Car crash kills woman

Car crash kills woman
LISBON -- An East Palestine woman died in a one-car crash in Unity Township.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol Lisbon post said Brenda L. Marker, 33, of 1032 W. Martin St. was found dead in her car around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday by an Ohio Department of Transportation road crew.
The patrol said the accident occurred around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, but the crash scene off state Route 46 was not visible from the road.
Marker was southbound on Route 46 near state Route 558 when the crash occurred. The patrol said Marker's car went off the right side of the road on a curve, struck a highway sign and went down an embankment. The car then went sideways into a creek, striking a culvert.
Marker was not wearing a seat belt, the patrol said.
Lawsuit dismissed
LISBON -- A woman's lawsuit against the Wellsville school district has been dismissed by a Columbiana County Common Pleas Court judge.
Judge David Tobin determined the school district may not be held liable for Sara Douglas' 4-year-old son Camden's falling through a bleachers handrail while attending a basketball game. The boy was severely injured in the fall. The ruling did not state when the accident occurred.
Douglas, 1512 Lincoln Ave., Wellsville, claimed in her 2001 lawsuit that the school district neglected to install a device to prevent a child from falling through the handrail.
But Judge Tobin determined the school district had no indication that a hazardous condition existed.
Ex-workers sue agency
LISBON -- Four former employees of the Community Action Agency of Columbiana County are suing the social services organization and its director, alleging they were fired without just cause.
The suit was filed in county common pleas court by Tori Hoperich of Lisbon, Crystal Jones of Leetonia, Carol Anne Campsey of Lisbon and Linda Beadnell of Salineville.
The women were administrators at the agency. The lawsuit says they were all fired this spring after Hoperich, assisted by Jones, notified Director Carol Bretz of actions Hoperich believed violated agency regulations.
The lawsuit claims Hoperich was fired in retaliation for that action. Jones was fired for seeking legal counsel, the lawsuit claims.
Also alleged is that the other employees were fired because they're related to either Hoperich or Jones.
Bretz could not be reached to comment this morning.
Walk Warm program
COLUMBIANA -- Columbiana High School will begin its after-school Walk Warm program Monday.
Adults 30 and older who reside in the school district may walk the high school hallways for exercise weekdays from 3 to 5:30 p.m. School officials started the program last year to provide a place where district residents could exercise away from inclement weather during fall and winter. The course is marked so walkers can track how far they have walked in the building. During the first week of the program, school nurse Pam Zitto will be available so those who want to participate can have their blood pressure checked.
Helping the homeless
Ohio has awarded two area agencies a total of about $120,000 to help the homeless.
Gov. Bob Taft announced that the Warren-Trumbull Urban League has received a $73,600 grant for Christy House, a shelter.
Community Action Agency of Columbiana County received a $46,300 grant to assist homeless people in that county.
Sentenced in porn case
PITTSBURGH -- Wesley J. Rowlands, 23, of Gearhart Road, Pulaski, Mercer County, was sentenced in federal court here to two years, nine months in prison and three years of parole for transportation of child pornography. According to information presented in court by the U.S. attorney's office, on Oct. 7, 1999, Rowlands sent two photographs containing child pornography via computer to an individual he believed was a 12-year-old boy in California. This person was actually an undercover Los Angeles County deputy sheriff. Rowlands also engaged in conversations with the deputy via the Internet, which were sexual in nature, Picking said. Before sentencing, Judge Gary L. Lancaster said he was concerned that Rowlands had asked someone, whom he believed was 12 years old, to engage in sexual conduct for money.