SALEM — Elected officials from the local state and federal level and Republican party leaders came together at the Timberlanes Complex in Salem Friday night for the annual Lincoln Day Dinner “What I say to every company that comes in to see me is if you want do business in Ohio build and be additive to our communities we’re going to welcome you with open arms But if you’re coming into Ohio to break apart out companies destroy our industries and pillage our communities you will not only not be welcome here –we will chase you out of here like a dog,” said U.S Columbiana County Republican Party Chairman Dave Johnson welcomed the attendees joking that the annual dinner was a Republican town hall in reference to a group of protestors outside the venue calling for U.S Johnson described the annual dinner as an opportunity for the party to celebrate all the elected officials donors and volunteers that make up the Republican Party He introduced all the officials and volunteers in attendance Johnson also championed the renewal of the 1% county sales tax on the ballot for Tuesday’s primary election noting that 70% of the county’s budget went directly to funding the sheriff’s office which would face budget cuts if voters chose not to renew the tax “The only person who benefits from that are the criminals,” said Johnson The event featured remarks from both Rulli Rulli also championed the work and dedication of Moreno who he served with during their tenures as Ohio state representatives calling him “one of the best senators this country has ever produced.” Moreno asked attendees to consider “what really happened on November 5” when President Donald Trump was elected calling it “a revolution of common sense.” “We have gone past the point of Republican Issues or Democrat issues to what is just common sense Does it make sense to raise government spending from $4.5 trillion dollars which is what the budget was the last year of President Trump to $7.3 trillion which was the last year of Joe Biden’s [presidency] think about that number,” said Rulli Rulli attributed the “inflation at generationally high levels” experienced in recent years to that increased spending He also suggested that energy production and its link to climate change were another “common sense issue.” “You can be a tree hugger and say climate change is an existential threat Is it better to produce energy here in America What’s better for the planet?” asked Moreno imagine these lunatics wanting to shut down our energy production and have it all happen in China You’re going to see dramatically worse results for the planet; that’s not anything other than common sense.” Moreno urged those in attendance to go out and speak with people they usually would not noting that many people are simply uninformed “Your homework tonight is to go out and talk to some of the people; now not the people across the street protesting [representative] Rulli … you’ve got to go out and talk to people you otherwise wouldn’t talk to and I know that social media makes us want to be angry but part of it is they just don’t have the data,” said Rulli “I find if you give them the information they crumble like that they’re watching MSNBC; heaven forbid they’re reading the Cleveland Plain Dealer You’ve got to go to them and approach them from that angle.” Moreno said that what “has really separated America from any other country on earth” was the existence of a “thriving growing and prosperous middle class,” noting that rich and poor alike exist in countries the world over He said that it was that middle class which built the country “into a powerhouse unlike anything ever seen in world history.” He also suggested that the growth of China’s economy came at the expense of the American middle class Defending Trump’s economic policy and tariffs the United States government signed the U.S which set the stage for China to have most-favored nation trading status with the United States and allowed them to enter the World Trade Organization At that point in time China’s [gross domestic product] was 1.2 trillion dollars per year Next year they’ll hit $20 trillion dollars — $1 trillion to $20 trillion in 25 years who paid the price?” asked Rulli “I don’t have to ask all of you If you’re in Richmond County you know who paid the price If drive through Mahoning County you know who paid the price If you’re in Trumbull County you know who paid the price.” Moreno concluded by saying that the thing which drives him in his daily work is the story a Rich Olson a 59-year-old man who worked at the Mead Paper Factory in Chillicothe and shut down by a Miami based private equity company “He spent his entire career working where his dad and his grandfather worked could go on vacation and was looking forward to retiring in a couple years knowing he had lived a good life,” said Rulli he was at home on a rare day off and gets a text message from a friend of his that they’re shutting the place down immediately No future for him or the 863 other people that work in his community.” He said that the job of elected officials is to make “have the back” of people like Rich Olson He said that rather than following “apparatus that [officials] normally rely on” to focus on job retraining programs and expand employment benefits in the area he approached the company directly with an ultimatum “I said to this private equity company you have two choices Option one you give me time to find you a buyer for this factory which means you agree to keep this thing going until the end of the year and someone will come in and operate this business for another 200 years I will use every tool of the federal government to chase you and your family for generations and as a result we’re going to find a buyer for that facility.” the Heritage Ohio’s Building Doctor is returning to Salem PERRY TOWNSHIP — The board of trustees discussed repairs to the township’s salt building in its meeting .. Copyright © 2025 Ogden News Publishing of Ohio Inc.: | https://www.salemnews.net | 161 North Lincoln The Columbiana High School Prom was held April 25 The theme was “A Night at the Bayou” and featured shades of green Grand March was held at the high school prior to the event where the prom court was announced and crowned Princess Ava Heinrich and Prince Craig Witherow WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Friday to clear the way for Elon Musk ’s .. The American Cancer Society’s annual Relay For Life will take place May 10 in Warren and will feature teams and .. | https://www.morningjournalnews.com | 308 Maple Street Shown are items recovered in a search warrant execution at 709 Sophia St. including 22 grams of suspected crack cocaine and 15 grams of suspected meth resulting in five people being charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass and drug charges pending lab results (Photo courtesy the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office Facebook) EAST LIVERPOOL – Drug charges are pending against five people found inside a Sophia Street home during the execution of a search warrant by the Columbiana County Drug Task Force Thursday were all charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass after the task force assisted by the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office executed the search warrant at 709 Sophia St. A search of the home uncovered approximately 22 grams of suspected crack cocaine and 15 grams of suspected meth Agents also located packaging material and paraphernalia consistent with drug trafficking All five suspects found in the home were charged with criminal trespass due to the residence being condemned after a previous drug task force search warrant there Additional charges are pending lab results The task force was assisted in the search warrant execution by units from East Liverpool Police Department Liverpool Township Police Department and a K-9 unit from St The Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office Columbiana County Prosecutor’s Office and the Lisbon East Liverpool and Columbiana police departments assisted in the investigation LISBON — Columbiana County Sheriff Brian McLaughlin recently reflected on his first term in office LISBON — A Youngstown man convicted for soliciting sexual conduct from an undercover agent in 2022 has been .. Patrick Morrisey says he wants West Virginia’s voting laws to be as simple as possible | https://www.reviewonline.com | 210 East Fourth St. Columbiana County 911 is at risk of losing almost 30% of its state funding The 911 system gets funding from the state from a wireless fee For every wireless phone in the county they get .40 cents That fee is set to drop to .25 cents in October “It would be very strenuous and almost impossible to function in the manner that were accustomed too,” Roy Paparodis Columbiana County Commissioner and Chairman of the 911 Program Review Committee said.  With the way the current state budget is worded the county would continue losing 5% of its funding every year for the next five years The state money goes towards the networks and softwares for the five Public Safety Answering Point’s or PSAP’s in the county East Palestine and East Liverpool and are where dispatchers answer calls coming into 911 and rely emergency information to first responders If the funding decreases the county might not be able to cover costs “A lot of it may fall back on those jurisdictions that have the 911 centers themselves,” Brian Rutledge the Columbiana County 911 Coordinator said.  Funding questions come while the county is trying to combine all PSAP’s under one roof Legislation has been proposed to stop the decrease and actually increase the fees to .60 cents or higher “It would definitely help,” Rutledge said ”Over the last five years as we’ve talked about consolidation the big deciding factor has been funding.” Rutledge explained that a fee higher than .60 cents would be more ideal Paparodis would like to see a fee closer to $1.25.  The wireless fees will be finalized in the state budget.  Columbiana High School senior Summer Sinsley is one of the 3 percent worldwide applicants to be accepted to attend Harvard University an open enrollment student from Perry Township COLUMBIANA — Summer Sinsley has been a Clipper the majority of her school life — and she credits that school family for helping her achieve her collegiate goal daughter of Russ Sinsley and Candace Stith of Perry Township is one of Ohio’s open enrollment success stories She has been accepted to attend Harvard University among only 3 percent of applicants accepted worldwide A formal announcement was held Thursday at the high school “I have had countless late nights of studying activities and applications to get me to this spot,” Summer explained “Yet nothing can prepare you for the surge of excitement and disbelief that follows a ‘Congratulations’ on the top of your Harvard decision letter.” Donald Mook admitted that it is difficult to articulate the enormity of this accomplishment Summer Sinsley stands outside Harvard University where she is to attend in fall to study astrophysics and mathematics Sinsley is an open enrollment student at Columbiana and daughter of Russ Sinsley and Candace Stith of Perry Township “Summer has been a beloved and esteemed part of the Clipper family and we know (that) she will continue to represent her family and the community well in the next chapter of her academic career,” he added Summer also participated in the high school theater program all four years serving as stage manager the last three years and a student director her junior and senior years She acknowledged that her participation in music did improve her academic follow-through Sinsley participated on the high school speech and debate all four years serving as captain during her junior and senior years as well as Academic Challenge with the team qualifying for nationals Summer Sinsley had a varying experience while attending Columbiana High School she participated with the high school theater program serving as a stage manager since her sophomore year and a student director in her junior and senior year Sinsley has been notified by Harvard University that she was accepted to attend college there Other extracurriculars include the K8LPS Radio and Interact clubs as well as National Honor Society and serving as a peer tutor during her junior year in chemistry She has completed Advanced Placement (AP) classes in English government and calculus plus Kent State University College Credit Plus classes; however she won’t receive credit for coursework at Harvard Her interest in astrophysics began in sixth-grade when Summer completed a gifted project that examined worm holes and time travel “I checked out a lot of books from the library,” adding that she is more interested in theoretical research than going to space herself Summer has received the Harvard Faculty Scholarship “We know that she will achieve great success and we are excited for her opportunity at Harvard.” Coyote Run Ranch owners Kristin and Nick George pose for a quick photo at a recent Bison Association event The couple won 2025 Rookie of the Year for not only introducing their surrounding area to the benefits of eating bison meat but also for promotion of regenerative ranching practices COLUMBIANA — Did you know that bison Columbiana residents Nick and Kristin George began raising bison on their 130-acre Coyote Run Ranch in 2022 and selling the meat the following year after finding a reputable Dalton-based butcher to handle processing their bison Nick George explained that they are dedicated to responsibly and ethically raising bison with a focus on maintaining quality genetics while committing to repopulating bison in North America Nick was into rodeo and pondering getting into raising cattle the couple became fascinated with them as a niche-option for the area All their meat is United States Department of Agricuture certified can breed and calf for up to 30 years if they have good bloodlines and proper care Currently their herd includes 65 bison and they are expecting 18 babies due in May Currently the Georges possess 65 bison and are expecting 18 babies Inventory items include their ground bison bison patties –which is overwhelmingly the most popular item Did you also know that bison meat not only has 26 percent more iron than beef but is 32 percent more lean than chicken according to the National Bison Association Kristin George says it is extremely lean but tastes similar to beef with a slightly sweet undertone Bison meat also not only has 26 percent more iron than beef but is 32 percent more lean than chicken which is what may have earned the National Mammal moniker One hundred percent of bison in the United States marketplace comes from North American soil where the majority (85 percent) of grass-fed beef is imported from outside North America The Georges raise their own hay for their animals; however Birdfish Brewing in Columbiana does dispose of their “spent grain” from the brewing process with operations like Coyote Run where the bison enjoy ingesting it with no ill effects In addition to their storefront at 44779 state Route 14 in Columbiana Coyote Run also sets up to vend at the North Union and Geauga Fresh Farmers’ markets in Chagrin Falls as well as sell bison meat at retailers like Sunshine Golden Acres in Warren the couple’s efforts were honored at the Eastern Bison Association awards The ranch also can be found under at coyoterunranch on Facebook and Instagram Columbiana High School's Creative Entrepreneurship Class showed off it's latest project Thursday The "Garden of Eatin" is an inclusive community space offering art and atmosphere for small business growth on Main Street The space is anchored by a floral mural in Downtown Columbiana.Students presented the project before city officials Thursday morning so they can get a better idea of the impact of the garden Repair crews from utility companies continue working Thursday afternoon to restore power to 351 homes and businesses in southern Columbiana County While FirstEnergy has only four outages reported AEP and the Carroll Electric Cooperative continue to work on scattered outages Customers of those companies have been without power since Tuesday night’s severe storms rolled through the region AEP expects to have power restored by midnight Thursday Download the WFMJ app for your Apple or Android smartphone or tablet to get our push alerts as news happens WKBN.com a daughter of the late George and Elizabeth Brelih Bortner Nancy was a graduate of Canfield High School received her bachelor’s degree from Kent State University and earned her Master’s Degree in Education from Youngstown State University Nancy worked as a teacher for the Columbiana Exempted Village Schools where she retired after 30 years.  Nancy was currently a member of Greenford Christian Church and was a past member of the First Presbyterian Church where she had served as an Elder and taught Sunday School with her husband for many years.  She enjoyed socializing with her “Retired Teachers” group spending time outside watching the birds and relaxing on her raft in the swimming pool. Mostly she enjoyed spending time with her family. She was an amazing wife nana and grammy in the grey house. She loved playing cards and board games and especially loved reading to her grandchildren. Nancy always hosted the family gatherings where the family had the pleasure of enjoying her homemade meals and made-from-scratch desserts. She will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.  Nancy is survived by her husband of 51 years Jennifer (Brian) Newman of Jefferson Hills Pennsylvania and Kimberlee (David) Shirley of Louisville Elliot Shirley and Elizabeth Shirley; a great-grandchild The family will receive friends on Thursday Burial will take place at Columbiana Cemetery Memorial donations may be made in Nancy’s memory to the Outdoor Learning Center at Joshua Dixon Elementary School which will be located right outside the classroom where Nancy taught for many years Please make checks payable to: Memorial of Nancy Evans Family and friends may send condolences at www.familycareservices.com Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Falling tree limbs in Birmingham kills one person The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is investigating a two vehicle crash that occurred Tuesday The incident occurred at approximately 3:24 p.m less than a mile northeast of Childersburg in Shelby County was critically injured when the 2015 Nissan Altima Walton was transported to Coosa Valley Medical Center in Sylacauga where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased sustained injuries and was taken to the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) Hospital for medical treatment Kelley was injured as well and was transported to the same hospital for care Monica Robb Blasdel (R-Columbiana) will address Kent State Columbiana County graduates as the keynote speaker at commencement ceremonies on May 9 at Beaver Local High School Diplomas will be presented to graduates from the summer 2024 fall 2024 and spring 2025 semesters on the Kent State East Liverpool and Salem campuses Blasdel is serving her second term in the Ohio House of Representatives which encompasses the majority of Columbiana County and all of Carroll County Blasdel is the vice chair of the Natural Resources Committee for the 136th General Assembly She has a broad background of work experience in the private and public sectors She started her career working for her family’s small business and spent several years after that working in marketing and sales before joining the Ohio lieutenant governor’s team in 2010 as well as regulatory reform and broadband expansion projects Blasdel has a passion for public service and is dedicated to her She graduated from Crestview High School and received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Akron She is currently a member of the Ohio Farm Bureau; an associate member of the Columbiana County Township Association; a member of the Mahoning Valley Republican Women’s Club; and a member of the Columbiana County Republican Party Central Committee She also previously served as Republican State Central Committeewoman in Ohio’s 33rd District Blasdel is a lifelong resident of Columbiana County reside in Columbiana with their two daughters EAST PALESTINE — While a motion to reduce or eliminate an $850,000 appeal bond is still being reconsidered in the .. LISBON — A man accused of injuring a juvenile during a shooting in Wellsville on April 27 had his case bound over .. LISBON — A former Leetonia school bus driver fired in February is now facing a criminal charge for voyeurism for .. who’s charged with aggravated murder and other charges in the 2024 death of Robert E Jonathan Geiss (Heartland Christian) 5:45.19 Lucas McDowell (Heartland Christian) 34-2.50 Conrad Bender (Heartland Christian) 15-9.25 Teneille Diaz-Wilson (Beaver Local) 7:15.70 EAST PALESTINE — This is East Liverpool’s best shot at unseating Salem as the Columbiana County boys track .. West Branch and Beaver Local’s softball teams were rewarded with high seeding positions after the .. is accepted to into Harvard University in the Fall of 2025 She's among 3% of students accepted to the Ivy League school worldwide Sinsley said getting accepted took a lot of hard work "It definitely feels surreal and you're really only limited by yourself," Sinsley said you can go do that and whatever you want to be It just takes a lot of hard work and a lot of great people in your community such as my great educators that I had the experience of being taught by my supportive parents and friends and family who surround me." Sinsley received the Harvard Faculty Scholarship and will major in astrophysics or mathematics with the ultimate goal of working in applied research fields HANOVERTON — Two of the softball powers in the Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference clashed head on here Tuesday when United hosted Columbiana in a key conference showdown The two teams provided fans with plenty of offensive fireworks as they combined for 24 hits in the game but it was the visiting Clippers who had the best of it in the offensive slugfest as they posted a 16-6 win over the Golden Eagles which hasn’t lost a league game since 2021 and is seeking a fifth straight EOAC crown improved to 11-5 overall and remained perfect in the league at 7-0 Columbiana head coach Daryl Kurtz knew his team cleared a hurdle by defeating United but he knows there are still challenges ahead The two teams will meet again on May 1 at Columbiana “We shared the conference championship with Lisbon (in 2021) and this would be four outright (EOAC titles) and we have Leetonia tomorrow and Southern twice Wellsville and United at home and I know the girls are excited for all those (EOAC) games,” said Kurtz “We know what they (the Clippers) have they’re a great hitting team and they’ve absolutely dominated the conference for the last four years,” said United head coach Jen Koons “They’re a strong team with a lot of really good seniors.” Columbiana pounded out 14 hits in the game They had six different players with hits in the contest The Clippers’ top hitters included senior standout Caitlynn Pleska (two singles Addison Brode (three singles and three RBI) Maryn Hepler (double) and Kyla Hogan (two RBI on sacrifice outs) “The team was on fire today,” said Columbiana’s Pleska I have not (lost an EOAC game in four years) Our senior class would be the first in Columbiana history to be undefeated in the EOAC all four years We really have to focus on these next few EOAC games.” “Caitlynn Pleska is going to end up with every record in our school’s history,” praised Kurtz “I think she has eight (home runs this year) now She’s going (to play college softball) at Arcadia a Division III school in a suburb outside of Philadelphia she’s a 4.0 in the classroom and she does everything right.” Pacing United’s 10-hit attack were Chloe Angelo (single and a three-run home run) Callie Koons and Grace Coffee all with singles “We knew what we were up against and I’m really proud of my girls they came out swinging and made it a very competitive game,” said Jen Koons “One bad inning kind of turned it on its head but overall I can’t complain with how we battled.” Columbiana freshman Addison Brode was the winning pitcher United’s Payten Kekel absorbed the setback and struck out five while walking four Kurtz said the team set its goals high at the beginning of the season “That was a goal we set out at the beginning of the year and we talked about it and we could be the first team in conference history to go for four years and never lose a conference game,” said Kurtz our first goal is always winning the EOAC and we’re on track for that again we have United again and we have to beat them and we just have to keep our focus,” she said we want to go as far as we can in the playoffs We’re also in the OVAC this year and we’re trying to get in the top four in placing Beating United today actually got us a few points to push our (OVAC) rankings up higher.” jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning stretched it to as much as 16-3 after Perkins sent a three-run home run over the center field fence in the top of the seventh “Really tonight I wish I had 12 (game awards) to give out because one-through-nine as well as the girls coming off the bench all contributed and that’s what it’s all about,” said Kurtz “We’re really happy with the way we’re playing right now.” United never gave up and rallied with three runs of its own when Chloe Angelo powered a home run over the left field fence in the bottom of the seventh inning to close the final deficit to 10 runs “I’m just really proud of my girls with the way they handled themselves,” said the United coach “It’s hard to keep fighting when you get down like that but they kept fighting and I’m proud of the way they competed and we’re ready to see Columbiana again May 1st.” “We knew United was going to be a tough team and hats off to them “That’s what we’re looking for we’re looking for good competition.” while Columbiana will host Leetonia today in EOAC action CLEVELAND — José Ramírez hit a three-run homer and Kyle Manzardo went deep on the next pitch in the third .. BOSTON — A rider dressed as Paul Revere eased his horse up to the Boston Marathon finish line and proclaimed AUSTINTOWN — The 110th annual Mahoning County Track and Field Meet was contested in one division and featured a .. Three people were arrested Thursday after the Columbiana County Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at 627 Minerva St (PHOTO/Columbiana County Sheriff's Office) Ohio — Three people were arrested Thursday after the Columbiana County Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at 627 Minerva St Agents were assisted by the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office and officers from East Liverpool and Thompson were arrested on scene with additional charges pending BCI lab results RELATED:Columbiana County faces critical funding crisis as tax renewal vote looms A search of the residence located 117 grams of suspected methamphetamine Agents also found paraphernalia and packaging material consistent with bulk drug trafficking Jacob “Kip” Grimm and wife Logan Grimm pose in front of their food truck which was parked outside at Birdfish Brewery in Columbiana where they sell Tex-Mex style street food twice a month The business is in the process of building a larger taco truck and this vehicle will be converted to cater to baked potato fans in the fall as Kip’s is gaining a sister truck just in time for fall According to owner Jacob “Kip” Grimm which currently sells Tex-Mex street food favorites will be converted for fans of baked potatoes after the new bigger taco truck is complete Kip’s Tacos has become a familiar sight at breweries gas stations and private corporate events across the tri-county area wife Logan and their two children make Columbiana home With almost one year of business under their collective belt the Grimms are building a larger truck for their growing taco business from a cargo trailer Their plans include converting the much smaller taco truck to Kip’s Taters “I had started building (the current taco truck) in 2023 After cooking for a decade for Primanti Brothers while in college Grimm became a corporate trainer with the restaurant company before he decided to go into business for himself after expanding his attention to the worlds of barbecue and Tex-Mex cuisine “I wanted to do my own thing,” he continued have specials and put my own twist on Tex-Mex favorites  quesadillas and nachos with Grimm’s unique twist on the popular dishes This includes Grimm making all his salsas and sauces from scratch The only thing he admits that he doesn’t make are the tortillas and taco shells Fresh vegetables also are Kip’s hallmark Kip’s also is a frequent visitor as a pop-up at Columbiana’s Garden of Eatin where it is next expected to be from 2 to 7 p.m For information regarding Grimm or his food trucks call 724-866-0145 or email kipstacos@gmail.com One of the new areas added to the library courtesy of the addition is the Knotts Senior Room which includes a lounge with various sitting areas said that the 4,200-square-foot addition cost more than $1 million and was made possible through responsible spending over the years by past and present board members In addition to a large children’s programming room with floor to ceiling windows to let the sunshine in visitors also were able to see the finished Knotts Senior (Citizens) Room; a study area that included a central lounge plus six study rooms four for two people and two for six people; a restroom area in the children’s department suitable for the library’s littles and their mothers; and a maker space with all sorts of 3D and sublimation printers as well as AccuCuts for both fabric and paper attached to the current computer lab It has been a dozen years since the last major expansion of the library which included adding the Salchow Room and expanding the children’s department According to the library board of trustees the expansion was needed due to the facility’s 42 percent increase in visitors when the city of Columbiana’s population was 5,603 it has increased 17 percent to 6,559 as of 2022 the city has continued to grow with 179 new residential buildings constructed since 2020 Last year’s monthly average visitor stats for the library have grown to 8,473 which is an 116 percent increase since 2020 and that is reflected in the registration for new library cards The library now can provide the additional community and study rooms which have been in high demand over the past several years call 330-483-5509 or visit http://www.columbiana.lib.oh.us An outside look at the new addition for Columbiana Public Library children’s programming room and maker area A children’s programming room with plenty of sunlight now greets visitors in a recent addition to the Columbiana Public Library which leads to six different private study rooms for groups of two and six people was courtesy of the Columbiana Public Library’s addition EAST PALESTINE — The East Palestine City School District snagged over a million dollars of $8.5 million in grant .. The WLC club met on April 29 at the Living Well Church with leader Mary Jarvis opening the meeting with roll call .. Columbiana Police Chief William Myers will retire on April 4 after more than three decades in law enforcement COLUMBIANA — After more than three decades in law enforcement the city’s police chief is hanging up his holster The city hired William Myers as police chief in 2021 to replace Tim Gladis admitted taking over the department amid a pandemic was challenging city officials interviewed potential chief candidates Thursday and Friday with plans to hopefully name a new police chief on April 1 The police chief selection committee is made up of Willard council president “Skip” Liston the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police had accessed the potential candidates which does include some internal applicants within the department City officials received a final report containing a breakdown of the candidates’ scores the department employs 17 full-time officers 12 having been hired by Myers since he took over command explaining that they generally need little oversight and adding that of all the vehicles stopped for traffic offenses within city limits that they only have a 30 percent citation rate He also oversees the city’s dispatch which operates one of Columbiana County’s PSAPs (Public Safety Answering Point) dispatching calls for both Columbiana and Leetonia’s public safety forces Myers is perhaps most proud of this efforts to modernize Columbiana’s police force whether hiring female officers in a heavily male profession or the technological advances under his leadership Columbiana currently employees three female officers which he speculated might be the most in Columbiana County Among his equipment acquisitions have been an electronic fingerprint machine Myers also increased the fleet to include 12 cruisers including two K-9 take home cars; improved to a digital radio system; and is in the process of adding a mobile command unit trailer for area use that they took delivery of last month The oldest cruiser in the fleet is only four years old The interaction with Columbiana residents ranks high up there I’ve met some interesting people and made some good friends along the way,” Myers said In addition to previously working as a part-time patrolman for the city and Leetonia police Myers worked as a welfare fraud investigator for the Columbiana County Job and Family Services for 20 years COLUMBIANA — Will 2025 bring more movement toward a city hall for Columbiana council members directed city manager Lance Willard to take the next step signing a purchase agreement for the city’s future The decision came a month after the city had submitted a letter of intent to the Cochran Auto Group as well as their interest in some adjacent parcels location is currently the home of the Columbiana Chevrolet Cadillac dealership the city of Columbiana has offered a purchase price of $2.3 million for the 11,688 building and its 30 parcels of land in the area of Railroad “While we do have a place holder for the price of $2.3 million for the entire package as shown in the exhibit that could change depending on the circumstances as they develop,” Willard said adding no further details on how the purchase may be funded The bulk of city operations are currently housed at municipal city hall when the municipal building was constructed Still a village in 1979 when city hall had been remodeled Columbiana began a city a year later with a 5,659 population estimates predict that number is now closer to 6,817 the closing is to be completed by March 31 There is an “out” clause in the document in case the city finds not details previously in documentation The agreement also details that Cochran will be responsible for the cost and remediation of two underground fuel tanks The agreement reads: “Seller shall be responsible for obtaining on or before the date that is three years after the closing obtain and deliver a ‘no further action letter’ from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency relation to the closure of two gasoline underground storage tank systems and remediation of residual contamination currently being undertaken pursuant to the Ohio Bureau of Underground Storage Tank regulations.” Willard also explained that there is a “lease-back” clause which allows Cochran Auto Group to lease a portion of the property back for up to 36 months if so desired at a cost of $100,000 every six months who co-owns Haystack Farms with his mother Mary works a vegetable field during a past growing season has been a full-time family produce farm for more than a decade said Haystack is introducing a Community Supported Agriculture program where consumers buy shares of their products in advance and receive regular shipments of the resulting products you are enabling your local farmer to stock up on seeds for the season fix equipment from the previous years and prepare the fields for a new harvest,” he explained Haystack curates its CSA to include what is fresh and bountiful during a particular week –so the farm cannot guarantee specific produce in a given weekly But there is a weekly add-on program that is limited to members as well Haystack Farms furnished the produce shown in the cornucopia display at the 2024 Canfield Fair “We work to maximize the diversity of our products But just as members share in the risk of crop failure they also will enjoy the benefits of crop surplus finding those items will located in a CSA-only area at a reduced cost for members on pickup days.” there are two membership levels for their CSA program: biweekly and weekly members receive five-to-seven items per week a CSA member may receive one quart of peppers one pint of strawberries and one quart of pickles during one week pests and other events that impact production Some of the expected produce at Haystack ranges from more standard fruits and vegetables Sometimes weekly boxes may include unfamiliar ingredients like kohlrabi (think a cross between a turnip and cabbage) or a romanesco (looks more like cauliflower but tastes like broccoli) there will be an accompanying recipe provided Some of the produce available for farmer’s market shoppers during a past season Add-ons also can take the form of bulk produce (like a sack of potatoes) sauces or spice blends or even with one of the area purveyor partners that carries goat milk soaps or lotions Haystack was able to provide more than one ton of beets from its field Joining its multiple varieties in 2025 is the Behold the Badger Flame beet which provides “all the vegetal sweetness of the beet home delivery within a specified area is available for an additional fee Members receive emails on Monday of available produce and add-ons and need to get back to claim theirs by Wednesday Haystack Farms wins Best In Show for its 15-plus items farm display at the 2024 Columbiana County Fair Haystack Farms sold most of its produce either to area farmers’ markets in Lisbon North Canton or Cortland as well as to local restaurants The CSA advances the goal of getting higher quality produce to customers For more information about Haystack Farm or its CSA program At the rear of the Columbiana Corridor on South Main Street is the new McKim’s Winery at 20 1/2 S which is a DORA (Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area) for the city glasses or even bottles of wine to enjoy the fresh air and ambiance legally COLUMBIANA – The McKim’s Winery has moved the bulk of its retail operations from ground zero of the East Palestine train derailment to downtown Columbiana who owns the operation with her husband Mike they have been pleased with their welcome by the city of Columbiana so far “Columbiana has been a breath of fresh air,” said McKim who was complementary of their approach to economic development and business friendliness McKim said city officials are allowing McKim’s to use their DORA (Downtown Outdoor Refresment Areas) which runs between PNC Bank and Birdfish Brewing on East Park Avenue for customers who choose to enjoy the wines outside This allows them to do so legally and not draw a potential open container if they stay within the selected area which is one of the most sought after DORA locations literally is at the McKim Winery’s front door Funded by grants and local business donations Allie and Tommy) are enrolled in Columbiana Exempted School District through open enrollment The wines available for sale are made in small batches within the confines of their Columbiana location along with local Hilltop raw honey and chocolates from Rosalind in Beaver County The shop is located in the former Joe’s Barber Shop at 20 1/2 S “We make 50 varieties and will have 20 in stock for our grand opening,” Ashley McKim said adding the first day that the Columbiana location opens will be Tuesday where their business was at Ground Zero during the Norfolk Southern train derailment they hope the change of scenery around 15 miles north will have a significant impact on their business “(So far) Columbiana has been a breath of fresh air,” McKim added While the McKims currently use their East Palestine location at 735 Taggart St they have moved all their retail operations to the Columbiana location With a variety of different wines available via either a flight which allows a customer to taste several variety of wines at a sitting; a glass or a bottle McKim Winery’s inventory includes varieties like Blushing Dragon “We make sangrias per order on Fridays and Saturdays I would describe our wines as natural fruit blends varying from tastes of dry and sweet,” McKim remarked adding that they also produce wines sweetened with local raw honey “We will have some varieties available in about six months.” McKim’s Winery uses juice from all over the world Different regions and their soils bring out a variety of natural flavors in the wine,” added McKim While customers of all ages are welcome to shop he honey and chocolate the State of Ohio requires that only customers 21 and older purchase the wine they encourage customers to enjoy that of the city’s many restaurants especially those nearby like Paul’s Italian Grille call 330-398-7662 or email mckimshoneyvine@aol.com This wall showcases the works of local artist Gene Brown who visits Salvaged With Grace every Saturday to do portraits The artwork on the wall within the downtown Columbiana shop includes portraits of many familiar Hollywood faces and also a tribute to horse racing Herself an accomplished flipper and businesswoman from Mahoning County Lisa Gray was one of the first calls that Steve and Irene Evans made when they decided to take a step back last year from owning the then-Park Avenue Marketplace who herself has had booths in many upscale vintage establishments acquired the store in January from the Evans A testament to Gray is that they and two of the store’s original owners continue to have vending space in Salvaged With Grace selling vintage and made market items.” Throughout the store’s booths are collectible coins; clothing items like T-shirts; candles; hats; skin care items like goat milk soaps and lotions; and jewelry This vintage four-chair dining room set is available for purchase at Salvaged With Grace in downtown Columbiana Gray even showed off a wall of familiar faces by artist Gene Brown who comes to the store on Saturday to setup and paint portraits shoppers also can choose from a variety of different styles of furniture including an antique doctor’s table in one booth a four-chair dining room set in another or curios for sale scattered throughout the store Gray prides herself on stocking something for everyone showing a large booth of toys in on area with possibly the largest Pokemon selection ranging from linens converted to fabric flowers or even safety deposit boxes that were made into desktop savings banks can be found throughout Salvaged With Grace While Gray reveals that she doesn’t necessarily have a green thumb This vendor converted an old deposit box into a bank as part of this Salvaged With Grace item which will have a ribbon-cutting at 10 a.m Beautifully arranged live plants are prevalent throughout the store She couldn’t be more enthusiastic or complimentary of her Columbiana business experience overall The Columbiana Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a ribbon cutting for Salvaged With Grace’s ribbon cutting at 10 a.m The first 50 customers through the door will receive a swag bag Everyone through the door will be entered for the store’s hourly door prize drawings Salvaged With Grace is located at 14 East Park Ave in Columbiana near the city’s traffic circle call 330-892-0188 or visit them online at their Facebook page This vintage wooden doctor’s table is one of the furniture items available for purchase at Salvaged With Grace The store is hosting a ribbon cutting Saturday morning Large vintage cabinets like this one attract a lot of attention in Salvaged With Grace in this booth of Tom Wells Salvaged With Grace officially will be renamed at 10 a.m maintain a booth in the newly renamed store Salvaged With Grace Salvaged With Grace officially will be renamed at 10 a.m Among Salvaged With Grace’s inventory within its 8,000-square-foot building is something for everyone This booth contains a large selection of toys for some of the shop’s littlest patrons as well as collectors has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for his role in the Columbiana Centre Mall mass shooting which occurred on April 16 in the busy Harbison area of Lexington County Price was convicted by a Lexington County jury of two counts of Attempted Murder and nine counts of Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature after nine civilian bystanders were injured by gunfire while shopping at the Columbiana Mall on Easter weekend in 2022 Also convicted in this case was Amari Smith who pled guilty in October to Attempted Murder and nine counts of Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature was convicted by a Lexington County jury after a separate trial in November of 2024 of nine counts of Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature for his role in the Columbiana Mall mass shooting Both Smith and Robinson are awaiting sentencing by Judge Walton J the Court heard from numerous victims who were injured by gunfire at the mall including a 73-year-old female victim who sustained life-altering injuries and a 16-year-old teenager who was shot in the back while she was shopping READ MORE | Three indicted in 2022 Columbiana Centre mass shooting Price arrived at the mall with his girlfriend and was illegally carrying a concealed firearm in his pants Video surveillance showed Price entering through a main entrance marked with signs prohibiting concealed weapons inside the mall both men were carrying concealed weapons in their waistbands Smith and Robinson had a pre-existing dispute with Jewayne Price as a result of the 2018 shooting death of Amon Rice The dispute escalated when the parties crossed paths at the mall Video surveillance depicted Price pulling a 9 mm firearm and aiming it at Robinson while Robinson and Smith also pulled firearms Price and Smith exchanged numerous rounds of gunfire which struck nine innocent bystanders and Robinson were not injured during the shootout Investigators with the Columbia Police Department determined that at least 17 rounds of ammunition were fired inside the main corridor of the mall near The Gap store 11 rounds were matched to Price’s 9 mm Glock firearm The remaining six rounds were fired by an unrecovered gun in the possession of Smith Robinson’s .40 caliber firearm was later recovered by law enforcement and one spent shell casing was found in the gun’s chamber A Lexington County Sheriff’s Department CSI reconstruction expert determined that three victims were directly injured by Price’s gunfire including the 73-year-old victim with critical injuries and the 16-year-old victim who was shot in the back Department of Corrections to begin his sentence Police arrested the two suspects accused of a Friday afternoon armed robbery of the Columbiana AT&T store at the Davis Motel in North Lima where authorities traced their electronic devices within hours of the crime Kevin O’Kernick said that his department heard radio traffic by Columbiana police regarding the AT&T store in Oakmont Plaza which is adjacent to them within Mahoning County Columbiana was seeking an available K-9 unit as the one male suspect allegedly had fled on foot into a wooded area behind the plaza which is near New Buffalo Road in Beaver Township jurisdiction who had stolen more than 20 electronic devices during the alleged commission of the crime made their way to Davis Motel in North Lima Bell is suspected of robbing a T-Mobile store there around 7:45 p.m Thursday and has several open warrants for theft Newspapers were running articles containing his physical description and asking readers to call the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office Both men were arrested on charges of felony receiving stolen property and possessing stolen property and are currently incarcerated at Mahoning County Jail Bell also was charged with a misdemeanor count of obstructing official business Neither man has been scheduled for his initial court appearance as of Saturday night on the case docket of Mahoning County Court #3 in Canfield Attempts to reach the Columbiana police for this article were unsuccessful Boardman police and the Ohio State Highway Patrol also assisted Beaver Township and Columbiana police with this investigation You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience Columbiana Mayor David Mitchell confirmed that two new businesses are set to come to the city during a Columbiana City Council meeting on Tuesday COLUMBIANA – Mayor David Mitchell confirmed that two new businesses are set to come to the city during a regularly scheduled Columbiana City Council meeting on Tuesday Mitchell shared that a 22,000 square foot agricultural retailer is set to open in the city which will be accessible off of Highway 70 The business hopes to break ground later this summer The agricultural business will bring approximately 15 full-time jobs to the city with an unnamed number of additional part-time positions Another untitled business is set be opened at the location of the old Grede foundry building in Columbiana on Industrial Parkway which will be torn down soon Mitchell said the company’s goal is to complete the project in 18 months and that he’s not allowed to share business’s name Mitchell did confirm that once the business is operational the company claims it will bring 100 jobs to the city the Columbiana City Council approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to sign a lighting services agreement with Alabama Power Company for street lights at Springs Crossing which will add a monthly service charge to the city’s bill The City Council approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to sign a contract with Rivertree Systems for the discovery and recovery of taxes and businesses licenses for the city of Columbiana The contract is for a period of three years the council approved a resolution authorizing the adoption of code regulations for the Shelby County Commission building the city’s various department heads gave individual reports during the council meeting Chief of Police Jeff Bowers shared the police department is asking that no one park on Mildred Street as it has become a significant issue for school buses Bowers also shared that the county’s police chiefs are working on collaborating together spread awareness of telephone call scams “We just want to let the public know that if you receive a phone call from somebody saying that we have a warrant for you to come pay your warrant—that is not how the process works at all,” Bowers said The next regularly scheduled Columbiana City Council meeting will take place on Tuesday Residents may also watch a livestream of the meeting at Facebook.com/cityofcolumbiana Just one AAC game is on Monday’s college basketball schedule That contest is the Wichita State Shockers squaring… The Memphis Grizzlies (38-22) face the Atlanta Hawks (27-33) as 8.5-point favorites on Monday take on the Brooklyn Nets (21-39).… The Wichita State Shockers versus the North Texas Mean Green is a game to catch on the Monday… The Monday college basketball slate has plenty of exciting matchups in store Our computer model has suggested picks… What would make you consider a digital subscription to Shelby County Reporter View Results A 4-year-old girl was killed Wednesday afternoon in Columbiana County during a shooting that also left St Clair Township police officer Dakota Wetzel in stable condition A 30-year-old man who police say opened fire on officers was also shot and killed Officials say Wetzel gave his family a thumbs up and opened his eyes overnight at the hospital officers responded to a possibly suicidal man they located the 30-year-old and attempted to talk with him and 4-year-old Rosalie Martin was at a dentist's office when a stray bullet struck her The officer was responsive after being shot and was flown to a hospital in the Pittsburgh area in critical condition police released an update saying he was in surgery First aid was administered to the man before EMS arrived “We’re trying to gather information as fast as we can so we can update the community,” St Clair Township Police Chief Brian McKenzie said we need the community to pray for our officer and the child who were shot.” Clair Township Police Department has contacted the Ohio Bureau of Investigation to conduct an independent investigation the Columbiana County Sheriff's deputies are currently handling all patrol duties within St Mckenzie has also made counselors available for the officers The Ohio Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio President Jay McDonald released the following statement regarding the shooting: If you're interested in helping Wetzel and Rosalie's families, click here Columbiana County officials are raising alarms over the potential fallout if voters reject the renewal of a crucial 1 percent sales and use tax in the primary election on May 6 Ohio — Columbiana County officials are raising alarms over the potential fallout if voters reject the renewal of a crucial 1 percent sales and use tax in the primary election on May 6 which has been in place for nearly 40 years is vital for funding essential government operations contributing $14 million to the county's $24 million budget we are going to lose at least half if not more of the general fund revenue and that’s going to affect the primary functions of Columbiana County government," Commissioner Mike Halleck said Approximately 70% of the county's general fund supports the criminal justice system layoffs are anticipated across departments with the sheriff's office facing the possibility of losing at least half its staff "If you go through the statistics with other counties we should be at 60 deputies and we have 31 so we’re already short on staff to begin with and to do even more cuts would be detrimental to the county," Sheriff Brian McLaughlin said Halleck warned that without the tax renewal "You would not recognize this county in terms of the services and employment," he said One of the services at risk is the Columbiana County Dog Pound which is already struggling with minimal staff to care for over 50 dogs "I’m just not even sure what we were gonna do We’re not going to be able to pick up dogs like we need to We’re not going to be able to provide the care and the food and the cleanliness with so few people," said Karlee Walker The tax is clearly labeled as a renewal on the ballot The Columbiana County Board of Elections board reorganizes for 2025 welcoming new board members Charley Kidder of Lisbon and Greg Smith of Salem who were sworn in Wednesday by county Municipal Court Judge Kelly Linger before the meeting Seated from left are board Vice Chair Patty Colian and Chairman David Johnson LISBON — The language for Columbiana County’s 1% sales tax renewal on the May 6 ballot will include the word renewal in the title along with the words “continuation of an existing sales and use tax.” “Hopefully that will help,” county Commissioner Mike Halleck said Halleck attended the county Board of Elections board meeting Wednesday afternoon and told the board members and election personnel that he appreciated the ballot language The word renewal wasn’t used for the title in the ballot language when the 1% sales tax failed miserably in November The ballot language then also didn’t indicate the sales tax was the continuation of an existing sales and use tax the ballot language in the fall said it was for the purpose of providing additional general revenue for Columbiana County and paying the expenses of administering the levy for a period of five years The commissioners blamed the ballot language for the loss and Halleck said he spoke to people after the election and a lot of it was “misinterpretation.” People thought it was a new tax and voted it down The ballot language this time reads: “The Board of County Commissioners of Columbiana County proposes the continuation of an existing sales and use tax of one percent (1%) for the purpose of providing general revenue for the county Shall the resolution of the Columbiana County Commissioners proposing a continuation of an existing one percent (1%) sales and use tax “We went to bat on the ballot language,” county Board of Elections board Chairman David Johnson said noting there were discussions with the Secretary of State’s Office stressing “people of the county should know it’s a renewal,” referring to the language He said the elections office is currently under a wage freeze and will “make do with what we have.” Johnson also said they’re all in favor of the passage of the tax renewal which represents what he described as a huge part of the operations of county government Both he and new board member Charley Kidder of Lisbon pledged the support of both the Republican and Democrat parties in the county for the sales tax renewal Johnson is chairman of the county Republican Party and Kidder is chairman of the county Democrat party Halleck said 30 percent of the money that comes into the county from the 1% sale tax comes from outside the county advising a check of the parking lot at the Calcutta Walmart will reveal license plates from Pennsylvania and West Virginia He also stressed that the sales tax does not affect anyone’s property tax He said the revaluation of properties that occurred and affected last year’s property tax bills may have created a problem for the 1% sales tax last fall 55 percent of the county’s revenue is coming from the 1% sales tax which generates $14 million per year for the general fund The general fund is used to fund all the operations in the courthouse the board of elections and the title department He said the county is the lowest per capita in terms of budget in the state of Ohio that he could find Most other counties the size of Columbiana County have a budget of $30 million and have more personnel in the commissioners’ office while Columbiana County’s 2025 appropriations were a little over $23 million with just two clerks and the three county commissioners in the commissioners’ office Halleck said it costs about $2 million a month to operate the county government He encourage everyone to speak out for the sales tax and “hopefully we’ll have a positive outcome in May.” The board for the Board of Elections reorganized for the year welcoming new board members Kidder and Greg Smith of Salem who were both sworn in by Columbiana County Municipal Court Judge Kelly Linger prior to the meeting Democrat Kim Fusco was reappointed as director and Republican Niki Wilkinson was reappointed administrative assistant with Johnson re-elected chairman and Democrat Patty Colian re-elected vice chair Linger also administered the oath of office for Fusco and Wilkinson The board approved amending the meeting agenda to include Halleck Fusco said the month didn’t include any expenses left over from the November election She reported some good news in the form of a $135,223 grant from the Secretary of State’s Office to use for election expense in May explaining that because the state has a state bond issue on the ballot the state is covering the cost of what’s considered a special primary The bond issue allows the state to sell bonds to fund infrastructure projects throughout the state and does not increase taxes The bond issue is put on the ballot every 10 years and was originally approved by voters in 1987 after discussions with the Secretary of State’s Office and the county prosecutor’s office that only contested races will appear on the ballot The countywide Republican ballot will include one county Municipal Court judge race that’s contested with the other judgeship not appearing on the ballot since its an uncontested race with just one candidate The Republican ballot in Salem will include the contested judge race along with a contested race for Salem City Council at Large which has four candidates for three open spots for the Republican Party nomination The lone Democrat candidate for council at large won’t appear on the ballot since there’s no partisan race There will be no Democrat partisan ballot anywhere in the county since there are no contest Democrat races The uncontested candidates for Salem city council president and treasurer also will not appear on the Republican ballot in Salem COLUMBIANA – Columbiana is set to receive a brand new lounge bar when Cattywampus opens its doors in early 2025 The Cattywampus bar and lounge is set to open its doors tentatively in early January at 100 N across from Leaders’ Corner Coffee & Tea The business is owned by Steven and Rebecca Clark and the bar will be managed by John Bernard Cattywampus will focus on delivering a relaxed lounge atmosphere and will feature a variety of alcoholic beverages on its menu There are currently no plans to feature cooked or prepared meals “There may or may not be some packaged snacks available but the focus is definitely going to be on cocktails and spirits,” Bernard said We’re just trying to have some fun with it.” Cattywampus will be able to take advantage of the the Columbiana LIVE Arts and Entertainment District Once the business secures proper licensing customers will be able to consume alcoholic beverages freely outside the facility in designated containers The business is close to being finished with further build out and inspections still set to take place but everything has been lining up nicely,” Bernard said In addition to its menu of various spirits Cattywampus also aims to provide local residents with a casual and relaxed environment space to unwind “I think it fits the feel of downtown Columbiana because it’s a large chill place (and) with the arts center around the corner there’s always something going on,” Bernard said Bernard shared that the business’s unorthodox name is a reference to when an object is off-kilter and was inspired by the some of the distinct construction choices made to the building which has evolved over the past century “We keep experiencing something new,” Bernard said this wall is a little cattywampus (and) this floor is a little cattywampus.’” Bernard also believes that the business’s approach matches those distinct visuals by offering an atypical experience for a distinct location “We want to do good drinks at a sensible price for folks that aren’t necessarily in the big city,” he said “And that’s a little bit of a cattywampus idea.” enjoys this balloon during Saturday morning’s preschool prom in the Columbiana Public Library’s new children programming room Emilia was brought to the event by parents Denys and Lisa Kuzhel of Columbiana It was both the inaugural event in the room as well as the first time hosting the event and her staff gussied about the space less than a week after its grand opening to host the event for some of the library’s littlest patrons Elementary and middle school-aged youth can get their fancy on with father-daughter or mother-son dances which have become popular fundraising opportunities Radman said the littles are often left out Adults registered nearly two dozen of their sons daughters and grands for Saturday’s hourlong dance party Two-year-old Adaline Hall of Girard enjoys the music as she held her own private dance party during Saturday morning’s preschool prom in the new children’s programming room at Columbiana Public Library While one could see a few daddies dancing with their daughters there was plenty of boys and girls who preferred dancing all by themselves while bouncing a balloon In addition to the fruit and juice pouches for refreshments parents also had the opportunity to grab a quick snapshot of their kids dressed against a preschool promo photo booth Radman said that she just saw the idea on social media and thought it would be fun for the youngsters especially in midst of spring with its Easter celebrations and prom season “It’s also a nice way to inaugurate the new space,” she added The majority of little girls wore their Easter dresses although two were wearing Bella and Cinderella-like gowns Coming up at the beginning of May is another opportunity for tots ages 4 to 8 to break out their favorite outfit whether it was bouncing a balloon like Roman Duddy of Hubbard or making a paper crown with stickers and crayons are what most young attendees did at their preschool prom held Saturday morning at Columbiana Public Library Roman is the son of Chris Daddy and Dani Lewis and was there with his 3-year-old sister Ivy Columbiana Public Library’s children department is hosting a Mommy and Me tea party from 11 a.m to 12 noon in the Salchow Room near the library’s front entrance call Radman at 330-482- 5509 or visit the library’s website at Columbiana.lib.oh.us The Rotary Club of Columbiana held its annual Youth Service Awards Dinner at Columbiana High School Tuesday Eagle Scout; Outstanding Interact Student Katherine Campbell; dinner organizer Terry McCoy; Outstanding 4-H student Sarah Baer; and Outstanding Girl Scout Rosario Pantoja A former truck stop in Columbiana County is looking to be redeveloped as Sheetz The location has applied for Ohio EPA approval and is looking to build on the northwest corner of State Route 7 and State Route 14 in Columbiana County directly west of the Town Center at Firestone Farms shopping complex The nearly 8-acre parcel was purchased for $1.75 million on November 1 headquartered at 1305 Boardman Canfield Road in Boardman and was created to do business in the state on September 28 of the same year The plans for the facility show the anticipated building to be 6,139 sq and it is looking to break ground for the project in 2025 The same parcel was last sold in 1996 for $76,000 The truck stop on the property that is closed was first built in 1954 It has more than 750 locations in Pennsylvania This currently is a lounge for customers of #1 Cochran Chevrolet Columbiana It is unknown what Columbiana city officials may end up converting this space to when they occupy the space COLUMBIANA — City officials are beginning to get excited about the possibilities at 21 E which could be the location of municipal operations in a few years Council voted earlier this month to finance the building and some surrounding property through the sale of $2.5 million in bonds The City of Columbiana has slowly outgrown the 28 W where parking is now often at a premium on a Tuesday council night as they share the parking lot with city employees and all the police cruisers Before the city notified the Cochran Auto Group of the possible intent to purchase the property Cochran had listed the 11,688-square-foot building and surrounding property for a half million dollars on Zillow the city also is securing the Heritage House building across the street which used to house some of the dealership’s administrative operations as well as a red building across the tracks that used to house the dealership’s paint shop next the city has to bring in Howells and Baird for engineering services so they can reconfigure the main dealership building into the city’s future city hall the police department and council chambers Willard explained that they desire to convert the current vehicle maintenance area into a sally port for the police cruisers Currently the dealership also has a car wash built in the back Inside the building is a number of non-weightbearing walls that could be removed to make larger gathering places like a council chambers A private council meeting room also is expected to be in the works now that they have the space for executive sessions Willard said that plan is to reuse as much of the municipality’s existing furniture The building just had a new roof installed around three years ago on the dealership building Also in support of Columbiana’s status as an AMP community this building site has two electric vehicle chargers by the building The city had installed two of their own by AAA four years ago With Cochran’s option to lease the space in six month intervals Willard said that he expects city operations will be able to move in two years after they vacate The city manager revealed no future plans for the West Friend building it is likely the city would be looking to sell the building did not respond to requests for additional information for this article when reached COLUMBIANA – Those interested in acquiring their very own tree will have the opportunity to do so during the Columbiana Beautification Board’s third annual Arbor Day tree giveaway on Saturday attendees can pick up a variety of bare root tree seedlings The trees will be available while supplies last from 9 a.m to noon inside the Grande Hall at Old Mill Square in Columbiana There may be a limit imposed on the number of saplings given to each family due to supply and demand “Come join us for our first official year as a Tree City member but our third annual Arbor Day Tree Giveaway,” read an official release by the Columbiana Beatification Board Tree City USA is a partnership between the Arbor Day Foundation Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters Columbiana earned its recognition by meeting the program’s four requirements which consist of maintaining a tree board or department dedicating an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita and hosting an Arbor Day observance and proclamation Those interested in learning more about the Columbiana Beautification Board may follow its official Facebook page or visit Cityofcolumbiana.com/beautification-board The Columbiana Beautification Board hosted the Easter Bunny Tea Party on Saturday to noon in the Grande Hall at Old Mill Square in Columbiana activities and dancing with the Easter Bunny during the eighth annual Easter Bunny Tea Party in Columbiana children of all ages came to the event and enjoyed snacks and a sit-down tea party with Mr “Families come in and are able to have one-on-one time with the bunnies and take pictures with lots of dancing and fun,” said Lisa Davis chairperson of the Columbiana Beautification Board “This year there was a fun craft activity that the children loved They were able to take a little memento home that they made.” Davis said that the event’s volunteers enjoy seeing different families come multiple years in a row with some attendees having attended since the inaugural installment of the event “One of our favorite parts is seeing the children as they grow and how some families have new little additions that they bring,” Davis said “It’s amazing to be a part of their Easter tradition The Easter Bunny Tea event was first started by local hairstylists and business owners Leigh Ann Langley and Amy Vansant The Corner Shoppes hosted the first Easter Bunny Tea Party the Columbiana Beautification Board was asked to join and hosted the party as a fundraising event for the organization Tickets to the Easter Bunny Tea Party were $15 online and at the door while children ages 2 and under got in for free All funds raised at the event went straight toward the Columbiana Beautification Board and its mission to beautify the city of Columbiana “Our vision is to enhance and elevate the charm of Columbiana,” Davis said “If you drive down Main Street during spring and summer you will see all of the beautiful flowers the board has worked hard on as well as Fall pumpkin decorations Christmas time in Columbiana is certainly special and one of our favorite times decorating in our classic Hallmark style really makes Columbiana so beautiful during the holiday season We wouldn’t be able to do some of these community projects without fundraisers like the Easter Bunny Tea.” Outgoing Columbiana County Board of Elections board members Republican Vic Maroscher and Democrat Larry Bowersock attend their last meeting with fellow board members Monday receiving recognition from Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose for their many years of service LISBON — The Columbiana County Board of Elections certified candidate petitions and local liquor options on Monday for the May 6 primary then said goodbye to longtime board members Republican Vic Maroscher and Democrat Larry Bowersock couldn’t run again due to the bylaws of the county Republican Party The party’s central committee chose Greg Smith of Salem as the new board member to replace Maroscher chose not to seek another appointment by the Democrat central committee which recently selected county Democrat Party Chairman Charley Kidder as his replacement The two new board members will join county Republican Party Chairman David Johnson We appreciate the fact that you gave so much to our county,” Board of Elections Director Kim Fusco said I’m so proud of them,” Bowersock said Maroscher said he appreciated his time on the board talking about how involved the board is regarding every aspect of the elections Johnson said it’s been great to have Maroscher on the board on behalf of Republicans and talked about Bowersock being open and honest and an advocate for the staff Colian also talked about their contributions and admitted she didn’t know Maroscher until he was on the board so she said she’s going to miss him on the board Maroscher said Smith will fit in very well Kidder attended the meeting as an observer Both he and Smith will be sworn in when the board reorganizes Administrative Assistant Niki Wilkinson a Republican and two Democrat staff members and two Republican staff members Fusco said there were no problems with any of the candidate petitions and this time no problem with the local liquor options for the Calcutta Walmart the local liquor option didn’t make the ballot because the petitions didn’t have enough valid signatures Fusco said the number of valid signatures totaled 277 Walmart is seeking Monday through Saturday liquor sales and Sunday liquor sales Since there are no contested races on the Democrat side The only countywide contested race on the Republican side will be for the Jan 1 term of county Municipal Court Judge between appointed Judge Kelly Linger The only other Republican contested primary will take place in the city of Salem with four Republicans vying for three open seats for Council-At-Large Plegge previously served as Third Ward councilman who will go straight through to November since he’s unopposed Fusco reminded board members that the deadline for Independent candidates to file for any partisan seats is May 5 There will be countywide issues for voters to decide with the 1 % sales tax up for renewal and the .75-mill Children Services levy up for renewal Residents in Rogers and East Palestine will have road levy renewals the city of Salem will have renewal of the .25 % income tax for road improvements and Southern Local school district will have a renewal levy the board approved expenses of $105,314 for December which included some additional election expenses from the general election Fusco included year to date costs from 2024 which totaled $943,916 which she said was reflective of having three elections in one year She said normally the expenses for the year total $600,000 to $650,000 The county was reimbursed 100 percent for the congressional election that had to be held Wilkinson announced that there’s a new feature on the board of elections website to allow searches of candidates and committees for campaign spending She said staff member Diane Raptis set the system up Go to the website at columbiana.boe.ohio.gov and click on campaign finance CHESTER — The city’s lack of enforceability for its junk ordinance long has been an issue for .. 13 in the case against Paul Steven Vojnovich The Columbiana County Engineer’s storage building is currently under construction on South Market Street in Lisbon The 15,000-square-foot is designed to house equipment and vehicle storage Construction is anticipated to be complete in the third quarter of 2025 Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify that the dealership is not for sale only the building that houses the dealership The building will be leased back to #1 Cochran until plans for a new location are announced In the wake of Caffe Capri in Boardman announcing its imminent closure and sale to #1 Cochran the latter of the two businesses will be selling the building that houses Columbiana Cadillac along South Main Street in Columbiana to the city It comes more than a year after #1 Cochran acquired Flynn Auto Group dealers "Definitely sad to see it go and we know an empty building wouldn't be great on South Main Street like that so we thought we could repurpose it." said Lance Willard The city of Columbiana is in the process of purchasing the building and anticipates closing on the property in April the dealership isn't moving to a new location right away "They'll have the ability to lease it back however long they need it and then we'll get in here and do the conversion and move our city hall in the middle of town," Willard added "The city has been looking for a new city hall for the last 10-15 years we're kind of busting at the seams at the current place." Willard explained Willard says the building is an ideal location for the city's new home right along the main drag with a showroom for office space and a giant service garage tailor-made for housing a fleet of police vehicles.  21 News visited the dealership where a #1 Cochran store manager said he couldn't comment on whether the dealership is moving into the Caffe Capri location in Boardman where it would be surrounded by other Cochran dealerships 21 News also reached out to headquarters but has not gotten a response With a lift from the city electric bucket truck Columbiana municipal employee Colton Bower decorates the top of the city’s LED Christmas tree with bows and bulbs Friday morning on the southeast corner of the traffic circle in downtown Columbiana The city will be holding its 24th annual Christmas parade and light up night on Nov COLUMBIANA — The city commemorates the holiday season this year with its 24th annual Christmas parade the lighting of the city holiday tree and the 50th anniversary of the city charter “The highlight of the evening will be the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree by none other than the charter’s founding leaders Vylee Garstick and Philip Swope who plays key roles in establishing the charter that shaped the city’s governance and growth,” explained Wolsonovich “In commemoration of this historic anniversary symbolizing decade of dedication to the community.” Claus” (aka Jenny Weir) will serve as grand marshal for the Christmas parade Known for her care of the Gingerbread House and her annual role in making sure that the Christmas tree shines bright the director explained that she embodies the warmth and joy of the holiday season in Columbiana she assisted two city employees erect and decorate the city’s tree for this year’s festivities “Her tireless efforts in preparing for the holiday season make her a beloved figure in the community,” Wolsonovich added After the tree lighting at the southeast corner of the town’s traffic circle holiday revelers will await the 24th annual parade that will include festive floats at Joshua Dixon Elementary School (enter on Stanton) with the parade starting at 6 p.m progressing down Main Street and concluding at Heartland Christian School Advance preregistration is available through a Google Doc link on the chamber’s parade event page on Facebook or you can preregister the day of the event at 4:30 in person The event will be free and open to the public Passers-by on state Route 14 cannot help but notice this Cozza Development housing the new Tractor Supply location in Columbiana COLUMBIANA — The city’s new Tractor Supply has something for everyone in the family — even Fido and Fluffy which is located near state Route 14 and Springfield Road According to store manager Valerie Phillips the Columbiana Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the ribbon cutting cake and cupcakes from Hogan’s Bakery and free Tractor Supply hats Phillips admitted that the store’s workwear section is her favorite She said she expects it to be especially popular at fair time when 4-H participants purchase outfits for their events from the store’s selection of popular brand names tools are a’plenty throughout Tractor Supply customers can purchase them with an extended RRR (Repair A comprehensive bulk hardware section features “the nuts and bolts” of a fix-it man (or woman’s) dream The store’s professional quality “Pet Station” near the rear of the building is bound to be a hit among pet owners Equipped with two professional quality grooming bays human customers can bathe their pet counterparts for less than $10 each with top notch equipment Phillips said there also are extensive pet sections for cats rabies is not among them due to the state law requiring a tag to accompany the vaccination’s administration Toro and Cub Cadet of various sizes and supplies are among their inventory as well as a vast garden area which currently stands open until warmer weather Phillips said that the store is contracted to sell Weber grills among other brands in their outdoor section noting that customers who us their Tractor Supply card can enjoy additional savings throughout the store she explained that the Columbiana store will be added to a route for a future PetVet clinic where customers can get affordable vet care as walk-ins An extensive amount of automotive and farm vehicle supplies including tires; farm and fencing needs also are carried throughout in addition to welding accessories like helmets Tractor Supply also price matches among its own locations and vows to beat it by 5 percent among other retailers TSC locations also offer curbside pickup and delivery through its Stockyard online ordering system for many of its stores Inventory items can range from tools to feed depending on the store with customers ever having to leave their farm or home The store does not provide in-house service work for anything they sell to 7 p.m.) For information about the Columbiana store BELOIT — Varsity girls basketball head coach Walt DeShields had no history of disciplinary action With work on a project which will repave State Street and North Lincoln set to begin Monday LISBON — A judge sentenced a Salem man accused of sexually assaulting a child over a two-year period to at least .. Shown is evidence collected Tuesday afternoon during the execution of a search warrant in a downtown Columbiana residence One arrest was made and additional charges may be pending based on test results after the execution of a search warrant at a downtown residence Laws was taken into custody after law enforcement discovered a large amount of methamphetamine along with LSD and Suboxone in a home at 220 Brenda Lane Two people were present during the activity by city police the Columbiana County Special Response Team (SRT) and county Drug Task Force According to Columbiana Police Chief William Myers Laws currently is charged with Fugitive from Justice due to an active felony warrant out of Pennsylvania Additional charges may be pending based on testing of the suspected narcotics LISBON — The Columbiana County Drug Task Force will use a $142,248 grant from the RecoveryOhio Law Enforcement .. Relay For Life will take place May 10 at St COLUMBIANA – The Columbiana County Educational Service Center (CCESC) celebrated outstanding academic achievement .. Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Washam administers the oath of office to Commissioner-elect Tim Ginter as Tim’s wife Pam holds his Bible Friday morning Ginter will begin his first four-year term as commissioner on Jan taking the seat vacated by Commissioner Tim Weigle LISBON — A tale of two Tims took place Friday in the commissioners meeting room inside the Columbiana County Courthouse Commissioner Tim Weigle bid farewell during his final meeting signaling the end of his third term and the end of a 35-year career of public service while Commissioner-elect Tim Ginter of Salem recited his new oath to serve the people beginning Jan “It’s been a great 12 years — 35 years went by pretty quick,” Weigle said that’s where his public service began as a township trustee for 23 years Then he moved to the courthouse as a commissioner The man set to take his seat is no stranger to the people of Columbiana County since he served them as a state representative in Columbus for eight years saying it’s going to be both an honor and a challenge to follow him because of his good service “I’m looking forward to getting in the saddle and beginning to serve as commissioner I believe the county’s in excellent condition and plan on continuing that,” Ginter said Weigle decided early on that he wasn’t going to run for a fourth term That opened up the seat for the election this year and Ginter decided to run for the Republican nomination He beat Lisbon resident John Williams in the March primary then won election in the fall against Democrat Ray Cox “I plan on continuing the policies and practices which have made Columbiana County successful,” Ginter said Shortly after the commissioners’ meeting ended county Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Washam administered the oath of office to Ginter as Ginter’s wife Pam held his Bible His first official Board of Commissioners meeting will take place at 9 a.m Weigle administered the oath of office to county Recorder Jim Armeni who’s beginning his second four-year term Jan who held the Bible during the swearing-in ceremony county Department of Job and Family Services Director Rachel Ketterman presented Weigle with a small gift and commented “You have always pushed me to think outside of the box.” She credited his support and help over the years with making her a good director “I thank you for always having my back,” she said Commissioner Mike Halleck also thanked Weigle and said it’s been a pleasure to work with him with former Commissioner Jim Hoppel and with Commissioner Roy Paparodis “The county cemetery has never looked better,” Halleck said referring to the work put in by Weigle and his wife to maintain it “It’s been great working with you.” COLUMBIANA — Richard Noel announced Tuesday that he will be seeking re-election as the city’s mayor Noel already has been elected once to the post after being appointed in 2020 while council president as then-mayor Bryan Blakeman resigned to be sworn in as Columbiana County treasurer with one year left on his term “In my time serving the city of Columbiana I have been fortunate to witness unprecedented economic growth a vibrant downtown and thriving community support for our city,” he said boards and commission (as well as) everyday citizens working together (the city has) become a destination for families and the business community “It is through that positive spirit that I seek the opportunity to continue to serve our community as mayor as there is still work to be done,” he concluded Noel had served in various capacities with the city of Columbiana including on Planning Commission and Council In addition to the city’s continued growth developing a secondary industrial park was a top priority three council seats are up for grabs on Nov While Amanda Banner and Ted Souder hold two of the seats a third seat was vacated earlier this week by John Yenges Applications are being sought for the vacant seat while no announcements have been made regarding the other council seats yet A Columbiana woman reported to police that she was scammed out of approximately $250,000 the woman went to the Columbiana Police Department to report the incident She told officers she clicked on a link to confirm a Walmart order The woman reported that the scammers then locked her phone and computer and threatened her not to tell anyone about their communication The report states the woman withdrew more than $20,000 in cash from three separate banks while a caller remained on the phone a person was to pick up the cash at the end of her driveway but left without taking it The pickup location was then changed to a location near Firestone Park where a man with a covered face took the money The woman later discovered more than $250,000 missing from her accounts when she received an alert about an international transfer to Abu Dhabi Police said the banks were attempting to retrieve the money and told the woman to contact the local FBI field office and the Social Security Administration’s fraud line Investigators checked the area for doorbell camera footage but found none This incident serves as a stark reminder of the evolving tactics used by scammers.  Be Wary of Unsolicited Links: Never click on links in emails or text messages from unknown or suspicious sources request sensitive information via unsolicited links Verify Information Directly: If you receive a notification about an order you didn't place contact the company directly using the official contact information found on their website not the information provided in the suspicious communication Never Share Personal Information: Do not provide personal information Beware of High-Pressure Tactics: Scammers often use threats and urgency to pressure victims into acting quickly Legitimate organizations will not rush you or threaten you Be Cautious of Cash Withdrawals: If someone instructs you to withdraw large sums of cash and hand it over Banks and legitimate businesses do not operate in this manner Strengthen Online Security: "Use strong unique passwords for all your online accounts and enable two-factor authentication whenever possible Report Suspicious Activity: If you suspect you've been targeted by a scam report it immediately to your local police department