FILE – A black plume rises over East Palestine, Ohio, as a result of a controlled detonation of a portion of the derailed Norfolk Southern trains, Feb. 6, 2023. West Virginia’s water utility says it’s taking precautionary steps following the derailment of a train hauling chemicals that later sent up a toxic plume in Ohio. The utility said in a statement on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2023 that it has enhanced its treatment processes even though there hasn’t been a change in raw water at its Ohio River intake. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, file)

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia water utility says it’s taking precautionary steps following the derailment of a train hauling chemicals that later sent up a toxic plume in Ohio. West Virginia American Water said in a statement on Sunday that it has enhanced its treatment processes even though there hasn’t been a change in raw water at its Ohio River intake. It’s also installing a secondary intake on the Guyandotte River in case there’s a need to switch to an alternate water source. There are currently no drinking water advisories in place. The train derailed in a fiery crash Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio. Emergency workers evacuated nearby neighborhoods before igniting vinyl chloride from the cars.

Danielle Smith

A Pennsylvania children’s advocacy group said the state should be doing more to help end a critical staffing shortage of mental and behavioral health workers.

The Keystone State is among 43 states with too few psychiatrists and other health professionals, according to a report to the General Assembly.

Michael Slack, president and CEO of KidsPeace Pennsylvania, said it is important for legislators to know the continuing shortage has a lot to do with the lack of money available to recruit and pay staff in these positions.

“In our business of mental health care, hiring and staffing has always been a challenge with us, because historically, organizations like KidsPeace have been underfunded,” Slack contended. “Therefore, the amount that we can pay in wages has been limited.”

While the workforce shortage is not new, Slack pointed out the pandemic prompted more health care workers to leave the profession due to burnout, or to move into other industries.

Slack noted they have recently developed a new department exclusively focused on recruiting direct-care workers and nursing professionals. He explained training, development and raising awareness about jobs in the field are all critical to meet the state’s needs for mental and behavioral health care, now and into the future.

“There needs to be a workforce development initiative across Pennsylvania, to attract the future workforce to this field,” Slack stressed. “Starting in high school and colleges, helping people to understand what the needs are, how they can make a difference.”

During the course of the pandemic, Slack noted regulations changed, and they began delivering more services through telehealth, including child and adolescent psychiatry. He acknowledged the telehealth platform reaches people who previously might not have had access, or whose care might not have been covered prior to the pandemic.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Staff. Published February 13, 2023 10:19 A.M.

(Hanover Township, PA) State Police report they are investigating the loss of a firearm owned by an 89 year old Hanover Township woman. Troopers report the gun was either lost of stolen and it is believed to be a .25 cal hadngun. The make and model have not been confirmed. An investigation is ongoing.

Harrisburg – The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB), through its Limited-Release Lottery, will award lottery registrants the opportunity to purchase 814 bottles of rare whiskeys.

Pennsylvania residents and licensees will have until 5:00 PM Friday, Feb. 17, to opt in to one or more of the lotteries and/or drawings by visiting the Limited-Release Lottery web page at FWGS.com.

Three separate lotteries, one of which will include multiple drawings, will be conducted for each of these limited-release whiskeys. Participants may opt in to one, several, or all of these lotteries and drawings.

Lotteries will be held, in the following order, to award the right to purchase individual bottles as follows:
Buffalo Trace Antique Collection 2022 Release

The first lottery will feature the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC). Because these incredibly popular bourbons are aged for at least 15 years, annual production numbers cannot meet the current demand. 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 the 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 $109.99:

• Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey 18 Year Old – 14 for individual consumers, four for licensees
• Eagle Rare Straight Bourbon 17 Year Old – 16 for individual consumers, five for licensees
• William Larue Weller Straight Bourbon Barrel Proof – 72 for individual consumers, 24 for licensees
• George T. Stagg Straight Bourbon Barrel Proof – 111 for individual consumers, 36 for licensees
• Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey Barrel Proof – 149 for individual consumers, 49 for licensees

Two Bourbon Lotteries

For these lotteries, participants have the opportunity to opt in to each independent lottery, which will have its own drawing. Participants may enter one or both lotteries. There’s a limit of one bottle per winner from each lottery for purchase:

• Michter’s Straight Bourbon Limited Release 20 Year Old, $1,149.99 – eight for individual consumers, two for licensees
• Blanton Straight From The Barrel Bourbon, $149.99 – 243 for individual consumers, 81 for licensees

Entrants should note that the lottery Terms and Conditions have been updated.

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, as there will not be a second attempt to process the payment. 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 physical Fine Wine & Good Spirits (FW&GS) 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 FW&GS 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 600 wine and spirits stores statewide, and licenses 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. Taxes and store profits – totaling nearly $19.5 billion since the agency’s inception – are returned to Pennsylvania’s General Fund, which finances Pennsylvania’s schools, health and human services programs, law enforcement, and public safety initiatives, among other important public services. 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. For more information about the PLCB, visit lcb.pa.gov.

AMBRIDGE, Feb. 10 – Five state grants totaling more than $377,000 have been awarded to local schools through the competitive Safe Schools Targeted Grant program, state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver, announced today.

“It’s imperative that students, teachers and staff feel secure in our schools,” said Matzie. “This funding will help everyone involved in our schools to feel safer and allow our students to focus more on learning.”

Matzie highlighted the following grants awarded to schools in the 16th Legislative District:

• $37,225 to Ambridge Area SD for safety equipment.
• $75,000 to Ambridge Area SD for a school resource officer.
• $74,930 to Central Valley SD for a school resource officer.
• $75,000 to Freedom Area SD for a school resource officer.
• $75,000 to Rochester Area SD for a school police officer.

Rochester, Pa.—To celebrate Black History Month, the Beaver County Democratic Committee will host an evening of spoken word and poetry to honor the voices of Beaver County’s Black community.

This free, hybrid event takes place at 6 pm on February 22 at Aliquippa High School in the Black Box Room. Everyone is welcome to attend. For those who cannot attend in person, the event will also stream live on Zoom.

The Beaver County Democratic Committee is bringing back this popular event for the third year in a row. It began as an online-only poetry reading in 2021, a safe way to celebrate Black history during the Covid-19 pandemic. People logged in from across Pennsylvania to be inspired and moved by the power of poetry. This year, in front of a live audience as well as for people at home on Zoom, poets will read original compositions, and poetry lovers will read their favorite piece by another author.

“There is a lot of excitement about this event,” said Committee Chair Erin Gabriel. “We are looking forward this year to having a live audience for our readers while also streaming the event online to those who cannot attend in person.”

 

Story by Beaver County Radio News Staff. Published February 13, 2023 7:47 A.M.

The Midland Innovation + Technology Charter School (MITCS) has announced they have hired a new Principal and Director of Enrollment, Diversity, and Inclusion. David Krakoff will serve as the new principal with over 20 years experience in both public and private schools. Vince Gratteri will serve as the Director of Enrollment, Diversity, and Inclusion and is said to bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in erollment and recruitment. Midland Innovation + Technology Charter School (MITCS) offers students in grades 9 through 12 the chance to pursue areas of personal interests through advanced, hands-on curriculum, preparing them for a world of opportunity in highly specialized, innovative fields such as aviation technology, gaming and simulation, and more. Chartered by the Midland Borough School District and located in the Borough of Midland, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, this groundbreaking new school allows students to fulfill state requirements for a high school diploma while also earning certifications, credentials, apprenticeships, college credits, and even Associate degrees in these skilled disciplines. MITCS students graduate prepared to enter an ever-growing workforce and/or continue through post-secondary education and training.