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Story by Frank Sparks, News/Program Director
Monday December 6, 2021 at 6:56 AM
(Ambridge, Pa.) Pa Crime Stoppers is upping the reward for one week for a Beaver County Cold case from 1976.
Crime Stoppers is offering a $10,000.00 reward for information leading to the death of then 12-year-old Heidi Morningstar for this week only, December 5, 2021 to December 12, 2021.
Morningstar disappeared from her home at 1514 Church Street in Ambridge in the middle of the night on September 17, 1976 when her parents were called away due to a family emergency. The Ambridge Police Department and the State Police started an investigation into her possible abduction and 18 hours later on September 18, 1976 her body was found at 330 Shields Lane in Edgeworth.
No one has ever been convicted of the crime.
For this week only Crime Stoppers of Pa is already offering a $5000.00 reward and Beaver County Crime Stoppers is matching it with another $5000.00 for this week only for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Morningstar’s death
Anyone with information can call Pa Crime Stoppers at 1-800-472-8477 or Beaver County Crime Stoppers at 724-774-2000.

By JOHN HANNA and CALVIN WOODWARD Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Elizabeth Dole has posted on social media that her husband, Republican political icon Bob Dole, has died at age 98. Dole overcame disabling war wounds to become a sharp-tongued Senate leader from Kansas, a Republican presidential candidate and then a symbol and celebrant of his dwindling generation of World War II veterans. Dole announced in February 2021 that he’d been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. During his 36-year career on Capitol Hill, Dole became one of the most influential legislators and party leaders in the Senate, combining a talent for compromise with a caustic wit, which he often turned on himself but didn’t hesitate to turn on others, too.

After a year’s absence, it was up to the Rochester Area School District and the Beaver Valley Choral Society to bring back the festive spirit of Christmas back to the citizens of Rochester.

Blessed with beautiful weather surrounding them, both the RASD and the BVCS did just that, as the 2021 Rochester Light-Up Night & Carol Sing brought a great crowd to participate in many different Christmas activities, culminating in a medley of classic Christmas carols sung by the crowd in conjunction with the BVCS.

The “big man” made an appearance on a fire truck to join in the fun, Frye Transportation filled a bus with non-perishable food items to be taken to the Families Matter Food Pantry in Monaca, and anyone could write letters to Santa or their favorite military member for the holiday season.

On top of that, Beaver County Radio was there recording the songs, which will become part of Christmas Music Round The Clock, and the Prize Wheel was as busy as can be with dozens of people taking their shot at the BCR Personality Prize Wheel that was manned all throughout the celebration by Matt Drzik and Curtis Walsh.

Check out these photos from Rochester’s 2021 Light-Up Night & Carol Sing:

The Ambridge Chamber of Commerce called for a “reverse” play for Christmas On Merchant for another year, and it turned out to be another year of success.

Just like they did in 2020, those who were behind the Christmas On Merchant parade made it a “reverse parade”; one in which the usual parade-goers awaiting marching bands, floats, and fire trucks would themselves be the parade. Over two hundred vehicles gathered at Ambridge High School on Duss Avenue, and they were escorted through the lighted street posts along Merchant Street, along with the merchants and music-makers that added to the festive nature of the parade route.

Also adding in that festive nature was the annual appearance of the Prize Van and Personality Prize Wheel from Beaver County Radio, who broadcasted from P.J. Caul Park for the evening’s festivities. The two morning men, Matt Drzik (A.M. Beaver County) and Eddy Crow (Teleforum) worked the night shift as several of those who strolled down Merchant Street took their shot at the Personality Prize Wheel to win great prizes.

To check out photos from the 2021 edition of Christmas on Merchant, take a look below:

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Story by Sandy Giordanno, Beaver County Radio News Correspondent
Friday, December 3, 2021
(Center Twp., Pa.) The Central Valley School Board received a report from Superintendent Dr. Nick Perry  during Thursday night’s meeting about the state’s masking mandate that will continue until further notice. He said that the state Supreme Court is expected to make a decision on the matter,  Dr. Perry said he will update the board and community  with any new information.

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Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News Correspondent
Friday, December 03, 2021 at 10:20 AM
(Hopewell Twp., Pa.) Hopewell Township Police Department  issued a statement on Wednesday  that the department’s facility is going to be closed to the public. If the public is  in need of an officer there is a  red box outside the police department that will connect you  to the non-emergency dispatch desk. During business hours 8 a.m. to 3 :30 p.m. you can call 724-378-0557. The release stated that you must be masked when an  officer answers the door.

Friday, December 3, at 7:51 AM
By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Federal prosecutors say a Pittsburgh synagogue massacre defendant’s statements at the scene and at a hospital should be allowed at trial because concerns about public safety were a valid reason to question him even after he’d asked for an attorney. U.S. District Judge Donetta Ambrose is considering whether to grant Robert Bowers’ request to suppress statements made after he had been shot and was being treated. His lawyers say Bowers’ repeated assertion of his rights to remain silent and to confer with a lawyer should mean his statements can’t be used against him. Bowers is accused of killing 11 in October 2018 in what is the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history.

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Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano
(Aliquippa, Pa.) Aliquippa City Council met Wednesday night via ZOOM and unanimously approved the city’s Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance as recommended by the planning commission. The planning commission and city officials worked to  update the ordinances for 2 years

and  promoted Officer  Paul Woods to full time status based on the recommendation of Police Chief John Lane.

Omicron coronavirus variant found in multiple US states
By MICHELLE L. PRICE and BOBBY CAINA CALVAN Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — The omicron variant of COVID-19 has been discovered in at least five states, showing yet again how mutations of the virus can circumnavigate the globe with speed and ease. Just a day after the first known U.S. case was found in California, tests showed Thursday the omicron variant had infected at least five people in the New York City metropolitan area, plus a man from Minnesota who had attended an anime convention in Manhattan in late November. Officials reported another case in a Colorado woman who had recently traveled to southern Africa. The variant was also confirmed in an unvaccinated Hawaii resident with no recent travel history.