Former President Jimmy Carter will have his funeral planned similar to other former presidents

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – A general view outside St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, D.C., during President John F. Kennedy’s funeral, with flag-draped coffin in the foreground, Nov. 25, 1963. The president’s brothers can be seen behind the casket. At left is Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), and at right entering limousine is Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. (AP Photo, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Jimmy Carter’s memorial journey will end at his house in the tiny town of Plains, Georgia, where he grew up on a peanut farm. That is where his wife, Rosalynn, was laid to rest last year in a burial plot that they chose years ago.

But before Carter reaches his humble final destination, there will be an interstate choreography of grief, ceremony and logistics that is characteristic of state funerals. Ever since the nation’s founding, America has bid farewell to former presidents with an intricate series of events weaving together longstanding traditions and personal touches.

Funerals often are planned by the presidents themselves, who usually have years after leaving the White House to ponder how they want to be memorialized.

“They are very much involved in the planning process, and the decisions that they make tell us a lot about who they are, how they see the presidency, and how they want to be remembered by the American people,” said Matthew Costello, senior historian for the White House Historical Association, who co-wrote a book called “Mourning the Presidents: Loss and Legacy in American Culture.”

Carter had more time to plan than most. He lived for 43 years after his presidency ended, the longest post-presidency in U.S. history, before dying Sunday at 100.

Many details of his funeral remain under wraps, at the discretion of the family and military units that are responsible for carrying out the plans. Most presidents lie in state in the U.S. Capitol, and there is usually a service at Washington National Cathedral.

President Joe Biden let slip last year that Carter had asked him to give a eulogy. (“Excuse me, I shouldn’t say that,” Biden admitted.)

Biden said Sunday his team is working with Carter’s family and others “to see to it that he is remembered appropriately, here in the United States and around the world.” Carter’s son Chip is his main point of contact, though Biden said he has spoken with all the Carter children.

He described a process underway “that will take a little time” but will result in a “major service in Washington, D.C.” for Carter, which Biden scheduled for Jan. 9.

Sometimes former presidents help with even the smallest details.

Jeffrey Engel, director of the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, recalled meeting with George H.W. Bush shortly after the former president revised the seating chart for his funeral.

“And I said, ‘Is that weird? You know, it’s your own death,’” Engel recalled. “And he said, ‘You know, you do it every three months. You kind of get used to it.’”

President Dwight Eisenhower, who commanded Allied troops during World War II before becoming a politician, wanted to be buried in an $80 government-issued casket. Apart from a glass seal that was added to the design, it was indistinguishable from the casket of any other solider.

Details of the processions also can reflect aspects of a president’s life. Ronald Reagan’s casket was carried up the west steps of the U.S. Capitol, which face his home state of California. When Gerald Ford died, his casket was brought through the House side of the building, a nod to his years as a lawmaker.

The job of carrying out presidential funerals falls to the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region, which includes 4,000 military and civilian personnel. The unit said in a statement that it “is privileged to provide this support on behalf of the nation.”

Presidential funerals can leave lasting marks on the American consciousness. One of the most memorable descriptions of George Washington — “first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen” — came from a eulogy that was widely reprinted when the country’s first leader died.

After John F. Kennedy was assassinated, his son John Jr. was photographed saluting the casket. Kennedy’s casket was transported down Pennsylvania Avenue on the same caisson that carried Abraham Lincoln after he was assassinated a century earlier, and a riderless horse was included in the procession.

Kennedy’s was the first presidential funeral to be widely televised.

“Technology has made mourning in a way more accessible, more democratic. More people have the opportunity to take a moment and reflect upon what this person meant,” Costello said. “And I think it also opens the door to more people being involved in the grieving process.”

In many democratic countries, the head of state and the head of government are two different people. The United States combines both roles, ceremonial and chief executive, into the office of the presidency.

“Since we have no national figure other than the president, we’ve essentially taken all the traditional weight and civic emotion that is put on to the death or the birth or a wedding for a sovereign or a king and placed it on the heads of the presidents,” Engel said. “And there aren’t that many of them, to be honest. So whenever one of them passes, it’s unusual and a big deal.”

He described funerals as a moment to remember “that we’re all in this together” and “this man was the president for all of us, whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat.”

However, in today’s divided politics, state funerals can produce awkward, even tense, moments.

During George H.W. Bush’s funeral in 2018, the audience included President Donald Trump. He shook hands with former President Barack Obama, his predecessor, but did not interact with Hillary Clinton, who he defeated in the 2016 election, or her husband, former President Bill Clinton.

“These funerals are always political,” Engel said. “Whatever happens in the Carter funeral is going to be political, frankly, whether people around the Carter family want it to be or not.”

Duquesne Light hopes to have power returned to Western Pennsylvania customers on January 1st, 2025

(File Photo of Duquesne Light Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) Some people here in Western Pennsylvania are still without power from forceful winds that occurred on Sunday night. According to Duquesne Light, as of 6:31 a.m. this morning, there are still over 400 people in Western Pennsylvania and twenty-two people in Beaver County experiencing power outages. Duquesne Light crews continue to work to get power back in the area, and they confirm that Wednesday, January 1st is an estimated time when the power will be restored. The map for continued updates can be found on this website: https://duquesnelight.com/outages-safety/current-outages

Coroner called to unoccupied building in Beaver Falls

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published December 30, 2024 3:40 P.M. Updated 4:47 P.M., 7:57 P.M., and 10:45 P.M.

(Beaver Falls, Pa) The coroner was called to an unoccupied building on the 200 block of 11th Street in Beaver Falls Monday afternoon around 3pm.

A Beaver Falls Police Officer on scene would only share that “some type of death” occured. Beaver County Radio later learned from sources that the victim died as a result of being shot.

A person who lives near the building said crews have been working there. Beaver County Radio was able to speak with a person who had recently been working at the building who says clean out work started not long ago.

A body was removed from the scene around 7:30pm.

Numerous police and investigators remained on scene as of 7:50pm.

We have no additional information to share at this time.

Aliquippa man arrested for endangering his girlfriend and children

(File Photo of City of Aliquippa Police Car)

Beaver County Radio News

(Aliquippa, PA) An Aliquippa man was arrested for endangering children and his girlfriend on Saturday. According to a Facebook post from the City of Aliquippa Police Department, at 1:16 a.m. police responded to 300 Superior Avenue, Valley Terrace, C Building for the report of a domestic disturbance. Thirty-five-year-old Tyvaughn Harrison of Aliquippa, who was highly intoxicated, threw a suitcase at his girlfriend’s nine-year-old son and tried to choke him. After Harrison tried to resist police, a taser was used to arrest him. Harrison is now in the Beaver County Jail and faces charges of:

  • Simple Assault (two counts) (Misdemeanor)
  • Endangering the Welfare of Children (Misdemeanor)
  • Resisting Arrest (Misdemeanor)
  • Harassment (Summary)

Aliquippa man arrested for driving under the influence after a Hopewell Township crash

(File Photo of City of Aliquippa Police Car)

Beaver County Radio News

(Aliquippa, PA) An Aliquippa man was arrested for driving under the influence after a crash in Hopewell Township on Friday. According to a Facebook post from the City of Aliquippa Police Department, at 10:57 p.m., police were dispatched to the area of Main Street and Maratta Road in Plan 12 for the report of a motor vehicle crash. A blue Chrysler 200 hit a utility pole and a fence, which was noticed by a PA State Constable. The constable told police that the driver held a liquor bottle and the car was stolen. The driver was twenty-seven-year-old Raishaun Jeter of Aliquippa. Jeter was arrested after police noticed the smell of alcohol, his glassy eyes that were bloodshot, and his slurred speech. Jeter was released to a sober party after having a blood alcohol count of .135%. Jeter has been charged with DUI for the third time in four years, as well as:

  • Hit and Run
  • False Reports 
  • Careless Driving
  • Driving While Having a Suspended License

Aliquippa man arrested for assaulting his cousin and another woman

(File Photo of Police Lights)

Beaver County Radio News

(Aliquippa, PA) An Aliquippa man was arrested for assaulting his female cousin and another female on Saturday. According to a Facebook post from the City of Aliquippa Police Department, at 9:44 p.m., police were dispatched to 500 Superior Avenue, Valley Terrace, D Building for the report of a disturbance. Twenty-eight-year-old Arrington Gipson of Aliquippa was guilty of causing injuries to both his cousin and another female. Gipson assaulted both women and police arrested him in the apartment next door to where the women were located. Gipson is now in the Beaver County Jail and faces charges of:

  • Simple Assault (two counts) (Misdemeanor)
  • Harassment (Summary)
  • Disorderly Conduct (Summary) 

Governor Josh Shapiro encourages those to participate honoring former President of the United States Jimmy Carter

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – In this Nov. 3, 2019, file photo, former President Jimmy Carter teaches Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Ga. Carter marks his 96th birthday Thursday, Oct. 1., the latest milestone for the longest-lived of the 44 men to hold the highest American office. Carter planned to celebrate at his home in Plains, Ga., with his wife of 74 years, Rosalynn Carter, according to a spokeswoman for the Carter Center in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) According to a release from Governor Josh Shapiro’s office on Sunday, the governor ordered United States and Commonwealth flags on all Commonwealth facilities, public buildings, and grounds across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to fly at half-staff that day. Former President of the United States Jimmy Carter passed away on Sunday, and Shapiro did this action that day in honor of Carter. All Pennsylvanians can participate in honoring Carter by lowering these flags to half-staff until sunset on Tuesday, January 28th, 2025.

 

Shots fired in Aliquippa currently under investigation

(File Photo of Police Lights)

Beaver County Radio News

(Aliquippa, PA) A shots fired incident on Saturday is being investigated in Aliquippa. According to a Facebook post from the City of Aliquippa Police Department, at 3:15 a.m., police were dispatched to the area of Main Street and Burton Street in Plan 12 for the report of multiple shots fired. The sounds of the shots being caused by an automatic weapon were mentioned in several calls to police. There was no damaged property and nobody was injured. Negative results were found in the area that police searched. If you know anything about this situation, please call 724-775-0880.

Chippewa structure building fire extinguished at Lutheran Village Apartments

(File Photo of Chippewa Township Police Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Chippewa, PA) A Chippewa fire in a structure building was extinguished on Sunday morning. According to a Facebook Post from the Chippewa Township Volunteer Fire Department of Beaver Falls, just before 6 a.m. that morning, Station 22 was alerted for a fire alarm at the three-story Lutheran Village Apartments in Chippewa. Five local fire departments assisted the Beaver Falls department after both a timer and a power strip were on fire in the community room on the first floor. A resident helped the departments with a fire extinguisher to put out the fire and to unplug both items. It took within an hour for the six departments to return to their duties after the fire was handled.

Three vehicle crash in Chippewa is still under investigation

(File Photo of Chippewa Township Police Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Chippewa, PA) A three-vehicle crash in Chippewa on Saturday is still under investigation. According to a Facebook Post from the Chippewa Township Volunteer Fire Department of Beaver Falls, just before 5:30 p.m., injuries were reported on southbound Route 51 right before Emmet Drive An ambulance transported two victims with injuries that are undisclosed at this time. A smoking engine was also cooled down while another call came in for a head injury that was suffered by a fall patient that occurred at Walmart. The scene was cleared in just over thirty minutes. The Chippewa Police Department is leading the investigation into this incident.