Category: News

Car plunges into creek in New Brighton

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published June 8, 2024 11:40 P.M.

(New Brighton, Pa) A man and his dog escaped a crash with injuries Saturday evening in New Brighton. The crash took place near a small mobile home court on Blockhouse Run Road. Witnesses say the driver struck a bridge and a tree before being ejected from the vehicle as it went into the creek. Numerous emergency crews responded to the scene. We do not have word on the condition of the driver or dog. No further details are available at this time.

Route 68 Third Street Lane Restrictions Begin Monday in Beaver Borough

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing lane restrictions on Route 68 (Third Street) in Beaver Borough, Beaver County will start Monday, June 10 weather permitting.

Lane restrictions will occur on Route 68 at the East End Avenue intersection weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through mid-July. Crews from Team Fishel will conduct gas line work for Columbia Gas.

PennDOT is not involved in this work and is providing this information as a public service announcement only. For additional information contact Ryan Harden at 724-683-2452.

Please use caution well traveling through the corridor.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

Beaver Falls Municipal Authority alerting residents of system flush

(Beaver Falls, Pa) Beginning June 10th through approximately mid-July, the Beaver Falls Municipal Authority will perform routine maintenance flushing of the entire distribution system as required by PADEP. During this time, they say they will return to the use of chlorine as the primary disinfectant instead of the chloramines currently used. During the flushing period, customers may experience discolored water and/or a noticeable odor of chlorine in the water. The authority asks residents to be aware that these are all normal conditions, and nothing is wrong with the water.

They say should you experience discolored water during this time, please let your cold-water tap run for several minutes until the water clears up. A chlorine odor may be present until they return to chloramine disinfection following the system flushing. The Municipal Authority can be contacted with any questions or concerns.   

Rochester-Monaca Bridge Long-term Closure Begins Tuesday

Photo by Frank Sparks – Beaver County Radio.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing the long-term closure of the Rochester-Monaca Bridge, which carries Route 18 over the Ohio River, in Rochester and Monaca boroughs, Beaver County will begin Tuesday, June 11 weather permitting.

Beginning at approximately noon on Tuesday, the Rochester-Monaca Bridge will close to all vehicular traffic continuously through Tuesday, August 20, 2024. Crews will conduct expansion dam joint replacements, zone painting, concrete deck overlay, steel, concrete, sidewalk, barrier and fence repair work, and other miscellaneous construction activities. Traffic will be detoured.

Posted Detours

Northbound Bridge Traffic

  • From the bridge, take Pennsylvania Avenue (Route 4044) eastbound to 17th Street
  • Turn left onto 17th Street/North Route 51
  • Cross the East Monaca-Rochester Bridge
  • Turn left onto North Route 51/Route 65
  • Take the exit ramp on the right for South Route 18/East Route 68 toward Rochester
  • Continue on Brighton Avenue
  • Follow the roundabout to Rhode Island Avenue/South Route 18
  • Follow Rhode Island Avenue to the Rochester-Monaca Bridge
  • End Detour

Southbound Bridge Traffic

  • From the bridge, take Rhode Island Avenue to the Rochester roundabout
  • Follow the roundabout to Brighton Avenue toward South Route 65/Route 51
  • Take the ramp to southbound Route 65
  • Continue to the left-hand off-ramp for South Route 51
  • Turn right onto the East Monaca-Rochester Bridge
  • Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
  • Continue westbound to 9th Street
  • End Detour

Additionally, lane closures will occur at the intersection of 17th Street (Route 51) and Pennsylvania Avenue (Route 4044) on Tuesday morning from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to allow crews to conduct line painting and signal work in advance of the Rochester-Monaca Bridge closure. The restrictions could be lifted earlier if work is completed sooner.

Bicycle and pedestrian access will be maintained during the closure.

This $6.69 million project includes bridge preservation work on the Rochester-Monaca Bridge between Atlantic Avenue in Monaca Borough and Pleasant Street in Rochester Borough. Preservation work includes expansion joint replacement, zone painting, concrete deck overlay, downspout repair and replacement, steel and concrete repairs, as well as sidewalk, deck, barrier, and fence repairs, pavement marking upgrades, and other miscellaneous construction activities. This project is expected to be completed in late 2024.

Aliquippa Police Captain retiring Friday

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published June 7, 2024 12:38 P.M.

(Aliquippa, Pa) Donnie Lane has served Aliquippa for 26 years as a police officer and is currently the captain.  His brother is Police Chief John Lane and Donnie’s son Austin  works as an Aliquippa Police Officer. Captain Lane is serving the city for one last time Friday.

Captain Lane has been hired by Crescent Township to be a police officer.

Drugs and contraband found in a Center Township home

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published June 7, 2024 12:36 A.M.

(Center Township, Pa) A search warrant was served by police early Friday morning at Radcliff Drive residence in Center Township. Police Chief Aldo Legge reported that  flash bangs went off as they entered the home. Chief Legge said there will be more information once the investigation is complete.

New Brighton armed robbery under investigation

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published June 6, 2024 11:43 A.M.

(New Brighton, Pa) An alleged armed robbery took place at the American Legion Club in New Brighton Tuesday evening. We have no additional details to share at this time and are awaiting a statement from the New Brighton Police Department.

Route 351 Crescent Avenue Road Improvements Begin Next Week in Ellwood City

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing roadway improvement work on Route 351 (Crescent Avenue) in Ellwood City Borough, Lawrence County will begin Monday, June 10 weather permitting.

A full closure of Crescent Avenue between Second Street and Fourth Street will occur from 7 a.m. Monday continuously through 6 p.m. Monday, July 22 as crews conduct roadway reconstruction and paving operations.  Traffic will be detoured.

Posted Detour

East of the Closure (at Second Street)

  • Follow Second Street (Route 65/288) north
  • Turn left onto Fountain Avenue
  • Turn left onto Fifth Street
  • Turn right onto Spring Avenue
  • Turn left onto Sixth Street
  • Turn right onto Beaver Avenue
  • Turn left onto Eight Street
  • Follow Eight Street back to Route 351 (Lawrence Avenue)

West of the Closure

  • Same detour in the opposite direction

Bicycles will be detoured via Park Avenue.

The prime contractor on this $2.49 million group paving project is A. Folino Construction.

Kennywood Carb Craze Continues with Potato Smash-ing Contest

The carb-craze continues at Kennywood with the delicious debut of the park’s first-ever Potato Smash-ing Contest. Celebrating the all-new Potato Patch® themed bumper cars, Potato Smash, the contest will take place on Wednesday, June 12 at 12 p.m. in front of the ride.

Potato enthusiasts and smashing aficionados signed up for a chance to participate in the contest and 20 lucky spud stompers were randomly selected to compete and attempt to mash their way to potato-smashing glory. Potato Smash swag will be given to all contestants, with the top tubers receiving two 2024 Kennywood Gold Season Passes.

Plus, all guests are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item to be donated to a local food bank. Those who bring donations will receive discounted admission at the gate for $39.99.

Are you interested in stopping by for the Potato Smash-ing Contest? Or are you interested in competing in the starchy showdown? Please reach out to me directly and I can arrange a friendly media competition.

The Potato Smash-ing Contest is just a morsel of all the Kennywood fun this June. The park’s gastronomic extravaganza, Bites and Pints, spotlighting eight different international cuisines, runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through June 30 . The chef-inspired tasting event features unique menu items with dishes inspired by Brazil, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, South Korea, Mexico plus brand-new electrifying entertainment.

 

The Nerveless Nocks’s Jetpack Flying Water Circus featuring daredevils Cyrus Nock and Troy Stowe, wows guests with incredible demonstrations and stunts performed with jet ski-powered jet packs that thrust the stuntmen 50 feet in the air. Visitors can catch the all-new show at select times daily through July 7, at the park’s Garden Stage.

At Casey, Fetterman, Deluzio’s Urging, IRS Exempts Victims from the Norfolk Southern Derailment From Being Taxed on Reimbursements

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) and U.S. Representative Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17) announced that most payments made to victims of the Norfolk Southern train derailment disaster will be tax exempt. After being urged by Senator Casey, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has recognized the Norfolk Southern derailment as “of “catastrophic nature” and exempted individuals and families from being taxed on reimbursements for reasonable post-disaster needs including shelter, food, and clothing.

 

“Victims of the Norfolk Southern disaster deserved to be compensated for the hell they have been through, and these payments should never be taxed as income. Today, the IRS took the critical step to support these families. We must continue providing these communities with the relief and support they need and ensure that catastrophes like this never happen again,” said Senator Casey.

“People affected by the disaster in East Palestine have already dealt with enough, they shouldn’t have to face a huge tax bill on relief payments. Now, thanks to the Biden administration, they finally have clarity from the IRS that means many relief payments are fully tax-free. I urge Pennsylvanians impacted by the derailment to file amended returns ASAP to get the tax relief they deserve,” said Senator Fetterman.

“The East Palestine derailment was a disaster for a lot of families in Beaver County, and it is ridiculous that folks hurt by this train derailment in their backyard would have to pay taxes on Norfolk Southern’s payments to them,” said Rep. Deluzio. “I knew we had to make this right, and after successfully moving a bill through the House to waive taxes from these payments, I’m glad that the Biden Administration is taking action to help. Soon, the IRS will exempt these payments from federal taxes—just like we do for natural disasters. Next, we have to keep up the work to make freight rail safer and pass my bill, the Railway Safety Act.”