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Beware Columbiana County

To the editor: Governor Dewine made the rounds recently in his presumptive Santa Claus suit finally handing out the funds from the Appalachian Capital Fund … funds that have been sitting in Columbus for an inordinate amount of time. The Mahoning Valley Region which consisted of Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties was the last region in Ohio to find out what their booty might be. The application process was daunting and the criteria to receive funds was vast. The one element the state was clear on, however, was that they only wanted project submissions that were ...

A vote for Rulli

To the editor: It is no secret; we have a national inflation problem trickling down to our local economies. With the costs of gas, manufactured goods, and food increasing, we need to rely on our own oil, natural gas, and coal in order to drive down the costs for consumers. Here in Columbiana County, I talk to people every day who struggle to make ends meet, business owners looking to fill jobs, and folks who are living paycheck to paycheck. Energy exploration, especially right here in eastern Ohio, will lead to more jobs, increase in tax revenue, and will help the United States become ...

‘Abomination of Desolation’

To the editor: The “Abomination of Desolation,” Freedom and Freedom of Speech, all find themselves applicable in this past Republican Primary. Freedom of Speech is at the core of our Republic! Some say, “Politics is a blood sport” and outbursts have surrounded the word “bloodbath.” This past election cycle has been one of unacceptable political and personal atrocities. So called, “unendorsed Republican candidates” became subjects of a “scorched earth” political take down. Those, whether county officials, elected public officers or otherwise, who either openly ...

ODNR should protect public lands

To the editor: On February 26, Ohio proved once again that nothing in the state is sacred when it comes to making money from fracking. In addition to some Department of Transportation parcels, the 5-member Oil and Gas Land Management Commission (OGLMC) approved bids to frack Salt Fork State Park in Guernsey County, Valley Run in Carroll County, and Zepernick Wildlife area in Columbiana County. In some cases, the accepted bids were considerably “below market value” as noted by commissioner Warnock who voted against a bid of $500 per acre by EOG Resources, Inc. for a DOT parcel. ...

So where does the Columbiana County Parks Board go from here?

To the editor: This week’s overwhelming denial of the parks levy leaves the board at a crossroads. Despite the board’s hope that a countywide vote would secure its passage, the levy was resoundingly defeated. As a resident who voted against it, I offer some insights into why. To be completely transparent, I was briefly a member of this board. Columbiana County seems to overlook the tangible benefits of tourism. I’m not envisioning Carnival Cruise Lines docking in East Liverpool; I’m referring to the actual, measurable economic impact of events and attractions within our county. ...

Royalty payments benefit Ohio landowners

To the editor: Every month it seems another company is announcing a large investment in Ohio. It’s a great time to be in our state and clearly people are taking notice! Sometimes these big dollar numbers come with little impact on Ohioans everyday lives. However, a recent report by JobsOhio and Cleveland State University highlighted not only the $103.1 billion investment made by the natural gas and oil industry in Ohio but also $1.6 billion in royalty payments that has gone straight into Ohioans pockets. The report shows not only that the natural gas and oil industry crossed the ...