Bleakney, Reichart Shine At WPIAL Track and Field Championships

Wolverine runner Lucas Bleakney placed 3rd in both the 1600m and 3200m events at the WPIAL Class 2A track and field championships Thursday at Slippery Rock University. Bleakney finished 4:19.31 in the 1600m run and 9:32.82 in the 3200m run. Quaker Valley’s Jonah Montagnese placed 1st in each event. The Ellwood City senior’s strong showing was paired with Riverside Panther Silas Reichart who finished in 2nd place in the Boys Triple Jump. Silas jumped 45 feet and 6.5 inches to qualify for the PIAA Finals in Shippensburg. With his amazing jump, Silas also set a new school record, breaking an…


Drake, Hoover Each Homer; Riverside Defeats Brentwood In WPIAL Opening Round

Addison Drake and Saeryn Hoover each homered and drove in three runs as Riverside earned a 6-1 opening round victory over Brentwood in the WPIAL 2A Softball Playoffs. With her homerun Drake tied the Lady Panthers single season homerun record. A double by Saeryn Hoover helped open up the scoring with a run scoring double in the bottom of the first. The catcher then connected on a 2-run home run to left field in the bottom of the third inning. After Brentwood scratched out a run in the fifth inning the Panthers added two runs in the bottom half of…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

THEFT: Girard Kullen, 59, of Beaver Falls is charged with theft after an incident occurring on January 20th. Police were informed that Kullen had stolen jewelry for a residence on Spring Avenue, Ellwood City, and sold it to Treasure Hunt in Cranberry Township for a profit of $200,000.00 according to a criminal complaint. Kullen was interviewed by Ellwood City Police and admitted to removing the victim’s jewelry without her permission the report relates. BURGLARY: According to a police report, and on April 21st at approximately 2:22 a.m., PSP New Castle was alerted of a burglary at the Wampum Dollar General…


21 Ellwood City Area Students Among CCBC Spring 2026 President’s and Dean’s Lists

Monaca, PA – Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) is proud to release 21 names of full-time and part-time Ellwood City area students who achieved either President’s List or Dean’s List honors for the spring 2026 semester. To be named to the President’s List, students must have completed at least 12 hours of credit-bearing courses in which performance grades are awarded and have received a 3.75 grade-point average or above for the semester. Dean’s List honorees must have completed at least 12 hours of credit-bearing courses in which performance grades are awarded and have received a 3.25 to 3.74 grade-point…


Franklin Township Blood Drive Scheduled For June 5th

The next Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Department Community Blood Drive is scheduled for Friday, June 5th. Your blood donation can help save lives when seconds count. Donors who give blood between June 1–30 may receive a $15 Rewards gift card through Vitalant’s donor program. The event will take place at the Franklin Township Building, 897 Route 288, Fombell, PA 16123 **Appointments recommended** To schedule an appointment to donate: – Go to vitalant.org and search with Account Code UC5990039 – Call 1-877-25-VITAL If you need help scheduling you can also contact the Township Secretary at 724-758-9702 or twpsecretary@zoominternet.net. The township thanks…


Ellwood City, Riverside Baseball Teams Each Gain Opening Round Victories In WPIAL Playoffs

Both local baseball teams earned opening round victories in the WPIAL Class 3A Playoffs on Tuesday. LAKE DOMINATE, WOLVERINES SHUTOUT LIGIONER VALLEY Ellwood City defeated Ligonier Valley 3-0 on Tuesday at Pullman Park behind a strong pitching effort by senior Aaron Lake. Lake struck out six batters and allowed only three hits across his 6.1 innings. Nate Kennedy sat down the final two batters as Ellwood City advanced to the WPIAL quarterfinals. The Wolverines were the first to get on the board in the first when Jake Biskup singled, scoring one run. A single by Matt Kelly extended the Ellwood…


ECASD Board of Directors Pass Preliminary Budget with Tax Increase; Consider Financing Plan for Budget Shortfall

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors passed a preliminary budget—which calls for a 4.9 percent tax increase—and authorized administration to work with PFM Financial Advisors LLC, as Municipal Advisor on a financing plan as the district faces a more than $1 million budget shortfall. (view the preliminary budget here) Board directors and school officials have a big financial job ahead of them in the coming months as they seek to increase revenues while decreasing spending to work toward a more structurally balanced budget. Melissa Maze of PFM said this financing plan is strictly a strategy for cash…


Ellwood City Area Historical Society Presents 2026 Scholarships

Four local high school seniors were awarded scholarships by the Ellwood City Area Historical Society on Monday evening. Erica Barlow (Lincoln High School), Christina Valencia (Riverside High School), Kiley LeViere (Lincoln High School), and Lucas Bleakney (Lincoln High School) each received $1,500 scholarships to assist with their continuing education. Barlow and Valencia were awarded Marlene Painter Scholarships for their essays titled, “Why I Want to Be a Teacher.” LeViere and Bleakney received the Robert and Janice Barensfeld Scholarships after submitting essays on “The History of Schools in Ellwood City.” The Robert and Janice Barensfeld Scholarships are endowed by the Barensfeld…