Human Interest

Skating Into The Top 3, Hess Ice Rink Looks To Cash In

A local ice rink, Hess Ice Rink in New Castle, has been selected as one of the three finalists for a “Renovate the Rink” contest co-hosted by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Voting opened Friday, February 1st and runs through Friday, February 22nd. This contest was introduced in October of 2018 as a new contest. This contest is hosted by Pittsburgh Penguins and Pittsburgh Commercial Construction (PittComm). The winner will receive up to $100,000 in goods and services to renovate their rink. There were over 400 entries were received, and 16 rinks were nominated before the finalists were selected. Mark Bucci, the Parks…


Ellwood City Meals On Wheels Program Coming To An End

In a message released by Ellwood City Meals On Wheels (MOW) Officers to their clients and volunteers, it was announced this week the program will be coming to an end as of February 28, 2019. According to the release and in conjunction with the financial hardship of the hospital, the MOW has decided that it would be difficult to continue, citing that the hospital was not paying their food or milk bills, the company had frozen their account. “Some of the duties include almost volunteering 20 hours a week,” the statement reads. “This has taken a toll on some of…


Two Schools, One City, One Fundraising Cause

In light of our community’s tragic loss, the two rival schools have decided to come together and show support for the grieving family and friends of the late Kaitlyn “Kait” Francis. Showing their support, four students have stepped up and took on the task of making t-shirts to sell to students in a fundraising effort for the Francis family. The two from Ellwood City that started it all are Ariana Garroway and Sydni Haswell. The idea became so well liked that two students from Riverside, Maggie Harden and Tanner Leavens, decided to also Tweet out Riversides support. Despite the long…


Brewing Up New Ways To Preach

A Californian pastor is bringing a new way to teach the word of God to Ellwood City. On Saturday, January 12, Chris Swales opened the doors of the new coffee shop The Badlands on Fifth Street near the underpass. Swales is a California native who had been a pastor for The Badlands Ministry in California. The title of ‘The Badlands’ stems from where he grew up; just on the outskirts of the dry terrain desert. “[The Badlands] is a ministry, the coffee and food are just there to help financially support what we want to do,” Swales said. Swales and…


Wampum Graduate Named To The Dean’s List

Aleigh Mcclintick earned a 3.5 GPA, which led to her to be named to the Dean’s List for the Fall 2018 Semester at the Clarion University of Pennsylvania. Mcclintick, of Wampum, graduated from Lincoln High School in 2018 and went on to Clarion to major in Nursing BSN. In high school, she participated in many clubs, some of which were Powder Puff from 2014-2016, Y- Teens from 2014- 2015, Student Council from 2014-2018, and the National Honors Society from 2017-2018. In college, she is currently participating in the Nursing club as well as her being inducted into the National Honors Society of Clarion…


Allen Chiropractic Cracks Open A New Location

Another new business is ‘cracking’ in downtown Ellwood City. Early in December local chiropractic practice, Allen Chiropractic made its way from Ellport to the main street of Ellwood. The practice is owned by John Allen. Previously, Allen Chiropractic had been located across the street from Culligan Water and was there for seven years. Prior to Allen opening his own, he worked with his father in Beaver Falls for two years after he graduated from Sherman College of Chiropractics in 2010. “I liked the idea of being able to help people without the use of invasive procedures,” Allen said. Through these…


Morella Earns WPCC All-Academic Honors

(Butler, PA) Butler County Community College’s most recent All-American in one sport en route to setting a school record in another is among 17 BC3 student-athletes on the fall 2018 Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference all-academic team and one of seven honored for a third consecutive semester. Mackenzie Craig, of Karns City, named a National Junior College Athletic Association Division III All-American in December for a Pioneers volleyball squad that captured its third Region XX title in four years, is also one of 10 BC3 student-athletes to finish the fall 2018 semester with high academic honors. To be eligible for the…


19 Students From The Ellwood City Area Make BC3’s President’s and Dean’s List

(Butler, PA) Butler County Community College is proud to announce the names of students who have made the President’s List and Dean’s List for the fall 2018 semester, as well as the names of those who have graduated recently. Students who have achieved a cumulative GPA (grade-point average) of 3.75 or higher are named to the President’s List following completion of at least 12 semester hours or upon completion of degree requirements. Students who have achieved a cumulative GPA (grade-point average) of 3.5 to 3.74 are named to the Dean’s List following completion of at least 12 semester hours or…


Riverside Graduate Release Her First EP

Local Riverside graduate, Sarah Espen, has just made a name for her in the music world by releasing an EP in late December. Espen graduated from Riverside in 2012, only to pick up and move to Nashville, Tennessee after. “I wrote my first song with my dad when I was 5 years old.” Espen said, “And I haven’t stopped writing since.” Growing up, Espen was surrounded by music. Her father was in a band that toured and Espen was right there in the action. She went from setting up soundboards and speakers to singing on stage and recording vocals for…


Steel City Internal Medicine-UPMC Moves Into Franklin Plaza Shopping Center

Back in early December of 2018, a new UPMC Primary Care facility moved into the Giant Eagle Plaza in Ellwood City. This new facility is Steel City Internal Medicine-UPMC and this Ellwood location could be a game changer for those who rely on UPMC for all their health related needs. The building holds four physicians and one advanced practice provider: Eileen M. Boyle, MD, Donald G. Klinestiver, MD, Lawrence F. Rahall, DO, Ricardo B. Raymundo, MD, and Amanda L. Roeder, CRNP. The practice also provides local monthly appointments with Dennis Kevin Gabos, MD, interventional cardiologist, from the UPMC Heart and…