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Opinion

Annual New Year’s don’t drink and drive message

Editorials

The message is one we feel obliged to repeat this time each year. There are some people across our country, across our state and across our own area who will awaken today with a brand new year in the offing helped along with a drink or more. There will be so much promise and anticipation for 2025. These folks will celebrate and share good times tonight with family and friends as midnight beckons the fleeting hands of 2024’s clock. They will sing —or slur — along to “Auld Lang Syne.” Even if they don’t know all of the words. Which, actually, most of us couldn’t recite while ...

Lawmakers have no sense of urgency on property tax issue

Editorials

It is not just federal elected officials who have dropped the ball for their constituents as they got tired of pretending to work on our behalf before their holiday break. In Columbus, necessary change was avoided when Senate Bill 271 and House Bill 263 failed to advance, stalling the effort to reform property taxes. Nearly everyone agrees something must be done to protect taxpayers. But that knowledge has not translated into any sense of urgency. “I’ve talked to so many of our seniors, and sometimes crying over the phone, regarding this property tax issue,” state Sen. Hearcel ...

Lawmakers have no sense of urgency on property tax issue

Editorials

It is not just federal elected officials who have dropped the ball for their constituents as they got tired of pretending to work on our behalf before their holiday break. In Columbus, necessary change was avoided when Senate Bill 271 and House Bill 263 failed to advance, stalling the effort to reform property taxes. Nearly everyone agrees something must be done to protect taxpayers. But that knowledge has not translated into any sense of urgency. “I’ve talked to so many of our seniors, and sometimes crying over the phone, regarding this property tax issue,” state Sen. Hearcel ...

A thanks to the dedicated public defenders

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: A thank you to the attorneys who serve Columbiana County as public defenders. They are professionals who help to keep our local courts running smoothly. Without experienced and competent defense lawyers, our justice system suffers. Cases may be delayed and court dockets can become backlogged arguably resulting in a waste of scarce public resources. Public defenders not only contribute to efficiency, they aid in remedying situations leading to court involvement. Defense attorneys often are the ones who facilitate counseling or substance abuse treatment for ...

Ohio needs DeWine's veto

Editorials

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has been a champion for police departments throughout his career, working to secure more funding, better equipment and more training for departments across the Buckeye State. He also was a huge factor in helping departments across the state acquire money to purchase body cameras for officers, which have protected officers — and also the public. Now DeWine is the last, best hope that a higher level of integrity can be maintained regarding government transparency in Ohio. Lawmakers, in the late hours of the last days of the 135th General Assembly, approved ...

To all of our readers, have a wonderful Christmas!

Editorials

The original version of the following piece appeared in the Salem News way back in 2004. The response created back then and each and every year is truly appreciated. It is presented having undergone a tweak, nip and a tug over the Christmas seasons. Thank you for your kindness! Merry Christmas to kids everywhere who tonight will squeeze tightly their eyes and strain to hear reindeer footsteps on the rooftop. They will finally fall asleep in a bed full of warmth and full of dreams. And Merry Christmas to all of us who wish we could still believe in a Santa Claus. Merry Christmas to ...