Category: News

Route 2004 Freedom Crider Road Realignment Work Continues in Beaver County

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing realignment work requiring long-term detours on Freedom Crider Road continues in New Sewickley Township, Beaver County.

Freedom Crider Road (Route 2004) will remain closed to through traffic between Wolf Run Road and Baker Road continuously through August of 2024. Only local traffic will be permitted on the closed section of Freedom Crider Road. All other traffic will be detoured.

Posted Detour

West of the Closure

  • From Freedom Crider Road, take Crows Run Road westbound
  • Turn left onto southbound Route 65
  • Turn left onto 11th Street
  • 11th Street becomes 7th Avenue
  • 7th Avenue becomes 13th Street
  • 13th Street becomes Conway Wallrose Road
  • Turn left onto Route 989
  • Follow Route 989 back to Freedom Crider Road
  • End detour

East of the Closure

  • Same detour in the opposite direction

Work in this phase includes the realignment of Freedom Crider Road, excavation, box culvert installation, and the reconstruction of the Freedom Crider Road/Wolf Run Road intersection.

The work is part of the final phase of the Freedom Road Upgrade project which began in November 2021 and will cover several construction seasons, ending in the fall of 2024. The $21.75 million project located between Park Quarry Road and Route 989 includes realignment of the roadway, culvert replacements, roadway reconstruction and widening, new shoulders, guide rail updates, drainage improvements, additional turn-lanes, a roundabout installation, and utility relocations. Motorists will see detours, single-lane restrictions, lane narrowing, and alternating traffic during different stages of construction.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways 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 Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Allegheny, Beaver, and Lawrence counties at www.penndot.gov/District11.

Information about infrastructure in District 11, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.gov/D11Results. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.

Follow PennDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PennDOTNewsand like the department on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaDepartmentofTransportationand Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/pennsylvaniadot/.

Route 4019 Park Road Slide Remediation Starts Monday in Brighton Township

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing the closure of a portion of Park Road (Route 4019) in Brighton Township, Beaver County, will begin Monday, October 16 weather permitting.

Slide repair work on Park Road between Bradys Run Road and Achortown Road will occur from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. Slide repair and pavement restoration work will occur through late October.  Temporary traffic signals will be installed.

Crews from Liberoni Contractors will conduct the work.

Please use caution when traveling in this area.

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 twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

Aliquippa native serves aboard Navy warship in Norfolk

By Alvin Plexico, Navy Office of Community Outreach. Photo by Alvin Plexico, Navy Office of Community Outreach
NORFOLK, Va. – Petty Officer 2nd Class Neal Eichler, a native of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, serves aboard a U.S. Navy warship operating out of Norfolk, Virginia.

Eichler graduated in 2016 from Hopewell High School.

The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Aliquippa.
“I learned from my father and grandfather the importance of a strong work ethic,” said Eichler. “Being able to learn from my whole family and having a strong support system back home are the biggest factors to me being able to keep a level head and a strong mind when it comes to stress and happiness in life.”
Eichler joined the Navy seven years ago. Today, Eichler serves as an aircrew survival equipmentman aboard USS Kearsarge.
“I joined the Navy because I didn’t have much direction after high school,” said Eichler. “I wasn’t sure about college or any specific trade.”
Kearsarge’s crew is made up of approximately 1,200 crewmembers and can accommodate up to 1,800 Marines. Amphibious assault ships transfer Marines, equipment and supplies, and can support helicopters or other aircraft. Kearsarge is the third ship in the Wasp class of multipurpose amphibious assault ships and is the fourth Navy vessel to bear the name of Mount Kearsarge in New Hampshire.
Serving in the Navy means Eichler is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“The Navy supports national defense by continually showing support and presence in peacetime, offering a visible force around the world,” said Eichler.
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to trained sailors and a strong Navy.
Eichler has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My proudest Navy accomplishment is learning from hard situations and coming out a better person, leader and sailor,” said Eichler.
As Eichler and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the U.S. Navy.
“Serving in the Navy helps me understand other people and continue to look out for those I lead,” said Eichler.

PUC Commissioner Zerfuss Named Co-Vice Chair of NARUC’s New Natural Gas Resource Planning Task Force

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) Commissioner Kathryn L. Zerfuss has been named as co-vice chair of a new Task Force on Natural Gas Resource Planning established by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC).

 

Launched this summer, the new national task force will assist state regulators in developing their own planning roadmaps related to gas distribution infrastructure planning and future technology investment options to achieve utility decarbonization in the coming decades.

 

“It is an honor to be named co-vice chair of the Task Force on Natural Gas Resource Planning,” Commissioner Zerfuss said.  “Many states are facing new and complex challenges, and this type of collaboration and cooperation among state regulatory commissions can be a tremendous benefit as we explore potential solutions and investment options surrounding gas infrastructure planning.

 

“I look forward to working with my fellow commissioners from across the country to facilitate the development of roadmaps focused on state planning approaches.”

 

Commissioner Zerfuss added that over the next two years, the task force will move through a two-phase effort to develop and provide technical and policy guidance along with the needed tools to assist regulators – including, but not limited to, a toolkit with strategic and tactical resources that can be immediately used by state commissions.  The first meeting of the task force is scheduled for November 12, 2023.

 

The Task Force of Natural Gas Resource Planning is chaired by Commissioner Fitz Johnson (GA) with Commissioner Tammy Cordova (NV) joining Commissioner Zerfuss as co-vice chair.  Other task force members include the following state commissioners:  Megan Gilman (CO), Emile Thompson (District of Columbia), Gabriella Passidomo (FL), Stacey Paradis (IL), Wesley Bennett (IN), Josh Byrnes (IA), Eric Skrmetta (LA), James Van Nostrand (MA), Alessandra Carreon (MI), Valerie Means (MN), James Ellison (NM), Diane Burman (NY), Kim David (OK), Lawrence Friedeman (OH), Abigail Anthony (RI), Milt Doumit (WA) and Rebecca Valcq (WI).

Beaver County Times to discontinue home delivery, switching to mail

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published October 12, 2023 1:44 P.M.

(Hopewell Township, Pa) Beginning, November 6, 2023, Beaver County Times subscribers will receive their newspapers by mail. A letter to customers states that they will try to have the Sunday edition in the Saturday mail delivery. The reimagined edition is supposed to have enhanced news coverage. Due to using mail delievery, there is a possibility that the paper may not arrive the day it is published.

Beaver County Radio to Host Beaver County Commissioners Debate

(Beaver County Radio General Manager, Frank Sparks will serve as  moderator for the Beaver County Commissioners Debate on November 3, 2023. Sparks was also the moderator for the debate in November of 2019)

(Brighton Twp., Pa.) Beaver County Radio 1230 WBVP and 99.3 FM is proud to announce that we will be hosting a Beaver County Commissioners Candidates Debate on Friday, November 3, 2023 from 9:00 to 11:00 AM.

TonyAmadio
Jack_Manning
Daniel Camp
Julian Taylor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Debate will be broadcast live on WBVP and 99.3 FM as well as streamed on the Beaver County Radio Facebook Page and You Tube Channel.

Beaver County Radio General Manager, Frank Sparks will be the moderator. The panel will consist of Beaver County Radio’s Mike Romigh, Beaver County Chamber President Donna Lee Siple, and from the Franklin Center in Aliquippa, Dr. Cheryl King.

The candidates that are running for the Commissioners are current Beaver County Commissioners Chairman Dan Camp, Current Commissioners Tony Amadio and Jack Manning, and newcomer Julian Taylor.

Stay tuned to Beaver County Radio as more information about the debate will be released soon.

Lincoln Park purchases former funeral home in Midland

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published October 12, 2023 10:29 A.M.

(Midland, Pa) A  final agreement was ratified by the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School Board of Directors at Monday night’s meeting for the purchase of the former DL Williams Funeral Home at 848 Midland Avenue. The cost of the purchase was $325,000. The board authorized CEO Patrick Poling to take any necessary action, including the signing of the documents to effectuate the purchase of the property.

The board approved a memorandum of understanding between LPPACS and LPPAC  for the purchase of musical instruments and equipment for the 2023-24 school year at the cost of $60,000.
Shauna Smith English teacher’s resignation was accepted effective Friday, October 13, 2023.
The board meets in regular session on Monday, November 13, 2023 in Alumni Hall at 5:30 p.m.

Sewickley Bridge Weekend Closure in Allegheny County

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing the closure of the Sewickley Bridge (Route 4025) in Moon Township and Sewickley Borough, Allegheny County will occur Friday through Monday, October 13-16 weather permitting.

The Sewickley Bridge will close to traffic in both directions from 9 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Monday morning. The bridge will reopen to traffic once the repair has been completed.

Crews from JET Excavating Company will conduct repair work on an expansion dam on the bridge. All bridge traffic will be detoured.

Detours

From Sewickley

  • Motorists will take Route 65 southbound
  • Take the left-hand ramp to I-79 toward Erie/Washington
  • Take the left-hand ramp to South I-79 toward Washington
  • Merge onto southbound I-79 and cross the Neville Island Bridge
  • Take the Neville Island to Route 51 (Exit 65) off-ramp
  • Turn left onto Grand Avenue
  • Cross the Coraopolis Bridge
  • Turn right onto northbound Route 51 (Fourth Avenue)
  • Follow northbound Route 51 back to the Sewickley Bridge
  • End detour

From Moon Township

  • Motorists will take Route 51 southbound
  • Take the ramp to northbound I-79 toward Erie
  • Merge onto northbound I-79 and cross the Neville Island Bridge
  • Take the ramp to Route 65 toward Emsworth/Sewickley (Exit 66)
  • Continue following the ramp to Route 65 toward Emsworth/Sewickley
  • Take the ramp to North 65 toward Sewickley
  • Merge onto northbound Route 65 and follow back to the Sewickley Bridge
  • End detour

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway 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.

Ambridge Council accepts resignation of K-9 officer and Civil Service Board member

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published October 12, 2023 10:24 A.M.

(Ambridge, Pa) Garrett Kimmel’s resignation from the police department was accepted effective September 26, 2023. He accepted a position in the Aliquippa Police Department. Taquel Branchik’s resignation was accepted from the Civil Service Board, Carol Dingfelder was appointed to fulfill Raquel Branchik’s unexpired term which expires December 31, 2026. An alternate position which expires December 31, 2024 will be advertised.

Maximillion Elliott was appointed as the new Heart and Soul Director as a private contractor (1099) at a rate of $16 an hour.
Council approved the submission of a grant application to PA DCED for a $50,000 grant  for a Merchant Street Facade Revitalization Project.
Council approved the submission of the proposal from Columbia Gas for restoration proposal for Rice Avenue at Pine Street to the Harmony Township line, and a portion  of pine Street (8th Street  to Rice Avenue) with an asphalt overlay as recommended  by the borough engineer and borough manager.
Council meets in regular session on Tuesday, November 12, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.

New Brighton/Western Beaver Game For Friday Night Moved To Beaver High School

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)
(Image/BCR Archives)

The Week 7 game for Friday night between Western Beaver and New Brighton will be moved to Pat Tarquinio Field on the campus of Beaver High School.

The game was originally set to be played under portable lights at Rich Niedbala Field in Industry, but Western Beaver Athletic Director John Rosa told Beaver County Radio that the game had to be moved due to “unforeseen circumstances”.

Traditionally, the home games at Western Beaver are played during the daytime, often on Saturday afternoons. A recent petition has begun to install lights for the field for night games.

Heading into the game, Western Beaver has an overall record of 4-3, with a 3-1 record in Midwestern Athletic Conference (2A) play. New Brighton is 0-7, with a record of 0-4 in the MAC.

The time of the game will be at 7:00 PM.