COLUMBIANA CORNER 'Star Wars' meets cable wars

The latest installment of George Lucas' Star Wars saga hit theaters recently, and an AT & amp;T cable television representative made a "Star Wars" reference when addressing customer service issues at a Columbiana City Council meeting.
He said customer service must be the top priority for cable companies to survive, because long gone are the days when a cable franchise cornered the market of a viewing area.
Many customers dissatisfied with cable service now opt for satellite service. He referred to the home satellite dish as "The Death Star."
Helping out
At least one person subscribes to the theory that every little bit helps.
An anonymous donor recently sent Columbiana County Treasurer Linda Bolon $20 in cash and 100 postage stamps.
The donations were in response to Bolon's comment that her department doesn't have the $14,000 needed for postage to mail out property tax bills that must go out in July.
As the county weathers a fiscal crisis, commissioners this year have slashed departmental budgets, including the treasurer's postage account.
If money for postage isn't made available, the county's 35,000 taxpayers may be required to come to the courthouse or their local village, city or township hall to pick up their bills, Bolon has said.
Prospective donors can save their cash and their stamps, though.
Commissioner President Jim Hoppel said recently that the county will find a way to get the bills mailed.
Cool at school
Construction crews have been working in unseasonably cold weather the past few weeks, putting the finishing touches on Leetonia schools' new complex. Frost and even some snow squalls were seen in the area.
Schools Superintendent Thomas Inchak said that after students and staff move into the new school, the school board then must decide what to do with the vacated high school and Washingtonville Elementary.
"We'd like to know what we're doing with those buildings before the snow flies," Inchak said, then added, "of course, that was yesterday."
XContributors: Nancy Tullis and Norman Leigh of The Salem Bureau