COLUMBIANA CORNER Money's tight but humor flows

Columbiana County government's strained finances are no laughing matter, but commissioners sometimes try to see the lighter side of the situation.
Commissioner Dave Cranmer noted recently that county residents must be prepared for the possibility of higher property taxes.
That prompted Commissioner Jim Hoppel to quip, "When you come up with a way to prepare people for higher taxes, let me know."
Later in the same meeting, Cranmer was discussing the difficulty of finding money to pay bills.
"I've got to work the street corners, or we'll have bake sales on Saturday morning," he cracked.
Good advice: Elizabeth Goerig, principal of Leetonia's Orchard Hill Elementary, has posted a sign which may be good advice to not only pupils, but adult visitors to her office: "Make an effort, not an excuse."
Power play: Assistant Columbiana County Prosecutor John Gamble recently received a less-than-warm welcome at a news conference.
Gamble showed up at a briefing held for the media by Cogentrix Energy Inc. of Charlotte, N.C.
The company wants to build a $600 million power plant not far from Gamble's home. He opposes the project.
During the news conference, Gamble tried to ask questions, but a Cogentrix spokeswoman told him the session was for media only and asked him to leave.
Gamble stopped asking questions, but he stuck around.
In opposing the power plant, Gamble has made it clear he's acting as a private citizen, not as an assistant prosecutor.