COLUMBIANA CORNER Salem gives young athletes the spotlight downtown

Anyone who strolls through Salem's central business district during the school year passes a gallery of young athletes.
One of the city's traditions is asking East State Street shop owners to post in their street-front windows professional portraits of participants in Salem High School sports programs, as well as the cheerleaders who root for the contestants.
Each photo shows a student in uniform with his or her name below the picture.
Given the many sports programs offered by the high school, the athlete galleries begin in early fall and last well into the spring.
Joking around: Tom Eastek, a longtime Leetonia Schools Board of Education member, had a little fun at a Vindicator reporter's expense recently.
When the reporter called Eastek's home, Eastek answered, "Salem News."
"I'm sorry, I must have misdialed," the reporter said.
"OK," Eastek said.
The reporter carefully checked the number, which is nowhere close to that of the local daily, and cautiously dialed again.
"Salem News," Eastek said.
"I'm sorry," the reporter said. "I have this as the number for a Leetonia school board member."
"You do?" Eastek deadpanned. "Imagine that."
"Tom, is that you?" the reporter said as the light dawned. "You have caller ID, don't you?"
"Yep," Eastek replied, laughing.
XCONTRIBUTORS: Norman Leigh and Nancy Tullis, Vindicator Salem Bureau.