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Former stable operator charged in horse deaths can’t have livestock

LISBON — A condition of bond for Heather J. Birkmire, who’s accused of cruelty to animals in the deaths of five horses last year, now includes an amended order for no contact with any livestock besides no contact with companion animals. Previously, the court paperwork for her bond said she’s not allowed to have contact with any companion animals, prompting the prosecution to file a motion to modify the conditions of her $5,000 recognizance bond to include livestock. In the motion filed in Columbiana County Municipal Court, county Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer Bonish explained ...

Utica Shale awarded national grant for automotive program

SALINEVILLE – The Utica Shale Academy has been awarded $50,000 through a competitive, nationwide grant program, funds which will enable the regional trade school to provide training in automotive service. Building Hope and Britebound, two nonprofit organizations focused on improving ...

SCPD warns against unusual scam targeting elderly residents

ST. CLAIR TOWNSHIP — The St. Clair Township Police Department (SCPD) is currently working on an investigation with the East Palestine Police Department (EPPD) into an unusual scam in which an elderly resident was conned out of over $13,000. Officer Matthew Greenlief, SCPD, said the department was contacted May 6 by an elderly female and her daughter, who told the officer that her mother had received a letter on FBI letterhead and contacted by phone from someone claiming to be an investigator from Huntington National Bank. Greenlief noted that it started with the letter telling ...

Three new faces to join Hancock Board of Education

NEW CUMBERLAND – Three new faces will be joining the Hancock County Board of Education in July, coming in to office shortly after the board has been stripped of much of its authority by the state. According to unofficial results Tuesday night, Tiffany Gale of Weirton, Melissa Bane of Weirton, and Jeff Woofter of New Cumberland, are set to take their seats at the beginning of the district’s fiscal year, July 1. They are filling seats currently held by Board Vice President Ed Fields, Jack Crow and Jim Horstman. Numbers provided by the Hancock County Clerk’s Office Tuesday show ...

Kell, Shuman win Chester council seats

CHESTER — Only two races were contested in Tuesday’s municipal election in Chester. In Ward 1, Bill Kell defeated two challengers, Seth Roderick Patton and Leon Huff. Kell finished with 44 votes, while Patton had 22 votes and Huff had 16 votes, according to unofficial results from the Hancock County Board of Elections. In Ward 5, Steve Shuman defeated two other candidates, Donald Tharp and Jason Thorn. Shuman finished with 23 votes, while Tharp had 19 votes and Thorn 18 votes. Mayor Ed Wedgewood was unopposed in his re-election bid. He collected 318 votes. John Woody Woodruff ...

County park board to repave lots

LISBON — The parking lot at the Washington Street trailhead in Leetonia at the 10-mile marker for the Little Beaver Creek Greenway Trail will be closed Friday for repaving and could be closed a second day if necessary for the work. On Monday, the parking lot at the Supreme Court site on state Route 7 will be closed for repaving. Columbiana County Park District members announced the repaving projects during their recent meeting, with Board Vice Chairman Crystal Siembida Boggs posting an explanation on social media about the funding coming from the state. During a meeting last ...