Recent Stories

Articles by Tracey Ferguson

March 18, 2024

Ellwood City Police Department Recognized for Involvement in Drug Related Indictment

Ellwood City Borough Council applauded the Ellwood City Police Department for its involvement in a recent federal drug investigation during their Monday night meeting. United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced on March 14 (see original story here) that seventeen individuals from Lawrence County, Pennsylvania; Puerto Rico; and Youngstown, Ohio, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh for violating federal narcotics, firearms, and racketeering laws. The defendants, four of which were from Ellwood City, were charged in the indictments and allege that, between September 2022 and March 2024, the defendants conspired to distribute cocaine throughout Western Pennsylvania, specifically…

March 18, 2024

PART ONE: Riverside High School’s The Addams Family Musical Cast Q&A

The Riverside High School Theater will present the musical, The Addams Family on March 21-24 in the high school auditorium, 300 Country Club Drive, Ellwood City. (information about the show and how to get tickets can be found at the end of the cast features). A cast and crew of over 100 students from the school district will participate in the production directed by Brent Rodgers. This is the 61st Anniversary of Theater at Riverside. We caught up with some of the leads in the show for a cast Q&A. Today’s Q&A is PART ONE in a three-part series about The Addams…

March 14, 2024

Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors Cut Ribbon to Signify, Celebrate Completion of the Perry School Project

Thursday evening’s Ellwood City Area School District Board of Directors meeting was preceded with an open house for the public to see the renovations of Perry Lower Intermediate School as well as a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate and finalize the project’s completion. “What a great opportunity for us to look at what is created and what is finished,” Dr. Wesley Shipley, ECASD Superintendent said during the ribbon cutting ceremony just before Board Director Kathy Galbreth took the jumbo scissors and cut the ribbon with the rest of the Board by her side.     The project included updating the…

March 14, 2024

Ellwood City Community Garden Seeking Volunteers, Donations

The Ellwood City Community Garden is seeking volunteers to cultivate garden plots to benefit those in need, and the best part about it is you don’t have to have gardening experience or provide supplies, you just have to be willing to help. “We are always looking for more volunteers and more interest and community support,” said Kelly Brack, the program’s leader. Always looking for more volunteers more interest and community support. “I think even with the 50 beds I don’t think we come close to touching the need. But we are providing a need for produce.” The Elwood City Community…

March 12, 2024

ECASD Moving Forward with Testing at Proposed Site of Girls Softball Field

Ellwood City Area School District Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley announced during Monday’s board of director’s committee meeting that although the district is moving forward with tests and studies on the proposed area for the new girls softball field at the old Ewing Park School site, they are still far away from the building permits and zoning process. Shipley said workers have been at the site to do topographical studies and to take core samples and water perk tests. He urged residents in the area, specifically speaking directly to the Citizens for Ewing Park Preservation (CEPP) group to not approach workers…

March 8, 2024

Fombell Farm Riding Facility Focuses on Fundamentals of Polo

What is one of the world’s oldest known team sports? Nope, not football. Good guess, but baseball is not it. Everyone loves hockey, but that’s not the one. It’s Polo, a ball game that is played on horseback. Polo is a traditional field sport played by two opposing teams with the objective of scoring using a long-handled wooden mallet to hit a small hard ball through the opposing team’s goal. Each team has four mounted riders, and the game usually lasts one to two hours, divided into periods called chukkas or chukkers. If you thought polo was only for the elite, you’d be mistaken. And, actually, there’s a facility right in our backyard. Ople…

February 22, 2024

Lincoln Graduate Accepted to Prestigious Drum and Bugle Corps

Zion Bunney is making his Drumming Dreams come true, but he needs a little help from his friends … the Ellwood City Community. The 2022 Lincoln High School graduate was accepted to the world class drum and bugle corps “Jersey Surf,” a group that competes in a circuit called Drum Corps International (DCI). Now, the quad line section leader at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Zion cannot wait to pick up his sticks and hit the road with his fellow drummers. “This has been a dream of mine ever since I was 9 years old,” Bunney said. “I am proud to…

February 21, 2024

Get Your Tickets NOW for Riverside High School’s Musical The Adams Family

The Riverside High School Theater will present the musical, The Adams Family on March 21-24 in the high school auditorium, 300 Country Club Drive, Ellwood City. A cast and crew of over 100 students from the school district will participate in the production directed by Brent Rodgers. This is the 61st Anniversary of Theater at Riverside. “We hope you can join us for this landmark show,” said Vaughn Hudspath, producer. In its typical kooky, mysterious, and spooky fashion, the ghoulish Addams family is visiting the graveyard for an annual gathering of all family members, living dead, and undecided, to celebrate…

February 19, 2024

Council Approves YMCA Swimming Pool Management Agreement with No Cost Increase to Community

Ellwood City Borough Council approved the 2024 YMCA swimming pool management agreement for $13,800. Borough Manager Kevin Swogger said there will be no cost increase for community members to use the pool this year and the borough will be releasing more details regarding the pool’s 2024 season as well as activities planned including youth parties and featured DJs. Swogger said the borough is also working on securing the America250PA grant, which helps organizations conducting projects that improve the community and engages volunteers. Projects could include community cleanups, park improvements, revitalization efforts, river sweeps, graffiti abatement, murals, etc. The project must…

February 9, 2024

Love Letters to Open Tonight at New Castle Playhouse Featuring Ellwood City Talent

Do you have a love for those special art forms that seem to be long lost? Love Letters  just might give you the nostalgic and romantic feeling you’d love to find again. Love Letters , a play by AR Gurney is truly bringing the love into the air at the New Castle Playhouse’s Annex Theatre, 202 E Long Ave, February 9, 10, 15, 16, & 17 at 7:30 p.m. and February 11 & 18 at 2 p.m. And Ellwood City’s own Michael Cavalier is directing the show that will also feature Ellwood City native Robert Hazen in the role of Andrew…