Local News

PHOTO: Fifth 2022 Mayor Beautification Award Presented

Congratulations are in order for the Fifth Beautification Winner! Mayor Anthony Court presented Phil and Doris Conklin of 312 Orchard Avenue. “Pastor Conklin and his wife enjoy working in their yard and it surely shows,” says Mayor Court in a statement. They were excited to be one of the winners of Mayor Court’s Beautification Program. The Conklin’s were presented with a yard sign to display and a gift certificate to a local restaurant. One final award will be presented this year. This is the 12th year for the beautification program.  Nominations will be accepted by emailing the Mayor at tcourt230@zoominternet.net…


Special Presentation Planned at July ECIAHF Meeting

Members of Ellwood City Italian American Heritage Foundation (ECIAHF) are asked to report if they are planning to attend the Friday, July 22, 2022 meeting. The meeting will take place at 10:00 a.m. at the Ellwood City Area Historical Society, located at 310 Fifth Street, Ellwood City, PA 16117. “Our special bang-up presentation was two years in the scheduling. Everyone attending will be entertained and thrilled,” says ECIAHF President, Barbara Mastropietro. “This is a must be-there affair.” A count of the number of guests of any heritage needs to be reported according to Mastropietro. A light luncheon will be provided…


No Ordinary Joe: Ellwood City Man’s Estate Adds To SRU Gift

SLIPPERY ROCK — The largest gift ever contributed by a private individual to Slippery Rock University is even larger than expected. Last year, SRU received a record $1.1 million gift from the estate of Joseph McCandless, who passed away January 14, 2020. The gift total now exceeds $1.8 million with the McCandless estate donating an additional $700,000 on June 24. That means even more money to support SRU students and additional funds to preserve one of the most fascinating buildings on campus. The money will be used to fund an endowed scholarship that was established with the initial gift, as…


Ellwood City Public Library Activities For Week of July 18

The Ellwood City Area Public Library offers a variety of weekly activities. Information is available by calling the library at 724-758-6458. PLEASE 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. WE’RE OPEN! Hours are Tuesday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Friday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 1:00…


Sheetz Construction On Track, Tentative Opening December 2022

The construction of a new Sheetz at the intersection of Fountain Avenue and Fifth Street is on track with a tentative opening time frame of late December 2022 according to Public Relations Manager, Nicholas Ruffner. The new, mega convenience store and gas station will be approximately 6,000 square feet with inside/outside seating and the capability to fuel 10 vehicles at one time. “We are very excited to serve new customers in Ellwood City,” says Ruffner. Based on the drawings presented to Ellwood City Borough Council last year, the gas pumps would flow parallel with 5th street— directly across from McDonalds—with…


LHS Class of ’55 Celebrates 67th Reunion

The Lincoln High School Class of 1955 celebrated their 67th Reunion on Friday, July 1st at the Saxons Club. Name tags and programs were given to the graduates by the Committee as they entered the building and the program began with a saocial hour with conversation and friendships renewed. An invocation was presented by Guy Calabro followed by  a delicious dinner buffet catered by Nicos Restaurant. The program began with Joe Cioffi, Master of Ceremonies, asking for a moment of silence in memoriam of the 127 classmates who are deceased. Dr. Cioffi presented a short program entitled “The Way It Was”…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

BURGLARY: A 37-year-old man has been charged with burglary after an incident on June 28th in Wampum. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 11:53 a.m., police were dispatched to Wampum Park Housing complex for reports of burglary. Video surveillance shows Robert Grim arriving at the complex at approximately 2:03 a.m. and entering through a window located at the rear. A victim stated she woke up and discovered many things inside her apartment missing, namely her Xanax prescription, cash, and a debit card. The victim believes her son, Grim, was responsible for the burglary as he has stolen from…


U.S. Attorney Chung Announces HIDTA Designation for Lawrence County

United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced this week that Lawrence County has been officially designated as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) by the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy. Lawrence joins five other western Pennsylvania counties – Allegheny, Beaver, Washington, Westmoreland, and Erie – in receiving dedicated federal resources to coordinate federal, state, and local governments to fight drug trafficking and abuse. “Lawrence County citizens will benefit significantly from HIDTA designation and the critical resources and support that brings to disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations,” said U.S. Attorney Chung. “We will use these…


True Crime Presentation: A Murder In Wampum

Follow the twists and turns during a true crime presentation that will spotlight a century old murder mystery. A MURDER IN WAMPUM “The 1918 Slaying of William Cassler” will be presented by Lawrence County Commissioner Dan Vogler next week. The True Crime Presentation will be held on Wednesday, July 20, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. at the Main Street Chapel & Events, located at 911 Clyde Street, Wampum, PA 16157. “This is a true story and the information presented is taken from newspaper articles that appeared in the New Castle News at that time,” says Vogler. “The story is a most…


NOTICE: ECASD Board of Directors August Meeting Update

In a notice made available by the district, the Ellwood City Area School District has announced its August meeting date. The notice reads as follows: NOTICE: The Ellwood City Area School Board of Directors will have a combined Committee of the Whole and Regular Board Meeting on August 11, 2022. The August 4, 2022 meeting of the Board is cancelled. The meeting will be held in the Board Room located in Lincoln Jr. Sr. High School, 501 Crescent Avenue, Ellwood City, PA 1611 at 7:00 p.m.