(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

“This has been a project years in the making.”

Those were the words of City Manager Charles Jones, who joined several other local dignitaries in the official groundbreaking of the new Library Park located on 7th Avenue next to the Carnegie Free Library. The new park will close the segment of 13th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues, and will be constructed by Klavon Design Associates of Pittsburgh. The park is scheduled to be completed by Spring 2022, in conjunction with the to-be-completed Children’s Museum (which will be in the location of the old News Tribune building).

Jones was joined by incumbent Beaver Falls mayor George Quay, Beaver County Commissioner Jack Manning, Klavon president Dina Klavon, City Community Development director Bethany Williams, and City Financial Manager Kevin Kunselman, among others.

It was also announced that the building located on 7th Avenue that used to house the WIC offices will be renovated to house an Innovation Hub co-sponsored by Penn State Extensions.

To check out photos from the groundbreaking, take a look here:

Keystone State News Connection

Emily Scott

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — October is usually the best time of year to see the bright, changing leaf colors that ring in autumn in Pennsylvania, but researchers say the wet, warm weather of the last few months may result in muted fall foliage.

When the days get shorter and the temperature drops, chlorophyll, which creates leaves’ green pigment, breaks down, while anthocyanin, which causes the red coloring, is produced. The ideal conditions for this are moist summers and drier fall seasons.

Pennsylvania saw one of the wettest summers on record this year and an unseasonably warm fall so far, which has led to a delay in the changing leaf colors.

Marc Abrams, professor of forest ecology and tree physiology at Penn State University, said when fall foliage is late, it can lead to a shorter peak period for viewing.

“We might have a sudden frost come about at any time, and when that hits the green or just slightly changing leaves, it will turn them brown rather quickly,” Abrams explained. “All those things could either truncate or be a further negative factor for fall colors this year.”

This summer was the seventh hottest and 11th wettest on record for Pennsylvania, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Abrams pointed out in central Pennsylvania, peak coloration is occurring about half a week later than it did about 40 years ago.

Among the types of trees in Pennsylvania appearing most impacted by the extreme weather are sugar and red maple, both major color-producing species, suffering from a leaf fungus. Even though the foliage has been disappointing so far, Abrams is holding out hope colder temperatures in the next few weeks will create stunning landscape views.

“Fall color can be really resilient and actually overcome a lot of these negative factors,” Abrams noted. “I still encourage people to get out there. Keep an eye on when things are starting to change in your area and take nice drives into wooded areas and try to seek out these really good colors.”

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources also offers weekly statewide reports showing where and when Pennsylvania leaves are at their peak.

WASHINGTON – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers detected a record number of firearms at airport security checkpoints this year, establishing a 20-year record with three months remaining in the calendar year and fewer passengers traveling due to the pandemic. By October 3rd of this year, TSA officers had stopped 4,495 airline passengers from carrying firearms onto their flights, surpassing the previous record of 4,432 firearms caught at checkpoints in the full calendar year 2019. TSA officers discovered 11 firearms in carry-on bags at airport checkpoints per million passengers screened so far in 2021. This compares to 5 firearms per million passengers in 2019.

“The number of firearms that our TSA officers are stopping at airport checkpoints is alarming,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “Firearms, particularly loaded firearms, introduce an unnecessary risk at checkpoints, have no place in the passenger cabin of an airplane, and represent a very costly mistake for the passengers who attempt to board a flight with them.”

Firearm possession laws vary by state and local government. Passengers can follow proper packing guidance for firearms in checked baggage and declare them to their airline at check-in. TSA advises that travelers know state and local firearm laws for each point of travel prior to departure to ensure they transport firearms in accordance with applicable law. Airlines may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition, so travelers should also contact their airline regarding firearm and ammunition carriage policies prior to arriving at the airport.

When passengers bring firearms to airport checkpoints, TSA will assess a civil penalty that varies by number of previous offenses and whether the firearm was loaded at the time.

The complete list of penalties is posted on TSA.gov. TSA PreCheck^® members caught with a firearm at a TSA checkpoint may lose their expedited screening privileges for three years or more. Firearms are not permitted in the passenger cabin of an airplane; this includes travelers with a concealed weapon permit.

Passengers may travel with firearms in checked baggage when they are unloaded and packed in a locked, hard-sided case. The passenger must declare and present the case with the firearm at the airline check-in counter and inform the airline representative of their intention to travel with the firearms. Firearms are transported with checked baggage and are placed in the cargo hold of the aircraft.

The reported data represents the number of firearms caught on passengers or in their carry-on bags at the nation’s airport security checkpoints. Excluded from the data are improperly packed firearms at checked baggage stations, toys, replicas, and BB guns.

Visit the TSA website for details on how to properly travel with a firearm.

(File Photo)

by Sandy Giordano, News Correspondent 

10:36 AM

(Center Twp., Pa.) The Central Valley School Board held its monthly work session Wednesday night, October 13, 2021. The board announced that anyone in attendance must wear masks or other face coverings at all times when in the district. Residents wishing to speak were reminded that they have a three minute time limit, and only speak once, and be respectful of others.

(File Photo)

by Frank Sparks, Beaver County Radio News/Program Director

10:28 AM

(Gibsonia, Pa.) Pa State Police in Gibsonia are asking for anyone who witnessed the semi-truck accident on the Pennsylvania Turnpike on Tuesday evening around 7:30 PM to call them.
Troopers are reporting via release that the incident happened when a 2016 Peterbilt Semi-truck, that was carrying chicken eggs, was being driven eastbound by Anthony Eaches of Temperance Michigan when he failed to negotiate a left hand curve and struck a guard rail with its right side. After initial impact the truck traveled back across both lanes of traffic and struck the center cement barrier traveling another 500 feet across both lanes of traffic before coming to a final rest on the Beaver River Bridge near the Beaver Valley Interchange. The vehicle then became fully engulfed in flames. The driver was able to get out and was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
The eastbound lanes of the turnpike were closed for over eight hours because of the accident.

State Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the accident to call them at 724-443-5907 and ask for Trooper Kevin S. Vresh.

(Monaca, Pa.) Monaca residents are under a boil water advisory due to what officials are saying was a failure of the disinfection process in the water system.
Officials are advising residents and businesses to not drink the water without boiling it first. They are also suggesting that you can drink bottled water to be safe.
You should bring the water to a rolling boil for one full minute and allow it to cool before using the water. Using water that is not boiled could make someone sick because of the germs in the water.

Part 2 of 4 In A Special Series Designed To Raise Awareness During National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

By Mark Peterson – Beaver County Radio. October 14, 2021 6:00 A.M.

(Beaver County, PA) October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the Women’s Center of Beaver County has partnered with Beaver County Radio to produce and publish a four part series on issues associated with Domestic Violence.

Beaver County Radio learned by speaking with representatives from the Women’s Center of Beaver County that domestic violence doesn’t just happen when it’s convenient to find help, it can occur anytime of the day or night.  That’s why one of the most important support services that victims of Domestic Violence can receive is to be able to talk to a legal advocate anytime that they might have a problem.   Beaver County Radio spoke with Laura Peterson, a Legal Advocate with the Women’s Center of Beaver County, recently concerning  the need to be able to talk with an advisor regardless of the time of day.   Here is an excerpt from her recent interview on “A.M. Beaver County”:

The Women’s Center of Beaver County provides free legal advocacy services around the clock, 365 days a year. and makes one of their legal advocates available daily via their 24 hour helpline for those who need assistance regarding domestic violence situations.  For more information about meeting with a legal advocate from the Women’s Center of Beaver County, call 724-775-0131.

This is the second segment in a four part special series that is focused on domestic violence, as part of an overall effort to educate and raise awareness of the issue during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.