Breaking News

Local News

New pretrial set for man accused of causing child’s death

LISBON — A new pretrial hearing is set at 10:20 a.m. Sept. 4 in the case against a former Negley man involving the death of a child in 2024. Seth T. Hildebrand, 20, whose address in court records is now listed as Birch Road, East Liverpool, was originally set to appear for a pretrial hearing on Aug. 14, but was changed due to a scheduling conflict for his defense attorney. Hildebrand last week entered a not guilty plea during arraignment for involuntary manslaughter and endangering children for allegedly causing the death of a 2-year-old child in December 2024. He’s out of jail ...

Illinois man caught in sex sting pleads guilty to child porn possession

LISBON — An Illinois man charged for allegedly possessing images of child pornography after being caught in a sex-for-hire sting in 2024 entered a guilty plea Wednesday. Vincent John Bianconi, 36, last known address Chicago Heights, Ill., appeared in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court before Judge Scott Washam and was supposed to be facing a trial, but instead opted for a plea. He was accompanied by his attorney, Lawrence Stacey II. According to county Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Weeda, Bianconi pleaded guilty to three counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor or ...

Storms dampen third day of fair

A thunderstorm moving over the Columbiana County Fairgrounds early Wednesday afternoon put a temporary stop to many of the activities. Vendors were rushing to cover their goods and rides stopped. The midway was left empty of fair traffic as many fair attendees huddled in barns and under the ...

Passenger killed in U.S. Route 30 crash in Liverpool Township

EAST LIVERPOOL — One person is dead and three others injured following a two-vehicle crash on U.S. Route 30 in Liverpool Township Wednesday morning. The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Lisbon post is investigating the crash that left a passenger, Joyce M. Snider, 63. East Liverpool, dead. According to the patrol, a 2007 Buick Rainier driven by Stacy L. Click, 42, East Liverpool, was stopped westbound partially on the left shoulder and partially in the left travel lane at approximately 11:09 a.m. and was struck from behind by a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD driven by Neil A. Gilbert, ...

New pretrial set for horse deaths so defense can review evidence

LISBON — A new pretrial has been scheduled at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 31 in the case against Heather J. Birkmire, who’s accused of cruelty to animals in the deaths of five horses last year at Pure Gold Stables in Salem Township. “I did receive a sizable amount of discovery I’m trying to go through. I’m asking for more time,” Birkmire’s defense attorney Ron Yarwood said. The state did not object to the continuance during a pretrial hearing Wednesday, with Columbiana County Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer Bonish acknowledging there was a very large discovery in this case and the ...

Liverpool Township trustees approves reallocation of appropriations

LIVERPOOL TOWNSHIP — During Tuesday’s Liverpool Township Board of Trustees meeting, trustees approved several resolutions to reallocate appropriations. Trustees approved the reallocation for the General Fund in the amount of $200 from the Auditing Service to the Travel Reimbursement Line Item in the amount of $200; to supplement appropriations for the General Fund in the amount of $642 for the Workers Compensation Line Item; and to authorize a temporary cash advance from the General Fund to the Police District Fund in the amount of $30,000. Payment of bills totaling $104,637.28 ...