2024

Borough Manager Provides Update on Wampum Avenue Pump Station Project During Council Regular Meeting

During the regular meeting of Ellwood City Borough Coucil Tuesday night, Borough Manager Kevin Swogger said the Wampum Avenue Pump Station Project is about 40 percent completed. The Borough had announced the start of the project in October in an effort to improve the infrastructure in the area. The project is a sewer upgrade for multiple existing sewer transport lines in the wooded area East of Wampum Ave. A pump station will also be built to collect from these lines to be transported to the Ellwood City Borough Wastewater Treatment Plant for treatment. The tentative construction completion date of the…


George R. “Rick” Miller, 74

Mr. George R. “Rick” Miller, 74, of North Sewickley Twp. passed away peacefully on Monday, January 15th, 2024 at his residence. Mr. Miller was born on May 19th, 1949 to the late George R. and Geraldine (Walton) Miller Sr.. He had graduated from Riverside High School with the class of 1968. Rick worked at the Babcock & Wilcox Steel Mill until it closed and then at Koppel Steel in both Ambridge and Koppel as a super craft, which included welding, pipe fitting, and maintenance mechanic. After retiring from Koppel Steel Rick worked as a parts runner for Advanced Auto in…


Audrey Latshaw, 100

Audrey J. Latshaw, 100, of Ellwood City beloved mother and grandmother passed peacefully into the arms of her Savior on January 11, 2024 at the Cambridge Falls Retirement Home, surrounded by her loving family. She was born September 21, 1923, in Pittsburgh to the late George W. and Grace (Dierker) Huff. She was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years Paul E. who passed away January 21, 2010. They were married on September 18, 1942. Audrey was a member of the Calvin Presbyterian Church in Ellwood City. Besides her parents and husband, Audrey was preceded in death by…


Rotary Club Invites You To An Evening With Award-Winning Author, Ed Prence

The Rotary Club of Ellwood City invites you to an evening with Ed Prence. The event is scheduled to take place Thursday, January 18th at 7:00pm at the Trinity Lutheran Church Sanctuary (207 Spring Avenue, Ellwood City). Local Koppel native, amateur baseball player and award winning author, Ed Prence will be giving a book talk on his second book “Last of the Rockland Boys“. Ed draws upon his experiences as a life-long amateur player and his boyhood growing up in a small western-Pennsylvania steel town, where baseball was everything. Published September 2022, it has been named the 2022 TAZ Award Winner…


Officer Robert Bird Receives A Commendation For Life Saving Act

Officer Robert Bird received a commendation from Mayor Anthony J. Court for his heroic acts that saved a man’s life. Officer Bird was dispatched to a vehicle that crashed into a residence on Orchard Avenue in Ellwood City last week. Upon arrival he encountered a truck that caught fire. The driver of which was trapped inside suffering from a medical emergency. Officer Bird quickly broke the window of vehicle and removed the driver which was engulfed in flames. “We here in the Ellwood City Police Department and Ellwood City Community are extremely proud of Officer Robert Bird. Because of his…


Hitched & Unhitched: Fall Into Love

As the year wrapped up fall and early winter wedding season arrived, the weather got colder and many pivoted into holiday mode but many couples still celebrated the last few months of 2023 by saying “I Do”. According to a Knot.com Global Wedding Report for 2023, the most popular day to get married was September 23, 2023, marking the first time in more than five years that the date did not fall in October. Many believe this was because couples were drawn to matching dates (23rd in 2023). October was still the most popular month to wed in the United States,…


Ellwood City School District Hall of Fame Committee Accepting Nominations

The Ellwood City Area School District Hall of Fame Committee is accepting nominations for induction as well as applications of interest to serve on the committee. If you wish to nominate someone for induction to the Hall of Fame, please visit https://www.ecasdk12.org/alumni and complete the nomination form. Individuals and teams can be nominated under the Distinguished Alumni category for their post graduate professional accomplishments, or under the Athletics category for their achievements as an athlete at Lincoln High School or beyond. Once an individual is nominated, he or she remains in consideration for the next 3 years. Nominations will be…


Richard P. Himes, 86

Richard P. Himes, 86, of North Sewickley Township passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Sunday, January 14, 2024 at his residence. Born February 22, 1937 in Porter, PA. He was married to Maxine M. Hollabaugh Himes for 61 years when she passed away on April 16, 2016. Richard had graduated from Punxsutawney Area High School in 1955. He worked at Colonial Clay Production in Fallston for 19 years and retired from Littell Steel in Fallston after 25 years. He enjoyed traveling, especially going to casinos. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting and working in his garden. Richard…


Brett K. Gess, 55

Brett Kevin Gess, age 55, of Wampum, Pennsylvania passed away January 9th 2024. He is survived by his wife Lori, children: Jared, Robin, Paul and Josh with four grandchildren and one expected. Brett was incredibly proud of his wife’s and children’s military service. Brett was born November 26,1968 in Winter Park, Florida – the first-born child of David and Grace Gess. He became big brother to Shawn, Tiffany, Keisha, Ericka, Carrie, Anthony, Kyle and Annie. His father, David and youngest brother Kyle preceded him in death. Brett graduated from Northwest High School in Jackson, Michigan class of 1987 and loved…


Leonard A. “Dominic” Gratteri, 80

Leonard Anthony “Dominic” Gratteri, 80, of North Sewickley Twp. passed away Friday, January 12, at Good Samaritan Hospice in Beaver, PA. Born August 16, 1943, in Reggio Calabria, Italy, he was the son of the late Samuel and Rosa Politano Gratteri. He was married to Barbara Straley Gratteri for 60 years, she survives. Dominic attended Beaver Falls High School. He was the owner and operator of Dominic’s Restaurant in Beaver Falls for 25 years, from 1985 to 2010. Dominic loved horse racing and watching the line in Vegas, “occasionally” placing bets. He enjoyed working in his back yard, gardening and…