Story by Beaver County Radio News Director/ Program Director Frank Sparks
(Beaver Falls, Pa.) So what were your top stories of 2020? The Obvious stories are COVID-19, the impeachment of President Donald Trump, the death of George Floyd and the racial injustice that followed and of course the election for President of the United States. Beaver County Radio News has put together the top ten stories of 2020 based on what our followers reacted to on all platforms of Beaver County Radio. Throughout the year over 600,00 users accessed beavercountyradio.com with over 1 million page views. Below we take a look at those stories as they were reported on during news casts, on beavercountyradio.com and our social media outlets:
Number Ten on the list squeaked its way in the top ten at the last minute on December 30, 2020 when Beaver County Radio Reported on United States Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin took to Twitter on December 29, 2020 confirming that the payments and checks were on the way for the second round of stimulus money signed into law by President Donald Trump on December 28, 2020. Mnuchin posted that the U.S. Treasury and IRS would begin delivering the second round of economic impact payments late December 29 and during the day on December 30, 2020, via direct deposit for those who have their banking information on file through the IRS.
Number Nine is a pre-pandemic story from February 6, 2020. Republican US Sen. Pat Toomey Now Says President’s Ukraine Phone Call ‘Not Perfect’ Republican Pat Toomey voted to acquit President Donald Trump during the Senate face after the President was impeached by the US Congress. Toomey specifically wrote that while Trump’s actions were not perfect, as the President keeps saying, the American people should decide for themselves if he should stay in office this November.
Number Eight is a story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano from March 9, 2020. Sandy reported that a man returning home from work on Boylston street in Ambridge was robbed at gun point by two black males wearing a mask at 11:45 pm on the night of March 8, 2020.
Number Seven is a story reported on by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano that homicide charges were dropped against 18 year old Michael Barbuto at a hearing in Beaver County Central Court before District Justice Ed Howe. Barbuto was charged with criminal homicide in the death of his brother on July 15,, 2020. A key witness refused to testify and was held in contempt of court.
Number Six is a story on September 9, 2020 in which U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady announced that a Rochester, PA woman was one of 27 indicted in a drug trafficking investigation. The 27 were indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh for trafficking significant quantities of cocaine from Mexico to the United States. ‘OPERATION TRIPWIRE””, was a 2 year investigation with international, federal, state and local partners. It began shortly after Allegheny County’s designation as a HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREA.
Number Five is a sad story reported on by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano from September 22, 2020. Sandy reported that an elderly man died as the result of a dump truck falling on him on Monday September 21, 2020 in Center Township. Police Chief Barry Kramer said the accident occurred around 2:30 p.m. on Fronko Street. Emergency personnel worked to free the man and he was flown to UPMC Presbyterian where he later died from his injuries according to Chief Kramer.
Number Four was just reported on Wednesday December 23, 2020 by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano. Sandy reported that Hopewell Township Police reported Wednesday morning that a vehicle operated by Boisy Hollins, 70 of Aliquippa crossed the center line in the 2400 block of Brodhead Road Monday afternoon, December 22, 2020, striking a vehicle with 2 occupants. One of the vehicle’s caught fire, and a passerby equipped with a fire extinguisher put the fire out. Hollins died as a result of his injuries and the two occupants of the other vehicle were treated at a local hospital.
Number Three was reported by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano. Sandy stated that Aliquippa Mayor Dwan Walker declared Aliquippa in a state of emergency on March 24, 2020 due to many circumstances including the COVID-19 which was just entering Beaver County at that time.
Number Two was an update about a previous story that Beaver County Radio had reported on. The original story earlier in the day on September 25, 2020 stated that Beaver County District Attorney David J. Lozier reported early Friday morning that a home invasion took place in the 1400 block of 5th Avenue in Beaver Falls around 1 AM. The suspects shot and killed a male, and wounded a female. The female was flown to a hospital for her injuries. The investigation is continuing the District Attorney said at that time. In the Number two story Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano reported an update that stated Beaver Falls Police were reporting via press release that the deceased victim was a 22 year-old male and the second victim who was air lifted to a local hospital is a 23 year-old female. A couple days later Sandy reported that Beaver County Coroner David J. Gabauer identified the victim as Dec Latrell Parker, 22 of Beaver Falls. His death was ruled a homicide.
And the number one story was one of many stories to come out of the Beaver County Courthouse over 2020. The Beaver County Commissioners felt Beaver County was getting the short end of the stick because of the outbreak of COVID-19 cases at the Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center and said that they support District Attorney David Lozier on the decision to not prosecute any business who can safely open and follow the yellow phase guidelines. In a statement on Monday May 11, 2020 the Beaver County Commissioners stated that they were informed by Gov. Tom Wolf that Beaver County would be the only county in the Southwest region of Pennsylvania that would not be moving to the yellow phase from the red phase governor Wolf issued said via press release that Counties that wish to not listen to his orders will suffer Consequences. The Gov said he will take away Federal COVID-19 funds and that they are risking peoples lives by not following the plan to phase in a return to life in Pennsylvania. The Gov. also said that businesses that make the choice to open while still in the red zone will suffer by losing liquor licenses or their license from the health department.
The Beaver County Commissioners have responded to Gov. Wolf’s Statements via a press release sent to Beaver County Radio. Below is a copy of the wording in the Press Release:
The Commissioners of Beaver County were disappointed in Governor Wolf’s remarks today and felt it necessary to issue this press release in response. Nothing the Governor stated makes us change the position we previously held in that it is illogical to keep Beaver County in the “red” phase while moving the entire bordering counties and regions into the “yellow” phase. We do not believe our residents will be corralled inside invisible county lines on the map.
By now it is well documented one facility within Beaver County is the basis for the vast majority of our COVID-19 cases and deaths. It has also been well documented it is the Department of Health’s responsibility to monitor this facility. If the Governor and his administration are so interested in saving lives, only they can answer the question why they ignored multiple requests for help and statistical counts coming out of Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center by waiting over six weeks to only now send in the National Guard.
We certainly hope the Governor was not serious when he talked about withholding federal stimulus money as that would only punish those who need that help the most. By putting Beaver County on an island being left in the red, the Governor is crushing the economy, businesses, and morale of this County.
We once again stand behind our District Attorney in his decision to not prosecute any businesses that can operate in the “yellow” phase to do so on Friday. Our decision to stand behind our District Attorney is a bipartisan and nonpolitical decision based on the analysis of our data, and the best interest of the health, safety, emotional, and economic well-being of the Beaver County residents.
That concludes our list of based off analytics of the top stories in Beaver County.
One final story deserving honorable mention is that Beaver County Radio 1230 WBVP and 99.3 FM started streaming on air content on February 29, 2020 via beavercountyradio.com and mobile apps for android and apple devices. A few weeks later it was added that you could listen to Beaver County Radio on Amazon Alexa.
This is just a list of the many stories that Beaver County Radio covered in 2020. We thank everyone who has been a part of supporting Beaver County Radio. We couldn’t do it with out you.
From the Management and Staff of Beaver County Radio we wish everyone a “Happy New Year”