METRO DIGEST || Heli inspections

Wire inspections

YOUNGSTOWN

Ohio Edison will be using a slow-flying helicopter, weather permitting, between now and early March to conduct comprehensive visual inspections of its high-voltage transmission lines, the utility announced. The dark blue helicopter will fly at about 10 mph, often hovering or circling to conduct detailed, close-up inspections of the lines and utility structures along them, said David Turner, OE division manager, in an email.

Academic challenge

Salem

Columbiana County Educational Service Center will conduct the county Varsity Academic Challenge competition from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Salem High School, 1200 E. Sixth St. For the 14th-consecutive year, the CCESC will bring together Columbiana County high schools to compete in this daylong tournament, with one team emerging as county champion. The winning team will represent Columbiana County at the regional academic competition April 21 at Cloverleaf High School, and the state tournament will take place May 5 at Columbus State Community College. This is the longest running academic competition in Ohio. The public is invited. For information, call 330-424-9591, ext. 179.

Firefighter crash

YOUNGSTOWN

A city fire battalion chief en route to a fire call on Loveland Road got into an accident at Midlothian Boulevard and Sheridan Road Saturday morning. Battalion Chief Jim Drummond, who was responding from the Indianola Avenue fire station, struck a car that had been travelling on Sheridan at 10:47 a.m. No injuries were reported, according to 21 WFMJ TV, The Vindicator’s broadcast partner.