Breaking News

zNewsletter Sunday

Candidates file for Belmont commissioner, auditor seats

ST. CLAIRSVILLE – A Belmont County commissioner is facing a challenge in the coming May 3 primary election, while the county auditor’s race will be contested in the fall. The deadline for candidates to file to run for office was Wednesday. Incumbent Commissioner Jerry Echemann of Martins Ferry filed for the Republican nomination to defend his seat. This would be Echemann’s second term, having first been elected in 2018. He said he is proud of his record on the board, which includes paving roads and maintaining the budget. Vince Gianangeli of Colerain also filed a petition to run ...

Woman pleads guilty to extortion

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — More information has come to light surrounding an extortion case arising from the investigation of a double murder. On Friday Miana Smith, 25, of Guernsey Street, Bellaire pleaded guilty to extortion, a third-degree felony. According to Assistant Prosecutor Chris Gagin, Smith and her co-defendant, Anthony Michael Dibacco, 31, of the same address, blackmailed Thomas Strussion, deceased owner of the former Salsa Joe’s restaurants in Belmont and Wheeling. Smith and Dibacco reportedly threatened to reveal that Strussion had an affair with Smith. Gagin said Strussion ...

ODH changes COVID tactics

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Ohio Department of Health issued a memorandum late last week signifying a change in COVID-19 management tactics – and that decision prompted the Belmont County Health Department to do the same. In light of the enormous surge in reported outbreaks, local health departments will now concentrate more on cluster outbreaks and not infected individuals. “The recent surge in COVID-19 cases and the new recommendation of the Ohio Department of Health is forcing the Belmont County Health Department to change the way it advises people who have contracted the virus,” ...

Power outages push public to warming shelters

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Tens of thousands of people were without power across Eastern and Southern Ohio on Friday — a result of a strong winter storm named Landon. Information provided by American Electric Power states that 50,000 of its customers in the region had lost electricity due to ...

Grant helps Belmont VFD get lifesaving device

BELMONT — Members of the Belmont Volunteer Fire Department have a new tool to help them save lives, courtesy of some local landowners. The Belmont County Enrichment Fund – aka Give Belmont County, which is affiliated with the Community Foundation for The Ohio Valley – was created in ...

Monroe County land bank aiming to clean up communities

WOODSFIELD — The Monroe County Land Reutilization Corp., also known as a land bank, is eyeing eight deteriorating properties in multiple areas of the county for removal or renovation. The county land bank was established in August, and officials are ready to begin making improvements to local townships and villages by acquiring and razing dilapidated and abandoned buildings in the county. The organization held a planning meeting earlier this week to discuss eligible properties and additional funding opportunities that will aid them in their endeavor. County Treasurer Taylor Abbott, ...