Recent Stories

Articles by Tracey Ferguson

October 21, 2026

Council Approves Agreement with ECBFPO to Upgrade Women’s Softball Field at Stiefel Park

Ellwood City Borough Council voted to approve an agreement with the Ellwood City Ball Fields Project Organization (ECBFPO) delineating respective roles and responsibilities relative to upgrades to the Women’s Softball field at Stiefel Park. The agreement states that ECBFPO has proposed to undertake and fund, at no cost to the Borough, certain renovations and improvements to the women’s softball field at Stiefel Park and to donate the completed improvements to the Borough as a gift. The Ellwood City Area School District’s (ECASD) Board of Directors recently approved Stiefel Park as Location for 2026-2027 Girls Softball Team’s Season. They also voted…

October 12, 2026

ECASD Board of Directors Approve Stiefel Park as Location for 2026-2027 Girls Softball Team’s Season

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted to approve a location for the softball team’s 2026-2027 season home games. A majority of the board (Board President Kathy Galbreath, Board Vice President Norman Boots, and Board Directors Kathy Tillia, Joyce Cirelli, and Nick Mancini) voted “Yes” to have the team play at Stiefel Park for the 2026-27 season if planned upgrades are completed or at a non-fee field if not completed. (Board Directors Jean Biehls, Erica Gray, and Jennifer Tomon voted “No.” And Board Director Claire Fauzey was absent.) The Board then voted to disclaim interest in funds…

September 25, 2026

Three Ellwood City Theater Veterans to Bring the Musical 1776 to Life on the New Castle Playhouse Stage

When history takes the stage, it helps to have a couple of seasoned storytellers in the room. Enter two Ellwood City theater veterans bringing years of experience, plenty of personality, and their own theatrical spark to the musical 1776, which opens tonight at The New Castle Playhouse. These hometown performers know their way around a stage—and they’re ready to trade modern-day life for powdered wigs, political intrigue, and a little revolutionary-era drama. Stage veterans Tom Bickert and Larry Kelly will thrill audiences in their historical roles At the helm is another familiar local face: a director whose résumé boasts a…

September 15, 2026

ECASD to Evaluate Three-Building Facility Configurations

Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted to authorize Superintendent Amy Anderson to investigate and evaluate potential three-building facility configurations for the Ellwood City Area School District, as an alternative to the district’s current four-building model. It was stated that the decision is for planning and informational purposes only and does not constitute a decision or commitment by the Board to close, consolidate, or reconfigure any district facility. The vote came following a Facilities Master Plan presentation by John Zahorchak, from EDM Consultants. During the presentation, Zahorchak said that his presentation isn’t a recommendation to close a building…

August 28, 2026

Fall Sports Q&A 2026: Part 4 Ellwood City Athletes

This is part four of a four-part series featuring area athletes in fall 2026 sports. The start of fall sports is upon us, so we took the opportunity catch up with the athletes of those teams to see what they are doing to prepare for the upcoming rivalries and to offer some perspective on the season ahead and their plans for the future. ICYMI: Wolverines Football Team Under Direction Of New Head Coach Dante Venezie School you attend? Lincoln High School Sport? Golf Grade? 12 How many years have you have participated? 2 years What do you feel is your biggest…

August 27, 2026

Fall Sports Q&A 2026: Part 3 Riverside Cheerleaders

This is part three of a four-part series featuring area athletes in fall 2026 sports. The start of fall sports is upon us, so we took the opportunity catch up with the athletes of those teams to see what they are doing to prepare for the upcoming rivalries and to offer some perspective on the season ahead and their plans for the future. RELATED: Q&A 2026 Part 1 – Riverside Football Players Q&A 2026 Part 2 – Riverside Volleyball Players Isla Connors School you attend? Riverside High School Sport? Cheerleading Grade? 12 How many years have you have participated? 12 What…

August 26, 2026

Fall Sports Q&A 2026: Part 2 Riverside Volleyball Players

This is part two of a four-part series featuring area athletes in fall 2026 sports. The start of fall sports is upon us, so we took the opportunity catch up with the athletes of those teams to see what they are doing to prepare for the upcoming rivalries and to offer some perspective on the season ahead and their plans for the future. ICYMI: Q&A 2026 Part 1 – Riverside Football Players Abby George School you attend? Riverside High School Sport? Volleyball Grade? 12th How many years have you have participated? This will be my 6th year What do you feel…

August 25, 2026

Fall Sports Q&A 2026: Part 1 Riverside Football Players

This is part one of a four-part series featuring area athletes in fall 2026 sports. The start of fall sports is upon us, so we took the opportunity catch up with the athletes of those teams to see what they are doing to prepare for the upcoming rivalries and to offer some perspective on the season ahead and their plans for the future. ICYMI: Fran Ramsden returns for his second stint leading the Riverside football program Andre Rippy School you attend? Riverside High School Sport? Football Grade? 12 How many years have you have participated? 1 Year What do you feel…

August 24, 2026

Elite Boxing Comes to Beaver County: Six Premier Fights Set for Brady’s Run Lodge, Ellwood Fighters Among Lineup

Boxing fans in Beaver and Lawrence Counties will have a big night to look forward to this September as six premier fights come to Brady’s Run Lodge on September 11 for an event that promises to be much more than a night at the fights. The doors open at 5 p.m., with the first bell scheduled for 6:30 p.m., giving fans plenty of time to settle in, grab some food, enjoy the music and get ready for an evening of live boxing featuring some of the region’s most promising talent. Josh Carr, owner of Royal Lions Boxing LLC, who is the organizer…

August 18, 2026

Council Approves Bid Process to Upgrade Women’s Softball Field at Stiefel Park

Council voted to authorize the Borough’s engineer to prepare/advertise bids for the upgrading of the Women’s softball field in Stiefel Park. The vote was unanimous and follows a consistent commitment to the Ellwood City Area School District to work with them to help provide the girls’ softball team a dedicated home field. They first offered an olive branch in August of 2023. Speaking on behalf of the Borough of Ellwood City, then Borough Solicitor Ed Leymarie said during that August 2023 meeting that the borough would be glad to meet with the Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors…