So after two months of being cut, Robert Morris hockey might be returning…but is it as celebratory as we want it to be?

That and more tomorrow morning starting at 6:30 with Matt Drzik and Frank Sparks on A.M. Beaver County.

Reopening businesses and finding employees have become a major fixture of the warm-weather section of 2021, and Beaver County is offering a free program in order to give those looking for career opportunities a chance to advance in the working world.

The Apprentice Readiness Program is a three-week series of classes and training provided, in conjunction with the North American Building Trades Union, by the Beaver County Career & Technology Center as well as the Community College of Beaver County. Students will not only learn about the labor aspects in several different fields such as carpentry and electrical work, but also math skills that will be applicable to each trade, and communication skills that will be essential for doing well in a job interview and cooperating with co-workers.

Maria Brown, David Wytiaz, and Larry Nelson joined Matt Drzik in studio to talk about this program that begins July 12 at the BCCTC headquarters in Monaca. The cost for attendance is free but there are several requirements (all of which are on the flyer above):

• Must sign up for the classes before attending by calling 724-288-2080 or emailing to info4bcbt@bcctc.org
• Must be 18 years or older to participate
• Must have a valid driver’s license

To watch the full interview with Matt, Maria, Larry, and David, click on the Facebook feed below!

After a year of waiting in isolation for the night skies to light up, PUSH Beaver County–along with the help of Zambelli Fireworks, Beaver County Radio, and other countless sponsors–will crank up the tunes and shoot up the sky with colorful light as Beaver County BOOM! returns for Summer 2021.

PUSH BC head men Mark & Nate Kopsack joined Matt Drzik in studio to preview this year’s festivities, from the live music at Thursday’s in Bridgewater to the food truck cavalcade at Bridgewater Park, to the skydiving exhibition provided by Studio SMC at 8:30, all leading up to the musically choreographed live fireworks display taking place at 9:45 over the confluence of the Beaver and Ohio Rivers.

All coverage of the evening’s festivities will be broadcast live on Beaver County Radio beginning with live coverage at 6:00 PM. Eddy Crow and Curtis Walsh will be live at Thursday’s with the Wrangler Band playing music throughout the evening, while Matt Drzik and Bob Barrickman will have the Beaver County Radio Prize Caddy out at Bridgewater Park, and will provide live updates during the evening. Plus Beaver County Radio will be livestreaming the fireworks on Facebook Live at 9:45, allowing this year’s BOOM! to be experienced worldwide.

To see the full interview with Nate, Mark, and Matt–click on the Facebook feed below!

All professional radio started out as amateur radio before the profit was to be had and superstars were made without faces. But while professional radio kept evolving and more media formats entered into the national consciousness, amateur “ham” radio continued to evolve as well, into a version today that is more advanced and all-encompassing.

The Beaver Valley Amateur Radio Association has been part of that decades-long evolution, and on June 26 they are having their “Field Day” to showcase their technical prowess, and to invite others to join in the learning process of what it takes to be in amateur radio, and the achievements that could be had with the right moves.

Rich Soltez (K3SOM) & Director Tony Pavilonis (K3AHP) joined Matt Drzik (W257EA) on A.M. Beaver County to talk about the in’s & out’s of amateur radio, and how those gathered at Old Economy Park on June 26 will be entering a world of communication that is not only technically astounding, but could serve an importance down the line if other methods of technology aren’t readily available or accessible.

More details about the Beaver Valley ARA can be found at their website.

To hear the full interview, click on the Facebook feed below!

The school year may be over, but that doesn’t mean that high school athletes and coaches have to stay out of the competitive ring.

Two upcoming events presented by the Blackhawk Quarterback Club will offer high school football players and athletes of all calibers on the golf course to get in shape and battle it out for a good cause. QB Club President Paul Heckathorn and Blackhawk head football coach Zach Hayward joined Matt Drzik to talk about these two events.

The first event is a 7-on-7 Football Tournament & Lineman Challenge taking place at Wright Field in Chippewa on June 26. The 7-on-7 tournament will feature offensive skill as teams of 7 will battle it out in games of two-hand-touch football, while the Lineman Challenge will focus on the gridiron guardians battling it out in challenges such as tug-of-war and tire lifting. Admission is free for the public and food trucks will be present and available throughout the event, taking place from 9 AM to 5 PM. Athletes can contact the Blackhawk QB Club to participate; deadline is June 25.

The other event being hosted by the Blackhawk QB Club is the 36th Annual Joe Hamilton Golf Classic taking place at Blackhawk Golf Course on July 17, beginning with a shotgun start at 1:30 PM. Both Hayward & Heckathorn were players under the legendary football coach at Blackhawk High School, and the tournament named after him is seen as a fun, competitive get-together for former alumni and the public at large to be part of. Participation in the tournament includes a steak dinner and complimentary gift, and sponsorship opportunities are also available.

More information about these events can be seen by going to the Blackhawk QB Club’s official page (link above), or by going to their Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram accounts.

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

A chance to take on the world’s best can begin in Beaver County.

The Western PA Soapbox Derby Championship will take place on 14th Street in Ambridge beginning at 6:30am on Saturday, June 5. The races will feature drivers from the ages of 7 to 17 competing in stock and superstock car races, battling each other from morning to evening until the winners are crowned.

Tim Cassidy spoke to Matt Drzik about the big event coming up on Saturday, and how long it takes kids to prepare their cars for the big races, and how long the events will be running for. Cassidy also talked about the history behind the Western PA Soapbox Derby, how it returned to Beaver County, and how the winners on Saturday will have a shot in July to compete for the World Championships in Akron, Ohio.

Admission for Saturday’s event is free to the public. Check out the WPASD’s Facebook Page for more updates and information.

Though it is considered a holiday to celebrate, the tone of the Memorial Day festivities in Beaver Falls will be reverent and somber in honor of those who have served in the United States military.

Duane Jones & Dwain McCann from the Beaver Falls American Legion Post #261 joined Matt Drzik to discuss the day’s events, starting with the parade along 7th Avenue beginning at 10 AM. The Beaver Falls and Riverside marching bands will perform, and veterans are encouraged to participate. The parade will run from 19th Street to 10th Street along 7th Avenue, before making way down to Cannon Park for the post-parade service. City Manager Mick Jones will be the keynote speaker at the service.

Jones & McCann also talked about the pre-parade salutes taking place at the surrounding cemeteries to honor the fallen (St. Mary’s, Beaver Falls, and Grandview), where the American Legion will read off the names of those buried at each site, along with a 21-gun salute.

The two also spoke about their own views on not just the sacrifices that were made to give this day its reverence, but also the importance of maintaining the American Legion post for the sake of the community and what it does for youth events throughout each year.

To watch the full video, click on the Facebook feed below!

Another Memorial Day preview comes your way on A.M. Beaver County Thursday morning as Duane Jones & Dwain McCann from the Beaver Falls American Legion Post #261 join Matt Drzik to talk about the festivities taking place Monday in Beaver Falls.

That–plus news, sports, and weather–coming your way on Thursday morning on Beaver County Radio. Show begins at 6:30; interview is set to follow the 8:30 news.

Much like all of the cities in Beaver County, the capital city of Beaver not only has a lengthy heritage when it comes to serving in the American military, but they’ll be honoring those who served for the first time in over a year on May 31.

Chuck Snitger of the Beaver Heritage Foundation spoke with Matt Drzik about the 2021 Memorial Day festivities, kicking off with the parade starting at 10:30 AM on the nose. The Beaver High School JROTC, the Beaver Marching Band, and all participating military personnel will be part of the parade (they are asking those participating to arrive by 10 AM).

After the parade, there will be a special ceremony at Beaver Cemetery, featuring performances by the Beaver Marching Band & Choir, a recital of the Gettysburg Address by the senior class president, and keynote speaker Thomas Equels. Following the ceremony, there will be a luncheon provided by the Fort McIntosh Foundation.

To hear the full rundown with Chuck and Matt, click on the player below!

Beaver County was once a melting pot of culture, bringing citizens and cultures from the world over together to build a bustling society.

Now they’re looking to do it once again.

The Midland Innovation & Technology Charter School is currently under physical and curricular construction, set to open its doors for higher education in September 2022. The MITCS will offer graduates the opportunity to learn skill-based operations for careers in fields such as healthcare, water maintenance, safety management, and petroleum operations.

Chris Shovlin, who is currently the Executive Director of Development & Government Affairs at the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School and is on the planning committee for the MITCS, joined Matt Drzik on A.M. Beaver County to talk about the impact that this new school will have on Beaver County and Southwestern Pennsylvania. The duo also discussed how it balances the arts of Lincoln Park with the industrial nature of the MITCS, and how it could lead to a new explosion of jobs and commerce not seen since the days of the steel industry.

To see the full interview, click on the Facebook Feed below!