Three killed in Thanksgiving accident on I-79 in West Virginia

ELKVIEW, W.Va. (AP) — Authorities say three people were killed and two others were injured in a Thanksgiving Day crash along Interstate 79 in West Virginia. The vehicle carrying two adults and three children was traveling from Upper Darby, Pennsylvania to Kentucky when the crash occurred Thursday north of Charleston. The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office says the southbound SUV went off the right side of the roadway and came to rest along a hillside. No other vehicles were believed to be involved. Two female adults and a child were killed. Two other children were transported to a hospital and were in serious condition. The accident remains under investigation.

Two Juveniles, One with a Firearm, Found in Stolen Car after Short Police Pursuit in Hopewell Twp.

(File Photo)

Story by Beaver County Radio Staff+
(Hopewell Twp., Beaver County, Pa.) Pa State Police in Beaver are reporting that they identified a 2019 Nissan Sentra that had been stolen along Green Garden Road in Hopewell twp., Beaver County,  and attempted to make a traffic stop on that vehicle at 11:52 AM Monday morning, November 21, 2022.
Troopers said that the vehicle wouldn’t stop and a pursuit ensued. The vehicle eventually stopped and a 16-year-old Monaca Juvenile and a 17-yer-old Ambridge Juvenile were taken into custody without and incident. One of the Juveniles was found to be in possession of a fire-arm, Charges are currently pending.

What is the Most Popular Thanksgiving Side Dish?

Of all the food being cooked today, depending on who you ask there is sure to be a mix of answers of what the best thanksgiving dish is here in Pennsylvania. Turkey takes the top spot for main course but according to Google searches, green bean casserole is the most popular side dish for the state. Cranberry sauce takes the second spot, followed by mashed potatoes.

NYPD: No known threats to Macy’s parade, but tight security

NEW YORK (AP) — New York is planning tight security around the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in the wake of mass shootings elsewhere in the U.S. Police said Wednesday that there’s no known, credible threat to the famed event itself. But New York Police Department counterterrorism Chief Martine Materasso says police will deploy additional resources to make sure the festivities are safe. Security measures include heavy weapons teams, explosives detection dogs, a bomb squad, radiological and chemical sensors, drone detection, blocker vehicles and additional cameras on the route.

Plea hearing scheduled in ‘Gasland’ drilling pollution case

MONTROSE, Pa. (AP) — A plea hearing has been scheduled for next week in the case of a natural gas driller facing felony charges in Pennsylvania over allegations it polluted a small community’s drinking water. Houston-based Coterra Energy Inc. will appear in Susquehanna County Court on Tuesday. That’s according to online court records. Coterra’s corporate predecessor, Cabot Oil & Gas Corp., was charged with drilling faulty gas wells that leaked flammable methane into residential water supplies in Dimock and surrounding communities. Dimock drew national notoriety after residents were filmed lighting their tap water on fire in the 2010 documentary “Gasland.”

Vandals Strike North Sewickley Light Display for Second Time

(Photo taken by Frank Sparks)

(North Sewickley Twp., Beaver County, Pa.) For the second time in less than a week vandals have struck a popular Christmas display in North Sewickley Township.

The North Sewickley Township Police Department reported on their Facebook Page that the vandals struck again around 8:00 PM on Thanksgiving Eve.

Home owner Emmett Santillo puts up the display each year at his home on Route 65, Mercer Road, near Stop and Sock. He also raises money through donations from people who stop to look at the display for the Women’s Center of Beaver County.

Chief Becze is asking for the communities help in locating the individual Grinch’s who are responsible for the vandalism. They are hoping someone nearby might have a video camera or doorbell camera that caught something that can help them. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the North Sewickley Police Department at 724-843-8118.

Sharon Rombold  started a GoFundMe to help assist in repairing the damage that the vandals have done.

You can donate if you would like to by going to the link below: https://www.gofundme.com/f/please-help-emmett-fix-all-the-damage?qid=58529113d9aea996affe4264e888a0b6

 

Hopewell School Board Announces a Retirement and Personnel Changes

(File Photo)

Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News
(Hopewell Twp., Beaver County, Pa.) The Hopewell Area School Board met on Tuesday Night and approved the retirement of the Junior high school head cook Denise Stevens. Her will retirement will be effective April 14, 2023. She has served the district in that capacity for 40 years
In other business the board approved the hiring of Kamryn Geisler as a special education teacher. She will teach at the junior high school effective December 12, 2022. Reon Nesmith resigned as volunteer junior high school assistant basketball coach, he is being replaced by Ryan Brown  Temporary  employment   acting. high school assistant principal  Nadia Engel was thanked.  by the board  for her service. Dr. Robert Kartychak, the assistant high school principal,  has been serving as Acting Superintendent.. The   new superintendent Jeff  Beltz was hired. earlier this month and begins his duties on December 14, 2022. He is being paid an additional $750.00 a week  during the transition period, November 29 to December 13, 2022..
The board will reorganize on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at 7 p.m.

Three Aliquippa Students Charged After Attacking Another Student on the Way To Gym

(File Photo)

Story by Beaver County Radio News Staff
(Aliquippa, Pa.) Three female students at the Aliquippa Junior/Senior High School have been charged after they were caught on video in October attacking another student during school hours.
The three unnamed students are teenage girls and they allegedly ganged up on another female student kicking her multiple times on her way to gym class.
Aliquippa Police have charged the three girls with disorderly conduct and simple assault. The charges are misdemeanor juvenile charges.

Pa State Rep. Josh Kail Elected as House Republican Policy Committee Chair

(Photo from Rep. Josh Kail’s Facebook Page. Used with permission)

Story by Frank Sparks, Beaver County Radio
(Harrisburg, Pa.) Pa State Representative Josh Kail (15th) has been named as the House Republican Policy Committee Chair for the 2023-2024 legislative session.
The Pa House Republican Caucus elected their slate of leaders in the Pa. State House on Tuesday. Rep. Kail said in a Facebook post that he is very humbled to the support of his colleagues to take on the critical role, and he looks forward to the work ahead on how Pennsylvania can move forward.
Other Republican leaders who were elected are: House Leader: Rep. Bryan Cutler, House Whip: Rep. Tim O’Neal , Appropriations Chair: Seth Grove, Caucus Chairman: Rep. George Dunbar, Caucus Secretary: Rep. Martina White, and Caucus Administrator: Rep. Sheryl Delozier.

Christina Good Officially Sworn In As Beaver Falls Police Officer At City Council Meeting

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

“Today is a special day in Beaver Falls.”

The city’s mayor, Kenya Johns, opened up the November 22 council meeting with those remarks, and in a matter of minutes she would be correct.

Nearly a month after receiving the unanimous approval of city council to be hired, Christina Good was officially sworn in as the newest police officer for the Beaver Falls Police Department on Tuesday evening. She becomes only the second female and first female of color to serve on the patrol.

Officer Christina Good is joined by her patrol staff including Chief David Johnson [second from right] and members of city council including Mayor Kenya Johns [center front, right of Good].
Mayor Johns swore her in, flanked by Police Chief David Johnson–who gave his verbal praise and approval one month ago when Good was first introduced to the city council. Officer Good was also supported by many family and friends who were in attendance to see her officially take the new position.

“It really is an honor, and I’m beyond thankful and feel very blessed and privileged to see all the wonderful additions we’re adding,” Mayor Johns exclaimed. “Adding to what we have–not taking it away–but adding additional things, and today is memorable as we add the first female officer of color to the City of Beaver Falls Police.”

Following the ceremony, the regular (and brief) council meeting went on as usual. The largest subject presented was by Fire Chief Mark Stowe, who spoke about the need to resuscitate the Blight Committee following a gradual erosion of concern and meetings begat by the pandemic. “The Blight Committee, when you look at the ordinance for vacant buildings…it’s the Blight Committee that actually hears if there’s an appeal,” Stowe stated. “So this is very important moving forward that we get this Blight Committee up and running again.”

Stowe noted that there are several buildings–“thankfully there’s only a handful”, as he put it–that impede the progress of the downtown business district that Mayor Johns and the council has tried to push forward. In kind, councilwoman Peggy Evans nominated herself with approval from council to represent them in this restart of the Blight Committee.

The council approved General Fund expenditures at a total of $271,308.21, and also approved a recommendation by the Safety Committee to investigate with the intent to solve the drainage issues at the Second Baptist Church on the corner of 24th Street and 10th Avenue. Lastly, council members invited those in attendance (in person or on stream) to attend the Beaver Falls Christmas Parade on November 26 beginning at 6 PM.