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August 31, 2021

Wolf Administration Requires Masking in Schools, Early Learning and Child Care Settings

With a focus on protecting students and keeping them in classrooms, Governor Tom Wolf joined the departments of Health, Human Services and Education today to discuss the current state of COVID-19 and a new Secretary of Health order requiring masks to be worn inside K-12 school buildings, early learning programs and child care providers. The order takes effect 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. “My office has received an outpouring of messages from parents asking the administration to protect all children by requiring masks in schools,” said Gov. Wolf. “The science is clear. The Delta variant is highly transmissible and dangerous to the unvaccinated, many of whom…

August 31, 2021

Spotted Lanternfly Workshop Planned

An upcoming FREE workshop presented by the Beaver County Conservation District will provide information about the alien invader, the Spotted Lanternfly, and how to reduce the problems caused by this non-native invasive pest. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, September 14th at The Barn at Old Economy Park in Baden.  The workshop is schedule to start at 6:00 p.m. and last until 8:00 p.m. Attendees will learn how to identify and destroy the Spotted Lanternfly.  A limited number of free traps will be available for use on your property.  Attendees can also learn about the local quarantine and what it…

August 30, 2021

Local Mom Earns Diploma Through Adult Literacy Program Aided by BC3

(New Castle, PA) Katlin Phillippi earned A’s and B’s and C’s at Lincoln High School in Ellwood City and in the health assistant program at the Lawrence County Career and Technical Center in New Castle, then dropped out in her sophomore year. She was the mother of 2-year-old daughter and her boyfriend, Trevor, the father of Sophey, had just been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Trevor was temporarily confined to a wheelchair and could no longer work at his job at a Lawrence County warehouse. “I felt like I had to drop out,” Phillippi said. “I felt like it was my…

August 27, 2021

Former New Castle Anesthesiologist Sentenced for Illegal Prescriptions and Distributing

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of New Castle, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court for unlawfully prescribing and distributing controlled substances, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today. United States District Judge David S. Cercone, sentenced Thomas Ranieri, 68, to two years of supervised release, with the first year served as home detention. During his plea hearing on August 21, 2019, the defendant admitted that he previously was a physician who practiced as an anesthesiologist and pain-management specialist in clinics located in New Castle, Pennsylvania, and multiple locations in Ohio. From January 2, 2013, to June 26, 2013,…

August 26, 2021

New Sunshine Act Changes Take Effect, Apply to Local Government, School Board Meetings

HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) today alerted Pennsylvanians to an upcoming change to the state’s Sunshine Act, which would increase transparency in government. The new provisions will take effect on Sunday, Aug. 29, and require public agencies, including municipalities and school districts, to post public meeting agendas at least 24 hours prior to the start of a meeting. The changes are a result of Act 65 of 2021, which was signed by Gov. Tom Wolf in June. Bernstine championed the measure in the House of Representatives. “With heated school board and local government meetings taking place across the state…

August 26, 2021

Beaver Falls Man Admits to Drug Offenses

PITTSBURGH, PA– A former resident of Beaver County, PA, pleaded guilty in federal court to violations of the federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced this week. Brandon Quinn, 33, formerly of Beaver Falls, PA, pleaded guilty to a two-count Indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, and with possessing 28 grams or more of cocaine base with the intent to distribute it, before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Quinn’s criminal conduct was uncovered during a Title…

August 25, 2021

Ellwood City Historical Society Set to Reveal ‘Champions on Parade’ Nominees

The names of the 70 “Champions on Parade” nominees will be revealed at the Ellwood City Area Historical Society dinner meeting Monday, September 13th, at Connoquenessing Country Club. Nominees who are present will be introduced and presented with a certificate. The dinner will launch a new year for the society which traditionally holds a dinner or picnic to kick off meetings and activities. A sports theme, to recognize some of the area’s best athletes, was chosen. Guest speaker will be Marino Parascenzo of Franklin Twp., well-known sports writer. The initial nominations will be the basis for a database which will…

August 24, 2021

Operation On My Way Out Nets Drug Arrest

According to a Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office social media post, Operation On My Way Out netted an arrest in New Castle last week. On Thursday, August 19, 2021, Detectives from the District Attorney’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU), New Castle City Police Narcotics, and the Office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General executed a search warrant at 726 Hazen Street in the City of New Castle. Detectives had an active felony arrest warrant for the resident of the house, David Querriera, and waited until he was exiting his residence before they took him into custody. The search incident to his arrest…

August 20, 2021

Riverside School District Receives Half a Million

Riverside School District was awarded $500,000.00 from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for redevelopment of the school’s natatorium. Riverside is one of the schools in Beaver County with a swimming pool that not only offers recreation to the students within the district, but to the public as well. Installed in 1976, the pool is in need of multiple repairs and redevelopment. Between inadequate regulation slope depth for diving, lane line anchors, cracks in the aluminum, and a need for a new air filtration system, the pool, while still functional, needs these repairs. “We are very pleased that the Department has awarded…

August 19, 2021

BC3 To Temporarily Require Face Coverings To Be Worn Indoors

(Butler, PA) Butler County Community College will temporarily require face coverings to be worn indoors at all BC3 locations because of an increase in community transmission levels of COVID-19 in the counties the college serves. The requirement applies to students, faculty, staff and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, and takes effect Aug. 19 at BC3 locations in Armstrong, Butler, Jefferson, Lawrence and Mercer counties. The college encourages, but will not require, a COVID-19 vaccination for students, faculty and staff. Students and faculty in BC3’s credit and noncredit health care programs who attend clinical experiences at health care facilities may be…