SCOTT TADY

BIG BEAVER – Picking and grinning is guaranteed this weekend at the Ramada by Wyndham Hotel.

The January Ice Jam returns for a third year to Beaver County, presenting 28 bluegrass acts from throughout the tri-state region.

“Bluegrass music, fun, family, and tradition – that is what makes the January Ice Jam the huge success it has been for the past 25 plus years,” Amy George, co-founder of the event, said.

Originating in a Butler County hotel that closed in the pandemic era, the January Ice Jam is a free indoor bluegrass music festival inside the Ramada, off Route 18 just north of the Beaver Valley interchange of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

There’s no admission charge, though basket raffles, 50/50 raffles, instrument
raffles, donations and merchandise sales raise money for the Bluegrass Relief Fund, Inc., a charitable organization dedicated to
placing financial and emotional support where it is needed within the local bluegrass music community.

Performances start Friday at 7 p.m., with the music continuing that night until 10 p.m.

On Saturday, the music begins again at noon and continues until 10 p.m.

Different bands take the stage every 30 minutes to perform their favorite bluegrass music.

The Ramada’s restaurant and lounge will be open, with food sold inside the performance space, too. A coffee suppling food truck will be parked outside.

“Over the past
27 years and counting, we have raised well over $100,000 to help support countless friends of
the bluegrass community,” George said. All musicians and event staff proudly volunteer their
time and talents to ensure the event’s continued success.

For more information and to see the performance schedule, visit bluegrassrelieffund.org, or the event’s Facebook page.

 

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Departments of Agriculture, Labor & Industry and Education)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced yesterday in Harrisburg on the third day of the 2026 Pennsylvania Farm show that $600,345 in PA Farm Bill Agriculture & Youth Grants, which includes 15 matching and 47 direct awards to organizations in 33 counties, will fund projects that will empower youth across Pennsylvania to succeed in its $132.5 billion agriculture industry. Pennsylvania Labor & Industry Secretary Nancy A. Walker, and Pennsylvania Education Secretary Dr. Carrie Rowe joined Secretary Redding to make this announcement during a Career Expo which connected over 2,200 Pennsylvania students with career opportunities offered by 48 agricultural businesses. According to a release yesterday in Harrisburg from the Pennsylvania Departments of Agriculture, Labor & Industry and Education, here is some more information about these grants:

Grant recipient Trellis for Tomorrow, a Chester County nonprofit, received $18,100 to expand its garden and farm-based youth programming initiatives in 2026. For the last 22 years, Trellis has provided hands-on, paid work experiences for young people in agriculture, prioritizing youth in historically disadvantaged neighborhoods in the Greater Philadelphia Region. The group has worked with more than 1,600 youth over that time, and in the last six years has provided over 30,000 lbs. of organic produce to neighbors in need through its youth programming initiatives.

Grant recipients, funded project titles, and funding amount by county are as follows:

 

Allegheny

Riverview School District –Seeds of Tomorrow: VR Agriculture and Aquaponics Career Lab, $7,000

Bible Center Church –The Oasis Project, Oasis Farm Field 2 Fork Youth Academy, $7,500

Hilltop Urban Farm  – Season extension, $7,398

Grow Pittsburgh – Garden Dreams, $25,000

Chatham University – Deer Education and Infrastructure at Eden Hall Campus, $12,280

 

Beaver

RiverWise  – 2026 Summer Sustainability Institute, $7,500

 

Berks

Alvernia University – Seeds of Discovery: Raised Bed Pilot Project, $7,500

Brandywine Heights Area School District – Poultry Science Program, $7,500

 

Blair

Spring Cove School District – Food Science and Safety, $7,481

 

Bucks

Middle Bucks Institute of Technology – Phase 2 Greenhouse Restoration Project, $25,000

Upper Bucks County Technical School – Barn Renovations and Expansion Capital Project – $25,000

Snipes Farm and Education Center – Youth Ag Education Equipment for Snipes Farm Seed-to-Fork Program, $7,482

Middle Bucks Institute of Technology – Hydroponics Project for Horticulture and Landscape Program – $6,165

 

Butler

Butler Area School District Districit – Ag Programming Expansion, $7,500

 

Centre

The Pennsylvania State University – Philipsburg-Osceola High School Greenhouse and Gardening Program, $7,000

Bald Eagle Area School District – Floriculture on Display – Floral Cooler, $4,494

 

Chester

Ryerss Farm for Aged Equines – Ryerss Farm for Aged Equines Youth Summer Camps, $7,500

Chester County Intermediate Unit – School Co-op Garden, $7,500

Chester County Intermediate Unit – The Learning Lab Grant, $7,500

Trellis for Tomorrow, Trellis for Tomorrow – Agricultural Education Grow Space Expansion, $18,100

 

Columbia

Southern Columbia Area High School Agriculture Program – SCA Agriculture Career Exploration and Leadership Development Project, $7,500

Southern Columbia Area High School Agriculture Program – Greenhouse Project, $10,000

 

Crawford

Conneaut Area School District Agriculture Department – CASH Greenhouse, $4,010

 

Cumberland

Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation – Mobile Ag Lab Increases Access to Vital Agriculture Education, $7,500

 

Dauphin

Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation – DLT Farm Tours and Exploration Experiences, $7,500

Wildheart Ministries – The Hill Farm Field Trips 2026, $25,000

 

Erie

Groundwork Erie – 4th Street Farm Expansion and Education, $7,487 

Eco-Erie – Water and Sanitation Upgrade for Youth Agricultural Training, $25,000

 

Franklin

Franklin County Fair Commission, Franklin County Junior Fair Board Improvement and Expansion, $7,500

 

Huntingdon

Standing Stone FFA – Huntingdon Area High School Plant and Soil Science Curriculum Equipment, $7,500

Southern Huntingdon County High School, Animal Science Equipment for Southern Huntingdon County Agriculture Department, $7,460

 

Lancaster

Killiann George – Hands-On Animal Reproduction Technology and Safety Lab, $7,018

 

Lawrence

Wilmington Area School District – Wilmington Farms: Growing Creativity, $7,500

 

Lebanon

ELCO School District – Legacy in the Making: The ELCO Barn Raising, $21,250

 

Montgomery

Variety – the Children’s Charity of the Delaware Valley – Variety’s Agricultural Vocational Program for Youth with Disabilities, $7,500

Montgomery County Intermediate Unit – 25-26 MCIU Transition Envision Horticulture, $7,500

 

Montour

The Pennsylvania State University – Montour County 4-H Agricultural and Environmental Science Program Extension, $3,354

 

Northampton

Easton Area Neighborhood Center – Pathways in Agriculture and Leadership, $7,500

 

Northumberland

Line Mountain School District Animal and Veterinary Program Additions, $7,368

 

Perry

LEAF Project – Farm Fellowship: Shared Authority and Sustainability on the LEAF Farm, $7,500

Greenwood School District – Energizing Engines Small Gas Engine Curriculum Enhancement, $7,500

 

Philadelphia

Novick Urban Farm – Giving of Self Partnership School Garden, $1,226

AgrotheraPA – G.R.O.W. Hub Intergenerational Garden Initiative, $5,000

The School District of Philadelphia – Fox Chase Farm Student-Run Farm Store, $7,500

Home and School Association of the Penn Alexander School – Penn Alexander Middle Grades Science Ag Education Program, $7,500

WB Saul Alumni Association – Saul School Support, $3,732

Home and School Association of the Penn Alexander School – Outdoor Classroom for Urban Garden, $25,000

Greener Partners – Farm Explorer, $7,500

Potter
The Pennsylvania State University – Learning Kits for Agricultural and Rural Education, $2,447

Snyder

The Pennsylvania State University – Agriculture Adventures Youth Day Camp, $6,103

 

Somerset

Berlin Brothersvalley High School – Animal Production Equipment, $7,490

 

Tioga
Wellsboro Area School District – Lab Science Supplies for Student Success, $7,500

 

Union

The Pennsylvania State University – Putting the Science Back in Livestock and Environmental Projects, $7,500

Mifflinburg Area School District – Agriculture Program Mobile Workstation – Mifflinburg, $25,000

 

Warren

Warren County School District – Eisenhower Middle-High Agricultural Program Supports, $7,500

 

Washington

California Area School District – The Greenhouse as a Living Classroom for STEAM, $5,658

Pennsylvania Guernsey Breeders Association – PA Junior Guernsey Breeders Attendance at 2027 National Convention, $7,500

Jeannette Hartley – Trinity Hydroponics Retrofit, $7,500

California Area School District – Agri-Ready Youth Training in Veterinary and Animal Science, $24,000

 

Wayne

The Pennsylvania State University – Wayne County 4-H Spring 2026 Education, $7,492

 

Wyoming

The Pennsylvania State University – Cloverbud and Junior Explorers Agriculture Safety and Community Discovery, $6,850

 

Statewide Project

The Pennsylvania State University – AP 4-H Agriculture and Nutrition Education – Books for Cooks, $7,500

(File Photo of Police Siren Lights)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Witnesses stated that a fight over a parking complaint happened before gunfire broke out in the Hazelwood neighborhood of Pittsburgh last night. According to Pittsburgh Public Safety, it happened at around 10:15 p.m. on the 100 block of Tecumseh Street. Police noted that officers responding to a ShotSpotter alert discovered shell casings on the sidewalks, two homes that had been hit by bullets, as well as a woman who had a gunshot wound to the leg. She was stable when she was taken to the hospital. No arrests had been announced as of early this morning. 

(Credit for Photo: Courtesy of the Allegheny County Police Department)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) According to Allegheny County police, detectives seized marijuana, illegal drug products and cash while executing search warrants at two vape shops in Ross Township last week. Authorities noted that the Allegheny County police department’s Narcotics Unit, working with Ross Township police, served warrants on Friday at Smoke World and Vape in the 4800 block of McKnight Road and Powerful Smoke in the 7300 block of McKnight Road. Investigators confirm that the businesses were involved in a large-scale illegal marijuana sales operation. Police reported seizing over two kilograms of marijuana, thousands of illegal THC- and psilocybin-infused products and over $9,000 in cash from the two locations. Allegheny County police state that the investigation into this incident is ongoing and they are working with the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office. 

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Lawrence County, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in New Castle reported via release yesterday that a theft of a motor vehicle occurred in Lawrence County on Saturday from 4 a.m. to 11 a.m. This happened along 1600 Marr Road in Pulaski Township and forty-four-year-old Dustin Klamer of New Castle reported that a red in color 1996 Suzuki Trailboss 250 four-wheeler was stolen from him. If you have any information about this incident, you can contact PSP New Castle Trooper Bartosiewicz by calling 724-598-2211. 

(File Photo of Handcuffs)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(New Castle, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in New Castle reported via release yesterday that twenty-nine-year-old Aaron Bertovich of Hubbard, Ohio was arrested for trespassing in Lawrence County on January 6th, 2026. This happened at 3:27 p.m. along 3539 Wilmington Road in Neshannock Township. Bertovich trespassed on the property of Hillcorp Energy Company in New Castle and an amethyst Toyota Tacoma vehicle was involved. Charges were filed against Bertovich.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – This April 2, 2021, file photo shows bridges spanning the Allegheny River in downtown Pittsburgh. Republicans in Congress are making the politically brazen bet that it’s more advantageous to oppose President Joe Biden’s ambitious rebuild America agenda than to lend support for the costly $2.3 trillion undertaking for roads, bridges and other infrastructure investments. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pittsburgh Parking Authority is now expanding its ticket-by-mail program. If you get a ticket in the Steel City, there could be an increased chance that instead of getting it on the windshield of your car, you are getting it in the mail. This program began in 2024.

(Photo Courtesy of WPXI-TV Pittsburgh, Posted on Facebook on January 13th, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Hopewell Township, PA) According to Hopewell Zoning Officer John Bates, late last year, the township approved a request from Revival Today to allow assemblies at 400 Commerce Drive in the Hopewell Business and Industrial Park. That building permit is still working through the process for approval, which would allow renovations inside the building. Bates expects that to be approved in the coming weeks. Neighbors near the location of the church on Coraopolis Heights Road were complaining about the noise of the outdoor events being held there in 2024. Last month is when Moon Township denied the permit of the church to operate. Revival Today has been around the area of Pittsburgh for the last few years. Bates also expressed that by approving the request to allow assembly at the Hopewell location, there will be language that is said to control the noise. There is no word yet on when services will start at the new location.

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB), will award lottery registrants the opportunity to purchase 1,434 bottles of rare whiskeys from the Van Winkle set, Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC), and E.H. Taylorthrough its Limited-Release Lotteries. Three separate lotteries will be conducted, with one for each collection of these limited-release whiskeys and one for the E.H. Taylor bourbon. One entry per household, per drawing is allowed and entries that are duplicative will be disqualified. Each participant may opt in to either one, two, or all of these lotteries and/or drawings and residents and licensees from Pennsylvania will have until 5 P.M. this Friday, January 16th, to opt in by visiting the Limited-Release Lottery web page by clicking here. According to a release in Harrisburg yesterday from the PLCB, here is some more information about these three lotteries, which will be held in the following order to award the right to purchase individual bottles:

The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection Lottery

The first lottery will feature 324 bottles from the BTAC.

 

Winning entries are limited to one bottle per participant, and if a participant wins a bottle in a drawing within this lottery, they will be removed from subsequent drawings in this lottery. Purchase is limited to one bottle per participant for the BTAC lottery.

 

The retail price for each 750-milliliter bottle in this collection is $149.99:

• Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey 18 Year Old – nine bottles for individual consumers, three for licensees
• Eagle Rare Straight Bourbon 17 Year Old – 18 bottles for individual consumers, six for licensees
• William Larue Weller Straight Bourbon Barrel Proof – 45 bottles for individual consumers, 15 for licensees
• George T. Stagg Straight Bourbon Barrel Proof – 45 bottles for individual consumers, 15 for licensees
• Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey Barrel Proof – 126 bottles for individual consumers, 42 for licensees

 

The Van Winkle Lottery

The second lottery will feature 1,062 bottles of Kentucky whiskeys, produced by Pappy Van Winkle’s grandson using recipes dating back four generations.

 

Winning entries are limited to one bottle per participant, and if a participant wins a bottle in a drawing within this lottery, they will be removed from subsequent drawings in this lottery. Purchase is limited to one bottle per participant for the Van Winkle lottery. Drawings will be held, in the following order, to award the right to purchase individual bottles:

• Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Straight Bourbon 23 Year Old, $449.99 each – 32 bottles for individual consumers, 10 for licensees
• Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Straight Bourbon 15 Year Old, $199.99 each – 34 bottles for individual consumers, 11 for licensees
• Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Straight Bourbon 20 Year Old, $319.99 each – 34 bottles for individual consumers, 11 for licensees
• Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Straight Bourbon 10 Year Old, $129.99 each – 118 bottles for individual consumers, 39 for licensees
• Van Winkle Special Reserve Straight Bourbon 12 Year Old, $149.99 each – 580 bottles for individual consumers, 193 for licensees

 

The E.H. Taylor Lottery

The third lottery will feature 48 bottles of Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. Straight Bourbon Limited Edition Bottled in Bond, $149.99 each – 36 bottles for individual consumers, 12 for licensees.

 

Both retail entrants and licensee entrants are encouraged to review the lottery Terms and Conditions before entering the Limited-Release Lotteries.

 

Individual consumers and licensees interested in entering one or more lotteries or drawings must have an active account with FWGS.com with billing information on file. Each participant is encouraged to verify that accurate, up-to-date billing information is associated with his or her customer account, to prevent transaction delays or cancellations. Once the Limited-Release Lottery registration period closes, entrants will not be able to update their payment information. If someone is selected as a winner and the payment is declined for any reason, the entrant will forfeit their entry and the opportunity to purchase the bottle. Entrants are encouraged to review their account to verify that payment/billing information and the delivery location is accurate before entering the lottery.

 

Store delivery of Limited-Release Lottery products is required; failure to identify a valid store for delivery may result in the loss of the right to purchase that product. All lottery item(s) purchased will be delivered to the Fine Wine & Good Spirits location chosen by the entrant at the time of entry. Only individuals submitting eligible entries will be able to pick up their lottery purchases in their designated stores after presenting valid photo ID; bottles will not be released by stores to alternate pickup persons or anyone other than the lottery entrant. Winning entrants who fail to personally appear to pick up their lottery purchase(s) or who otherwise attempt to circumvent these requirements will be disqualified.

 

In light of attempts by previous lottery winners to illegally resell products obtained through Limited-Release Lotteries, the lottery Terms and Conditions remind residents that the sale of alcoholic beverages without a license is strictly prohibited under Pennsylvania law. When entering a Limited-Release Lottery, a participant will be asked to acknowledge that he or she has read and understands these terms and conditions.

 

Limited-Release Lotteries are open to Pennsylvania residents and licensees age 21 or older who provide both a verifiable Pennsylvania billing address and a Fine Wine & Good Spirits store address at registration. Any registrant with a billing address that cannot be verified as a Pennsylvania address will be removed from the lottery. Entries will be vetted for duplicative names, addresses, and other information, and duplicates will be deleted from the lottery pool.

 

Lottery drawings will be witnessed by an independent third party. Winners will be selected at random by computer program. Participants will be notified by email when the lottery process is complete.

 

The PLCB regulates the distribution of beverage alcohol in Pennsylvania, operates Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores statewide, and licenses more than 20,000 alcohol producers, retailers, and handlers. The PLCB also works to reduce and prevent dangerous and underage drinking through partnerships with schools, community groups, and licensees. For more information about the PLCB, visit pa.gov/lcb.

 

Fine Wine & Good Spirits is Pennsylvania’s go-to destination for wine, spirits, and ready-to-drink cocktails, as well as in-store tastings and events. With more than 560 stores, 13 licensee service centers and a robust online shopping experience at FWGS.com, Fine Wine & Good Spirits offers a wide selection of products for customers to discover new favorites, find trusted classics, and explore exclusive, limited-release selections. Fine Wine & Good Spirits and the PLCB contribute to the state’s economy by returning taxes and profits – nearly $23.5 billion since the agency’s inception – to Pennsylvania’s General Fund, financing Pennsylvania’s schools, health and human services programs, law enforcement, and public safety and community initiatives. The PLCB also provides financial support for the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, other state agencies, and local municipalities across the state.

 

Every purchase made at a Fine Wine & Good Spirits store or at FWGS.com helps strengthen Pennsylvania, supporting nearly 6,000 employees and more than 2,500 communities across the commonwealth.

(File Photo of Winter Driving in Beaver Falls)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) As Winter Driving Awareness Week starts in Pennsylvania, AAA and PennDOT are reminding motorists there and beyond to use extra caution when they are driving during inclement weather. According to research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, about 46 percent of all crashes involving bad weather take place during the colder months. Accordign to a recent release from AAA East Central, here are some tips that AAA East Central recommends for driving during the winter weather:

AAA East Central offers the following tips for driving in winter weather:

• Stay Home. This is the number one way to avoid a crash in the winter.
• Leave Early. Running late to work leads to anxiety which can cloud judgment and possibly lead to risky driving behaviors.
• Slow down. Accelerate, turn, and brake as gradually and smoothly as possible. This will help maintain control in rough conditions.
• Don’t tailgate. Normal following distances of three to four seconds on dry pavement should be extended to a minimum of five to six seconds when driving on slippery surfaces. The extra time will provide additional braking room should a sudden stop become necessary.
• Never use cruise control on slippery roads. If a vehicle hydroplanes or skids, motorists will lose the ability to regain some traction simply by lifting off the accelerator. It will be harder to recover from the loss of traction if cruise control is active.
• Turn against the skid. If a car begins to skid, continue to steer in the direction you want the car to go.

To prepare a vehicle for winter driving, AAA recommends the following tips:

• Have the vehicle’s battery tested. Last winter, AAA East Central contractors responded to more than 66,000 battery calls, the number one call received by the Club.
• Replace worn windshield-wiper blades. Purchase one-piece, beam-type or rubber-clad “winter” blades to fight snow and ice buildup. Use cold-weather windshield washer solvent and carry an ice scraper.
• Inspect tires. Make sure tires have adequate tread depth – at least 4/32” – as worn tires can affect a motorist’s ability to stop in slick conditions. An easy way to check for wear is by inserting a quarter into the tread groove. If the top of Washington’s head is exposed, the tread depth is less than 4/32″ and it’s time to replace tires. Also, check that the vehicle has a spare tire and keep it properly inflated. In harsh winter climates, a set of snow tires may be a wise investment.
• Carry an emergency kit equipped for winter weather. The kit should include sand or cat litter, a small shovel, flashlight, an ice scraper or snow brush, booster cables, a blanket, gloves or mittens and flares or reflective triangles.

More AAA winter car care tips can be found by clicking here.