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YOUR SIDE: The Readers Take Over

Land Bank provides valuable service

To the editor:

In recent articles the Land Bank has been featured with their continuing success and I would simply like to expand on the value of this program. The “mow-to-own” program is a tremendous asset that allows neighbors and entire neighborhoods to beautify their area in concert with increasing their own property values and dramatically reducing blight within their communities.

A critical component of this successful program is it offers hope for those neighbors not a sense of defeat.

The hard work put forth by Land Bank Director Robert Ritchey is gratifying as is the assistance from our counties Director of Economic Development Tad Herold in tandem with the full support of our County Commissioners Mike Halleck, Jim Hoppel and Tim Weigle. These people know and understand that private investment capital goes where it’s welcomed and stays where it is appreciated and the Land Band is taking the correct course of action to assure our neighborhoods have a sense of pride to show outsiders why they should come to Columbiana County.

I am not one to validate mediocrity so when public servants go “over and above” to implement, support and sustain programs where our residents can actually witness positive results they deserve to be recognized and applauded.

Thank you gentlemen!

PAUL ANTHONY,

Calcutta

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Iden Memorial Breakfast and Trap Shoot a success

To the editor:

The 15th annual Lowell Iden Memorial Breakfast and Trap Shoot was once again a great success.

The Salem Hunting Club hosted the event on Aug. 4.

All proceeds from this annual event go to the Lowell Iden-Larry Iler Scholarship Fund.

This year’s recipients are Tanner Utt from Wellsville. He graduated from Southern Local and will be attending Hocking College. He will be majoring in fish management and aquaculture sciences. Tanner is the son of Karl and Connie Utt.

Bryan Smearsoll of Salem will be attending Hocking College also, majoring in wildlife resources management. This is his second year at Hocking and will graduate in May. Bryan is the son of Alan and Sue Smearsoll.

The Salem Hunting Club and the family and friends of Lowell Iden and Larry Iler would like to thank everyone who helped in any way to make this a great year.

We would like to thank the following businesses for their contributions and supporting our basket raffle.

From Salem: Salem Welding and Supply, Diehl Automotive Group, Kendrick’s Corner, Call Sign Alpha, Pizza Joe’s, Salem Hills Golf Club, State Street Tattoo, Serendipity Yogurt, Farm and Dairy, Napa Auto Parts, Salem Tire Pros, Salem Sherwin Williams, Advance Auto Parts, Ezio’s Pizza and Italian Food, Salem Sparkle Market, Salem Propane and Gas Stop.

From Lisbon: Frontiers Unlimited, JWB Supply Co., Happy Clipper II.

From Columbiana: Kellner Range and Supply, #1 Performance Center Flynn Auto Group, Napa Auto Parts, Auto Zone, Phil’s Sales and Service.

From Alliance: MAC Trailer.

From Austintown: R. L. Lipton Distributing Company.

Thanks also to Gordon Bros Water for providing bottled water for the event. Sparkle Market also provided all the buns for our lunch.

Private individuals who provided baskets were Fred Baker, Perry Township Police Chief Mike Emigh, Donna and Harry Dailey, Ron Burrows, Martha Lozier, Robert and Cindy Beach and Jay Klein. We had over 60 baskets this year!

A special thank you to all who donated monetary gifts to our benefit.

The winner of the 50/50 this year is Tracy Russell of Salem. A special thank you for returning some of the money back to the scholarship fund.

The hunting club is proud to honor in their memories the two special men the scholarship is named: Lowell Iden and Larry Iler. They were friends and longtime officers of our club.

Thanks also to James Thellman who added some variety to the trap shoot. He made exploding clay birds and also donated free boxes of shotgun shells to anyone who broke them.

This scholarship and benefit has grown over the last 15 years. Because of this success, we are looking forward to increasing the amount designated for the 2019 scholarships!

Thanks from the families and members of the Salem Hunting Club.

Thank you everyone! Sorry if we missed anyone!

JANET IDEN,

Salem

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Elaborates on the Leetonia Splash Pad

To the editor:

I would like to clarify the discussion about the Leetonia Splash Pad. Village Council did not “pull the plug” on the splash pad as the title of the article indicated. A few members of council opposed the concept and may still. However, it has been asked for more comprehensive information about the construction, implementation, maintenance, and cost of operation of the project.

The reality of this project is that it requires “x”‘ number of dollars to build. All of this cost is to be by public donation or fundraising efforts. These donations show obvious public support for this project. At the time of this correspondence donations are near $5,000 which increased immediately following the article. Most importantly, from my perspective, is the need to keep the build cost (all donated funds at this point) separate from the operational cost which will be a cost direct to the village budget. If the operational cost proves within the constraints of allowable budgeted funds from the village, then it should be council’s obligation to support this project if it is the resident’s desire to do so.

I encourage residents to voice their support or opposition for this project with these two details in mind in writing or at any council meeting.

NEAL BAYLESS,

Leetonia

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