Conversations With Columbiana County

County GIS Coordinator, Gabe Durrant, swings by to tell us about what GIS is (spoiler: it stands for geographic information system), how it is used in the county, and who can and should use it. Gabe also tells us about the county's aerial drone program and ground penetrating radar, along with his favorite bands.

Haedan Panezott joins us to discuss many of the projects he accomplished as the Executive Director of the Columbiana County Land Reutilization Corporation (a/k/a the Land Bank). Haedan recently stepped down from that role to focus on an ever-important role at the Columbiana County Port Authority. Haedan describes some of the demolition work, brownfield cleanup, rehabilitations, and beautification projects he's worked on and educates us on anime and manga.

Columbiana County native, Kathy Schulz, join us to discuss her recently published book, The Underground Railroad in Ohio. Kathy tells us what the Underground Railroad was (and what it wasn't!!). We learn why Ohio was truly at the heart of the Underground Railroad and the important role that Columbiana County had in the Underground Railroad. We are also introduced to a number of very interesting characters whom exemplify the people of the Underground Railroad. Click here for a link to the book's website. If you enjoy this podcast, you can catch one of Kathy's presentations as part of her book tour: Ohio Book Tour Mad River Theater Works, Yellow Springs, Friday Jan 13, 7pm (panel discussion and play) Clark County Public Library, Springfield, Saturday Jan 14, 2pm Union Township Public Library, Ripley, Sunday Jan 15, 2pm Mechanicsburg Public Library, Saturday Jan 21, 1 pm Delaware County Historical Association, Sunday Jan 22, 2 pm Dresden Branch, Muskingum County Library/Prospect Place Historic Home, Thursday Jan 26, 5pm Mindfair Books, Oberlin, Saturday Jan 28, 2pm Loganberry Books, Cleveland, Sunday Jan 29, 1pm Crestview High School, Tuesday January 31, 9am Underground Railroad Museum, Flushing, Sunday Feb 5, 2pm Massillon Public Library/Spring Hill Historic Home UGRR Site, Monday Feb 6, 6pm Haines House UGRR Museum & Rodman Public Library, Alliance, Tuesday Feb 7, 6:30pm Columbiana Public Library, Wednesday Feb 8, 2pm Cozad-Bates House, Cleveland, Saturday Feb 11, noon (docent talks) Fireside Books, Chagrin Falls, Sunday Feb 12, 1pm (signing only) Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Monday Feb 13, 2pm Salem Historical Society, Tuesday Feb 14, 7pm Mulberry Street Books, Lebanon, Thursday Feb 16, 2pm (signing only) Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati, Thursday Feb 16, 7pm

We welcome retired YSU geography professor, Dr. Tom Maraffa to the podcast. Tom recently conducted an analysis of the Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) program, with a special focus on the City of Columbiana's relatively new (but active) CRA program. We talk about what a CRA is, what it tries to do, and how it works. Then Tom takes us through his analysis, the problems it presents, his conclusions, and his recommendations. To see Dr. Maraffa's power point presentation, click here.

Wes Vins, the Health Commissioner of the Columbiana County General Health District joins us for this episode. In this interview (part 2 of 2), Wes tells us about the COVID pandemic, explains some of the science, and details all aspects of the response from the local, state, and national perspective.

Wes Vins, the Health Commissioner of the Columbiana County General Health District joins us for this episode. In this interview (part 1 of 2), we learn a bit about Wes, the history of public health, and some of the specific activities of the Columbiana County General Health District.

Current Mayor of the City of Columbiana, Bryan Blakeman, joins us to discuss why he would like your vote for Columbiana County Treasurer.

Current Columbiana County Treasurer, Linda Bolon, joins us to discuss why she would like your vote for Columbiana County Treasurer.

Tom Butch and Eileen Dray-Bardon, Chair and Vice-Chair respectively, of the Columbiana County Parks District Board of Commissioners join us for this episode. Learn about some of the great facilities the Parks District has to offer in Columbiana County, including the Greenway Bike Trail, Scenic Vista Park, Hellbender Bluff Park, the site of the first Ohio Supreme Court gathering, disc golf, pump track, and many other programs. Tom and Eileen tell us about how they manage and maintain all this, what it costs to do it, and how they fund it. They also tell us about their upcoming levy request: a quarter-mill, five year levy that, if passed, would cost the owner of property valued at $100,000 about $8.75/year. This is the first in a series of podcast episodes dedicated to candidates and issues on the November 2020 ballot. If you are a candidate, or would like to discuss an issue that will appear on the November 2020 ballot, we would like to have you on the podcast. If interested, please contact us at podcast@columbianacodev.org

The episode nobody has been waiting for!!! Peter Wilson returns to interview Columbiana County's Director of Economic Development, Tad Herold (that's me). Peter asks me about my work at the Office of Economic Development, including the establishment and administration of the Columbiana County Land Bank; my work as a Port Authority Board member; and some of the current initiatives I've been working on, including the county's geographic information system (GIS), and the county visitors bureau. Peter also asks me about my days as a Columbiana Clipper, disarms me with a question about one of my favorite artists (Don Dugal), and demands to know about my top 5 golf courses within an hour's drive.

Peter Wilson joins us once again for the podcast. This time he will be doing the interviewing! Peter interviews Penny Traina, the CEO and Executive Director of the Columbiana County Port Authority. We learn about what this often misunderstood entity does, how it's organized, and how it's financed. We also learn about Penny's interesting career path that led her to this position. Penny also shares with us her top 5 favorite places to visit.

We are joined by two administrators of the Columbiana County Career and Technical Center (CCCTC): Assistant Superintendent Jeremy Corbisello and Principal Jordan Williams. Mr. Corbisello and Mr. Williams tell us about the programs offered at CCCTC, the benefits their students enjoy, and some of the trends in workforce and education. They also share with us some of their favorite books!

Chaney Nezbeth, Executive Director of the Way Station Inc. joins us to discuss this faith-based organization. The Way Station has locations in Columbiana and East Liverpool, but serves thousand of people from all over Columbiana County and beyond. Listen in to learn about the varied programs offered by the Way Station. Some of these programs meet the immediate needs of its clients, while others take a long-range approach and help people develop skills that help them well into the future. Chaney also tells us about the retail stores, the garden, and the very beginnings of the Way Station--we bet you'll be surprised at where it all started!

Columbiana County Commissioner Mike Halleck joins us for this episode of the podcast. We learn about his boyhood in a country music hotspot in Kentucy, his career in retail, and what led him to politics. We also learn a bit about his political career and what he enjoys most about being a county commissioner. Mike tells us about his favorite Presidents of all time. Some of which may surprise you.

The new Mayor of Lisbon, Ohio, Peter Wilson, joins us for this episode. He tells us about growing up in the area, his work as a journalist all around the globe, and why he returned to Lisbon. We also get a glimpse of what caused him to unexpectedly get involved in local politics, leading to his time on Village Council and, now as mayor. We also talk a little bit about some of the main agenda items he will be working on as mayor. You will also learn about Peter's favorite spots to travel, and will hear harrowing stories of being locked up in Saudi Arabia and being held for ransom in South America!

Attorney John Gamble, of the Columbiana County Prosecutor's Office, is our first guest in 2020. John has been with that office for over thirty years and has served as the Chief Criminal Prosecutor for Robert L. Herron for the majority of that time. He explains the wide-ranging responsibilities of the prosecutor's office, describes the changing environment of criminal prosecution, and what it takes to stay up-to-date. In a new feature of the episode, we learn a bit more about John, including why he abhors phoneys!

Mark Lamoncha is our guest for this episode of the podcast. Mark is the CEO of Humtown Products,a full-service supplier to the foundry industry. Humtown manufactures sand cores and molds — from simple production jobs, emergency resourcing and highly complex cores to air-set cores and molds, and now 3D printed sand cores and molds. Humtown also offers an onsite Pattern Shop capable of meeting tooling and rigging needs. We talk to Mark about the innovations in which he is involved. These run from "gameification" of the manufacturing process, wherein a worker is encouraged to utilize their ingenuity to improve the process, to being a leader in additive manufacturing technologies. We also speak to Mark about his work as a board member at the Ohio Department of Education, along with all the other things he has done to improve educational opportunities locally.

Dr. David Dees, Dean of the Kent State University Columbiana County Regional Campuses in Salem and East Liverpool is our guest for this episode. He tells us about the opportunities students in Columbiana County have available to them to earn competitive, full four-year Kent State University degrees without leaving the county, and at a fraction of the cost of many other colleges and universities. You may be surprised by how many bachelor's and associates degrees are offered at the regional campuses. Dean Dees also discusses programs like Rural Scholars program, capital investment to improve the student life experience, and other programs that help students make the transition to college life. We also learn a bit about Dean Dees's own college experience and how it informed many of his initiatives.

Lance Willard joins us for this episode of the podcast. Dr. Willard tells us about how he became the City Manager of Columbiana, Ohio. He also updates us on the recently enacted Community Reinvestment Area (CRA), which can assist residents and businesses in lowering their tax burden; the new DORA legislation, which provides new opportunities for entertainment in the city; and initiatives to promote the city through joint programs with Rural Community Action Program (RCAP). Lance also tells us why Columbiana was recently named by Reader's Digest as "The Nicest Place in Ohio", which qualifies the City to compete for "Nicest Place in the Country."

Bobby Ritchey is our guest for our second podcast episode. Bobby is the Executive Director of the Columbiana County Land Reutilization Corporation, otherwise known as the Land Bank. Bobby chats with us about the Land Bank, its history, current initiatives, and future plans. Listen to learn about demolitions and rehabs which have occurred in the county, how to request the Land Bank's help, how to partner with the Land Bank for rehab projects, and much more.