(Beaver County, Pa.) Regis A. Collins, The Beaver County Maple Syrup Festival Chairman from PUSH Beaver County joined Matt Drzik on AM Beaver County Friday morning to make an unfortunate announcement about this years Maple Syrup Festival.
Collins told the listeners that “The Beaver County Maple Syrup Festival Committee has had to make the difficult decision to suspend the upcoming; 43rd Annual Beaver County Maple Syrup Festival. This decision was made, given the increased presence of the Coronavirus in Pennsylvania and the tri-state region, as well as the unknown impact it may or may not have on Beaver County. The challenge of complying with Federal, State & Local regulations regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and large social gatherings, and hosting a pancake breakfast was unachievable.
Given our Mission; PUSH Beaver County is a non-profit organization that
organizes and manages philanthropic and community events to enrich the lives of those who live in Beaver County. We believe that it is our responsibility
to take this precautionary step to protect the Public Health of our
community.
We appreciate your patience and will continue to humbly ask for it during this time. We are diligently working to reschedule the Beaver County Maple Syrup
Festival, a complex process with many factors to consider. Upon confirmation of new dates for this event, we will update the public immediately.
The safety of attendees, vendors, and performers is paramount. We sincerely
apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and look forward to greeting
you, your family, and our neighbors, next year.”
Collins did tell Drzik that PUSH Beaver County’s signature event Beaver County Boom is still scheduled to happen in June.

You can hear the entire interview as it played on the air by clicking the play button below:

(Photo Provided by the FAA)
Friday January 14, 2022 at 7:21 AM+
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded $5 million to educate the next generation of pilots and other aviation professionals. The Aircraft Pilots Aviation Workforce Development Grants were awarded to accredited higher-education institutions, high schools, state and local governments and flight schools.
“Our investment in the aviation workforce of the future must begin today,” said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson, a former commercial captain. “These grants help nurture interest in aviation at an early age to build a career during one of the most dynamic times in aviation history.”
Grantees can use the funding to create and deliver curriculum designed to prepare students to become aircraft pilots, aerospace engineers, or unmanned aircraft systems operators.
To maintain the safest and most efficient aerospace system well into the future, the FAA recognizes the need to create a robust pipeline of skilled and diverse professionals. These grants are one way the agency is working to address the projected shortages of aircraft pilots in the industry.
Grant recipients include:
Florida State College, Jacksonville, Fla.: $498,000
Northwestern Michigan College, Traverse City, Mich.: $90,000
Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, N.C.: $269,000
University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, N.D.: $488,000
County of Scottsbluff School District #16, Gering, Neb.: $500,000
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology, Flushing, N.Y.: $498,000
Aerotrek Flight Academy, LLC, Wadsworth, Ohio: $77,000
Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission, Oklahoma City, Okla.: $491,000
Harrisburg University of Science & Technology, Harrisburg, Penn.: $135,000
Spartanburg County School District #5 (James. F. Byrnes High School), Duncan, S.C.: $31,000
South Carolina Department of Education, Columbia, S.C.: $425,000
Florence School District One, Florence, S.C.: $339,000
Crowley Independent School District #912, Crowley, Texas: $139,500
Utah State University, Logan, Utah: $238,500
Randolph Macon Academy, Front Royal, Va.: $307,000
Old Dominion University Research Foundation/Virginia Space Grant Consortium, Norfolk, Va.: $474,000
Visit the FAA website for additional details about the grant recipients

Friday, January 14, 2022 at 6:55 AM
(Stowe Twp., Pa.) A 28-year-old man was shot in the chest and legs last night in Stowe Township and taken to a a local hospital in critical condition.

Witnesses told Allegheny County Police that a fight started inside Aces Tavern in the 700 block of Broadway Avenue in Stowe Twp. and later spilled outside. Police say it appears the victim and a 21-year-old man shot at each other. The 21-year-old is currently being detained.

Keystone State News Connection

Emily Scott

Mobile carriers are starting to decommission their 3G cellular networks this year, some as soon as next month.

Pennsylvania officials are reminding people with older-model cell phones to prepare for how this might affect service. Decommissioning older networks helps free up infrastructure to support more advanced services, like 5G, but it may result in some phones being unable to make calls or send text messages.

Jeff Boyle, deputy director of 911 for the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, said you are likely to be notified by your carrier if it affects you, but it is smart to plan ahead in case of an emergency.

“If your phone is more than a few years old, you may need to upgrade your device to avoid losing service,” Boyle explained. “And calling 911 is often the quickest way for somebody to access emergency services, so plan now so that you don’t lose connectivity, including the ability to call 911.”

AT&T said it will finish shutting down its 3G network by February, with Verizon and T-Mobile finalizing by year’s end. The move may also affect medical alert devices and home security systems. Lower-income residents whose phones may no longer be supported can apply for help through the FCC’s Lifeline program.

Lt. Adam Reed, communications office director for the Pennsylvania State Police, said in an emergency, dispatchers and first responders rely on the 911 system to gather crucial information, including location, which means 3G network phones may hinder the ability to provide assistance quickly.

“Whether it’s a vehicle crash, a criminal act in progress or a medical emergency, seconds count when it comes to calling 911,” Reed emphasized. “First responders will go wherever we need to save lives and help wherever we can, but again, we need to know where you are and what the emergency is.”

Groups serving people experiencing homelessness or domestic violence survivors sometimes provide clients with older phones with no service plan but are still capable of making emergency calls. Users of such phones should check with their organization to discuss options.

The featured image above shows the Big Beaver Falls School District Sign.

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio, Published January 13, 2021 at 8:41 P.M.

(Beaver Falls, PA) The Big Beaver Falls School Board met Thursday night for a meeting.  The board had a discussion regarding the ongoing PIAA classification changes involving Aliquippa and ultimately decided that they will send a letter to the state, joining multiple other districts who have done the same.  Also discussed was a way that the district hopes to keep more students and staff in school. The “Test to Stay” program would provide voluntary Covid testing with consent to individuals who were exposed to a positive individual at the school.  Two tests would be conducted in the following week to determine if the individual can remain in school.

(AP Photo)
By SETH BORENSTEIN AP Science Writer
Two U.S. science agencies say 2021 was the sixth hottest year on record globally, part of a long-term warming trend. NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Thursday released measurements showing how hot last year was. It wasn’t record hot, but the year’s 58.5 degree average is not much behind the record. The last eight years have been the eight hottest years on record. Last year, 1.8 billion people in 25 Asian, African and Middle Eastern nations had their hottest years on record. Scientists say heat-trapping gases from the burning of fossil fuels have warmed Earth about 2 degrees since the late 1800s.

(AP Photo)
By STEVE LeBLANC The Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) — Navient, a major student loan servicing company, has settled allegations of predatory lending practices for $1.85 billion. The settlement was announced Thursday and could cancel student loans of tens of thousands of borrowers. The settlement includes $1.7 billion in debt cancellation and $95 million in restitution and involves 39 state attorneys general. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro says the settlement would resolve claims that Navient led student borrowers into long-term forbearances instead of giving them advice on less costly repayment plans. Navient says it did not act illegally and it did not admit fault in the settlement.