COLUMBIANA CO. Donors sought for memorial

Construction on the monument is to start soon and be done by midsummer.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Columbiana County's history and heroes are being given a place of honor in front of the courthouse, and commissioners are asking for the public's help to pay for the effort.
Commissioners unveiled an estimated $20,000 project Wednesday to construct a memorial just outside the courthouse's main entrance along Market Street.
The memorial will house a bell to be cast this summer as part of the state's bicentennial and a 26-inch-by-34-inch plaque identifying the 10 Medal of Honor winners who were either from the county or buried here.
Etched into the memorial's 6-to-8-inch thick granite surface will be images of the county's flag and Ohio's bicentennial logo.
No government money will be used for the nearly 9-foot-by-9-foot structure. Funds will be raised by selling nearly 400 bricks for $50 each.
The bricks, which will form a pad in front of the memorial, may be inscribed with words or names designated by the donor.
Those interested in having inscribed bricks must order them by June 2 if they want them to be in place for the monument's dedication this summer. Order forms are available at the commissioners' office in the courthouse.
Funding for the monument also will be sought from businesses and corporations.
Richardson Monuments of Lisbon is doing the work and has agreed to start in the next few weeks and to be paid once money is raised, Commissioner Jim Hoppel said.
Plans call for dedicating the monument during a Fourth of July ceremony that will coincide with festivities commemorating Lisbon's bicentennial.
Lisbon, the county and the state all are marking their 200th anniversary this year.