A year in review: Beaver County headlines from 2023
At the end of a landmark year for many Beaver Countians, reporters at The Times are honored to share our list of Beaver County’s most influential stories from 2023.
Here’s the news that mattered most to readers this year.
Norfolk Southern train derailment leaves Beaver County reeling
A fiery Norfolk Southern train crash and chemical release in East Palestine, Ohio, last February prompted evacuations and caused panic among Beaver Countians living near the disaster.
Several tank cars carrying hazardous, combustible chemicals derailed just over the state border near Darlington Township. Days later, the company facilitated an hours-long controlled burn of industrial vinyl chloride from a handful of burning tank cars Norfolk Southern said were on the brink of explosion.
During the burn, residents stood in disbelief as a towering, thick cloud of smoke wafted into Beaver County. Some reported headaches, respiratory issues and burning skin. Nearly a year later, many continue to fear the uncertain long-term health consequences of the chemical exposure. Concerns about air, water and soil pollution persist throughout Beaver County.
The disaster made international news and elicited calls for stricter federal laws governing rail safety and chemical transport, more robust emergency notification and air monitoring systems in Beaver County and sustained support for those affected in the years ahead.
Norfolk Southern estimates its response to the derailment will far exceed $1 billion amid cleanup efforts, mounting lawsuits and relief assistance.
Hoax shooter calls alarm students, parents in Hopewell
Hopewell High was among multiple Pennsylvania schools targeted by a spate of “swatting” calls falsely reporting an active shooter inside the building.
The out-of-state calls made in March elicited lockdowns, evacuations and a large police presence in school districts statewide.
More: 'Never been so afraid': Hoax shooter calls alarm students, parents in Hopewell, New Castle
At Hopewell, students and staff were placed on lockdown just before 10:30 a.m. March 29 with little information. As a result, families outside the school assumed the worst as reports from police scanners indicated a potential shooter in the building. Students and staff inside feared for their lives.
Police ultimately determined the report was fake, but the community's terror in those moments was real.
More: Hopewell community discusses emergency response during shooting hoax as recovery continues
Culture wars intensify in school districts
Blackhawk School Board members in October implemented a controversial policy allowing parents and students to challenge resource materials at the district.
Under the defacto book-banning policy, those who find material objectionable to their "values or fundamental religious beliefs" can have those materials removed. All content deemed not "neutral" will be prohibited.
Meanwhile, the South Side Area School District has remained embroiled in ideological clashes over LGBTQ+ protections, parental rights and free speech for more than a year – mirroring many school districts nationwide.
The school board in January assembled an ad hoc community advisory “pronoun committee” after scrapping district guidelines directing staff to address transgender and nonbinary students by pronouns aligning with their gender identity.
The directive was rescinded contrary to the advice of South Side’s solicitor Weiss Burkardt Kramer to reinstate high school teacher Daren Cusato, who was briefly placed on administrative leave last year for refusing to recognize students’ preferred pronouns, citing his conservative Christian values and First Amendment right to refuse speech.
The public school-appointed pronoun committee garnered statewide attention for hearing “biblical perspectives” on gender identity at a mid-March meeting. It was dissolved in May.
A group of South Side Area parents, teachers, alumni and LGBTQ+ allies publicly rebuked what they said were efforts by right-wing conservatives to advance anti-trans policies under the guise of parental rights.
Beaver County Moms for Liberty members have implored the school board to replace the district’s solicitor — arguing the Pittsburgh firm’s attorneys don’t share the community’s values.
Now, weeks after voters decisively backed a slate of school board candidates favored by Moms for Liberty, the reorganized board is considering three draft policies governing transgender students in the district. The policies, drafted by the conservative “religious liberties” firm Independence Law Center, regulate transgender students’ identification, participation in athletics and restroom access.
Steel in Aliquippa; Beaver Valley Power Station acquisition
Plans to build a $218 million steel fabrication plant on J&L Steel’s former tin mill site in Aliquippa cleared a major hurdle in August with New York-based 72 Steel’s land acquisition.
72 Steel LLC, founded in 2016 by Chinese-American entrepreneurs, purchased 44 acres of the historic Aliquippa Works site this summer for nearly $4.4 million from Beaver County developer Chuck Betters.
More: Company buys former J&L land in Aliquippa to build new steel plant
Company leadership in May held an elaborate groundbreaking ceremony at the Aliquippa Industrial Park, pledging to develop the land and celebrating with a host of area business leaders and politicians.
The operation is slated to include an electric-arc furnace to melt scrap steel and produce 500,000 tons of rebar, or reinforcement steel, annually.
After permitting, construction could begin as early as 2024. The plant's anticipated completion is 2025. It will be 72 Steel's first manufacturing site.
More: Company to build $218 million steel plant on former J&L land in Aliquippa
In other news, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved the operating license transfers of Beaver Valley Power Station and two Ohio nuclear power plants to Vistra Corp. earlier this year.
The Texas-based energy company in March announced a merger deal to purchase Energy Harbor – owners of Shippingport’s Beaver Valley Power Station – for $3.4 billion.
Energy Harbor's nuclear and retail businesses would merge with Vistra's under a newly formed subsidiary called Vistra Vision to establish a retail electricity company “with the second-largest competitive nuclear fleet in the country.”
If the deal is finalized, Vistra will own four nuclear power plants.
Aliquippa captures 5th PIAA title; Quips call Heinz Field home
Aliquippa captured the PIAA 4A Championship for the second time in three years in 2023.
The team did it going undefeated for the first time in program history, capturing its fifth PIAA title.
It was a celebratory week for Aliquippa. Just days before the Quips’ win, the city exited Pennsylvania’s Act 47 oversight program after nearly 36 years and left its “financially distressed’ status behind.
Additionally, the Kraft Heinz Company in May announced it will make a $1.3 million charitable donation to call the Quips’ Carl A. Aschman Stadium Heinz Field.
Beaver County elects new top prosecutor
Democrat Nate Bible beat two-term Republican incumbent David Lozier in the high-profile race for Beaver County District Attorney in November’s election.
Bible, an attorney with NBMS Law in Beaver and a part-time public defender, pledged to be more active in daily legal proceedings and criticized Lozier for being “too soft” on crime.
Lozier championed his role in creating the Beaver Valley Regional Police Department and overseeing several prominent criminal cases during his eight-year tenure.
Bible will take office in January.
Shell marks rocky first year of cracker plant operations
Startup of Shell’s ethane cracker plant was slower than the company expected this year amid setbacks that Shell CEO Wael Sawan described as “technical niggles.”
Shell’s sprawling, multi-billion-dollar petrochemical complex on the Ohio River went online in November 2022. Within five months, it was shut down for two months of maintenance and repairs that included fortifying a ground flare stack.
The Department of Environmental Protection issued Shell multiple permit violation notices for exceeding rolling air pollution limits, unexpected gas flaring and malodors during the plant’s startup and early operations, and the company submitted dozens of malfunction reports in the past year.
In May, Shell agreed to pay $10 million to resolve repeated air permit violations at the plant and restart its production of plastic pellets. The settlement includes a $4.9 million civil penalty to the Department of Environmental Protection and an additional $5 million to establish a fund for projects that benefit the environment, health and quality of life of those living near the petrochemical plant.
The DEP Office of Environmental Justice formed a 17-person steering committee to develop a protocol for seeking, evaluating and supporting projects through the environmental mitigation fund.
Additionally, environmental nonprofits filed a federal lawsuit against Shell this year for “repeatedly violating permitted air pollution limits” at the facility. Activists in June took to the Beaver County Courthouse to implore the board of commissioners and state regulators to support greater oversight of the plant, improve public notification during emergencies and bolster air monitoring in the region.
Center Township police officer charged in Industry man’s death
A former Center Township police officer was charged with involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault and more in the death of Kenneth Vinyard, a “good Samaritan” from Industry killed at the scene of a Walmart parking lot shooting last year.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office in December charged Patrolman John Hawk, 37, for his role in Vinyard’s Nov. 6, 2022, death. A grand jury recommended the charges following months of testimony.
After witnessing a shooting in the parking lot of Center Township’s Walmart Plaza last year, Vinyard, 48, approached a police officer to provide possible evidence for the case. Prosecutors said Hawk – an off-duty officer in plain clothes – confronted Vinyard and pulled him away from the officer.
Shortly after, as Hawk and Vinyard were standing, Hawk allegedly struck Vinyard in the chest while performing a leg-sweep maneuver, knocking Vinyard to the ground. The Industry man struck his head on asphalt and died that night. Beaver County medical examiners determined blunt force head trauma and associated stress contributed to Vinyard’s death by exacerbating his cardiovascular disease.
After his death, Vinyard’s family said he was a spirited, good-natured man who would “give you the shirt off his back.” Vinyard's estate and Center Township in May reached a nearly $1 million agreement to settle a wrongful death lawsuit.
Bustling year for Beaver County food, art and music
First, a backed-up sewer led to a surprising discovery of historic significance in New Brighton this year.
A brick tunnel hidden since the 1800s under the Merrick Art Gallery is believed to be related to the Underground Railroad.
The Beaver County dining scene welcomed new restaurants like Frank G's Place in Bridgewater, Beaver Thai Cuisine, Jus1 More Sports Bar in Beaver Falls, Marla's House in Ambridge and 2 Sisters Bakery & Cafe in Ambridge.
Buzzi's Pizza in Rochester and Mall Pizza at the Beaver Valley Mall both were resurrected and met with excitement from local pizza lovers.
Monroy Supermarket opened a Latin American market in Ambridge and the Crumbl Cookies chain made its Beaver County debut in Center Township. The Epochary Inn in the Ambridge historical district became the county's first vegan inn, serving reserved dinners and selling plant-based ice cream and pastries.
Beaver County joined the boba tea craze with Slurp-N-Burst Boba Tea opening stores in New Brighton and Ambridge. Monaca Brewing opened in March, becoming Beaver County's sixth craft brewery.
Petrucci Brothers Brewing in New Brighton changed its name to Bullseye Brewing. Harkins Mill Wines filled a vino void when its Ambridge winery opened in November.
A few old standbys fell by the wayside, too, like Young's Custard Stand in New Sewickley Township, Fox's Pizza Den in Beaver, Spanky D's Restaurant and Boat Yard Bar in Bridgewater, Butcher & Son Public House in Aliquippa and Al's Pizza in Chippewa (no relation to the new and thriving Al's Pizza in New Brighton).
In music, alternative-country singer Charles Wesley Godwin, backed by five Beaver County musicians, achieved a notable 2023. They toured the nation, playing venues like Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena, and headlining the prestigious Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Godwin and his band The Allegheny High - with Beaver Countians Al Torrence, Nate Catanzarite, Eric Dull, Max Somerville and Joe Pinchotti - were spotlighted in a three-song national TV performance on "CBS Saturday Morning."
Other local music-makers enjoying banner years were Center Township's Joe Munroe, keyboard ace for rocking blues band Ghost Hounds, which warmed audiences on the Guns 'N Roses tour and Blackhawk grad Vanessa Campagna, whose pop, Electronic Dance Music and TV soundtrack compositions notched 9.4 million Spotify streams from 2.4 million listeners in 184 countries.
Year in photos: If a picture is worth a thousand words, these are worth a few extra: 2023's best photos
Entertainment, food and drink reporter Scott Tady contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: A year in review: Beaver County headlines from 2023
