Recent Stories

Articles by Tracey Ferguson

September 16, 2024

Columbia Gas Official Announces Meter Move Out Program at Borough Council Meeting

The Ellwood City Borough Council welcomed visitors from Columbia Gas who were in attendance to announce the Meter Move Out Program. Columbia Gas implemented the Meter Move Out Program to comply with a requirement from The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to locate all gas meters and regulators outside and above ground. Learn more about the program here. Carla Parkes, senior public affairs specialist with Columbia Gas, said the program will impact commercial and residential properties within Ellwood City. Parkes said residents in the borough will start to receive letters from Columbia Gas alerting them to the program. Council President Brad…

September 16, 2024

Riverside Fall Sports Q&A 2024: Part 1

This is part one of a three part series featuring area athletes in fall 2024 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. Riverside Athletes Zachary Hare Sport? Football Grade? 12 How many years have you have participated? 6 What do you feel is your biggest strength? Catching What is your favorite part of it? Scoring Touchdowns and Headtopping Who…

September 12, 2024

ECASD Officials, Board of Directors Face Scrutiny From Concerned Parents Following School Shooting Threat

Concerned and angry parents flooded the Hartman Intermediate School Cafeteria Thursday night for the Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors regular meeting following a school shooting threat that occurred on Tuesday (see story here). Their overall demand was for answers about what was going to be done about the situation to make students safe and to end their fear of going to school. District Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley confirmed that there was a verbal threat made by a student on Tuesday during a lunch period. He said other students were quick to inform district staff about the threat….

September 10, 2024

ECASD Administrators: Back to School A Smooth Transition

Ellwood City Area School District administrators said despite construction at the high school, back to school in all buildings was a smooth transition. “I am so happy to be back in school,” high school Principal John Sovich said. He said around mid-August, he received numerous calls from parents who feared their children would be starting school online. He said he assured them that the kids would be back in a brick-and-mortar classroom on time, and he was right. He echoed the sentiments of many other administrators who spoke before him during Monday’s Agenda Meeting of the ECASD Board of Directors….

August 20, 2024

Borough Manager: Ellwood City to Host Innovative Readiness Training (IRT)

Ellwood City Borough Manager Kevin Swogger announced during Monday night’s regular meeting of the Ellwood City Borough Council that Ellwood City will be the home of Innovative Readiness Training (IRT). IRT is a Department of Defense (DoD) military training opportunity, exclusive to the United States and its territories, that delivers joint training opportunities to increase deployment readiness. Simultaneously, IRT provides key services (health care, construction, transportation, and cybersecurity) with lasting benefits for communities. Ellwood City has been earmarked to receive FREE medical services for the community. Swogger said the service is 100% free to the community with no strings attached…

August 8, 2024

ECASD’s Board of Directors Approve Traffic Study at Site of Proposed Softball Field

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors approved a traffic study of the Ewing Park Property where a softball field is proposed to be built during Thursday’s regular meeting. The study will be conducted by Gateway Engineers, at a cost not to exceed $4,000. All directors except for Norman Boots, Kathy Galbreath, and Kevin Boariu voted in favor of the study, and Director Claire Fauzey was absent from the meeting. Galbreath asked if the study is necessary at this time, and Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley said that the zoning board will require the study so doing it now…

July 15, 2024

Council Approves Change Order for Wampum Avenue Pump Station Project; Recognizes Councilman Jim Barry for Years of Service

Ellwood City Borough Council voted to approve a $35,820 change order for the Wampum Avenue Pump Station Project during the July 15 meeting. The change stems from unforeseen field conditions. Tyler Watts, project manager, from Greenman-Pedersen, Inc., the engineer firm overseeing the project, said the cost could not be detected prior to a field inspection which is required for any contractor. “There are five laterals that need to be tied into the system,” she said. The amount will be paid from the PennVest contingency. Borough Manager Kevin Swogger said the project is 67% completed with an on-target completion date of…

July 12, 2024

PART 2 – Cast Q&A: New Castle Playhouse Presents The SpongeBob Musical

The New Castle Playhouse will present The SpongeBob Musical starting tonight July 12-21 and will feature some of Ellwood City’s area favorite actors. At least five Ellwood City Area actors including Lauren Bush, Jacob Storey, Ace Sharer, Alex Hazen, and Lauren Krug will take to the Main Stage in Augustine Auditorium on July 12, 13, 18, 19, and 20 at 7:30 p.m. and on July 14 and 21 at 2 p.m. (ticket information can be found at the end of the article) In PART 1 of our series, published Thursday, we caught up with Bush, Storey, and Sharer for a…

July 12, 2024

ECASD Board of Directors Vote to Hire Building Clerk and Director of Pupil Services and to Create a Dean of Student Affairs Position; Debate Elimination of Nepotism Policy

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted to hire Elizabeth Tomon for a building clerk position at Perry Lower Intermediate during the July 11 combined regular meeting. Board President Jennifer Tomon abstained from voting as Elizabeth Tomon is a relative. Elizabeth received “Yes” votes from Board Vice President Jean Biehls and Directors Erica Gray, Kathy Tillia, Kevin Boariu, Robyn Nicklas and Dr. Claire Fauzey. “No” votes were cast by Directors Kathy Galbreath and Norman Boots. Elizabeth’s hiring followed nepotism policy votes during both the May and June regular ECASD Board of Directors Meetings. A motion was made…

July 11, 2024

PART 1 – Cast Q&A: New Castle Playhouse Presents The SpongeBob Musical

The New Castle Playhouse will present The SpongeBob Musical starting tomorrow July 12-21 and will feature some of Ellwood City’s area favorite actors. At least five Ellwood City Area actors including Lauren Bush, Jacob Storey, Ace Sharer, Alex Hazen, and Lauren Krug will take to the Main Stage in Augustine Auditorium on July 12, 13, 18, 19, and 20 at 7:30 p.m. and on July 14 and 21 at 2 p.m. (ticket information can be found at the end of the article) In Part 1 of our series, we caught up with Bush, Storey, and Sharer for a cast Q&A….