Recent Stories

Police and Fire

June 13, 2017

Missing Woman’s Body Found in Neshannock Township

According to several sources, a body found in Neshannock Township has been identified as a missing Butler County woman. After being reported missing since Thursday of last week, the body of 26-year-old Melissa “Missy” Barto was found along Old Pulaski Road by a farmer, around 7 p.m. Monday night. The body of the young mother had been burnt, and state police officer Lt. Eric Hermick described the scene as “horrific.” Prior to discovering the body, state police arrested Barto’s 21-year-old boyfriend, Ishemer D. Ramsey, on Sunday with charges of committing homicide after pulling him over in Connoquenessing Township. When police pulled…

June 9, 2017

Criminal Mischief Leaves Several Cars Damaged on Park Ave.

The Ellwood City Police Department warns of criminal mischief complaints they have been receiving lately. Over a half dozen residents on Park Avenue have reported damage to their cars during the night of 6/6 into the early morning hours of 6/7. Cars parked along the avenue, including a 2017 Chevy Traverse, 2015 Ford Escape, 2014 Dodge Journey, 2014 Chevy Cruze, and several others parked along the avenue, were scratched/keyed with a sharp object causing a variation of damages on each car. While some cars only had scratches on the passenger side doors, others were scratched from the front, side, and…

June 8, 2017

New Castle Man Accused of Housing Missing 13-Year-Old

According to the criminal complaint, Travis Wade Betker of New Castle will be facing a felony charge of interfering with custody of children, and misdemeanor charges of corruption of minors, obstructing administration of law or other governmental function, and disorderly conduct, following an incident that happened on May 1, 2017. Betker allowed a 13 year-old female to stay at his residence after he had knowledge that she was reported to the police as a missing person. On April 30 around 7:45a.m., officers took a report of a missing/runaway teen who had left the residence during the night. The reporting parent…

May 30, 2017

Mayor Warns of IRS Phone Scam

Mayor Court has received several phone calls from residents about the “IRS” asking for money for back taxes. Once again several residents (especially elderly residents) are being targeted by phone calls stating that they owe the IRS money for back taxes or fees due to them. The caller tells the resident they must return their call or the IRS (SCAMMER) will begin the procedure to prosecute them for money owed. Mayor Court reminds residents that this is a scam that has been popping up throughout many communities targeting the most vulnerable, specifically the elderly, for quite some time and they…

May 23, 2017

Mohawk Senior Dies From Injuries After Bicycle Accident

A senior set to graduate from Mohawk High School next week died yesterday from sustained injuries following an accident, reports state. Jordan Bobin was life flown to UPMC Presbyterian after colliding with an SUV Monday afternoon while traveling on Route 18 in Big Beaver on his bicycle. Investigators believe Bobin was trying to cross the road when he was hit. No more information has been released yet. The crash is still under investigation. Updates to follow.  

May 22, 2017

Ellwood City Man Pleads Guilty in Stepfathers Death

Following an incident that occurred the night of Dec. 7, 2014, suspect Zachary Christopher Jones, 24, of Ellwood City, pleaded guilty Friday to charges of voluntary manslaughter and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault. Jones and his mother Lisa Marie Jones-Orock assaulted Gerald Lee Orock Jr., 57, of Fombell near the loading dock of Loccisano’s supermarket, leading to the mans death. Both mother and son are charged with homicide after being accused of beating Orock with a chunk of wood measuring 32 inches long, 3 1/2 inches wide and 3/4-inch thick from a piece of furniture. Although autopsy showed Orock died…

May 2, 2017

Former Treasurer Prohibited from Attending Ellwood City Arts and Crafts Festival

Suzanne Darlen Bleakney, 50, of Ellwood City, the previous Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food, and Entertainment Festival treasurer accused of theft, has now pleaded guilty Friday to one count of theft. Bleakney was facing charges of theft by unlawful taking and theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received after supposedly stealing upwards of $1650.00 from the festival bank account during her time working as the treasurer. Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge J. Craig Cox sentenced her to 18 months of probation and 20 hours of community service. She is also ordered to repay the $1,650 of misappropriated…

May 1, 2017

PennPower Worker Killed After Fatal Accident

A PennPower worker was killed Sunday in Wayne Township after a fatal accident involving the bucket truck he was in occurred. James George, 54, of New Castle was working on power lines around noon when the bucket truck became unstable and tipped over, causing George to fall nearly 30 feet. George was with two other coworkers during the time of the incident, both of which remain unharmed. First Energy and the Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the incident and what caused the truck to tip over. First Energy issued a statement saying they are deeply saddened by the loss.

April 28, 2017

Lieutenant Speaks About Importance of Drug Take-Back Programs

The Ellwood City Police Department is sponsoring a drug take-back program on Saturday, April 29 at the Ellwood City Municipal Building. Residents may use the opportunity to turn in unused or expired medication for safe disposal, which the Ellwood City Police Lieutenant says is a critical step towards improving the growing amount of drug addictions. “The importance of the program is that it takes away the ability to use prescription drugs from people who may be experimenting with them, especially the opioids,” Lt. Kingston said. The program is part of the DEA and US Attorneys 360 Degree Program, which originally…

April 18, 2017

BREAKING: Cleveland Facebook Killer Commits Suicide in Erie

The manhunt for Steve Stephens has come to a halt according to GoErie.com. “Steve Stephens found dead of self-inflicted gunshot wound in white Ford Fusion on Buffalo Road, Erie police confirmed. State police had been following the car as it was headed west into the city of Erie,” the site states. Stephens shot and killed himself after a brief pursuit, police said. The incident follows a three day long manhunt of Stephens after he targeted and murdered a random elderly man in Cleveland Sunday afternoon and uploaded footage of the killing to Facebook. The full article recap can be read…