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Police Standoff At Home Off Mercer Road [Updated Feb. 16]

  SWAT officers surrounded a home off Mercer Road in Franklin Township Wednesday morning in a standoff that lasted three hours. According to reports, police and SWAT officers were on site at the Franklin Township residence where a male was inside the home with a gun before the standoff eventually led him into police custody. As a result of the police presence and locale, Riverside School District issued a lockdown with parents and guardians receiving automated phone calls. Investigators haven’t said why they were originally called to the home or why the standoff ensued.  No one was injured.  More information…


WPIAL Basketball Playoff Matchups Announced

The WPIAL released the boys and girls basketball playoff brackets Tuesday night with three local teams making their respective classification playoffs. The Ellwood City and Riverside boys basketball teams both will play Friday night, while the Riverside girls basketball team was seeded with a first round game scheduled for February 21. The Wolverines (5-5 Section 1, 14-8 Overall) will play Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic (7-3 Section 2, 11-11 overall) in their first round game Friday night at 6:30pm at Ambridge.  The Section 2 runner-up Trojans, the defending WPIAL Class-3A champion, comes in with a .500 record but owns the classification’s stingiest defense…


POLICE: Union Township Man Leads Police On Chase

According to reports, Ellwood City Police have charged Gary Joseph Rakoci Jr., 26, of Union Township, after he allegedly fled from police in his vehicle and on foot, around 3:00am Saturday while he allegedly was driving drunk. According to a criminal complaint filed by Ellwood City police, an officer driving an unmarked patrol car was southbound on Seventh Street when he saw a gray Jeep go through an intersection at Crescent Avenue at high speed, and it turned north, failing to stop at a stop sign. After observing a gray Jeep go through an intersection at Crescent Avenue at high speed,…


February Ellwood City Historical Society Meeting Notes

The Ellwood City Area Historical Society meeting held its monthly meeting Monday evening at the History Center.  The meeting was opened as President Everett Bleakney welcoming everyone, and explaining the mission of the Historical Society which is to protect, promote and preserve the Ellwood City Area History and,  to make it accessible to the people of Ellwood City. The Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag was led by World War II Veteran Guy Prestia. Everett acknowledged Kathy Powell and Karen Hungerford, guests from the Zelienople Historical Society.  Kathy related on the Zelienople Society and their functions there. Ron Geddes,…


“The Tamburitzans” To Perform In March At Lincoln High School

“The Tamburitzans” (formerly the Duquesne University Tamburitzans) will perform their new production on Sunday March 25 at the Lincoln Junior/Senior High School on Sunday, March 25th at 3:00pm. In their 81st season, the Tamburitzans will take the audience on a whirlwind tour of Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, Greece, Spain, Mexico, Cuba and “Dance of the Gypsy Roma”.  The blend of colorful costumes, precise footwork and youthful energy has long been a trademark of any Tamburitzan concert and all attendees will thrill to the performance. The concert is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Ellwood City Scholarship Fund and…


Visitors Bring Concerns Regarding Beechwood Boulevard Address Changes

At yesterday’s Ellwood City borough council agenda meeting, several residents expressed concerns regarding a proposed change to Beechwood Boulevard street addresses. The change would affect 38 properties, many on Beechwood Boulevard. All of the addresses were identified by Lawrence County Emergency Services as potentially difficult for emergency personnel to find due to confusing street numbers. David High presented council with a petition signed by 10 residents addressing multiple concerns over the changes. Several of the affected addresses are in Beaver County, and High questioned how a Lawrence County agency could request a change in another county. In addition,  the petition…


PHOTOS: EC Wolves & Holy Redeemer Golf Bash

Over 400 people attended the Ellwood City Wolves and Holy Redeemer annual golf bash on Saturday at the Holy Redeemer Catholic Center. The Golf Bash, which featured prize drawings every 15 minutes, benefits educational endeavors.  In addition to the golf prizes, there was 50/50 drawing, table raffles, and a Chinese auction. The event grand prize included $500.00 cash and TaylorMade M1 Driver and FWD. photos submitted


Ellwood Bocce Team To Host Season Finale Tuesday

Tuesday afternoon at 2:45, the Lincoln High School Unified Bocce team will host the New Wilmington Greyhounds in their final regular play match of the season. The match will be held in the big gym and is free and open to the public. The Ellwood City Wolverines are 2-0 on the season. Special Olympics Unified Sports is an inclusive sports program that combines an  equal number of Special Olympics athletes (individuals with intellectual disabilities) and partners (individuals without intellectual disabilities) on teams for training and competition. The members of the Lincoln Unified Bocce team include: (Back row, L-R) Reed Angelucci, Alex Scott, Nathan…


EC Wrestling Closes Regular Season With Victory

Ellwood City finished their last match of the year last Friday with a 30-24 win against Fort Cherry.  Next Friday, February 16th the Wolverines will be traveling to Canon MacMillan to compete for the section and individual WPIAL Championships. Jake Alberts (106), Tyler Baird (126), Doug Balin (145), and Braden Strohecker (160) all collected match victories for the Wolverines. Full Results: Ellwood City (ECH) 30.00 Fort Cherry (FCH) 24.00 220: Double Forfeit 285: Double Forfeit 106: Jake  Alberts  (ECH) over Nasier Sutton (FCH) (MD 14-3) 113: Double Forfeit 120: Jacob Merriman (FCH) over Matt King (ECH) (Dec 6-3) 126: Tyler…


Ellwood City Public Library Activities for Week of Feb. 12

Activities planned at the Ellwood City Area Public Library include the following: Monday, February 12, at 6:30 p.m. – Evening Book Discussion Group for Adults. This group usually meets the first Wednesday of the month, but because of the snowstorm last week, the meeting was rescheduled for Monday evening. The group will discuss the book, “The Usual Rules,” by Joyce Maynard. Call the library at 724-758-6458 for more information. Tuesday, February 13, at 6:30 p.m. — A Valentine’s Day Family Night Party is planned, featuring a variety of fun-filled activities. Since this is a family night event, all children must…