STEUBENVILLE, Ohio — The Friendship Room has opened as a cooling center to help residents find relief from the high temperatures affecting the Ohio Valley.

The facility is providing an air-conditioned space where visitors can cool down and receive water, sports drinks, popsicles and fresh chilled fruit.

Director Molly McGovern said the organization is especially focused on reaching people who are homeless, living in tents or staying inside abandoned buildings. Staff members are also distributing drinks at street level and reminding residents about the importance of staying hydrated.

McGovern said the heat index reached approximately 103 degrees Wednesday, demonstrating that potentially dangerous summer conditions can continue into September.

Fans and air conditioning are available inside the center, and staff members plan to remain at the Friendship Room throughout the current period of excessive heat.

The organization is accepting donations to help maintain its supply of cooling essentials. Requested items include bottled water, sports drinks, popsicles and fresh fruit.

Additional information is available through the Friendship Room’s Facebook page.

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio — A major underground moisture problem has delayed the resurfacing of Wellesley Avenue, leaving part of the Steubenville roadway closed for approximately two weeks.

City Engineer Michael Dolak said crews discovered that soil beneath the road’s brick layer had become saturated, causing the pavement to shift and deteriorate.

Although crews occasionally encounter small areas of damaged pavement during resurfacing projects, Dolak said the affected section on Wellesley Avenue is unusually large. The deterioration extends approximately 400 feet and measures between 15 and 16 feet wide.

The city plans to excavate roughly 15 inches of material before installing a stone foundation and a thicker temporary asphalt layer. The repair is intended to stabilize the road through the winter.

Funding for the temporary work will come from unused grant money and funds originally designated for additional curbing.

Because the damaged area sits above a waterline, city officials also plan to work with a consultant on its replacement and the eventual reconstruction of the 1200 block. That section may receive only a leveling layer this year while plans are developed for a larger project in 2027.

The overall $500,000 resurfacing project extends from University Boulevard to Bellevue Avenue.

Residents acknowledged that the closure has disrupted travel through the neighborhood but expressed support for improvements to the pothole-damaged roadway.

Dolak thanked residents for their patience and said the city hopes to reopen the road next week. Officials expect the immediate work to be completed by the end of September, although no firm timeline has been announced for the full reconstruction project.