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July 1, 2020

Butler Health System To Offer Antibody Testing

Butler Health System Laboratory now offers SARS-CoV-2 (COVID) IgG antibody test using Beckman Coulter’s SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay on Beckman’s DxI 800 analyzer. This test received FDA Emergency Use Authorization. This is the only IgG assay from top four in vitro diagnostic manufacturers that detects antibodies targeting the receptor binding domain on the spike protein of the novel coronavirus that is driving the ongoing global pandemic. It is believed that these antibodies have the potential to be neutralizing antibodies and may play a role in lasting immunity. The test has a confirmed 100% Positive Percent Agreement (sensitivity) and 99.6% Negative Percent…

June 29, 2020

Ready To Vote PA: Toolkit for Businesses Can Increase Election Participation, Keep Pennsylvanias Safe

PHILADELPHIA (June 25, 2020) — This year was already destined to bring forth significant changes in how elections in Pennsylvania were conducted. With the introduction of no-excuse vote-by-mail and new, modern voting equipment, voters across the commonwealth faced a learning curve. The coronavirus pandemic has complicated election plans and put a premium on protecting the health of voters and poll workers. While the postponed Pennsylvania primary election was mostly smooth, there are still several reforms that lawmakers should consider that will ensure no Pennsylvania worker has to sacrifice their ability to earn a paycheck or their health to exercise their…

June 26, 2020

Cranberry Twp Agent Recognized as “America’s Best”

Local Realtors from the Christina Hoffmeier Team, were recently recognized in the 2020 “America’s Best Real Estate Professionals” rankings by REAL Trends + Tom Ferry. The prestigious survey is divided into 12 categories used to classify both transaction sides and sales volume for participating agents and teams in the U.S. based on 2019 numbers. The Christina Hoffmeier Team placed in the small teams rankings for most transactional sides in 2019. “This honor is the result of each client who trusted us to help them buy or sell a home in the Pittsburgh area,” said Christina Hoffmeier, Realtor & Team Leader…

June 25, 2020

Bernstine Applauds Senate Committee Approval of Markie’s Law Bill

HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) applauded Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne/Pike/Susquehanna/Wayne/Wyoming) and members of the committee for unanimously passing his legislation that would preclude the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole from paroling an inmate at the expiration of his or her minimum sentence if the inmate was convicted of a violent offense or an obstruction of justice while incarcerated. Bernstine’s legislation, House Bill 1855 or Markie’s Law, was named after Mark Mason, an 8-year-old from Lawrence County, who was brutally stabbed to death by a man who was paroled at the end of his minimum sentence…

June 23, 2020

Ellwood City Little League Season Begins

The Ellwood City Little League, one of Pennsylavania’s oldest Little League programs, begins its’ season on Tuesday night. The league, which was of one of just over 300 leagues in North America in 1950, begins its’ 71st season with four teams-The Moose, Lions, Wolves and WesBanco. The Moose Club and Lions Club have been team sponsors since the leagues inception. The league managers are Tim Kennedy for the Lions, Keith Keller for the Moose, Jim Bleakney for WesBanco and Doug Hogue for the Wolves. WesBanco will meet the Moose at 6:00 on Tuesday night. Daily schedules are available on ellwoodcitybaseball.com.

June 23, 2020

BC3 Plans For A Flexible Fall Semester

Instructional delivery will range from face-to-face to online options, transition to remote Nov. 23 Butler County Community College is planning for a flexible fall semester by delivering credit-course instruction through face-to-face, remote, blended or online formats, BC3 President Dr. Nick Neupauer announced to the college’s board of trustees Wednesday. BC3 also announced Wednesday that it will freeze tuition and fees for the upcoming academic year at 2019-2020 rates, and that the college’s main campus in Butler Township and its five additional locations will begin operating in an expanded capacity July 6 under Gov. Tom Wolf’s green-phase reopening plan with regard…

June 19, 2020

Wampum Man Among Twelve Indicted For Drug Trafficking

According to a press release made available by United States Attorney Scott W. Brady on Thursday, 47-year-old Michael Turner, of Wampum, PA, is among twelve defendants who have been charged with drug trafficking following a months-long wiretap investigation into narcotics trafficking in the City of Pittsburgh and greater Allegheny County region. This Indictment is related to a larger investigation into the narcotics trafficking activities of the “11 Hunnit” neighborhood street gang operating in the Hill District neighborhood of Pittsburgh and beyond. A total of 22 defendants have been charged in four separate, but related, indictments stemming from this investigation. “Every…

June 16, 2020

Ellwood City Historical Society Scholarship Winners

On Wednesday June 3, the Ellwood City Area Historical Society awarded the Robert and Janice Barensfeld Scholarships.  Under adverse conditions due to the Covid 19, the awards had been delayed.  Two graduating students attending higher education were selected from several entries Gabrielle Louise Gretch, Riverside High School and is the daughter of Dan and Alice Gretch; essay was titled “The Selfless War Hero.”  Gabrielle will attend Shadyside School of Nursing this fall. It is a 16 month program and she will acquire a position at a UPMC hospital after graduation..   On June 22 she will start a Certified Nurse Assistant classes, then…

June 15, 2020

Ellwood City To Plan Hard-to-Recycle Event

The Borough of Ellwood City has scheduled a hard-to-recycle collection event next month. The event, sponsored by the Lawence-Mercer Recycling/Solid Waste Department, will be held on Tuesday, July 14 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The recycling event will take place at the Ellwood City Public Works garage located at 105 Sixth Street in Ellwood City This session is open to borough residents only, and no commercial or institutional materials will be accepted. The program is free, but there could be charges for some materials depending on costs and markets. No electronics or household hazardous waste will be accepted. Items…

June 10, 2020

Gov. Wolf Provides Guidance to Resume High School and Other Summer Sports

The Wolf Administration today issued preliminary guidance for high school and recreational sports teams to resume voluntary workouts and other in-person activities in the state’s yellow and green phases. The guidance includes college and professional sports. “Pennsylvania has some of the best athletes and teams in the country and they can now begin to safely return to organized sports,” said Gov. Wolf. This guidance balances keeping student athletes safe from COVID-19 while allowing them to participate in an important part of their lives. “This is another step toward reopening our state and getting things back on track. As students and teammates get…