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POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

TERRORISTIC THREATS: Michael Polky, 24, of Georgetown, PA, is charged with Terroristic Threats and Simple Assault after an incident on October 16th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 5:39 p.m., officers were dispatched to a residence on Wampum Avenue for a domestic. A caller reported her friend was just assaulted by her ex-boyfriend and the suspect fled the scene. Police responded to the residence and interviewed the victim who related that Polky came over to get the rest of his things but he attitude soon changed and he grabbed the victim by her throat and pushed and choked…


CORE FOUR: Lady Panthers Juniors Look To Shine This Season

After losing three starters – Gina Carr, Samantha Rosenberger, and Jaylynn Timmerman – to graduation last year, the Lady Panthers return a core group of athletes looking to build on their regular season record from last year. The team will lean on a junior class that will trot out four starters for the 2023-24 campaign. “Our Junior class has been a huge part of our program since their freshman year,” says head coach Renee Drake. “The excitement is high now that they are upperclassmen and have worked hard to play at a high level this year.” Returning starters Gabriella Finch,…


ECASD Board of Directors Reorganizes, Fills Vacant Seat

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors elected a president, vice president, and also appointed a new board member to a vacant seat. Jennifer Tomon was named president in a unanimous vote by the board. The board was split, however, on the vice president seat between Jean Biehls (supporters: Claire Fauzey, Erica Gray, and newly elected Kevin Boariu) and Kathy Galbreth (supporters: Norman Boots, Kathy Tillia, Jennifer Tomon). Following two roll call votes, the board would not sway on their choices. Finally the tie was broken once Robyn Nicklas was appointed to fill the vacant seat left after…


Sharing Library Now Available In Franklin Township

The Lauten family has generously donated a Sharing Library. The Library is located outside the front of the Franklin Township building on Route 288. “This library is for the community,” reads a statement from the township. “If you see a book you would like to read, feel free to take it with you. Return it to this Sharing Library when you are finished.” Keep this Sharing Library operating by leaving books in here for others. The library is similar to the Little Free Library hosted in Ellwood City in its community plaza where you can just open the door and…


REMINDER: Riverside High School Hosting Senior Citizen Program

Riverside High School will be hosting their Annual Senior Citizen Program on Wednesday December 20th from 11:45 a.m. until 2:15 p.m. The High School Band and Chorus and MS chorus will be performing in the Auditorium at 11:45. A Holiday Dinner will be provided after the program in the cafeteria. Please call 724 758-7512 ext. 3000 for Reservations or email wknab@rbcsd.com by Wednesday, December 13th.


LET’S BOUNCE! Lady Wolverines Have Returning Starters, Playoff Aspirations

The Ellwood City girls basketball team returns seven varsity players this year and has its eyes set on the playoffs. Fans can expect to see a different team this year according to head coach Dena Noble. “Our style of play will be different than it has been over the past five years – we expect to control the pace of the game,” says the third year head coach. Two seniors will pace the Lady Wolverines – one a familiar face, the other a new one. Four-year starter and senior Claire Noble will lead the offense. “She is a very versatile…


Former Employee of Beaver County Health Care Facility Pleads Guilty To Hate Crime Charges Related To Assaults Against Disabled Residents

PITTSBURGH – A resident of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to federal hate crime charges, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced on Monday. Tyler Smith, 32, of New Brighton, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, and one count of violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. According to admissions made during Smith’s plea hearing, he and co-defendant Zachary Dinell were employees of an in-patient health care facility located in New Brighton, Pennsylvania. Residents of the facility suffered from a range of…


Real Estate Transfers For November 2023

The month of November hosts the holiday Thanksgiving. For many in the area, this year’s Thanksgiving holiday was hosted in a new home. According to RocketHomes.com, the median selling price for real estate in November in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania was $142,600.00 – up 3.7% versus the same period last year. This November saw a 5.7% increase in the median sold price versus last November. More specifically, real estate in Ellwood City continues to be a seller’s market as Ellwood City real estate sold for 18.3% more than they did last November. Courtesy of the Lawrence County Recorder of Deeds, below…


First Year Coach Looks Forward To Leading Riverside Co-Ed Swimming

The Riverside boys swimming team enters the 2023-24 season as a five-time undefeated section champions, and this year will look to add another under the direction of new head coach Alaina Marshall. Marshall replaces Gwen Nulph who accepted a coach position earlier this year as Assistant Swimming and Diving Coach at Grove City College. The coach will have familiarity with a majority of the team from her years as assistant coach and with three top male competitors – Joseph Roth, Ryan Turner, and Michael Styn – all returning this season, Marshall expects the boys team to continue to remain a…


BC3’s College Within the High School Program Sets 3 Records

A 26-year-old Butler County Community College program that offers qualified high school sophomores through seniors the opportunity to earn reduced-cost, transferrable college credits has set records this fall in enrollment, in seats occupied and in credits pursued. BC3’s College Within the High School program this fall enrolls 523 students. The all-time high includes a record 57 students in an Early College Pioneers program on BC3’s main campus, a record 16 in a Riv-Ell Entrepreneurship program in Ellwood City and a sophomore who was 14 when his three-credit BC3 course in marketing began in August at Mars Area High School. “I…