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July 22, 2016

Ellwood City Clean-Up Day (Pokemon Go Inspired)

Please join us for an Ellwood City Clean-Up Day! Inspired by the popular Pokemon Go game, we will be spending the day walking around collecting trash to help make our town a better, cleaner place to live while interacting with each other and having a fun time! The event is Saturday, Aug. 6 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. We’ll be meeting at the Ellwood City Free Methodist Church on 412 Glen Ave near Circle Playground. We will be there rain or shine. “Our goal is to help clean up the town while socializing and bringing people together,” Chakayla Hyland,…

July 22, 2016

Police: Four Arrested for Marijuana Possession, Burglaries in Wampum and Little Beaver

Four Arrested for Marijuana Possession According to the criminal complaints, on July 9 at approximately 2:50 a.m. an officer conducted a traffic stop on Lawrence Avenue after seeing a vehicle with a flat tire. The driver was identified as Damien Rushauwn Confer, 24, of New Castle. The officer observed a glass jar containing a green leafy substance. Confer, along with the three passengers, denied owning the marijuana. On July 12, all four were charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance. The three passengers wee Joshua Joseph Vignovich, 24, of New Castle; Markece Lamar Miller, 26, of New…

July 22, 2016

Franklin Township’s Fourth Annual Community Day National Night Out

Franklin Township’s Fourth Annual Community Day National Night Out Event Tuesday, August 2nd 6- 9 P.M. Franklin Plaza This event will feature music, food, and fun for the whole family. Booths and Vendors will be set up to fundraise for various organizations and causes. There are still a few spots available to set up a booth, if you are part of a local organization or a business that wants to show your support please contact Franklin Township Secretary, Shannon Schlosser at twpsecretary@zoominternet.net. Local businesses have made donations to make the night possible. Free children’s activities include a bounce house, face…

July 21, 2016

Delmar Presents Jack Ferrante Scholarship to Brian Hudson

Brian Hudson was presented with the annual Delmar Golf Course Jack Ferrante Scholarship at the July Board of Directors meeting. Brian will be attending the University of Mt. Union this fall and plans to participating on the Mt. Union golf tea. Presenting Brian with the check is Delmar Board President Sam Barry Jr.  

July 21, 2016

Delmar Presents Stephen Johns with Jersey

Life-long Delmar Golf Course member and Wampum native Stephen Johns was presented with a NHL Dallas Stars jersey on behalf of the members and Delmar Golf Course Board of Directors in recognition of his accomplishments. Stephen is a current member of the NHL Dallas Stars and graduate of the University of Notre Dame. Stephen’s Dallas jersey will be on display at the golf course along with a plaque chronicling his NHL accomplishments. Stephen will be hosting a golf outing July 23rd at Delmar golf course to raise money for Breast Cancer awareness.

July 21, 2016

Midland MA Receives $7.6 Million in State Financing

A major water project to eliminate a costly burden on Midland Borough water customers will receive $7,556,690 in state funding, according to Senator Elder Vogel (R-47). The Municipal Authority of the Borough of Midland was awarded a $4,050,800 grant and a $3,549,200 low-interest loan to construct its own raw water intake system to eliminate the need to purchase it from Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (ATI). “I was pleased to work with my colleague Representative Jim Marshall in support of this financing. The current situation is unmanageable.” “That makes this PENNVEST financing essential for Midland,” Senator Vogel continued. “The Municipal Authority and…

July 20, 2016

Residents, Council Set Up Town Hall to Further Discuss Electric Department

“Many of you are here because you want to have freedom of choice,” borough solicitor Ed Leymarie told a crowd of over 100 visitors at Monday’s council meeting. “But the Pennsylvania government took away that choice.” Leymarie was referring to a state law allowing municipalities with government electric departments to require residents to purchase power from them. Monday’s crowd stemmed from a Facebook group, “Standing Up to Ellwood Electric,” with over 1,000 members. At the agenda meeting on July 11, over 50 residents showed up to protest electric rates and customer service policies at the Ellwood Electric Department. This in…

July 19, 2016

Zoning and Pandering: Council Approves New Zoning Ordinance

Following a length visitor portion concerning the Ellwood Electric Department, the Ellwood City Borough Council proceeded with Monday’s agenda. On that agenda was an amendment to the zoning ordinance dividing the business district into four sections. Council passed the new zoning in a 6-1 vote. At a public hearing on June 27, several business owners and realtors opposed the zoning ordinance. The passed ordinance was created by council over a several year period in conjunction with Town Center Associates, a downtown consulting agency. The vote was not without discussion. Council member Judi Dici, who took office in January, was not…

July 19, 2016

Borough Council July Meeting Brief

The following is a brief summary of the July council meeting brief: Visitors Over 100 visitors attended the meeting seeking a dialogue with borough officials regarding the electric bill. Visitor Rob Brough requested a town hall meeting so the borough can fully explain the Ellwood Electric Department as well as take steps toward solutions regarding customer service and high electric bills. Council President Connie MacDonald set a date of Monday, Aug. 1. This was a continuation of last Monday’s meeting where over 50 residents attended. Awards/Recognitions Council commended the Ellwood City girls softball team for winning their Class AA section,…

July 18, 2016

Council, Residents Divided Over Electric Department

Last Monday’s council meeting highlighted a number of potential issues in the Ellwood City Borough Electric Department, namely customer service concerns and the advantages of private utilities over a municipal-owned utility service. As explained in a previous article, Ellwood City Borough has its own Electric Department, which belongs to a consortium of municipalities called American Municipal Power (AMP). The borough uses a consulting group, Utility Engineers, for its purchasing agreements, and in 2015 entered a five-year contract with an electric provider. The borough purchases electricity at a yearly rate of $.08529 per kilowatt (kWh). In turn, it sells electricity to…