An election worker continues the process in counting ballots for the Pennsylvania primary election, Wednesday, May 18, 2022, at the Mercer County Elections Board in Mercer, Pa. Vote counting continues as Republican candidates Dr. Mehmet Oz and David McCormick are locked in a too-early-to-call race for Pennsylvania’s hotly contested Republican nomination for an open U.S. Senate seat. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — New state data shows that an election eve Pennsylvania court decision that said mail-in ballots without accurate handwritten dates on their exterior envelopes can’t count resulted in otherwise valid votes being canceled in the high-stakes November election. The Department of State says more than 16,000 mail-in ballots were disqualified by county officials because they lacked secrecy envelopes or proper signatures or dates. Democratic voters, who are much more likely to vote by mail, make up more than two-thirds of the total canceled ballots. Many counties worked with voters to “cure” undated ballots.

Pennsylvania Speaker of the House Mark Rozzi is photographed at the speaker’s podium, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, at the state Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Smith)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s newly minted state House speaker is moving to make his major policy goal regarding victims of child sexual abuse to be the chamber’s urgent priority. Speaker Mark Rozzi on Friday backed Gov. Tom Wolf’s announcement of an immediate special session to consider a constitutional amendment that would give victims of child sexual abuse a two-year window in which to file otherwise time-barred lawsuits. Rozzi says no other legislation will be considered until the proposal passes. House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler of Lancaster County says a special session devoted to that single topic isn’t warranted. Cutler says consideration of the amendment can be done as regular legislative business.

FARMINGTON, Pa. (AP) — Joseph Hardy III, founder of the 84 Lumber chain of building materials stores and developer of the Nemacolin resort, has died. He was 100.
A family statement provided by the company said the family had lost its “patriarch and all-around great man.” A profile posted on the company’s website said he passed away on his 100th birthday Saturday “surrounded by his loving family singing Broadway show tunes to comfort him at his home in Farmington.”
“Many knew Joe as a brilliant businessman and enthusiastic entrepreneur,” said the statement provided by Amy Smiley, 84 Lumber’s vice president of marketing. “Even with his vast success, Joe always remembered what matters most: people. He helped make the American dream real for so many, and he will be greatly missed.”
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports Hardy was credited with “rethinking the lumber business in the late 1950s with a cash-and-carry approach focused on professional contractors and builders.” He then expanding the company to become the nation’s largest privately owned building materials supplier.
He also developed the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa, now known simply as Nemacolin, and entered the harness-racing business, operating the Meadows Racetrack in North Strabane Township in Washington County.
Born January 7, 1923, in Pittsburgh, Hardy attended Lehigh University and in his final year there enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, serving as a radioman during World War II.
After the war, he worked in the family-owned jewelry store, earned an Industrial Engineering degree at the University of Pittsburgh and with family and a friend started Green Hills Lumber, which eventually became 84 Lumber (named after the town where it was headquartered) which currently has more than 250 stores nationwide.
“My father was always asking, ‘What’s next?'” his daughter Maggie Hardy, to whom he turned over control of 84 Lumber and Nemacolin Resort, said in the profile. “He wanted to conquer the next challenge or make something even better. He taught us never to be satisfied and push to be better today than we were yesterday.”
“Joe was a true American success story,” former Pennsylvania governor and Homeland Security director Tom Ridge told the Post-Gazette. “And he was a true gentleman. He could have demanded to be treated like a tycoon, but instead he wanted to be known as Joe.”
The family statement said Hardy had proven “that nothing is impossible by willing himself to his 100th birthday” which had made the family “beyond proud of him for making this final accomplishment.”
A funeral service for Hardy, whose survivors include eight children and 15 grandchildren, is scheduled Thursday in Westminster Presbyterian Church followed by full military honors and private interment.

(Hopewell Twp., Beaver County, Pa.) Pa State Police in Beaver are reporting that they have filed charges of false reports or statements after a Clinton, Pa man attempted to have his ex-girlfriend arrested for a PFA violation.

Troopers reported that they were called to an address on Green Garden Road in Hopewell Twp, Beaver County at 8:51 PM on Thursday, January 5, 2023. Troopers arrested 42-year-old William Merryman after they found that he utilized a spoofing application in an attempt to get his ex-girlfriend arrested for a PFA violation. No other information was released by Troopers about the incident.

(Independence Twp., Beaver County, Pa.) Pa State Police in Beaver reported on Saturday, January 7, 2023 that they were called to Backbone Road in Independence Twp. Beaver County at 11:57PM Thursday, January 5, 2023 for a report of cruelty to animals.
Upon arriving and investigating it was learned that eight sheep were found deceased and were possibly killed by a dog. Troopers also found a neighborhood dog that was killed at the scene.  Troopers did not release any other information about the incident but said they are further investigating the incident.

File photo, Speedway sign in New Brighton taken by Frank Sparks.
Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio News Director

(Baden, PA) (WBVP-WMBA) Beaver County residents took to social media to warn each other of being sold Diesel in place of Unleaded gasoline at the Speedway location in Baden. Numerous claims were made that the unleaded tanks had been accidently filled with diesel fuel and sold to unknowing customers for a period of hours between Thursday and Friday. A representative of the store confirmed to Beaver County Radio that diesel was being pumped through the unleaded lines until the mistake was caught Friday morning. The store shut down the pumps when they realized the issue, and worked to correct the problem. Speedway customer service should be contacted for any claims of those who may have filled their gas engine with diesel.

The home team the Beaver Bobcats played the Blackhawk Cougars  in front of a sell out crowd that was described as a white out, and they didn’t disappoint the fans who witnessed a highly competitive game. The Bobcats got out to a five point lead and the Cougars kept clawing back closing the lead  and so went the contest back and forth until middle of the forth quarter were Beaver got the biggest lead of the game of 11 points, the Cougars kept coming back and got it within four points with one minute thirty left on the clock when more of the same came from the Bobcats with some more timely shooting . This game was filled with good play on both teams and they should each have a good season.

Photo submitted by Kim Snyder.
Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio News Director. Published January 6, 2023 10:19 P.M. 

(Aliquippa, PA) (WBVP-WMBA) A lost cow found its way to Green Garden Plaza in Aliquippa Friday Night. Hopewell Police responded to the curious hoofed animal. A witness tells Beaver County Radio the officers had resistance from the cow when they tried to walk him towards the woods. The owner was located and the cow made it back to his home on the range.

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®

The PA State Police Troop D – Beaver Station continue their investigation on a homicide that occurred on January 6, 1982. David LEGGE left his place of work at approximately 1700 hours.  At approximately 1820 hours, LEGGE made a phone call to a friend and was never heard from again.  LEGGE was discovered hanging from the Lynx Bridge, located on Hookstown Grade Road, Independence Township, Beaver County on 01/07/82 by a nearby resident who was checking his hunting traps.  Once LEGGE had been removed from the bridge, it was discovered that he had been shot multiple times.  It was determined that LEGGE had died from the multiple gunshot wounds.  It appears that the incident occurred LEGGE’s van and the actor(s) tried disposing LEGGE by throwing him off the bridge.  The actor(s) were apparently unaware that LEGGE’s leg had become entangled on the bridge.  LEGGE’s van, is described as a 1980 gray Chevrolet van, and was later discovered in Ambridge Borough, Beaver County.  Victim’s Name: David Albert LEGGE  A.K.A “Sledge” Age: 32 (at the time of the incident)

Height: Approximately 5’9 Weight: 197 pounds Race: W/N Sex: Male

Any persons with information regarding this incident are asked to contact the Pennsylvania State Police Beaver Station at 724-773-7400 and speak to Tpr. Thomas or you can contact the Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers if you have information on this crime, any serious crime, or wanted person, call the Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers Toll Free at 1-800-4PA-TIPS (8477) or online at https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=107 All callers remain anonymous and could be eligible for a CASH REWARD for information that leads to an arrest, the solving of a crime/cold case or the location of a wanted fugitive or missing persons. All information is accurate as of Release Date.