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Tag: beaver county

  • Your Turn: Beaver County’s proud legacy brings a bright future

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    This past June, I had the privilege of speaking to the Beaver County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Development Cohort VII as they graduated from the yearlong program.

    Among my remarks were comments made about the economic future of Beaver County in a video scripted and produced by RYNO Production Inc. The video collaboration was completed in 2019 as the Shell Polymers facility was being constructed. There was immense pride and excitement around our manufacturing and energy-related legacy being restored and how this largest construction project in North America and Pennsylvania history was putting us on the map.

    The video begins with, “They say that to see what the future holds, you must first look at the past.” Our past was forged by steel, and we recounted the impact Beaver County has had on the construction of America, from the Empire State Building to the Golden Gate Bridge. Our steel helped win wars and make the products that made us the envy of the world. We Beaver Countians are extremely proud of that history and we predicted a renaissance and new beginning was about to take hold.

    It is clear to those of us who work every day on improving the quality of life in the county that our bright future is coming to fruition. Beaver County is leading the way in creating manufacturing, construction, entrepreneurship, hospitality, healthcare and technology investments.

    That growth and prosperity started with Shell Polymers and that video. Shell has not only produced over 800 permanent jobs, they kept the county moving forward and financially viable by investing billions of dollars (reportedly $14B) in the regional economy during the pandemic. In addition, they continue to support many of our schools, nonprofits, workforce development, senior programs and Main Street businesses. They not only bring financial stability, but they also bring new leadership, talent and volunteer resources to our communities. They are meeting their promises on job creation and striving to fulfill their obligations to be a good neighbor. We are grateful to have them in our community.

    While Shell paved the way, it was just the start of billions more being invested in Beaver County. Vista Corp. soon followed with the purchase of the Shippingport Nuclear Power Station and has become a tremendous neighbor and employer. When looking to expand into the U.S. market, Stoelzle Glass noticed what was being constructed along the Ohio River and purchased the Monaca glass facility. Their investment has expanded the workforce and invested in new technology.

    A partial list of others that have invested and continue to help grow and diversify our economy since Shell announced includes Tenaris Steel, Beemac Trucking, St. Barnabas Health System, UPMC, Highmark, Heritage Valley Health System and Kenson Plastics. Most recently, Mitsubishi Electric Power Products announced an $86M advanced switchgear facility. The Frontier Group recently announced $3.2B for converting the former Bruce Mansfield power plant back to an energy-producing facility that will bring a state-of-the-art hyperscale AI data center. Again, more jobs, more economic diversification, more growth and more potential for Beaver County.

    As a county, we have also invested millions of ARPA funds into infrastructure improvements of our municipalities and county assets, like our national award-winning Connect Beaver County Broadband implementation. We continue to work with entrepreneurs and developers throughout the region to ensure Beaver County continues to attract and retain workers and families supported by those businesses.

    Sometimes we are too focused on the task at hand that we can’t always see that there has been a remarkable transformation in our legacy river towns. From Aliquippa to Midland, from Ambridge to Beaver Falls, and in Monaca, New Brighton, Rochester and Bridgewater. In addition, our retail centers in Economy and Brighton, Center, Chippewa, Hopewell Franklin, North Sewickley and New Sewickley townships continue to bring in new retail, restaurants and housing.

    Our tireless work ethic, community resilience, combined with tremendous geographic and infrastructure advantages (along with the natural beauty of our rivers, parks, farmland and forests), are producing a new era of prosperity and quality of life in Beaver County. Like any county in the commonwealth, we have many continuing obstacles to overcome and problems to solve. We are not naïve and know that our work is never done. But those of us who actually live, work and play in Beaver County can see and feel the progress every day.

    That video in 2019 ends with the tagline of, “We are proud of our past; tireless in our present; and confident in our future … Won’t you join us?” Please know that we are always willing to collaborate with anyone wanting to make Beaver County a home for their business and family.

    Jack Manning is a Beaver County Commissioner.

    This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Your Turn: Beaver County’s proud legacy brings a bright future

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  • ATF agent shoots teenager in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, mayor says

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    An agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives shot a teenager in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, on Thursday evening, the city’s mayor said. 

    The shooting happened on Waugaman Street at the Linmar Terrace housing complex around 6:20 p.m., officials said. 

    Aliquippa Mayor Dwan B. Walker said an ATF agent shot the boy, who is an Aliquippa High School student. 

    Sources told KDKA that the boy was shot in the head. 

    District Superintendent Dr. Phillip Woods confirmed that the boy, whose name hasn’t been released, was 17 years old. His condition is unclear at this time. 

    Woods said that a Trauma Support Team will be on-site at the Junior/Senior High School on Friday during student arrival and the district will have resources throughout the day as needed for students.

    In a statement Thursday night, Pennsylvania State Police said ATF and FBI agents “working in a joint investigation” were involved in the shooting. It was not immediately clear why the agencies were in Aliquippa, and more details surrounding the shooting were not immediately released by authorities. 

    A neighbor described an emotional and tense scene in Beaver County, highlighted by a large police presence. 

    A photo of the scene showed at least nine police vehicles near where the shooting happened. Witnesses said they heard multiple gunshots. 

    A large police presence in Aliquippa on Sept. 18, 2025. 

    Photo Credit: KDKA


    “We’re frustrated because we don’t want this to be a new normal,” resident Sandra Pope said. 

    The Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the shooting. The ATF said in a statement that it is “supporting” the investigation “as needed.”

    “We’re asking for clarity and calmness,” Walker said. “We’re asking people to search their inner self, take a deep breath, get all the facts before you snap to judgment and quick to punish.”

    Walker added that he is praying for the victim and his family. 

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  • Bus carrying football team crashes near Pittsburgh; at least 21 students hospitalized

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    CBS News Live



    CBS News Pittsburgh

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    The Aliquippa Jr. High School Football Team was involved in a bus crash on Saturday morning. 

    A parent confirmed to KDKA-TV’s Jessica Riley that the team was on the bus at the time of the crash. 

    aliquippajrfbcrash.png

    Jessica Riley


    According to the team’s Facebook page, the team has left the scene as of approximately 11 a.m., and each player is being evaluated. 

    In total, 28 people were on the bus at the time of the crash. Of the passengers, 25 students were on the bus, and 21 of those students were taken to the hospital. As was the bus driver. 

    Their conditions are unknown. 

    Two other adults on the bus at the time were not hurt. 

    The Aliquippa superintendent said that he is heading to the hospital to check on the students. 

    The extent of the injuries has not been released.

    Gov. Josh Shapiro responds to the crash

    Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Saturday afternoon in a statement that he had spoken to Aliquippa Mayor Dwan Walker, while offering his administration’s full support as authorities continue to investigate the crash.

    “Football brings the Aliquippa community together – and I know those who prepared to cheer on their team today are already stepping in to care for their neighbors and check in on the families affected,” Gov. Shapiro said. “The entire community is in our thoughts today. Please join Lori and me in praying for the team, their parents, their coaches, and everyone rallying behind them.”

    Patrick Damp

    Patrick Damp is a web producer for CBS Pittsburgh. A Pittsburgh native who grew up watching KDKA-TV, Patrick studied journalism at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. After half a decade in sports communication, Patrick decided to pursue his dream of working in journalism in his hometown and joined the CBS Pittsburgh team in 2019.

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  • Failure of communication: Beaver County SWAT team details account of Trump assassination attempt

    Failure of communication: Beaver County SWAT team details account of Trump assassination attempt

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    The local SWAT team assigned to help protect former President Donald Trump on July 13 had not had any contact with the Secret Service agents in charge of security before a would-be assassin opened fire, those officers told ABC News.

    It was a critical part of the planning and communications failures that ended with a gunman killing one man, critically injuring two more and wounding Trump as he delivered a speech just days before accepting the Republican presidential nomination.

    “We were supposed to get a face-to-face briefing with the Secret Service members whenever they arrived, and that never happened,” said Jason Woods, lead sharpshooter on the SWAT team in Beaver County, Pennsylvania.

    “So I think that was probably a pivotal point, where I started thinking things were wrong because it never happened,” Woods said. “We had no communication.”

    In their first public comments since the assassination attempt, the SWAT team on the ground that day and their supervisors spoke exclusively with ABC News Senior Investigative Correspondent Aaron Katersky. It is the first time any key law enforcement personnel on-site on July 13 have offered first-hand accounts of what occurred.

    They explained that they did what they could to try to thwart the attack but now have to live with the failure.

    The episode last week led to the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle. And, in the wake of the assassination attempt, a series of law-enforcement, internal and congressional probes have been announced – with communications and coordination a key focus of investigators’ attention.

    RELATED: FBI says bullet struck Donald Trump’s ear during assassination attempt at rally

    The Secret Service, whose on-site team was supplemented as usual by local, county and state law-enforcement agencies, was ultimately responsible for security at the event.

    Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi declined to respond directly to the comments from Woods and his colleagues. He said the agency “is committed to better understanding what happened before, during, and after the assassination attempt of former President Trump to ensure that never happens again. That includes complete cooperation with Congress, the FBI and other relevant investigations.”

    Woods told ABC News he would have expected to have seen more coordination with the Secret Service and to have had greater communication between their team on the ground that day and the agents with Trump’s detail. The first communication between their group and the Secret Service agents on the scene that day, he said, was “not until after the shooting. By then, he said, “it was too late.”

    Woods and the rest of the Beaver County sniper team were in position by mid-morning July 13, hours before Trump was set to take the stage at the Butler Farm Show grounds, outside Pittsburgh. The site is studded by a complex of warehouses, some clustered just outside the position where metal detectors were set up that day.

    Gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, sparked suspicion among the Beaver County SWAT team but was still able to evade law enforcement and take position on the roof of the very building where county snipers had been posted. Though their sniper had taken pictures of Crooks and had called into Command about the suspicious presence — Crooks later opened fire on the former president less than 200 yards from the stage.

    RELATED: FBI seeking to interview Trump as part of assassination attempt investigation

    Beaver County Chief Detective Patrick Young, who runs the Emergency Services Unit and SWAT team, said collaboration is key when lives are on the line.

    “I believe our team did everything humanly possible that day,” Young said. “We talk a lot on SWAT that we as individuals mean nothing until we come together as a team.”

    Copyright © 2024 ABC News Internet Ventures.

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