15-Year-Old Arrested in Connection With Kennywood Park Shooting, Being Charged as an Adult

A Kennywood Park security guard stands at the main entrance to the amusement park in West Mifflin, Pa., early Sunday, Sept 25, 2022. Pennsylvania police and first responders have descended on the amusement park southeast of Pittsburgh following reports of shots fired inside the attraction, which was kicking off a Halloween-themed festival. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puska

(West Mifflin, Pa.) Allegheny County police announced the arrest of a 15-year-old Darryl Pirl and said they are now looking for a second shooter in the Kennywood shooting that occurred on September 24, 2022 in which three people including Pirl, a 39-year-old man and another 15-year-old boy were shot inside the park by the “Musik Express” ride.
Pirl was grazed in the leg with a bullet but ran before police got there. He was driven to the hospital by private means nearly two hours later
Pirl will be charged as an adult and is facing two charges of aggravated assault, firearms not to be carried without a license, possession of a firearm by a minor and recklessly endangering another person.
Police say Pirl had gunshot residue on his hands and on the inside and outside of his clothing, indicating he fired the gun from underneath his shirt. He also had bullet holes in his shirt, but no wounds to his upper body.
Police said that based on evidence, two different guns were fired during the incident and that they are still looking for a second shooter, who they say is likely a juvenile.
Police say this shooting appears to be linked to an ongoing feud between teens in the Mon Valley that has led to more than 55 different shooting investigations, including one that took the life of a teenage girl in Duquesne.
Police say Pirl was on juvenile probation at the time of the shooting at Kennywood.

Construction Worker Killed on The Parkway East Early Friday Morning

(Pittsburgh, Pa.) A construction worker fell to his death around 3:10 AM this morning along the Parkway East. The unnamed man pronounced dead at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh after he was transported their by Medics.
Pa State Police said this morning via release that the construction worker was working in a bucket truck that was parked in the left lane that was closed in the construction zone. The bucket with the unnamed worker in it was extended out over the right hand lane when the bottom of the bucket was struck by a tractor trailer causing the bucket to spin on it axis. The unnamed man was ejected from the bucket and fell over the overpass.

As of 9:00 AM Friday morning all lanes of the Parkway East traveling eastbound were closed at the Forbes Ave./ Oakland Exit as State Police continue to investigate.

Passenger Injured in One Vehicle Accident in Connoquenessing Borough

(File Photo)

(Connoquenessing, Borough, Pa.) Pa State Police in Butler are reporting that they were called to the scene of a two vehicle accident on Harmony Street in Connoquenessing borough around 6:05 PM on Wednesday.
Upon arriving and investigating it was learned that 52-year-old Danial Stevenson of Evans City was operating a 2001 Chevy s-10 pickup truck eastbound on Harmony Street when he lost control of the vehicle. The truck struck a telephone pole and overturned coming to a final rest on its roof in a gravel wide spot south of Harmony Street.
Stevenson is suspected to have suffered minor injuries but refused to be transported to the hospital.
His passenger 44-year-old Jason Kummer of Evans City is suspected to have suffered serious injuries and was transported to Allegheny General Hospital.
Stevenson was charged by Troopers with not driving a vehicle properly on the right side of the road.

Leaf Collection to Begin in New Brighton, Daugherty and Pulaski

(File Photo taken by Frank Sparks in 2020)

(New Brighton, Pa.) Leaf collection will begin in New Brighton Borough this coming Monday, October 10, in Daugherty Township on Monday, October 17, and in Pulaski Township Monday, October 24, 2022. All three municipalities will end leaf collection on Friday December 2, 2022.
Residents should place their raked leaves along the edge of the street for collection. Leaves that are bagged or that contain any tree branches, brush, stones, garbage/rubbish, grass clippings, or garden debris will not be collected.
Leaf collection in New Brighton Borough will follow the posted street sweeping schedule.

Leaf collection in Daugherty Township will follow the following schedule:

Mondays: William Penn Way & Crescent Heights Plan, Rt. 65 (from Valley Avenue to Stuber Road), North Avenue, Franklin Plan, and McGuire Street.
Tuesdays: Gulbranson Heights Plan, Daugherty Highlands Plan, and Hillcrest Drive.
Wednesdays: Mercer Heights Plan, Klein Plan, Stuber Road, McCreary Plan, Cardinal Drive, Robin Trail, and Rt. 65 (from Stuber Road to Wises Grove Road).
Thursdays: Allendale Road, Wallace Drive, Harold Street, Inman Drive, Hogue Drive, and John Street.
Call the Daugherty Township Municipal Building at (724) 846-5337 to schedule a collection on state routes not listed above.
 
Leaf collection in Pulaski Township will follow the following schedule:

Mondays: New England Hill and Blockhouse Run Road area.
Tuesdays: Sunflower Road – North to 36th Street.
Wednesday: West Side of Rochester Road from Sunflower Road to 52nd Street.
Thursdays: East Side of Rochester Road from Sunflower Road to 52nd Street.
Fridays: Tree branches will be collected that have fallen from storms.  Branches must be tied together into manageable bundles and not contain any other type of lawn debris.

Pa State Rep. Matzie: $10 Million in New Funding will Support Job Training for Pa. Residents Re-entering the Community

(Pa State Rep. Rob Matzie during a recent appearance on Beaver County Radio)

(Ambridge, Pa.) New job training and related resources are on the horizon for Beaver County residents re-entering the community after incarceration thanks to $10 million in new federal funding, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced.
Matzie, D-Beaver, said the funding under the First Step Act Initiative will support a statewide re-entry program to reduce recidivism and strengthen the region’s workforce.
“For people returning to the community after incarceration, a chance at a decent-paying job offers the best path back to building a new life,” Matzie said. “Unfortunately, many lack the training and skills needed to find those opportunities.
“With this new funding, the state will create a re-entry program that offers job training in areas that meet the specific needs of regional employers. Having specialized skills that make them attractive to employers – sometimes for the first time in their lives – empowers people, gives them a chance to return to their families and cuts the chances of their returning to crime. The entire community feels the impact of that success.
“Matzie said he will be working to ensure Beaver County reaps the full benefits of the new program.”

VIDEO: Chippewa Township Will Have Grand Opening Of New NFC Fitness Court On October 15

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

Those in Beaver County who are invested in their wellness and exercise–or those who want to start–will soon have a new opportunity in a new location.

On Saturday, October 15, a new Fitness Court will be officially opened by Chippewa Township at Wright Field @ Veteran’s Park. The track was created in conjunction with the National Fitness Campaign, whose app will allow users to follow along with everyday classes on their phone. The NFC also donated a $30,000 grant to Chippewa Township for the building of the Fitness Court.

Chippewa Township Parks and Recreation director Lauren Doyle spoke about the new addition to Wright Field @ Veteran’s Park with Matt Drzik on the October 6 edition of A.M. Beaver County. Doyle stated that the fitness court is free to use and is open to the public in Beaver County. “We’re hoping to have the local high school athletes and local police to come out and do competitions and just have a good time,” Doyle stated. She added that there will be a local fitness trainer and several scheduled classes throughout the week: “We have the flexibility to work around what the community wants.”

To watch the full interview with Lauren Doyle, click on the Facebook feed below!

Ambridge Man Pleads to Possessing Fentanyl in Federal Court

(Pittsburgh, Pa.)  A former resident of Ambridge, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of possession with intent to 40 grams or more of fentanyl, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Michael Gamble, age 37, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on Dec. 10, 2020, law
enforcement executed a search warrant upon Gamble’s residence. Law enforcement encountered Gamble sitting on a couch in the basement. A search of Gamble’s person resulted in the seizure of fentanyl and over $2,500.00. Between a cushion on a couch where Gamble was seated, law enforcement recovered a loaded handgun with an attached extended magazine. In a hidden compartment in the basement, officers recovered additional fentanyl. In total, law enforcement seized about approximately 90 grams of fentanyl.
Judge Wiegand scheduled sentencing for Feb. 9, 2023, at 10:00 a.m.. The law provides for a total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $8,000,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court remanded Gamble into the custody of the U.S. Marshals
Service. Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and the Drug Enforcement Administration
conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Gamble.

CCBC Hires New Women’s Basketball Coach

(Photo of new CCBC Women’s Basketball Coach Seairra Barrett provided with release)

(Monaca, Pa.)  The Community College of Beaver County has officially announces the appointment of Seairra Barrett as the next head coach of the CCBC women’s basketball team. She is eager to breathe new life into the program and make a positive impact on the community.
“We are very excited to have Seairra lead our women’s basketball program. Her experience and enthusiasm will help take our program to new heights,” said Tyler Care, director of student life and athletics administration.
Barrett comes to CCBC after a successful professional playing career in both Iceland and Finland. “I’m excited to be back home and I am looking forward to reinvigorating the women’s basketball program here at CCBC. I plan to recruit high character and high caliber players to play a fast and exciting brand of basketball,” Barrett said. “Our players will be visible in the community and will represent CCBC in the most positive way. I would like to thank Tyler Care and the rest of the search committee for entrusting me to lead this program.”
Barret is originally from Beaver County having played at Central Valley High School where she was a four-year letter winner, 1,000-point scorer, and two-time all-section. She was named Pittsburgh Post- Gazette Fab Five and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific 10. She was also AP second-team all-state in Track & Field, all while being involved in several other academic groups.
Continuing her career, Barrett was an outstanding student athlete at California University of Pennsylvania. While playing for the Vulcan women’s basketball program, Seairra’s accomplishments were many, including female athlete of the year, freshman of the year, all-American, and member of the national championship team in 2015-16. Barrett earned her both a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a master’s in Entrepreneurship.
CCBC’s 2022 Women’s Basketball season is set to kick off on Saturday November 5th at Penn State Beaver. The first home game, against Community College of Allegheny County, will be held on November 30th at 7:00pm in the Dome. For more information and the full schedule, go to
https://www.ccbctitans.com/sports/wbkb/2022-23/schedule

South Side Teacher Reinstated After Refusing To Use Students Preferred Pronouns

The featured image above shows a packed house in the South Side High School Auditorium
Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published October 5, 2022 11:15 P.M.(Hookstown, PA) Hundreds attended a school board meeting at South Side Area School District Wednesday evening in regards to a teacher placed on administrative leave. Daren Cusato was suspended from his teaching job at the district last Friday after refusing to use the preferred pronouns of at least one transgender student. Cusato stated that using the pronouns goes against his religious beliefs.  The majority who spoke at the meeting were in favor of the teacher and did not agree with LGBTQ requests such as shared bathrooms and gym locker rooms in addition to students choosing their pronouns. Some think there is a middle ground to find to make everybody comfortable.  Public opinions were heard for over two hours, including a short statement from Cusato. The board ultimately decided to hold an impromptu voting session to suspend the current directive policy from the district solicitor which protected the rights of transgender students and their pronouns.  With the policy suspended, Cusato can return to teaching and the board said they will work to figure out how to proceed with their student and teacher policies.