(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

One facility is in the middle of renovation, another is in need of such renovation, and both of them headlined the discussion at the August 17 work session for the Beaver County Commissioners at the Beaver County Courthouse.

The Vicary Mansion in Freedom has yet to start its renovations, as Brenda Applegate–executive director for the Beaver County Historical Landmarks & Research Foundation–is seeking a financial starting point for such plans and projects. Public Works Director Dan Colville had met with Applegate recently in regards to the situation.

“I’m certainly not comfortable making recommendations for what needs to be done on that building,” Colville told the Commissioners. “I think the RFP we need to put out is for an architect to look at that building and to give us recommendations on how it should be restored historically.”  The Vicary Mansion is on the National Register of Historic Places, further amplifying the urgency–but also the careful nature–of restoring the building.

While the Vicary Mansion is awaiting its beginnings for renovation, the outdoor courts and ice arena at Brady’s Run Park are drawing closer to its completion. “We started laying water on Monday for the ice arena’s floor,” said Parks & Recreation director Tony Caltury. “By week’s end we should be ready to go. We’re opening up for business weekdays; we have some contracted ice starting Monday, so we’ll be up and running for the season. The first Monday after Labor Day being the full opening with evening and weekend hours.”

Caltury also mentioned that the new Zambonis for the ice arena are set to arrive in mid-September, and that the outdoor courts have finished establishing the fenceposts and set the majority of the concrete at the site.

Beaver County EMS director Eric Brewer announced that the county received a grant for “about $400,000” to upgrade its 911 emergency centers. Commissioner Jack Manning spoke about a proclamation for the County to be in support of “Operation Green Light” for veterans seeking to transition into the workplace. The work session concluded with Monaca resident Susan Footeridge speaking on behalf of Fair Districts PA and Upper Beaver Valley Veterans’ Service Center president John Ramer requesting the Commissioners’ inquiry into their 2022-23 budget.

The next Commissioners’ work session is scheduled for August 24 at 10:00 AM.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Social media companies are sharing their plans for safeguarding the U.S. midterm elections, although they have offered scant details. Tech platforms like Facebook and Twitter are generally staying the course they were on in the 2020 voting season — which was marred by conspiracies and culminated in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Meta Platforms Inc., which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, said its approach to this election cycle is “largely consistent with the policies and safeguards” it had in place in 2020. TikTok announced an election center that will help people find voting locations and candidate information.

CECILIA, Ky. (AP) — This year’s back-to-school season will restore a degree of pre-pandemic normalcy. But many of COVID-19’s lasting impacts remain a troubling reality for schools. Among them: student mental health reached crisis levels last year. The pressure on schools to figure out solutions has never been greater. Districts across the country are using federal pandemic money to hire more mental health specialists, rolling out new coping tools and expanding curriculum that prioritizes emotional health.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal authorities and experts who study online extremism are warning of a risk of additional attacks on federal law enforcement following the FBI’s search of ex-President Donald Trump’s Florida home. Following the Mar-a-Lago search, online posts blaming the FBI soared, as did open references to civil war. A Pennsylvania man was arrested Monday after authorities say he posted violent threats against the FBI on Trump’s social media platform. Last week, a man armed with an AR-15 tried to breach FBI offices in Cincinnati and was killed after firing on police. Extremism experts warn the violence could escalate as investigations into Trump play out.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s leading abortion rights advocacy organization, Planned Parenthood, plans to spend a record $50 million ahead of November’s midterm elections. It’s pouring money into contests where access to abortion will be on the ballot. The effort comes months after the Supreme Court overturned the landmark 1973 case Roe v. Wade, which created a constitutional right to have an abortion. The campaign will be waged by Planned Parenthood’s political and advocacy arms and will focus on governor’s offices, U.S. Senate seats and legislative races in nine states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Planned Parenthood’s previous spending record was $45 million in 2020.

ANNVILLE, Pa. (AP) — The remains of a U.S. Army soldier from Ohio killed in the Korean War will be buried in Pennsylvania. The Army says Pfc. Donald Born will be laid to rest on Aug. 30 at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Annville. The Army says the Steubenville, Ohio, native was taking part in a defensive action near Chinju at the southern end of the Korean peninsula in 1950 when his unit came under attack. The 19-year-old went missing and was listed as presumed dead in 1953. Unidentified remains were disinterred for analysis in 2019. The Army says Born was accounted for in June by using anthropological and mitochondrial DNA analysis.

Two Pennsylvania judges who orchestrated a scheme to send children to for-profit jails in exchange for kickbacks have been ordered to pay more than $200 million to hundreds of children who fell victim to their crimes. A federal judge awarded $106 million in compensatory damages and $100 million in punitive damages to plaintiffs in a long-running civil suit against the judges. In what came to be known as the kids-for-cash scandal, Mark Ciavarella and another judge, Michael Conahan, shut down a county-run juvenile detention center and accepted $2.8 million in illegal payments from the builder and co-owner of two for-profit lockups.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is inviting the public to attend a hiring event on Wednesday, August 17 to learn about available maintenance positions the department offers in Beaver County.
The hiring event will be held at PennDOT’s Rochester Maintenance Building located at 155 Stewart Avenue Rochester, PA 15074 from noon to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 17.
Recruiters will be available to discuss current and future openings within the Commonwealth. On the spot interviews and conditional job offers for select positions will occur. Applicants are asked to bring two forms of identification.
Available positions in Beaver County include Transportation Equipment Operator – A, Diesel and Construction Equipment Mechanic, Auto Mechanic, Semi-skilled Laborer, Tradesman Helper, Welder, Radio Dispatcher, and Stock Clerk.
PennDOT is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer promoting workforce diversity. To learn more about jobs, please visit www.employment.pa.gov.

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Women’s Behavioral Health is partnering with Eden’s Farm, a Pittsburgh-based organization that provides transitional housing and trauma-informed holistic care to survivors of sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, to provide these survivors with intensive outpatient psychological care. Grant funds from Staunton Farm Foundation are supporting the program.
The pilot program for survivors is modeled after AHN Women’s Behavioral Health’s successful mother-baby comprehensive mental health treatment, including intensive group therapy sessions three hours a day, three days a week, with a focus on peer support, stress relief techniques, life skills and building self-confidence.
Eden’s Farm works to provide resources and aftercare to individuals who have been trafficked and impacted by the commercial sex industry by building relationships and providing survivors with opportunities to thrive.
“We are thrilled and honored to enter into this partnership with Eden’s Farm, and to embark on the important work of helping survivors of trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation,” said Sarah Homitsky, MD, psychiatrist and medical director, AHN Women’s Behavioral Health. “Drawing from our intensive outpatient model, with its emphasis on learning to manage painful emotions, identify patterns of negative thinking, effectively communicate and solve problems, will help empower these individuals to move forward into the future.”
“Human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation are issues that intersects with an array of systemic vulnerabilities (e.g., poverty, immigration, substance abuse, foster care, gender-based violence, LGBTQIA+, sexual trauma) that requires targeted and intentional care. We believe that the only way to provide holistic care to survivors is through genuine collaboration amongst various agencies,” said Annalisa Gibbs, Founder and Executive Director of Eden’s Farm.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Allegheny Health Network’s Women’s Behavioral Health in piloting this much needed care for survivors in Eden’s Farm’s supportive home and for survivors across the region.”
“We are passionate about piloting a clinic in Pittsburgh that will address the complex needs of  human trafficking survivors and offer them a crucial sense of security, support and understanding in a safe and healthful setting,” said Allie Quick, Chief Philanthropy Officer at AHN. “Staunton Farm Foundation’s considerable support provides an opportunity for AHN to administer healing in the most profound sense of our mission to do so.”
“Staunton Farm Foundation embraces the chance to collaborate with AHN in this pivotal effort,” said Joni Schwager, Executive Director of Staunton Farm Foundation.             “It is a privilege to support the development of a multidisciplinary clinic inclusive of psychiatric and behavioral health services that can help transform unimaginable agony and abuse into hope and dignity.”
To learn more about Staunton Farm Foundation, visit the website.
AHN Women’s Behavioral Health’s team of psychiatrists, psychologists, nurse practitioners, nurses, licensed counselors, social workers provide care to women in the greater Pittsburgh and Erie area. To learn more about AHN Women’s Behavioral Health Services, visit the website.