Breaking News

Opinion

Ohio is ‘all aboard’ with pursuing rail transportation

Editorials

It was a small thing. Just $25,000 included in this year’s state budget to let Ohioans know its elected representatives support the idea of real passenger rail transportation options for the state. The money will let the Ohio join the Interstate Midwest Passenger Rail Commission, according to a report by WBNS. That, in turn, will lead to conversations with Amtrak, the Federal Railroad Administration and others. A representative of All Aboard Ohio told WBNS there is work being done on a rail line that would connect Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton. There is another proposed ...

Upset with decision regarding Coach DeShields

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: After reading the story of letting Coach (Walt) DeShields go at West Branch, and “wanting to go in a different direction” after all of the success he has had is quite upsetting. My background in coaching at the high school and college level almost spans thirty years. Not living up to expectations or lapses in judgement makes it necessary to be let go. That is not the case here. Coach DeShields, is really good at what he does, that is the facts, the truth. He has a long list of positive impact in the West Branch community and throughout the state of ...

Ohio needs statewide fiber buildout

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: Some Congressmen have recently introduced legislation that could limit households and businesses in rural areas of our state to satellite internet service while other areas have access to reliable fiber internet. The SPEED for BEAD bill would also make it easier for companies to use low-road contractors when building fiber connections and cause delays in broadband build by forcing states to revisit their plans. As a telecommunications worker, I know what reliable, long-lasting internet service looks like. Unlike fiber, which is a one-time infrastructure investment with ...

More support for Coach DeShields

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: Imagine my surprise when I heard the demise of Coach Walt DeShields from the Carrollton Athletic Director. Ron told me the news and imagine my reaction. We spoke about the situation for about ten minutes before it was time to start the baseball game. We decided it was a story that would be of interest to many in “Warrior Nation” and many basketball fans in the area, because of his success and stellar reputation. Before I speak to his “game night” performances which led to nearly 400 victories and 20 consecutive winning seasons, let’s look at the man. He filled ...

County leadership urges passing of sales tax renewal

Columns

On the May 6 Primary Ballot, the voters of Columbiana County will once again be asked to renew its 1% “permissive” sales & use tax, a tax which has been in effect in Columbiana County for the past three decades. This tax assesses one penny for every dollar of goods we purchase in the county. Are we the only county to have this sort of tax instrument? No, we are not. In fact, there are permissive sales taxes in place in every other single county in Ohio, 50 of which are at the same tax rate as Columbiana County, according to the Ohio Department of Taxation. Many of these other 49 ...

We encourage voters to back Ohio Issue 2

Editorials

Off-year spring ballots can be full of significant decisions for voters — often the kind that affect us in ways that hit closer to home than what is happening in Washington, D.C. In Ohio, voters will be asked in May to decide on Issue 2 — renewing and increasing the state spending cap for its public works projects. Since 1987, Ohio voters have renewed the Local Public Infrastructure Bond Amendment three times, and more than 19,000 grants and loans have been funded for projects all over the state — roads, bridges, retaining walls and other public works. The program allows ...