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Salem council agrees to place parks renewal levy on November ballot

SALEM — Salem voters will be presented with the question of renewing the parks department’s 1.3-mill recreational levy. The city council voted unanimously Tuesday to place the renewal of the levy on the ballot in both Columbiana and Mahoning counties in the upcoming General Election on Nov. 3. City council previously approved two resolutions declaring it necessary to seek renewal of the levy, with two corresponding resolutions approved Tuesday declaring it necessary to actually present voters with the renewal in November. Last approved by voters in 2022, the recreational levy ...

New pretrial set for horse deaths so defense can review evidence

LISBON — A new pretrial has been scheduled at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 31 in the case against Heather J. Birkmire, who’s accused of cruelty to animals in the deaths of five horses last year at Pure Gold Stables in Salem Township. “I did receive a sizable amount of discovery I’m trying to go through. I’m asking for more time,” Birkmire’s defense attorney Ron Yarwood said. The state did not object to the continuance during a pretrial hearing Wednesday, with Columbiana County Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer Bonish acknowledging there was a very large discovery in this case and the ...

Driver learns sentence for crash that killed elderly couple

LISBON — A man who caused the deaths of an elderly Salem couple in a 2024 crash after falling asleep at the wheel sobbed as he was led away in handcuffs for a six-month jail term, twice saying “I am so sorry.” Kaylan Latrae Jones, 26, Cleveland, formerly Georgetown Road, Salem, faced ...

Late pioneering Butler Township dairy farmer honored at fair

LISBON — Herb Stryffeler didn’t just farm the land — he embraced new technology for milking, got excited about the soil and freely shared what he learned with others. His children described him as a helper, a hard worker and a pioneer, traveling all over to install and service milking ...

Cool Cleansing

Jax, a Charolais Cross steer, enjoys a bath with Elli Powers of Hanoverton manning the hose Tuesday at the Columbiana County Fair. A member of the Just Rite 4-H Club, Powers is a junior at United High School. (Photo by Mary Ann Greier)

Salem utilities superintendent resigns, assistant named to the position

SALEM — The utilities commission named a new superintendent during a special meeting Tuesday. The commissioners unanimously approved the resignation of Superintendent Butch Donnalley effective July 31, and the appointment of Assistant Superintendent Chad Hess as the department’s new superintendent effective Aug. 1. An Austintown native, Hess has served as Salem’s assistant superintendent since Aug. 5, 2024. Prior to that, he served as the utilities superintendent for the village of New Waterford for 12 years. He said that he was excited to continue serving the community in ...