Breaking News

Columbiana County 2025 4-H queen still making impact on this year’s fair

LISBON — A pair of projects started by 2025 4-H Queen Allison Irwin are part of this year’s Columbiana County Fair, with the All In Livestock Show at 6 p.m. Saturday, and the Showman’s Closet being raided regularly in the Junior Fair building. Irwin said 13 participants have signed up ...

New status hearing set in 2021 murder case

LISBON — A new status hearing has been set at 1:15 p.m. Sept. 14 in the aggravated murder case against Curtis D. Holland, the man accused in the 2021 murder of Brycen Douglas. Holland, 30, Dewey Avenue, East Liverpool, appeared in the custody of deputies during a brief status hearing Thursday in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court before Judge Scott Washam. Holland was accompanied by defense attorneys, Rhys Cartwright Jones and Zachary Miller. The state was represented by county Assistant Prosecutors Steve Yacovone and Christopher Weeda. The judge spoke briefly with the ...

Former chaplain appeals plea, sentence for child porn possession

LISBON — The former hospital chaplain sentenced to 25 to 27 years in prison for downloading, printing and possessing 12,000-plus images of children engaged in sex acts is appealing his plea and sentence. Sabella, 38, formerly of Beloit with a current address in Youngstown, entered a guilty plea in May and was sentenced in July for six counts of second-degree felony pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person and 50 counts of fourth-degree felony pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person. During his sentencing, he apologized to the many unknown child ...

New pretrial set for man accused of causing child’s death

LISBON — A new pretrial hearing is set at 10:20 a.m. Sept. 4 in the case against a former Negley man involving the death of a child in 2024. Seth T. Hildebrand, 20, whose address in court records is now listed as Birch Road, East Liverpool, was originally set to appear for a pretrial hearing on Aug. 14, but was changed due to a scheduling conflict for his defense attorney. Hildebrand last week entered a not guilty plea during arraignment for involuntary manslaughter and endangering children for allegedly causing the death of a 2-year-old child in December 2024. He’s out of jail ...

Illinois man caught in sex sting pleads guilty to child porn possession

LISBON — An Illinois man charged for allegedly possessing images of child pornography after being caught in a sex-for-hire sting in 2024 entered a guilty plea Wednesday. Vincent John Bianconi, 36, last known address Chicago Heights, Ill., appeared in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court before Judge Scott Washam and was supposed to be facing a trial, but instead opted for a plea. He was accompanied by his attorney, Lawrence Stacey II. According to county Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Weeda, Bianconi pleaded guilty to three counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor or ...

Storms dampen third day of fair

A thunderstorm moving over the Columbiana County Fairgrounds early Wednesday afternoon put a temporary stop to many of the activities. Vendors were rushing to cover their goods and rides stopped. The midway was left empty of fair traffic as many fair attendees huddled in barns and under the ...