Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that registration has opened for its upcoming 12-Year Program (TYP) update, which will be held on Wednesday, April 12, from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. The Online Public Forum will be broadcast live via PAcast and PennDOT social media channels.

Pennsylvanians can ask transportation-related questions to PennDOT leadership and members of the STC during the forum’s Q&A session. Questions may also be submitted in advance of the forum by filling out the registration form or by emailing RA-PennDOTSTC@pa.gov. The public may also call PennDOT and share their questions at 717-783-2262.

Every two years the State Transportation Commission (STC) and PennDOT update Pennsylvania’s 12-Year Program (TYP) and public feedback is a critical part of that process. The public comment period for the TYP update began on Wednesday, March 1, and continues through Sunday, April 30. During the public comment period, Pennsylvanians can submit feedback by taking the Transportation Survey or emailing comments to RA-PennDOTSTC@pa.gov. Public feedback and survey results will help identify needs and prioritize transportation projects across the state.

For more information on the TYP Public Comment Period, Transportation Survey, and Online Public Forum, and how transportation projects are planned and funded, visit www.TalkPATransportation.com.

PennDOT will make all reasonable modifications to policies, programs, and documents to ensure that people with disabilities and those with limited English proficiency have an equal opportunity to provide feedback on Pennsylvania’s transportation network. To request assistance participating in the survey or the Online Public Forum, contact the Department’s Program Center by emailing RA-PennDOTSTC@pa.gov or calling 717-783-2262. Requests for Public Forum assistance should be made by Monday, April 3. If you have other questions or challenges, contact PennDOT’s Bureau of Equal Opportunity to request help by emailing beodot@pa.gov or calling 717-787-5891; TTY (711).

Subscribe to statewide PennDOT news and traffic alerts at www.penndot.pa.gov/news or choose a region under “Regional Offices.” Information about the state’s infrastructure and results the department is delivering for Pennsylvanians can be found at www.penndot.pa.gov/results. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.

Follow PennDOT on Twitter and like the department on Facebook and Instagram.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

Nearly sixty years later, the meaning isn’t lost.

March 29 is Vietnam Veterans Memorial Day, and VVA Chapter #862 in Beaver County held a 24-hour vigil in Quay Square in Beaver. The area included a continually burning flame kept guard by local Beaver County veterans, along with signage thanking the troops for their service.

“Beaver County has done more than its fair share of protecting our freedoms and serving our country over the years,” remarked Beaver County Commissioner Jack Manning at their weekly work session on Wednesday. “Just a great group of guys over there.”

Photos from the vigil site can be seen below:

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) is investigating a series of phone calls made to 911 centers about schools across the Commonwealth involving threats of an active shooter situation or bomb threat.

These phone calls were made to several schools in different counties. All calls have had similar content. All calls are being thoroughly investigated and responded to by law enforcement.

These calls have created lockdowns and/or evacuations of the schools with a large response from police and emergency services.

The PSP has responded to all incidents in our primary coverage areas and has been in contact with municipal law enforcement partners investigating these incidents in their coverage areas.

At this time, all claims in these calls have been determined to be false. All schools involved have been cleared or are in the process of being cleared by law enforcement.

The investigation is ongoing.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

Despite the time of the meeting running under 30 minutes, the Beaver County Commissioners managed to provide and receive many different updates at their March 29 work session.

Public Works director Dan Colville announced that there was no major damage done to any of the major parks in Beaver County following the series of harsh winds over the weekend. “Just a couple trees, nothing that interfered with operations,” Colville said. He also added that cleanup crews were out on Monday collecting whatever minor debris had made its way into those areas.

Parks and Recreation director Tony Caltury announced that the opening of trout season will be this Saturday (April 1), and that camping for the weekend will be allowed from 3 PM on Friday with evacuation set for Sunday at noon. He also notified the Commissioners that the inspection of the infrastructure at county pools is set to take place this coming Tuesday, “with the anticipation of the pool agreement being on the next resolution without any major infrastructure issues.”

Commissioner Tony Amadio spoke about the board’s meeting with the National Transportation Safety board in Darlington recently, with both him and Commissioner Jack Manning praising the conversation they had with NTSB chairperson Jennifer Homendy in regards to the eventual report that will come from the East Palestine train derailment. “I have complete confidence that they will eventually come up with a very good summary report of everything that happened,” Manning added.

Perhaps the biggest topic of discussion throughout the week leading up to the meeting was the release of reassessment values for properties throughout Beaver County, with an expected mill rate drop from around 26 to an estimated 3.5857. “We’re not raising county taxes,” Manning reaffirmed. “We’re still going to collect only 57 and a half million dollars in taxes.”

Commissioner Dan Camp stated that the possible tax increases may come from school taxes following their reactions to the reassessment of their properties. “The county will set those tentative values for the municipality for the schools and what their millage rate will be,” Camp mentioned, noting that the schools will then take two votes following the rates being set. One will be to accept the values, and the second will be to raise the values–“which will virtually be a tax increase,” per Camp.

The Beaver County Historical Landmarks & Research Foundation finally received bids for the restoration of the Vicary Mansion in Freedom, where the BCHLRF is headquartered. Executive director Brenda Applegate presented the bids to the County Commissioners at the work session, and the Commissioners chose Landmarks SGA as the contractors as their preference for the restoration of the porch for the building. Applegate stated that the foundation is also seeking a DCED grant through State Representative Rob Matzie.

The next Commissioners’ work session is scheduled for April 5 at 10:00 AM.

The photo above shows students exiting the school as police line the entrance to Hopewell High School amid the false alarm shooter situation.
Story and photos by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio News Director. Published March 29, 2023 1:10 P.M.

(Hopewell Township, PA) Students crying, parents and faculty distraught, and emergency responders in full action were the sights and sounds of a false alarm school shooting at Hopewell High School Wednesday morning. The call came in around 10:30am. Parents told Beaver County Radio at the scene, they were relieved when they found out the shooting was a hoax, citing it was sparked by an automated phone call. They commended the fast response time by police. Most were initially under the impression that an active shooter had killed or injured 6 students, it is unclear where the number 6 rumor originated. These reports were ultimately false and no shooting took place nor was anybody harmed.

Students were evacuated and moved to the Hopewell Junior High School to be dismissed along with the rest of the district as an investigation got underway. As students were reunited with their parents and gaurdians, they described actions of what happened during the lockdown, such as moving heavy items to block doorways, and noting the actions their teachers took to protect them. One story was that a group of students locked themselves in a bathroom, and wouldn’t come out until the police correctly said the predetermined password that was in place.

Officials were unable to make a statement on scene, but said they will as soon as the situation is wrapped up. State Police are investigating similar calls made to numerous other districts as well. Beaver County Radio’s Sandy Giordano reported the scene was officially cleared at 12:53pm, according to a statement from Hopewell Police Chief Don Sedlacek. Stay tuned to Beaver County Radio, we will keep you informed as more details become available.

Police cars line the entrance to Hopewell High:

Video from the scene shows students exiting the school:

The Congregation of Mount Olive Lutheran Church is moving. Our last Divine Service at our current worship site, 2679 Darlington Road in Chippewa, will be Sunday, April 23, 2023 at 9:30 am. Beginning Sunday, April 30, Divine Service will begin at 9:30 am at 1154 Shenango Road, Beaver Falls PA 15010 (at the intersection of Shenago and Wallace Run Roads).

Mount Olive is a member of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, and was founded in 1953. The current church was constructed in 1962. Due to financial difficulties, the property was recently sold, but the congregation, which numbers between 50-60 worshippers per Sunday, will continue to gather for Divine Services. New members are now being accepted.

The congregation is served by Rev. Paul Cwynar, Pastor Emeritus. More information can be obtained by calling the church office at 724-843-0952.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published March 29, 2023 10:07 A.M.

(Hopewell Township, PA) Some residents  who support the district’s teachers are working under the old contract that expired June 30, 2022. Talks are ongoing, and board president Dan Santia said he’s tired of being called “the bad guy.” He said, “We’re the stewards of the whole community”.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published March 29, 2023 10:04 A.M.

(Hopewell Township, PA) A service order authorization from the township engineer, HRG was approved for the Route 151 Sewers and Upper Raccoon Creek Interceptor  Preliminary Engineering Study for $13,100 with a completion date of within 45 days of authorization.

(The photo above shows a water sample given to Beaver County Radio by an Industry resident)
Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio News Director. Published March 29, 2023 7:24 A.M.  

(Industry, PA) Residents attended an Industry Borough Municipal Authority meeting Tuesday evening to voice their frustrations with ongoing water quality issues. Notable issues brought up during the public session were elevated manganese levels that have not been corrected, as well as low water pressure issues.

As public comments began, it was noted that there was a discrepancy over public testimonies following the last meeting, with only one testimony out of multiple being accounted for in the minutes. The disrepair of a building at one of the tanks was questioned and the authority said it was struck by a tree and they are working on it. Residents claim the roof has been falling in for a year now. More than one resident inquired if they could be removed from the public water to utilize well water instead, and the authority informed them they didn’t think that was possible, and even if so, they would still have to pay fees to the water authority regardless.

Audio of the well water discussion:

The authority stated all of their tanks have been flushed and they are awaiting reports back on the results. They also advised that they have a list of properties to be checked for water issues and said they are working diligently to do solve any issues, acknowledging they were aware of an ongoing manganese issue. A meter shortage is said to be delaying the process with an estimated 4 to 6 week wait time. The water authority also advised that they are currently short staffed and are in the process of interviewing and hiring.

At one point the meeting got heated with the police nearly being called to remove a resident after he brought up additional comments outside of his 5 minute time frame.

Audio of the altercation:

Residents say they just want action taken to fix these problems, and they’re tired of waiting. Beaver County Radio was provided with a sample of a residents water which is nearly black in color and filled with sediment. The issues started in October.

Damaged roof at tank site on Engle Road in Industry (submitted by Industry resident):

Industry Borough Municipal Authority Sign (Curtis Walsh):

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

The Beaver Falls City Council held their regular meeting on Tuesday evening, but several of the “regulars” were not in attendance.

Mayor Kenya Johns and councilman Leonard Chiappetta were absent from the meeting, making Deputy Mayor Peggy Evans the leader of the March 28 agenda. She joined fellow council members John Kirkland and Vanessa Ford Taylor as the only ones able to vote on any of the resolutions throughout the evening. Also absent from the meeting were city treasurer Sandy Wilkins, fire chief Mark Stowe, and city engineer Tony Sadaka.

Nevertheless, the meeting moved along with no major issues or hang-ups, as each of the eight resolutions on the agenda were approved unanimously by the voting councilmembers. Among them was the approval of a new trial schedule for daylight street sweeping throughout the city, with the sweeping of streets and avenues to take place from 5 AM until 1 PM. General Fund expenditures were approved in the amount of $952,930.70.

Beaver Falls police sergeant Robert Applegarth had his retirement letter read and accepted by city council, with the longtime sergeant’s retirement to become effective on April 17. Applegarth’s pension calculations were also approved, while the pension contributions of former fireman William Cummings will be set for him to obtain as agreed upon by the council. Cummings had retired from the Beaver Falls Fire Department in January of 2022.

Three recommendations from the Safety Committee for road closures during upcoming events were given the green light, including an alumni reunion for Geneva College baseball on April 15 (33rd Street from 7th to 8th Avenue), an “After School Bash” fundraiser for Ruhe Park on 5th Avenue set for June 2, and a dental health expo by Highmark on June 8 (12th Street between 7th and 8th Avenue).

City Manager Charles Jones announced that the council was awarded the Governor’s Excellence Award by Governor Josh Shapiro, an award for exemplary performance by commonwealth officials in the state. Several elected officals will be making the trip to Harrisburg on April 12 to meet with Governor Shapiro. Deputy Mayor Evans closed the meeting by speaking about the new editions to Library Park, citing that the improvements were “easy on my eyes”, and stated that she was “proud of Beaver Falls”.

The next city council meeting is scheduled for April 11 at 7:00 PM.