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Human Interest

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…

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 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….

June 28, 2024

PART FOUR: Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food & Entertainment Festival Series: Honky Tonk Heroes to Play Country, Rock Favorites

In our annual series spotlighting the annual Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food & Entertainment Festival, we look at a series of subjects, people, and entertainers who will help the festival make its mark this 4th of July holiday season. VIEW PART THREE |  VIEW PART TWO | VIEW PART ONE PART FOUR: Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food & Entertainment Festival Series: Honky Tonk Heroes to Play Country, Rock Favorites They are a little bit Honky Tonk … they are a little bit Rock n Roll. With songs from Willy Nelson and Waylon to Lynard Skynard to Creedence Clearwater Revival, the…

June 27, 2024

PART THREE: Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food & Entertainment Festival Series: Celestial Overdrive Set to Rock the Festival Stage

In our annual series spotlighting the annual Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food & Entertainment Festival, we look at a series of subjects, people, and entertainers who will help the festival make its mark this 4th of July holiday season. VIEW PART TWO | VIEW PART ONE PART THREE: Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food & Entertainment Festival Series: Celestial Overdrive Set to Rock the Festival Stage They are a true Classic Rock EXPERIENCE … they are Celestial Overdrive. The Ellwood City Community will get a taste of what they have to offer Saturday night from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the…

June 26, 2024

PART TWO: Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food & Entertainment Festival Series: Art Show Expands with Strolling Musicians, Performers

In our annual series spotlighting the annual Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food & Entertainment Festival, we look at a series of subjects, people, and entertainers who will help the festival make its mark this 4th of July holiday season. PART TWO: Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food & Entertainment Festival Series: Art Show Expands with Strolling Musicians, Performers A masterpiece in process. That might be a good way to describe the new wave of The Festival’s Art Show. Near extinction just two years ago, the Art Show has a new “Council” in place to keep it growing and thriving as this…

June 25, 2024

PART ONE: Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food & Entertainment Festival Series: 10k Race Has New Name, Organizer

In our annual series spotlighting the annual Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food & Entertainment Festival, we look at a series of subjects, people, and entertainers who will help the festival make its mark this 4th of July holiday season. PART ONE: Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food & Entertainment Festival Series: 10k Race Has New Name, Organizer The annual beloved 10k race will be held on Saturday, June 29, at 9 a.m. This year’s race has a different name and a new organizer, but runners and the community can expect the same great race that has been around for decades. There…

June 21, 2024

Divine Grace Parish-Holy Redeemer Church to Hold Welcome Home Masses to Celebrate Completion of Renovation Project

Soon, the congregation of Divine Grace Parish-Holy Redeemer Church, 415 Fourth St., will return to their home—a home with some major changes and upgrades. For the past few months worship has been held in the Catholic Center, but that’s about to change on June 29 when the congregation will finally get to see the full results of the extensive makeover that began on April 1. “I hope that the folks will be very pleased when they see it. While the church is the same everything is better,” said Deacon Don Pepe who is Director of facilities for the parish. “The…