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Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News Correspondent
Friday, December 10, 2021 at 7:50 AM
(Monaca, Pa.) Monaca Borough Manager Dave Kramer reported Thursday, December 9, 2021,  that the first of two phases  of  Pennsylvania Avenue’s road project has been completed.  Kramer said that  council  will seek bids in the spring  for remaining phases that include lighting, sidewalks, and paving of the avenue.

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Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News Correspondent
Friday, December 10, 2021 at 7:46 AM
(Hopewell Twp., Pa.)Hopewell Police Detective Greg Durkos, who serves as the Beaver County Impaired Driving Task Force Coordinator  announced that the task  force will be out  this weekend and  throughout the Christmas and New year Holiday in support of the state’s Impaired Driving Enforcement Initiative.

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Story by Frank Sparks News/Program Director
Friday, December 10, 2021 at 7:15 AM
(Wampum, Pa.) Pa State Police in New Castle are reporting that a unidentified 12 year- old girl was the victim of a social media threat.
Troopers via release  stated that between December 1, 2021 and December 7, 2021 the unidentified 12 year-old female was engaging in communication with an unnamed male via SnapChat when the suspect requested illicit photos from the victim. The suspect then threatened her for the photos. the female victim adhered to the suspects request and sent the illicit photos. Troopers are continuing to investigate.

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Story by Frank Sparks, News/Program Director
Friday, December 10, 2021 at 6:52 AM
(Hanover Twp., Pa.) Pa State Police in Beaver are reporting that they were dispatched to Pleasant Hill Road in Hanover Twp., Beaver County, on Wednesday night, December 8, 2021, around 9:30 PM for a report of a hit and run crash.
Upon arriving on the scene and investigating it was determined that an unknown vehicle was traveling south on Pleasant Hills Road when it left the roadway and struck a mailbox, garbage cans and several Christmas decorations. The vehicle narrowly missed a utility pole and the residence.
Anyone with information is asked to call Pa. State Police in Beaver at 724-773-7400.

(Harrisburg, Pa.) Pennsylvania is one of many states that is struggling to find snowplow drivers and this winter, more motorists may find themselves stuck on snowy highways or have their travel delayed due to a shortage of them. States from Pennsylvania to Washington and some in the Rocky Mountains are having trouble finding enough people willing to take the comparatively low-paying jobs that require a Commercial Driver’s License and often entail working at odd hours in dangerous conditions. States are warning that it could take longer for the plows to clear highways during winter storms. State transportation departments are competing for drivers with trucking companies with the ability to increase pay and offer signing bonuses. And trucking companies are short on drivers, too.

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(Beaver Pa.) A Beaver County judge has denied Sheldon Jeter Jr’s request for a new trial or an evidence hearing.
Earlier this year, Jeter was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison for killing his friend and roommate Tyric Pugh in Aliquippa back in 2020.

Keystone State News Connection

Emily Scott

READING, Pa. — Food banks in Pennsylvania have been a lifeline to families during the pandemic. Now, state officials are using an influx of federal dollars to help food banks build up their infrastructure to serve more people.

Sen. Judy Schwank, D-Reading, speaking at Mary’s Shelter in Reading Thursday, announced $11.4 million American Rescue Plan dollars are being made available for the COVID-19 Food Bank Cold Storage Infrastructure Program, to support groups fighting hunger to purchase freezers, coolers, and more.

Schwank said it will allow food pantries to offer perishable items and help eliminate food waste.

“We’ve learned where our weaknesses are in addressing hunger,” Schwank explained. “We know now that we could do better in making sure that people not only have food to eat, but more importantly, healthy, nutritious food – and available to them in a way that’s easy for them to access.”

An estimated 1.5 million Pennsylvanians are experiencing food insecurity. The grant program will fund upgrades at 18 food banks, serving all 67 counties in Pennsylvania.

During the pandemic, food banks faced their own problems, from supply-chain interruptions to staff shortages and transportation obstacles.

Frances Wolf, Pennsylvania’s first lady, pointed out despite those challenges, they were able to persevere, and have distributed almost 400 million pounds of food since March 2020.

“Increasing cold storage capacity will strengthen our charitable food network in so many ways,” Wolf stated. “It will allow food banks to create more mobile pantry options, ones that can meet people where they are, and break down the transportation barrier that so many Pennsylvanians have.”

The grant program will work in tandem with the Agricultural Surplus Program, which distributes fresh produce grown on local farms to more than 2,700 food pantries, soup kitchens, feeding programs and shelters across the Commonwealth.

Vikings beat Steelers 36-28, deny last-play pass in end zone
By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Pro Football Writer
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings held on to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 36-28 by forcing an incomplete pass in the end zone on the final play. Ben Roethlisberger’s throw to Pat Freiermuth was on target. Anthony Barr and Harrison Smith sandwiched the rookie tight end at just the right moment to dislodge the ball. The Vikings nearly squandered a 29-0 late third-quarter lead. Dalvin Cook rushed for 205 yards and two touchdowns in his faster-than-expected return from a shoulder injury for the Vikings. Roethlisberger had three touchdown passes in the second half. The Vikings improved to 6-7. The Steelers are 6-6-1.

The featured photo above shows the meeting taking place in the Beaver Falls High School Library.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Curtis Walsh, published December 9, 2021 at 6:50 P.M.

(Beaver Falls, PA) The Big Beaver Falls School Board held their reorganization meeting Thursday night.  Cynthia Cook was reelected Board President while Ron Miller was also reelected Vice President.  Jessica Campbell was elected Board Secretary.  The board went on to approve their meeting schedule, which will be the second Thursday of every month at 6 pm.  Also approved was the paying of general fund bills at a cost of $323,753.78.