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January 11, 2024

ECASD Board of Directors Nominate Candidate to the MIU IV Board; Ewing Park Residents Speak Against Field Usage

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors unanimously nominated new Director Kevin Boariu to the Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV (MIU IV) Board. Director Jean Biehls made the motion to nominate Boariu. The MIU IV Board will now have to accept the ECASD Board’s nomination. According to the MIU IV’s website, “it is one of 29 IU’s serving schools in Pennsylvania. The intermediate unit serves the 27 school districts and three vo-techs in Butler, Lawrence and Mercer Counties. In addition to providing programs and services requested by area school districts, MIU IV also implements programs mandated by the Pennsylvania…

January 11, 2024

Education and Access the Focus of Joint Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Hearing

HARRISBURG – The state Senate and House Agriculture and Rural Affairs committees gathered this week for a hearing at the PA Farm Show to discuss the five-year impact of the 2019 Pennsylvania Farm Bill with the main theme of those conversations being agriculture education and access. The hearing was led by Senate committee leaders, Majority Chair Sen. Elder Vogel, Jr. (R-47) and Democratic Chair Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11), and House committee leaders, Majority Chair Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski (D-121) and Republican Chair Rep. Dan Moul (R-91). “Today’s hearing was incredibly productive as we witnessed the immense impact of the PA…

January 11, 2024

Bernstine To Host “Protecting Our Second Amendment Rights” Seminar Jan. 16

HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Butler/Lawrence) is offering residents of the 8th Legislative District the opportunity to learn more about Pennsylvania’s current gun laws during a “Protecting Our Second Amendment Rights” seminar on Tuesday, Jan. 16. The seminar will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Scott Township Volunteer Fire Company, 3712 Harlansburg Road, New Castle. “This free event has been very popular in the past and I have no doubt it will be well attended this time around,” said Bernstine. “The feedback I receive from attendees, including longtime gunowners, is they learned something new through this seminar.” The event…

January 9, 2024

Congressman Mike Kelly Visits The Borough

Mayor Anthony Court welcomed Congressman Mike Kelly in the borough last Friday. Kelly was in the area and met with the mayor and Sgt. Michael McBride concerning grant funds for police funding. Court and McBride proposed several needs for the department and Congressman Kelly is trying to secure funds through grants. While in Lawrence County, the Congressman followed his visit to Ellwood City with a stop in Wampum to meet with Mayor Jesse Altman and local officials. Congressman Kelly is the U.S. Representative serving the 16th District of Pennsylvania. The counties in the 16th District include Butler County, Crawford County,…

January 5, 2024

Council Reorganizes, Reappoints Borough Manager

Ellwood City Borough Council held its reorganizational meeting on Tuesday January 3. In a unanimous vote, Brad Ovial was chosen as President and Michele Lamenza was chosen as Vice President. Borough Manager Kevin Swogger was reappointed in a 6-0 vote (Lamenza was absent from the meeting), for a two-year employment agreement for $80,000. General election incumbants George Celli and Caleb Cragle were sworn into office as well as new Councilman the Rev. James “Jimmy” Johnson. Jim Barry and Celli were reappointed as council representatives for Ellwood City Revitalization. Barry was also reappointed as the borough representative for the Lawrence County…

December 7, 2023

ECASD Board of Directors Reorganizes, Fills Vacant Seat

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors elected a president, vice president, and also appointed a new board member to a vacant seat. Jennifer Tomon was named president in a unanimous vote by the board. The board was split, however, on the vice president seat between Jean Biehls (supporters: Claire Fauzey, Erica Gray, and newly elected Kevin Boariu) and Kathy Galbreth (supporters: Norman Boots, Kathy Tillia, Jennifer Tomon). Following two roll call votes, the board would not sway on their choices. Finally the tie was broken once Robyn Nicklas was appointed to fill the vacant seat left after…

November 22, 2023

Ellwood City Borough Council Approves Police Use of PepperBall Guns; Provides Update on Wampum Avenue Pump Station Project

During Monday night’s voting meeting, Borough Council approved a change order #1 from Pollard Land Services, Inc. in the amount of $98,000 for the purpose of milling and overlaying the full width of Wampum Avenue from Fifth Street to Madison Avenue Ext. and from Madison Ave. Ext. to the entrance of the access road. The approved change order is in conjunction with the Wampum Avenue Pump Project, a sewer upgrade for multiple existing sewer transport lines in the wooded area East of Wampum Ave. and construction of a pump station to collect from these lines to be transported to the Ellwood…

November 9, 2023

HHSDR Engineers, Architects Discuss Timeline for Proposed Softball Field, Cost of Concession Stand

HHSDR engineers and architects offered information about the proposed softball field in Ewing Park during Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors committee meeting Monday night as residents continued to express opposition to the location. During a presentation regarding construction updates, Superintendent Wesley Shipley asked HHSDR representatives to discuss the proposed field’s timeline and details regarding the proposed $500,000 concession stand that is part of the project. HHSDR reps said the project would take a year from start to completion. The proposed timeline includes a bidding process which would begin in April of 2024 and continue through June 5…

November 8, 2023

Nov 7 General Election Results

Unofficial results from yesterday’s (Nov 7, 2023) General Election have been posted. Lawrence County According Lawrence County’s website, there were 21,795 ballots cast in Lawrence County. Of those, 5,022 were mail in votes. The total voter turnout was 39.30%. Click here for full unofficial results. Ellwood City Borough Council welcomes back two incumbents and one newcomer (vote total next to candidate): Caleb Cragle (Dem) 954 (with an additional 68 votes in the one Beaver County precinct) George J Celli (Rep) 787 (with an additional 49 votes in the one Beaver County precinct) Jimmy Johnson (Dem) 649 (with an additional 49 votes…

November 8, 2023

ECASD Board of Directors to Consider Construction Proposal for Lincoln High School

Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors are set to vote to approve bid advertisements as presented by HHSDR Architects for renovations to Lincoln High School during Thursday Night’s Regular Board meeting. HHSDR representatives attended the ECASD Board of Directors Committee meeting Monday to present a timetable and probable costs of the renovations. The high school was built in 1926, with additions added in 1961. It was renovated in 1982 and again in 1998. The building consists of 213,370 square feet. HHSDR reported that the project would begin in February of 2024 and would take approximately 2.5 years to…