COLUMBIANA CORNER Legislators OK bill to rename road for war hero

A bill to rename a section of state Route 7 in Columbiana County after a Vietnam War hero is awaiting the governor's signature.
The proposal recently was approved by the state House of Representatives, clearing the way for it to go the governor.
Called for in the measure is renaming state Route 7 from East Liverpool west through Wellsville the Melvin E. Newlin Memorial Highway.
Newlin, a Wellsville native, served in the Marine Corps in Vietnam and was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions July 4, 1967.
Wounded twice, Newlin kept up machine gun fire against advancing Viet Cong until he was mortally wounded.
His efforts turned the battle to the U.S. troops' favor and led to a successful campaign.
The renaming effort has been championed in the Legislature by state Sen. Greg DiDonato of Dennison, D-30th, and former state Rep. Sean Logan of Salineville, D-3rd. Logan now serves as a Columbiana County commissioner.
Party pledge: Members of Millwright-Pile Driver Local 1871 last week made good on their pledge to give something back to the village of Leetonia by donating $600 for tonight's community Halloween party.
Village officials decided to enhance the fire department's annual Halloween parade and party at the fire station after council voted to cancel trick or treat night because of nationwide fears of bioterrorism.
Earlier this month, Don Crane, council representative of the local's northeast Ohio district, offered the union's services for community projects at council's discretion.
He said the offer was in appreciation for the police department's cooperation and fair treatment of union members as they staged an informational picket at the General Extrusions construction site.
Members of the millwright's union staged the informational picketing at the entrance to the Columbiana County Port Authority's World Trade Park for several days in September.
They were expressing their disappointment that General Extrusions Inc. of Boardman did not choose union contractors to install equipment at the plant under construction there.
XCONTRIBUTORS: Norman Leigh and Nancy Tullis, Vindicator Salem Bureau