn-husk doll making last year.