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February 16, 2018

Ellwood City Schools Offering Counseling After Suicide

The Ellwood City School District is offering counseling to students in the wake of the sudden death of one of their classmates. In a statement posted on the district website, officials announced that it is with great sadness to inform you that one of our students took her own life Wednesday night.  Our thoughts and sympathies go out to her family and friends. All of the students were given the news of the death by their teacher during advisory Wednesday morning. According to the statement, members of a crisis team will be available to the students over the next days…

February 14, 2018

Police Standoff At Home Off Mercer Road [Updated Feb. 16]

  SWAT officers surrounded a home off Mercer Road in Franklin Township Wednesday morning in a standoff that lasted three hours. According to reports, police and SWAT officers were on site at the Franklin Township residence where a male was inside the home with a gun before the standoff eventually led him into police custody. As a result of the police presence and locale, Riverside School District issued a lockdown with parents and guardians receiving automated phone calls. Investigators haven’t said why they were originally called to the home or why the standoff ensued.  No one was injured.  More information…

February 14, 2018

POLICE: Union Township Man Leads Police On Chase

According to reports, Ellwood City Police have charged Gary Joseph Rakoci Jr., 26, of Union Township, after he allegedly fled from police in his vehicle and on foot, around 3:00am Saturday while he allegedly was driving drunk. According to a criminal complaint filed by Ellwood City police, an officer driving an unmarked patrol car was southbound on Seventh Street when he saw a gray Jeep go through an intersection at Crescent Avenue at high speed, and it turned north, failing to stop at a stop sign. After observing a gray Jeep go through an intersection at Crescent Avenue at high speed,…

February 14, 2018

February Ellwood City Historical Society Meeting Notes

The Ellwood City Area Historical Society meeting held its monthly meeting Monday evening at the History Center.  The meeting was opened as President Everett Bleakney welcoming everyone, and explaining the mission of the Historical Society which is to protect, promote and preserve the Ellwood City Area History and,  to make it accessible to the people of Ellwood City. The Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag was led by World War II Veteran Guy Prestia. Everett acknowledged Kathy Powell and Karen Hungerford, guests from the Zelienople Historical Society.  Kathy related on the Zelienople Society and their functions there. Ron Geddes,…

February 13, 2018

“The Tamburitzans” To Perform In March At Lincoln High School

“The Tamburitzans” (formerly the Duquesne University Tamburitzans) will perform their new production on Sunday March 25 at the Lincoln Junior/Senior High School on Sunday, March 25th at 3:00pm. In their 81st season, the Tamburitzans will take the audience on a whirlwind tour of Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, Greece, Spain, Mexico, Cuba and “Dance of the Gypsy Roma”.  The blend of colorful costumes, precise footwork and youthful energy has long been a trademark of any Tamburitzan concert and all attendees will thrill to the performance. The concert is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Ellwood City Scholarship Fund and…

February 13, 2018

Visitors Bring Concerns Regarding Beechwood Boulevard Address Changes

At yesterday’s Ellwood City borough council agenda meeting, several residents expressed concerns regarding a proposed change to Beechwood Boulevard street addresses. The change would affect 38 properties, many on Beechwood Boulevard. All of the addresses were identified by Lawrence County Emergency Services as potentially difficult for emergency personnel to find due to confusing street numbers. David High presented council with a petition signed by 10 residents addressing multiple concerns over the changes. Several of the affected addresses are in Beaver County, and High questioned how a Lawrence County agency could request a change in another county. In addition,  the petition…

February 13, 2018

PHOTOS: EC Wolves & Holy Redeemer Golf Bash

Over 400 people attended the Ellwood City Wolves and Holy Redeemer annual golf bash on Saturday at the Holy Redeemer Catholic Center. The Golf Bash, which featured prize drawings every 15 minutes, benefits educational endeavors.  In addition to the golf prizes, there was 50/50 drawing, table raffles, and a Chinese auction. The event grand prize included $500.00 cash and TaylorMade M1 Driver and FWD. photos submitted

February 12, 2018

Ellwood City Public Library Activities for Week of Feb. 12

Activities planned at the Ellwood City Area Public Library include the following: Monday, February 12, at 6:30 p.m. – Evening Book Discussion Group for Adults. This group usually meets the first Wednesday of the month, but because of the snowstorm last week, the meeting was rescheduled for Monday evening. The group will discuss the book, “The Usual Rules,” by Joyce Maynard. Call the library at 724-758-6458 for more information. Tuesday, February 13, at 6:30 p.m. — A Valentine’s Day Family Night Party is planned, featuring a variety of fun-filled activities. Since this is a family night event, all children must…

February 9, 2018

BC3 President and Ellport Native Selected For Top Award

(Jackson, Miss.) An organization with 3.2 million members in 10 countries has selected Dr. Nick Neupauer, president of Butler County Community College, to receive its highest honor, one that recognizes his commitment to BC3’s academic honor society and resolve to foster student success and empowerment, a Phi Theta Kappa regional coordinator said. Neupauer, an Ellport native and a 1985 graduate of Lincoln High School, will receive the Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction at the centennial celebration of Phi Theta Kappa on April 20 in Kansas City Phi Theta Kappa’s Rho Phi chapter at BC3 in 2017 reached the elite and ultimate…

February 8, 2018

Lawrence County ‘EdCamp’ Scheduled

February 2018– Lawrence County EdCamp, an educational conference like no other, will be held at two different locations in Lawrence County on Friday, February 16, 2018. The structure of the conference is very informal and educator-driven. All Lawrence County school districts have a professional development day scheduled into their calendars on February 16th. It was decided amongst the superintendents to try an EdCamp instead of canned presentations that may not fit all educators’ needs. The idea was brought to the superintendents by Joe Mancini, Superintendent of the Ellwood City Area School District. “I brought it up at one of our…