Bar owners drop smoking ban appeal

WARREN — A planned administrative review of the smoking law violation for Leon's Sports Bar and Grille in Howland was canceled at the last minute this week when the bar’s owners agreed to drop the appeal.

“We respect the law. We respect the health department, and we’re going to comply with the laws of Ohio,” said Atty. Gary Rich, who represents the owner of the bar, Richard Kelsh.

Kelsh was among a group of taverns and other workplaces that received notices of violation after the state’s Smoke-Free Workplace law went into effect this May. However, Kelsh is the only one that vowed to fight the notice and whose case reached the administrative review stage.

For more on this story, see Saturday’s Vindicator or www.vindy.com.