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Salem school board updated on new state laws impacting public schools

SALEM — The board of education was updated on new state laws that will impact public schools in its meeting Monday. Superintendent Jamie Kemats updated the board on new requirements set by House Bill 96 which concern attendance reporting and Senate Bill 19 which Kemats said implements new math curriculum requirements similar to the science of reading guidelines implemented by House Bill 33 in 2023. Kemats said that under House Bill 96 all absences, even those which are medically excused, will count toward a student’s total hours absent for state-defined thresholds of chronic ...

Goodwill official tells county commissioners about store coming to East Liverpool

LISBON — Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries recently unveiled plans to locate not just a retail space, but also a hub for workforce training, employment support and access to social and community services on Fifth Street in East Liverpool. “We like to say we’re more than a store,” Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries CEO Shelley Murray said during a recent presentation to Columbiana County commissioners. According to Murray, it’s been a two-year journey, creating an action plan and looking at barriers affecting the workforce and now they’re excited to bring what they’re ...

Health district official provides tips to avoid cyclospora

LISBON — At least five cases of cyclospora were reported in Columbiana County as of last week, according to county Health District Health Services Administrator Amanda Amato. Amato talked briefly about the gastrointestinal illness caused by contaminated food or water during the recent county health district board meeting, noting it’s not transmitted person to person. Some of the foods affected include lettuce and other leafy greens and berries. She suggested washing hands before, during and after preparing vegetables under running water and said to scrub produce with a brush ...

Man sentenced to 20 years federal prison for having improper images of children

YOUNGSTOWN (WKBN) — A Salem man who pleaded guilty in February to having improper images of children was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. Scotty Skiba, 38, received the sentence from U.S. Judge John R. Adams in the U.S. Northern District Court of Ohio following guilty pleas to charges of receipt and distribution of visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexual activity and possession of child sex abuse material. The charges were based off a Sept. 23 criminal complaint after a search warrant was served at his Penn Avenue home in Salem. He had been under investigation ...

Leetonia council purchases ambulance from New Waterford

LEETONIA — Village council approved the purchase of an ambulance and equipment for the EMS department in its recent meeting. Council unanimously approved the purchase of an ambulance and Lucas device from New Waterford at a price of $50,000 and $10,000, respectively, and authorized Village Solicitor Abbey Minamyer to draft any legislation necessary to enact the purchase. The village of New Waterford decided to temporarily suspend its EMS services in April, and its village council subsequently voted to sell its ambulances, a 2013 and 2015 Ford, by sealed bid in June. During ...