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Salem man accused of raping children to have competency evaluated

LISBON —A Salem man accused of rape and multiple other sex-related acts against two children was ordered evaluated for competency during a hearing Friday in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court. Mark E. Knight, 57, North Ellsworth Avenue, appeared via video from the county jail for the status hearing before Judge Megan Bickerton. His defense attorney, Terry Grenga, had filed a motion last month requesting a psychiatric evaluation and reiterated that request in court. When asked by the judge, county Assistant Prosecutor Steve Yacovone said he had no objection. Bickerton granted the ...

Dr. Marcela Purtell returns to SRMC Primary Care-Calcutta

SALEM – Salem Regional Medical Center (SRMC) has announced that Family Medicine physician Marcela Purtell, M.D., will resume seeing patients on May 20 at SRMC Primary Care-Calcutta, located at 48462 Bell School Road. A familiar face to many local families, Purtell previously served the ...

FOP Quaker Lodge honors fallen peace officers

SALEM — The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Quaker Lodge 88 held its annual National Peace Officer Memorial Service Thursday. “Today’s service is not a fundraiser nor a political event, but an opportunity to honor our fallen heroes,” FOP Quaker Lodge 88 President and retired Salem ...

Salem council names street in honor of Earle Bruce

SALEM — A section of East Pershing Street has been given a new name in honor of a hall of fame coach. In its meeting Tuesday, city council voted unanimously to approve an ordinance which will give the section of East Pershing Street in front of Sebo Stadium between Lincoln and Ohio avenues the honorary designation “Earle Bruce Way” in memory of the eponymous hall of fame coach. As an honorary designation, the name change will not affect postal addresses and will simply be denoted with signage. The honorary designation was proposed by Salem Athletic Hall of Fame Chairman ...

Commissioners undecided on piggy back homestead tax exemption

LISBON — Columbiana County commissioners haven’t decided yet whether to enact what’s being called the piggy back homestead tax exemption, which could nearly double the current savings for property owners who qualify and receive the current homestead exemption. The issue was raised Wednesday by former county commissioner Dave Cranmer, who talked about the property tax relief enacted by the legislature and how the power was given to county commissioners on whether the homestead exemption relief should be granted. He explained that March 20 was the effective date for the rule ...

Applications for downtown funds available June 1

LISBON — The application periods for the new Downtown Building Renovation and Downtown Signage Programs open June 1 through the Columbiana County Port Authority for businesses and building owners in the county’s walkable downtowns. “We are excited to see this program move forward and look forward to supporting continued investment and revitalization throughout our downtown communities,” CCPA Executive Director Brittany Smith wrote in her director’s report for the CCPA board’s recent meeting. The programs were first announced back in April when the board voted to accept a ...