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Columbiana is building on its success

Columns

EDITOR’S NOTE: This column originally appeared in the Fall 2026 issue of Valley Business magazine. Several years ago, I began visiting relatives who moved to Apex, N.C. It didn’t take many visits to realize Apex is something special. Walkability. New housing starts. Quaint retail. A robust park system. A historically preserved downtown. A noticeable amount of infill where, during a difficult past, many houses were torn down. So I did some digging. Sure enough, publications like Money magazine consistently rank Apex as one of the best places to live due to its balance of rapid ...

EdChoice voucher ruling provides chance to address school funding

Editorials

Thursday’s ruling by the Ohio 10th District Court of Appeals that the state’s EdChoice voucher program is unconstitutional will no doubt ruffle some feathers in Columbus. Good. Judge David Leland, who wrote the opinion for the three-judge panel, says the program violates the state constitution because it funds a separate school system, according to a report by The Blade, in Toledo. That violates the mandate for a SINGULAR public education system. It was the panel’s opinion that the voucher program also lacks meaningful state oversight, is unavailable to many rural Ohioans ...

Supporting Veterans: A Message of Hope

Columns

Many veterans are doing well, contributing to their communities, and thriving. However, many veterans may also face challenges related to trauma, transition, isolation, mental health, substance use, physical health, or financial stress. These challenges do not define a veteran’s future. As Veterans Day approaches on November 11, we can honor veterans not only through recognition and gratitude, but also by ensuring that they and their families know they are valued, heard, and never alone. Reaching out to a veteran who might be struggling can be lifesaving. You don’t have to be an ...

Scotch heritage instrumental in formation Columbiana County townships

Columns

The Scotch Settlement was founded about 1800 primarily in Madison and Yellow Creek townships. The settlement lacked “official” boundaries, but it was identified by properties owned by the emigrants from the Highlands of Scotland, many from Strathdearn and Strathnairn. The tract was ...

Ohio residents need hope regarding cost of living

Editorials

If grocery store sticker shock is fading in Ohio, it is only because Buckeye State residents have gotten used to spending more than they’d like (or are truly able) to spend to feed their families these days. The reality is inflation simply isn’t letting up. But the problem is worse in some states than others. Disturbingly, according to WalletHub’s “Cities Where People Spend the Most and Least on Groceries,” three of the top ten most expensive cities in the country in which to buy groceries are in Ohio. No other state has more than one city in the top ten, out of 100 ...

Answer needed for Ohio infants dying at rates higher than most in the country

Editorials

Ohioans know our state has its challenges, but generally speaking we think of ourselves as better off than those in some other parts of the country — or world. For our youngest and most vulnerable residents, that is not always the case. Given the number of politicians who want us to believe the lives of babies are of the utmost important to them, it is astounding that the infant mortality rate here is STILL considerably above the national average. Efforts to address the problem have made some progress. We are down to 6.6 deaths per 1,000 live births in Ohio, compared with the ...