The National Weather Service in Moon Twp. has issued 
TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 1000 PM EDT FOR THE
 FOLLOWING COUNTIES:
ALLEGHENY,BEAVER,GREENE AND 
WASHINGTON

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

The modern age of technology has turned internet connection from a luxury to a necessity, and Beaver County has been making their push to allow its citizens to make the connections.

“I learned how far ahead Beaver County is on broadband,” Commissioner Tony Amadio said at Wednesday’s work session, “we’re WAY ahead as far as our development and our processes.” Amadio gave praise to Lance Grable–Executive Director of Beaver County’s Redevelopment Authority–for spearheading the push to give broadband access to Beaver County citizens.

The praise for Grable and optimism for the broadband acquisition process were shared by Commissioner Jack Manning, but Manning also expressed his concerns on the potential issues that may come with the physical installation of the broadband system.

“We’re pretty positive about our plan,” Manning said of the plans being put in place, “but they say that the delivery time now for fiber-optic cable is 52 weeks. So it’s only getting worse the longer it takes to put this stuff in.”

The Office of Planning & Redevelopment will be holding a press conference on March 24 to speak in detail about the broadband plans moving forward for Beaver County. Stay tuned to Beaver County Radio for further developments.

(Photos provided with release)

TIONESTA, Pa.  – Due to ice chunks from a recent high-water event along Tionesta Creek, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District is temporarily closing the Kellettville recreation area at Tionesta Lake.

The ice buildup from the high-water event, which crested at 10 feet in some areas, damaged several campground amenities such as picnic tables, fire rings and graveled areas. The Kellettville recreation area will remain closed while Tionesta Lake staff repair and replace damaged amenities.

“We understand this can be frustrating since many visitors make it an annual tradition to camp at the Kellettville campground for the first week of trout season,” said Joel VanOrd, acting supervisory resource manager at Tionesta Lake. “We are monitoring the situation closely to ensure a timely and feasible cleanup effort so we can reopen the campground for visitors as soon as possible.”

The Kellettville recreation area is expected to reopen in late April but is subject to change. The Outflow campgrounds are currently open and the Glasner Run, Lackey Flats, Primitive Lakeshore and Tionesta Recreation Area campgrounds will open as scheduled. Campgrounds can be reserved through the National Recreation Reservation Service website at www.recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777.

All reservations taking place during the closure will be refunded.

For more information about the closure, campground availability and the upcoming trout season, contact Tionesta Lake staff at 814-755-3512.

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
By LAURAN NEERGAARD AP Medical Writer
Moderna says its COVID-19 vaccine works in babies, toddlers and preschoolers. The company announced early findings from a study of children younger than 6 on Wednesday. If regulators agree the small doses are safe and effective enough, it could mean a chance to finally start vaccinating the littlest kids by summer. Moderna said it will submit the data to U.S. regulators in the coming weeks. While other countries allow Moderna vaccinations for older children, the U.S. currently limits them to adults. Moderna said it also will push to vaccinate teens and school-age children, too.

(Photo provided with release)

Wexford, PA – Allegheny Health Network (AHN)’s Bariatric and Metabolic Institute is now offering bariatric surgery services at AHN Wexford Hospital. Patients living in communities north of Pittsburgh now have convenient access to one of the region’s most experienced teams providing a range of advanced medical and surgical weight loss solutions.

AHN’s team of highly trained specialists includes board-certified bariatric surgeons, endocrinologists, dieticians, psychologists, nurses and anesthesiologists. Together, these clinicians create tailored solutions targeted at each patient’s unique health needs, including weight loss and managing diabetes.

“Our multidisciplinary team of providers understands the physical and emotional impacts of obesity,” said George Eid, MD, chair of AHN’s Bariatric and Metabolic Institute. “No matter where a patient is in their weight loss journey, we’re here to help them reach their health goals.”

Obesity in America is approaching epidemic proportions with more than two-thirds of adults in the United States considered overweight or obese, according to the CDC. Bariatric surgeries are among the most common elective surgeries in the U.S., with nearly 300,000 performed in 2020, according to the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

AHN Wexford patients have many options available to treat obesity and its complications. Some of the options include laparoscopic gastric bypass and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Unlike traditional surgeries, a laparoscopic approach uses several small incisions instead of one large one. This minimally invasive technique means smaller scars and faster healing time. Gastric bypass surgery reroutes food past most of the stomach and part of the small intestine and creates a small pouch that restricts food intake. The combination reduces the amount of nutrients the body takes in, which leads to weight loss. The sleeve gastrectomy is a restrictive procedure that removes two-thirds of the stomach to decrease appetite and help patients feel fuller sooner.

Certain patients may be candidates for an endoscopic bariatric procedure. These procedures are less invasive and incisionless, as they are performed using a small, flexible scope inserted through the patient’s mouth, and work by significantly reducing a patient’s stomach volume or altering other parts of the digestive tract to treat obesity and other metabolic diseases.

Dr. Eid and his partner, Michael “Logan” Rawlins, MD, are two of the country’s most experienced bariatric surgeons, having completed thousands of cases combined throughout their careers.

After bariatric surgery, many patients experience improved confidence, energy and overall physical and mental health. Bariatric surgery can improve diabetes, heartburn, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, joint pain and respiratory disorders. Many patients can also begin to discontinue medications that they have been taking for extended periods once their weight is appropriately managed.

Substantial weight loss – whether through bariatric surgery or medical solutions – also lessens the risk of COVID-19 related complications, Dr. Eid said.

“Bariatric surgery is a life-changing and life-saving solution for many people who are experiencing the adverse health effects of morbid obesity,” said Allan Klapper, MD, president, AHN Wexford Hospital. “We are extremely excited to now offer this highly advanced surgical capability through Dr. Eid and his team to the communities we serve as part of our broader weight loss services.”

AHN Wexford opened its doors to patients last September. The 345,000-square-foot facility features a 22-bed emergency department, state-of-the-art operating rooms with minimally invasive robotic surgery capabilities, a labor & delivery unit, a hybrid OR for advanced surgical procedures, short-stay observation unit, adult intensive care unit, advanced diagnostic imaging, and more.

The AHN Bariatric and Metabolic Institute offers informational sessions at no cost, where patients can meet providers and learn about medical weight loss and surgical options. To find a nearby session, patients should call 412-DOCTORS.

(File Photo)

(Jefferson Twp., Butler County, Pa.) Pa State Police in Butler are reporting that they have filed charges against 41-year-old Billy Abrams of Butler for a home improvement fraud scam in which multiple victims hired Abrams to complete work that was never started or finished. The victims hired Abrams through his business Billy’s Plumbing and Heating.
Troopers said via release that Abrams received payments for several jobs that were never completed.
in the release Troopers stated that one of his victims a 64-year-old Butler man was frauded by Abrams out of $4800.00.
Abrams has been charged with violations of the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act and Theft by deception.

(File Photo)

(Pittsburgh, Pa.) Gas prices are six cents lower in Western Pennsylvania this week at $4.311 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average                $4.311
Average price during the week of March 14, 2022                                   $4.378
Average price during the week of March 22, 2021                                   $3.036

The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in various areas:      

$4.299      Altoona
$4.328      Beaver
$4.375      Bradford
$4.299      Brookville
$4.292      Butler
$4.345      Clarion
$4.318      DuBois
$4.283      Erie
$4.298      Greensburg
$4.299      Indiana
$4.325      Jeannette
$4.284      Kittanning
$4.327      Latrobe
$4.295      Meadville
$4.335      Mercer
$4.238      New Castle
$4.301      New Kensington
$4.299      Oil City
$4.308      Pittsburgh
$4.299      Sharon
$4.276      Uniontown
$4.391      Warren
$4.324      Washington

Trend Analysis:

After hitting a record $4.33 on March 11, the national average for a gallon of gasoline has fallen to $4.25. The primary reason is the lower global price of crude oil which peaked shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine. At the close of Friday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate settled at $104.70 but as the week begins, is hovering close to $110 per barrel.

Domestically, gasoline demand is defying seasonal trends and has dipped slightly, perhaps in response to higher prices at the pump. According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand decreased slightly from 8.96 million barrels per day to 8.94 million barrels per day. The drop in gas demand is contributing to price decreases and the recent reversal in oil prices created some downward pressure on pump prices. However, should oil prices start to climb again, pump prices will likely follow.

As gas prices remain well above $4, AAA recently conducted a survey of motorists to gauge potential changes to consumer behavior. Results showed 59% said they would change their driving habits or lifestyle if the cost of gas hit $4 per gallon. And if gas were to reach $5, which it has in the Western part of the country, three-quarters said they would need to adjust their lifestyle to offset the pump price.

For more information on the latest AAA gasoline survey, visit here.

Motorists can find current gas prices nationwide, statewide, and countywide at GasPrices.AAA.com.

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 72 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members.  News releases are available at news.eastcentral.aaa.com.  Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.