Missing signs cause trouble

A motorist was stranded in high water because someone removed signs.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LEETONIA -- Some people might think a highway sign is a cool wall decoration, but removing the signs from the highway is a dangerous prank, said Dan Valentine, Salem Township constable.
During recent flooding, a motorist was stranded in high water on Lisbon-Canfield Road because someone removed the "high water" and "road closed" warning signs from the barricade across Lisbon-Canfield Road, Valentine said.
The motorist turned onto Lisbon-Canfield Road from state Route 344 and drove around the unmarked barricade, he said.
The recent heavy rains flooded fields and sent swollen creeks and streams rushing over roads in the county.
Valentine said as of Monday afternoon Salem-Grange, Butcher and Lisbon-Canfield roads remain closed.
Valentine said water was rising under a one-lane bridge on Butcher Road all weekend and water flowed over the bridge about 5 p.m. Sunday.
Widespread flooding was reported throughout Columbiana County, with Hanoverton, Guilford Lake, Franklin Square, Leetonia and Salem among the hardest hit areas, local officials said.