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Ohio EPA says Canadian fires will worsen air quality

COLUMBUS — The Ohio EPA issued a a statewide air quality advisory on Wednesday due to smoke from Canadian wildfires. The advisory is in effect from 7 a.m. today until the air quality improves and the smoke has left the region. The Ohio EPA expects the wildfire smoke to enter northern Ohio in the early morning hours and into the entire state by the end of Thursday. The Air Quality Index could get into the unhealthy range. When air quality is in this range, some members of the general public may experience health effects; members of sensitive groups (due to medical conditions, ...

Wastewater spill cleaned up quickly

EAST LIVERPOOL — A tanker spilled wastewater Tuesday evening at a wastewater transfer station in East Liverpool. The incident happened in a parking lot at the Arcwood Environmental facility on St. George Street with a storm sewer nearby. Fire Chief Antony Cumo said the driver started to move the tanker when he noticed the leak and quickly shut it off. Cumo said there was speculation on how much liquid which was confirmed to be wastewater leaked from the tanker ranging from 300 to 600 gallons because they weighed the trailer and the storm sewer being there. Cumo noted the EPA ...

COMMUNITY BRIEFS

SALEM BOE MEETING SET SALEM — The Salem Board of Education will meet at 6:15 p.m. on Monday at the high school to review board goals and the regular agenda. A regular board meeting will follow at 7 p.m. in the Salem High School library. LEPPER LIBRARY HOSTS GARDEN EXPERTS LISBON — The Ohio State University Extension will present "Ask a Master Gardener" sessions at the Lepper Library. The sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, July 21 and noon to 3 p.m. on Aug. 18. For more information, contact the Columbiana County OSU Extension Office at ...

Assistance available for failed septic systems

LISBON — Columbiana County homeowners with failing septic systems may be eligible for financial assistance through a new $200,000 grant awarded to the Columbiana County Health District. The funding, provided through the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's Water Pollution Control Loan Fund, will help eligible homeowners repair or replace failing household sewage treatment systems or connect to a public sewer system. Depending on household income, the program will cover 50%, 85% or 100% of eligible project costs. To qualify, the septic system must meet Ohio's definition of a ...

Court gives man’s mental state a second look

LISBON — A Barberton man accused in a sex-for-hire case was recently found competent to stand trial, but a defense motion for a second evaluation of his sanity at the time of the offense was granted. James Allen Smith Jr., 54, was ordered evaluated by his treatment professionals regarding his mental state at the time of the incident on Oct. 30, 2025 when he arrived in East Palestine for a sex-for-hire meeting. Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Washam approved the defense request for the second evaluation. The state expressed reservations about having Smith’s ...

On the calendar

THU/7-16 Boardman DARE Singles Group, Music at Boardman Park, 6:30 p.m.; information at 330-729-0127 Canfield South Range school board, 6 p.m., K-12 Building Calcutta NARVRE (National Association of Retired and Veteran Railroad Employees) monthly meeting, 11 a.m., JP’s Pizzeria, 15946 state Route 170; information, Rocco at 330-853,3045 Chester Lighthouse Christian Fellowship Thrift Shop, 1-5 p.m.; liquidation sale; by donation County Columbiana County Energy Special Improvement District, Inc. Board of Directors, 10 a.m., 7860 Lincole Place, Lisbon Area Singles, 6 p.m., ...