AAA: Gas Prices Dip in Pennsylvania This Week

AAA: Gas Prices Dip in Pennsylvania This Week
Gas prices are two cents lower in Western Pennsylvania this week at $3.833 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average                          $3.833
Average price during the week of February 6, 2023                                          $3.851
Average price during the week of February 14, 2022                                        $3.629

The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in Beaver County is $3.812.

The national average for a gallon of gas dropped this week by six cents to $3.41. Fewer people fueling up, and lower costs for oil, are behind the price dip. Today’s average is 13 cents more than a month ago and seven cents less than a year ago.

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand dipped slightly from 8.49 million to 8.43 million b/d last week. The current gas demand rate is approximately 700,000 b/d lower than the rate during the first week of February 2022, helping to explain why gas prices are declining. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks increased significantly by 5 million barrels to 239.6 million barrels last week.

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate increased by $1.33 to settle at $78.47. Crude prices rose last week due to persistent market optimism that global oil demand will be stronger than expected.

      

Route 3032 Hardin Run Road Slide Remediation Starts Tuesday in Hanover

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing the closure of a portion of Hardin Run Road (Route 3032) in Hanover Township, Beaver County, will begin Tuesday, February 14 weather permitting.

Slide repair and roadway paving requiring the closure of a portion of Hardin Run Road between Mack Hollow Road and Swearingen Road will begin at 8 a.m. Tuesday. Through traffic will be prohibited around-the-clock as crews conduct the slide remediation work through early March. Traffic will be detoured.

Posted Detours

West of the Closure

  • From westbound Hardin Run Road, continue into West Virginia
  • Hardin Run Road becomes Route 24 (Frankfort Road) in West Virginia
  • Turn right onto West Virginia Route 8 (Veterans Boulevard)
  • Turn right onto Gas Valley Road (West Virginia 18)
  • Continue on Gas Valley Road into Pennsylvania (Route 3026)
  • Turn right onto Route 168
  • Follow Route 168 back to Hardin Run Road
  • End detour

East of the Closure

  • Same detour in the opposite direction

PennDOT crews will conduct the work.

Please use caution when traveling in this area.

The Feasibility Of A Competitive Spirit Team Gets Explained At New Brighton School Board Meeting

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

For the second consecutive meeting, the focus of the New Brighton School Board was detailing and discussing the possibility of a “competitive spirit” team for the school, and what it would take for that to become a reality…if it can even become one.

This time, though; NBASD Superintendent Dr. Joseph Guarino was who captained the contents of the subject at hand. In the three weeks following the prior meeting, the school board, along with Athletic Director Joe Greco, met with the parents who provided information and input regarding the formation of a competitive spirit team. What was gathered was then presented by Dr. Guarino in a slideshow at Monday night’s meeting.

New Brighton Superintendent Dr. Joseph Guarino (far right) presents a slideshow presentation regarding the details of putting together a competitive spirit team at the February 13 school board meeting.

While the majority of the presentation was heavily facts-based, there were moments where Guarino showcased what he considered to be challenges with putting a competitive team together. The challenges expressed echoed the initial concerns of the board at the January 23 meeting, focusing heavily on numbers–particularly, financial numbers and participation numbers.

“I do believe there is a concern with long-term viability,” Guarino expressed. “91% of those schools from our area [with competitive spirit teams] are larger in student body size than we are. Quite frankly, like anything else we have in the district, they just have more kids to pull from every year than we do. That’s no different than talking about the basketball team or the football team; but when you’re talking about starting something new, it’s something to consider.”

Dr. Guarino also stated that the estimated cost of operations for a competitive spirit team falls roughly around the $2,000-$2,500 range, not including stipends for coaches, choreography fees, and any additional fees for PIAA competition. “I just don’t think it’s wise to start a program and try and function a program under the guise of a booster group paying for it,” he stated. “The funds may exist one year for that booster group but not in another year. You may have one set of parents in one year that’s really gung-ho and out there fundraising, and two years later or five years later…not have any of that.”

School board president John Ludwig stated that a vote on the operation of a competitive spirit team will be added to the voting meeting for February 27.

Following the presentation, the regularly scheduled committee meeting commenced, beginning with a concerned plea from NBGBB (New Brighton Girls’ Bantam Basketball) representative Shelly King. King’s concern was with the school’s affiliation–or lack thereof–with the operations of the NBGBB following an incident with several coaches getting hit by another coach during a practice at the gym that the group used for practices on school grounds. King pleaded that the school board look to rectify its affiliation with the Bantam Leagues so that future incidents like these could be dealt with in a swift and concise manner. Ludwig apologized on behalf of the board regarding the confusion and said that there are plans to correct the current affiliations.

The board then set up additional items to be voted on at the February 27 meeting, including an approval of the 2023-24 School Calendar, the operation of a K-12 summer school, the retirement of one Instructional Assistant for June 2023 (Mary Kubis) and the hiring of another for February 2023 (Brittany Caldwell). These, along with others (including the competitive spirit vote), will be voted on at the next voting meeting.

The February 27 voting meeting is scheduled for 7:30 PM at the “Little Theatre” inside the New Brighton Area High School.

Daily Beaver County Forecast, February 13, 2023

Published by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio news Director
We can expect sunny skies today with a high near 56. Winds will be around 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. It will be mostly clear tonight dropping to a low of 28. Winds will lighten after midnight.

Beaver County Chamber’s Monday Memo: 2/13/23

 

Date: Friday, February 17, 2023
Location: Chamber Lower-Level Conference Room
Time: 8:00AM – 9:00AM
Cost: FREE
RSVP: Click here
Details: B-Club will meet on the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month.
Practice your 30-second commercials & bring your business cards.
You are invited to attend a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at The Center’s new thrift store.
Date: Friday, February 24, 2023
Time: 12:00 PM
2023 Annual Gala
& Silent Auction
Date: Saturday, March 25, 2023
Location: Seven Oaks Country Club
Details: Old Hollywood theme | Black-tie optional.
Current Sponsors:
Platinum: Shell
Gold: PA Cyber
Bronze: Medic Rescue
Media Sponsors: The Times, WBVP/WMBA
Host Sponsor: Seven Oaks Country Club
Formal invitations to follow.
Interested in being a sponsor?
Contact Molly Suehr.
What a great turnout for our 2023 State of the County last week at Geneva College. Thank you to all three County Commissioners and other elected officials and county leaders for being present.
Events like this would not be possible without the support of our members. Thank You to all of our event sponsors, including Presenting Sponsor: Strassburger McKenna Gutnick & Gefsky
View all ? by clicking: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAreCK
 
Submit your member news to msuehr@bcchamber.com
Congratulations to Cafe Kolache on celebrating 20 years in business on February 7, 2023. Read the owner’s “Reflections on 20 years with Cafe Kolache” here.
SERVPRO Urges Property Owners in the Beaver Area to Focus on Disaster Readiness as Spring Approaches. Property damage remediation specialist says the importance of advance planning grows as severe weather and climate events become more frequent. Read more here.
Spare some time and change a life!  Join us March 31-April 1 to “Bowl For Kids’ Sake” with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Beaver County. Gather your team of friends, family, or co-workers and raise funds for our Beaver County kids! Enjoy pizza, prizes, and more (and beer for those 21+ at our popular Friday night “Bowl + Beers” session).
Get started at www.bcbigs.org/bfks
   
BCCC 2023 Member Decal Available
Show your members and your community that your organization is a BCCC member. To download the digital member logo, click here.
To request a decal, email msuehr@bcchamber.com
Reminder: When you refer a member to us and they join,
you earn a $25.00 Chamber Credit!
Now Hiring! Want to see a list of job postings from members? Don’t forget to add your own posting to the job postings portal on our website.
In need of a product or service?
Head to our full membership directory available on our website, where you will find a trusted partner to do business with today.

Kail to Hold Hearing, Press Conference on Supporting First Responders

Due to the ongoing and unresolved crisis with our emergency first responders, House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Joshua D. Kail (R-Beaver/Washington) will host a hearing and press conference to spotlight current obstacles facing these heroes and how those issues can be properly addressed.

Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 10 a.m.

WHERE:  G-50, Irvis Office Building. A press conference in the Main Rotunda will immediately follow the hearing.

LIVESTREAM: Barring any technical difficulties, the events will be streamed online at www.PAGOPPolicy.comwww.PAHouseGOP.comwww.RepKail.comwww.Facebook.com/RepKail and www.Facebook.com/pagoppolicy.

Haley faces ‘high-wire act’ in 2024 bid against Trump

FILE – Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks at an annual leadership meeting of the Republican Jewish Coalition, Nov. 19, 2022, in Las Vegas. Haley may be the first to take on former President Donald Trump, but a half-dozen or more high-profile Republicans are expected to join the GOP’s 2024 presidential nomination contest over the coming months. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Few have navigated the turbulent politics of the Trump era like Nikki Haley. She once vowed not to step in the way if former President Donald Trump ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. But on Wednesday, she will become the first major Republican candidate to enter the race against him. She is the only Republican woman of color expected in the 2024 contest. And facing steep odds, she loves to remind people that she has never lost an election. On the eve of Wednesday’s announcement, there is broad agreement that Haley is about to be tested as never before.

Mars Wrigley fined after workers fall into vat of chocolate

ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Federal workplace safety authorities have fined a central Pennsylvania confectionary factory more than $14,500 following an accident last year in which two workers fell into a vat of chocolate. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Mars Wrigley in the June accident at the Elizabethtown M&M/Mars factory, saying the workers were not authorized to work in the tanks and weren’t trained on the proper safety procedures for the equipment. Emergency responders cut a hole in the bottom of the tank to free the workers and both were taken to hospitals. A company representative said the safety of workers and outside contractors “is a top priority for our business.”

US holds drills in South China Sea amid tensions with China

An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter lands aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in the South China Sea, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, as Nimitz in U.S. 7th Fleet was conducting operations. The 7th Fleet based in Japan said Sunday that the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier strike group and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit have been conducting “integrated expeditionary strike force operations” in the South China Sea. (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin McTaggart/U.S. Navy via AP)

BEIJING (AP) — The United States Navy and Marine Corps are holding drills in the South China Sea at a time of heightened tensions with Beijing over the shooting down of a suspected Chinese spy balloon. The 7th Fleet based in Japan says the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier strike group and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit have been conducting “integrated expeditionary strike force operations” in the South China Sea. It says exercises took place Saturday but gave no details on when they began or whether they had ended. China claims virtually the entire South China Sea and strongly objects to military activity by other nations in the contested waterway through which an estimated $5 trillion in goods are shipped every year.