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June 15, 2017

New Galilee Sex Offender Facing Felony Charges

A “tier 2” registered sex offender who is currently on probation, Micheal Lee Mills, 27, of 578 Patterson Road, New Galilee, is facing over half a dozen felony charges following an incident involving an Illinois teen. According to the criminal complaint, on Friday June 2, the Pennsylvania State Police Megan’s Law Unit received a complain from a parent that a registered sex offender has been contacting their 17 year-old-daughter who lives in Illinois. The reporting parent stated that Mills had sent nude photos of himself to the teen. Mills had been communication with the teen through Google Hangouts – a…

June 13, 2017

Missing Woman’s Body Found in Neshannock Township

According to several sources, a body found in Neshannock Township has been identified as a missing Butler County woman. After being reported missing since Thursday of last week, the body of 26-year-old Melissa “Missy” Barto was found along Old Pulaski Road by a farmer, around 7 p.m. Monday night. The body of the young mother had been burnt, and state police officer Lt. Eric Hermick described the scene as “horrific.” Prior to discovering the body, state police arrested Barto’s 21-year-old boyfriend, Ishemer D. Ramsey, on Sunday with charges of committing homicide after pulling him over in Connoquenessing Township. When police pulled…

June 9, 2017

Criminal Mischief Leaves Several Cars Damaged on Park Ave.

The Ellwood City Police Department warns of criminal mischief complaints they have been receiving lately. Over a half dozen residents on Park Avenue have reported damage to their cars during the night of 6/6 into the early morning hours of 6/7. Cars parked along the avenue, including a 2017 Chevy Traverse, 2015 Ford Escape, 2014 Dodge Journey, 2014 Chevy Cruze, and several others parked along the avenue, were scratched/keyed with a sharp object causing a variation of damages on each car. While some cars only had scratches on the passenger side doors, others were scratched from the front, side, and…

June 8, 2017

New Castle Man Accused of Housing Missing 13-Year-Old

According to the criminal complaint, Travis Wade Betker of New Castle will be facing a felony charge of interfering with custody of children, and misdemeanor charges of corruption of minors, obstructing administration of law or other governmental function, and disorderly conduct, following an incident that happened on May 1, 2017. Betker allowed a 13 year-old female to stay at his residence after he had knowledge that she was reported to the police as a missing person. On April 30 around 7:45a.m., officers took a report of a missing/runaway teen who had left the residence during the night. The reporting parent…

May 22, 2017

Ellwood City Man Pleads Guilty in Stepfathers Death

Following an incident that occurred the night of Dec. 7, 2014, suspect Zachary Christopher Jones, 24, of Ellwood City, pleaded guilty Friday to charges of voluntary manslaughter and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault. Jones and his mother Lisa Marie Jones-Orock assaulted Gerald Lee Orock Jr., 57, of Fombell near the loading dock of Loccisano’s supermarket, leading to the mans death. Both mother and son are charged with homicide after being accused of beating Orock with a chunk of wood measuring 32 inches long, 3 1/2 inches wide and 3/4-inch thick from a piece of furniture. Although autopsy showed Orock died…

May 18, 2017

POLICE: Two Businesses – Nearly 30 Propane Tanks Stolen

According to the police reports, two businesses have had several propane tanks stolen over several recent nights. Between the nights of May 6, 9, and 16, Industrial Equipment Fabrications had 5 total tanks stolen. Each tank full and weighing 33lbs. Total approximate loss of $1,150.00. Adams Manufacturing reported an overnight burglary the night of the 12, with 23 propane tanks stolen for a total approximate loss of $3,450.00. Video surveillance is being reviewed with further investigation.

May 12, 2017

PHOTOS: Bernstine Among Over Half Dozen Ticketed At Press Conference

During State Representative Aaron Bernstine’s electric press conference yesterday, nearly a dozen attendees, including both he and another state representative were issued parking tickets for parking arguably legally. The conference took place at a residential home on Wampum Avenue – a street that has parking prohibited signs posted along the west side of the street but no signs and no yellow curb present on the opposite side. According to the officer, parking on the side of the road the cars were parked along was illegal due to obstructing a fire lane; however the only no parking sign along the road…

May 2, 2017

Former Treasurer Prohibited from Attending Ellwood City Arts and Crafts Festival

Suzanne Darlen Bleakney, 50, of Ellwood City, the previous Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food, and Entertainment Festival treasurer accused of theft, has now pleaded guilty Friday to one count of theft. Bleakney was facing charges of theft by unlawful taking and theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received after supposedly stealing upwards of $1650.00 from the festival bank account during her time working as the treasurer. Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge J. Craig Cox sentenced her to 18 months of probation and 20 hours of community service. She is also ordered to repay the $1,650 of misappropriated…

May 1, 2017

PennPower Worker Killed After Fatal Accident

A PennPower worker was killed Sunday in Wayne Township after a fatal accident involving the bucket truck he was in occurred. James George, 54, of New Castle was working on power lines around noon when the bucket truck became unstable and tipped over, causing George to fall nearly 30 feet. George was with two other coworkers during the time of the incident, both of which remain unharmed. First Energy and the Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the incident and what caused the truck to tip over. First Energy issued a statement saying they are deeply saddened by the loss.

April 28, 2017

Lieutenant Speaks About Importance of Drug Take-Back Programs

The Ellwood City Police Department is sponsoring a drug take-back program on Saturday, April 29 at the Ellwood City Municipal Building. Residents may use the opportunity to turn in unused or expired medication for safe disposal, which the Ellwood City Police Lieutenant says is a critical step towards improving the growing amount of drug addictions. “The importance of the program is that it takes away the ability to use prescription drugs from people who may be experimenting with them, especially the opioids,” Lt. Kingston said. The program is part of the DEA and US Attorneys 360 Degree Program, which originally…