Local News

POLICE: Local Narcotics Raid Leads To Arrest

On January 30th, 2025, members of the Lawrence County District Attorney’s HIDTA Drug Task Force, the Ellwood City Police Department, and the Lawrence County Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) executed a search warrant at 306 Wood Street, Ellwood City. Operation “The Issue is Smoot” began at approximately 6:10 a.m. when CIRT knocked and announced their presence. Once no contact was made at the front door, entry was made. CIRT secured the residence, locating and detaining one female. The target of the investigation, 26-year-old Aubrey Quillan Smoot, was not present at the residence. As a result of the search, the following…


Riverside 2025-26 Pre-K Counts and Kindergarten Registration Now Open

Riverside Beaver County School District Pre-K and Kindergarten registration is now open. Children who will be 5 years old before September 1, 2025 and are residents of the Riverside Beaver County School District are eligible to begin the enrollment process for kindergarten. Before you begin the process, be sure to read over the checklist to ensure you have all your required documents. Please note, online enrollment works best when done on a desktop or laptop computer. You may encounter technical issues using a cellphone to enroll. Within a few days of completing the enrollment, you will receive an email with…


ECASD Board of Directors Authorizes Appeal for Proposed Softball Field

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted to appeal the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Adjudication of the Zoning Hearing Board of the Borough of Ellwood City relating to the proposed softball field during Monday’s regular meeting. All board members in attendance voted yes to support the appeal, and director Norman Boots was absent from the meeting. Director Kevin Boariu said he supports the appeal because he does not want the property to sit vacant and that he does not believe that the District should be in the business of owning unused property. Chris Voltz,…


BC3 Announces Graduates, President’s List & Dean’s List For Fall 2024

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 2024 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 upon completion…


Patty’s Crafty Corner Features Homemade Gifts, Home Decor

Looking for that perfect handmade gift? Why not shop local? Why not shop at Patty’s Crafty Corner? Patty’s Crafty Corner opened at the 201 5th Street location the day after Thanksgiving and has since been filling up the space with locally made gifts and goods. “We have home décor and gift items that are all handmade,” said Patty Miller, owner of the shop. Some of the items available include: bowl cozies, baby blankets, mermaid quilts, baby blankets, wooden crafts, ceramics, flower arrangements, soaps and lotions, dog treats, tumblers and tumbler accessories, wooden candle holders, jewelry, beaded bracelets and pens, wire…


Ellwood City Public Library Activities For Week Of February 10th

The Ellwood City Area Public Library offers a variety of weekly activities. Information is available by calling the library at 724-758-6458. NOTE The Library has partnered with Seneca Library District, Oil Creek Library District, Erie County Public Library and Crawford County Federated Library System for e-books. You can now use the Overdrive or Libby App. to borrow books from the above Libraries. Please call the library with any questions. HOURS Hours are Monday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Friday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m….


NOTICE: ECASD Board of School Directors Rescheduled To February 10th

Notice is hereby given that, due to weather concerns, the February 13, 2025 regular meeting of the Ellwood City Area School District Board of School Directors is cancelled and rescheduled and combined with the February 10, 2025 “Committee of the Whole” meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the Board Room at Lincoln High School, 501 Crescent Avenue, Ellwood City, PA 16117. The purpose of the meeting is to consider and take action on the Agenda items published: On the District’s website (www.ecasdk12.org) At the Board Room At the District’s administrative offices and to consider and take action on any other lawful…


Club Hope Gets New Home in Shelby Bar Building

Club Hope has a new home. The foundation recently purchased the Shelby Bar building at 26 Fountain Avenue. “We are blessed more than we ever thought possible for the support our warriors and our foundation continue to receive,” said Founder Kara Atkinson. “This building will open up so many opportunities for what we can do to bring HOPE to our warriors and families!” Atkinson said the move will be beneficial for the Foundation. “We were thinking about it looking for a permanent location but were never actively looking. Renting is just renting, and we wanted to use the support given…


Country Club Bridge Replacement Project To Begin October 2025

The Route 65 Country Club Bridge Replacement project over Connoquenessing Creek will begin in October 2025 in North Sewickley and Franklin Townships, Beaver County. Improvements include removal of the existing poor condition three-span non-composite steel multigirder structure built in 1976, construction of a two-span steel plate girder bridge using Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) techniques, and full depth pavement reconstruction along approximately 850 feet of SR 65 and 180 feet of SR 1006 (Mercer Road). The project will also relocate approximately 310 feet of T-639 (Country Club Drive) to improve sight distance and accommodate school bus turning movements. “In order to…


Lake Forest Gardens, Sturges Orchard To Receive Agriculture Innovation Grants

HARRISBURG – Sen. Elder Vogel, Jr. (R-47) announced this week the approval of three state grants to improve agricultural innovation in Beaver County. Vogel said the following Agriculture Innovation Grants are being awarded by the state Department of Agriculture: Lake Forest Gardens of Fombell will receive $24,600 for automating tree-grading and sizing. Tiny Seed Farm of Rochester will receive $75,000 for the development of an integrated, sustainable farm-to-sale innovation plan. Sturges Orchard of Fombell will receive $18,775 to install pasteurizer and filter systems for improved cider production quality. “It was very important to fund these grants in the state budget,…