(Harrisburg, Pa. ) Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced today that his office has filed charges against nine former Mount Carmel High School football players for their involvement in a 2020 hazing incident.

Following a referral from the Northumberland County District Attorney’s Office, the Office of Attorney General began an investigation into allegations of hazing that occurred amongst members of the Mount Carmel High School football team in 2020. The investigation revealed that in two separate incidents football players were invited to football captain Reed Witowski’s house to watch game footage. During the watch party, football captains Reed Witowski, Damon Dowkus and another captain who was a juvenile at the time, and other members of the team burned the new starting players with lit burning sticks and sparklers as part of an informal initiation.

The team captains, Reed Witowski, Damon Dowkus, and another individual who was a juvenile at the time, have been charged with Hazing, Simple Assault, and Intimidation of a Victim. Other members of the team including, Tyler Owens, Michael Balichik, and four others who were juveniles at the time of the incident, have been charged with Hazing and Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Hazing.

This matter is being prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Joseph Sembrot. The defendants are innocent unless and until proven guilty.

(File Photo)

Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio
(Hopewell Township, Beaver County, Pa.) Tuesday night, The Hopewell Area School met and new Superintendent Jeff Beltz  for the first time and thanked the board for hiring him to be the new superintendent. He told the board  he wants to attend  district and community functions if he’s made aware. He thanked the assistant high school principal, who was acting superintendent Dr. Robert Kartychak  for his support during his transition.

(Photo courtesy of Mrs. Lane)

(Aliquippa, Pa.) Due to the pandemic there was a delay in awarding Aliquippa Police Chief John Lane, Captain Don Lane, Sergeants Nico D’Arrgio, and Josh  Gonzalez, with  their promotion letters.  Mayor Dwan B. Walker made  the promotions official  at Wednesday night’s  council meeting. Family members were in attendance for the event.

(File Photo)

Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio
(Aliquippa, Pa.) The City of Aliquippa Mayor Dwan B . Walker spoke about  the city’s  budget and the  anticipated exit from Act 47 status at the end of 2023 at this week’s council meeting. The first reading of the ordinance in regard to the levying of taxes in 2023 was accepted. An ordinance prohibiting the use of tobacco and any vaping products in recreation areas, parks and playgrounds was also read.

( File Photo of Congressman Lamb)

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) issued the following statement following President Biden’s securing the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner from wrongful detention in Russia:

“The release of Britney Griner is good news, but the Administration cannot forget about the other Americans wrongfully detained in Russia, including PA-17 native Marc Fogel.  The administration must do more to secure Mr. Fogel’s release.  The State Department must put the full weight of the United States government behind the effort to secure his freedom, and keep his family and congressional advocates better informed about the progress.”

In October, Lamb led letter with Representative Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14) and Senator Bob Casey (PA) and a coalition of bipartisan Members of Congress to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to urge the U.S. Department of State to classify Oakmont, PA native Marc Fogel as wrongfully detained.  The letter further calls on the State Department to work to bring Mr. Fogel home safely.

Fogel was detained by Russian authorities on August 14, 2021 and is serving a 14-year hard-labor sentence for possession of medical marijuana used to treat a severe back injury.  This past June, Fogel was sentenced to 14 years of hard labor in a Russian prison and in August, Fogel’s appeal was denied.  Following this denial, he is imprisoned in a maximum-security correctional colony.

(Hopewell Twp., Beaver County, Pa.) An ambulance that was stolen as paramedics treated a patient on Mount Washington in Pittsburgh was recovered on I-376 outbound from the city on Interstate 376 in Hopewell Twp., Beaver County early Monday morning.
According to police, The incident began around 4:30 a.m. Friday morning as paramedics were called to the 200 block of West Sycamore Street. A man stole the ambulance, which state police later tracked to I-376 near Hopewell.
The man who allegedly stole the ambulance was taken into custody.

(File Photo)

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano
(Ambridge, Pa.) The Ambridge Area School Board held their annual reorganization meeting on Wednesday night and Kelly Ramasco was elected board president. Elected to vice president was Amy Fitasko. Meeting dates for the upcoming year and committee chairmen were also announced.
In other business Laughlin Memorial Library representatives will be Tom Cephas and Matt Zatchey Baden Memorial Library representative is Amy Fitsko.

(Photo provided by Ambridge Police)

(Ambridge, Pa.) Ambridge Police announced  that Lt. John Chickos and officer Austin Turner filled their cruiser with toys that have been donated. The Abominable Bumble visited and cheered them on.

(File Photo)

Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News
(Aliquippa, Pa.) The Aliquippa School Board met on Wednesday night for their annual reorganization meeting .Tina Price Genes was reappointed president, and Nicole bible was reappointed vice president at Wednesday night’s meeting. Sam Weir was hired as the high school art teacher. An  elementary pre-k instructional aide  was hired. Superintendent Dr. Phillip Woods reported on the progress with the stadium project,   The Project Warm coat distribution by FedEX on Tuesday at the elementary  school was also reported by the superintendent. Each student received a  new coat.