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May 29, 2020

Senate Approves Budget/Comprehensive COVID-19 Funding Package

Facing an uncertain economic future and working to address the devastating impact of COVID-19, the Senate today (May 28) set a course for recovery by approving a $25.8 billion interim budget for Fiscal Year 2020-21 as well as a plan to direct $2.6 billion in federal CARES funding to organizations that were most severely impacted by the virus, including $40 million to help farmers and address food insecurity issues, according to Senator Elder Vogel, (R-47). The measures now go to the Governor for enactment into law. House Bill 2387is an interim spending plan that provides five months of funding for…

May 28, 2020

Lincoln High School Top Four And Graduating Class Of 2020

The Lincoln High School graduating class of 2020 will receive their diplomas Thursday May 28th and Friday May 29th at the Sgt. Leslie H. Sabo Memorial Auditorium. Lincoln High School is graduating 78 students. William Bubb is an Honorary Lincoln Military Graduate.  The following students will serve in the military upon graduation: Alexander Sablan – United States Air Force and Jolene Smith – United States Air Force. High Honor Graduates Hannah Keally PARENTS/GUARDIAN: Katie and Frank Keally CAREER PLANS: Fashion Designer NAME OF COLLEGE/SCHOOL YOU PLAN TO ATTEND: Kent State University ACTIVITIES AT SCHOOL/CHURCH/COMMUNITY: NHS (president) Peer Leadership Art Club…

May 28, 2020

PennDOT Extends Expiration Dates on Driver Licenses, ID Cards, & Learner’s Permits

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced Wednesday that expiration dates for driver licenses, identification cards, and learner’s permits, will be extended for Pennsylvania residents in response to statewide COVID-19 mitigation efforts. Effective May 27, 2020, expiration dates for driver licenses, photo ID cards and learner’s permits scheduled to expire from March 16, 2020 through June 30, 2020, have been extended until June 30, 2020. These extensions are in addition to those announced on April 30, which extended products with expiration dates up to May 31 to June 30. A camera card is considered a driver’s license, so it…

May 28, 2020

Ellwood City Area Public Library March Memorials

The following are memorial contributions received by the library during the month of March. Memorials are published on a weekly basis in this column and represent a portion of the contributions received. In memory of Balind “Bert” Birtalan from Hungarian Home In memory Andrea Beth (Stascik) Dimond from Karen R. Cox In memory of Ted C. Ford from Karen R. Cox In memory of Norma J. Galmarini from Doris and Laurie Keane In memory of Patricia A. Geer from Donna Rickert In memory of Marie A. Kennard from Ted and Laurie Staples In memory of Sarah L. “Sally” (Brenner) Magill…

May 27, 2020

Ellwood City’s Summer Concert Series Cancelled

In a social media post Wednesday afternoon the Ellwood City Community Enrichment (ECCE) announced the cancellation of the 2020 Summer Concert Series. The statement reads: Our top priority is to keep our musicians, community and volunteers healthy and safe during this usual time. Therefore, the concert series committee has made a tough decision to cancel the 2020 Summer Concert Series due to COVID-19. Any donations received this year will help fund the 2021 concert seires. Thank you for understanding and we are looking forward to seeing you all next year! ECCE is a 501 (C)(3) nonprofit organization est. July 2004 and…

May 27, 2020

ECASD Board of Directors Passes Proposed Budget; Changes Likely

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors passed a proposed general fund budget of $30,472,335 for the fiscal year 2020-2021 in a 5-4 vote. Voting “No,” Director Barbara Wilson said she has numerous questions regarding the budget. Her main concern is how the board can possibly pass a budget that forecasts a $3 million defecit. Wilson wasn’t alone in her dissent. Directors Jean Biehls, Leroy Cortez, and Kathy McCommons joined her in rejecting the budget. Board President Renee Pitrelli and Directors Jennifer Tomon, Erica Gray, Norman Boots, and Gary Rozanski voted to pass the budget. The proposed budget…

May 27, 2020

Word Alive Church to Host Food Distribution Today

Word Alive Church, 124 Scenic Hill Blvd., will be hosting a food distribution today (May 27) from 12 to 2 p.m. According to Word Alive’s Lead Pastor Matthew Reynolds there are no requirements to qualify for the event and he is happy to be able to help Ellwood City’s residents. “A church in new castle called us two weeks ago and wondered if we would want to help distribute free food every other Wednesday in Ellwood City,” he said “We of course, said yes.” Reynolds said each car will receive 6 -1/2 gallons of milk, a box of mixed dairy…

May 21, 2020

Stage Stores (Gordman’s) Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Although the Ellwood City Gordman’s location in the Franklin Plaza just celebrated its grand opening on February 18, 2020, after a successful conversion from the former Peebles, the retailer has filed for bankruptcy. (Read article about the opening). Gordman’s parent company Stage Stores offered the following press release to the public early this month: Stage Stores Commences Voluntary Chapter 11 Process Company Conducting Sale Process for All or Part of the Business While Commencing Orderly Wind-Down of Operations; Stores to Reopen Starting May 15, 2020 HOUSTON – May 10, 2020 – Stage Stores, Inc. (NYSE: SSI) (“Stage” or the “Company”)…

May 20, 2020

Ellwood City Teen BC3’s Youngest Graduate In Class Of 2020

(Ellwood City, PA) A teenager from Ellwood City in 2019 became the youngest graduate in at least 20 years at Butler County Community College when 17-year-old Mikayla Beachem received a BC3 workplace certificate in entrepreneurship. A teenager from Ellwood City in 2020 has tied Beachem in age to the day. Saylee Grinnen completed the same Riv-Ell Entrepreneurship Program as did Beachem and became BC3’s youngest graduate in its Class of 2020. Both achieved certificates from BC3 on their 6,474th day in age. Like Beachem, Grinnen and her eight Lincoln or Riverside high school classmates in the Riv-Ell Entrepreneurship Program also…

May 19, 2020

Buckle Up PA “Click It Or Ticket” Action Plan Enforced Through June 7

A Buckle Up PA ‘Click It or Ticket’ action plan was announced this week with enforcement running from May 18 through June 7, 2020. According to a press release, the mobilization will focus 50% of their enforcement funding on seat belt enforcement on unbelted crash roadways. Buckle Up PA (BUPA) will fund up to 350 LEAs for the 3-week mobilization. The plan is designed to increase Pennsylvania’s seat belt usage rate by optimizing the use of grant funds, focus enforcement and to increase the number of OP citations issued. The BUPA “Click It or Ticket” Action Plan for the 2020…