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Belmont County Mourns the Loss of John O. Costine, Celebrated Local Attorney

River News Network Staff
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Belmont County Mourns the Loss of John O. Costine, Celebrated Local Attorney

ST. CLAIRSVILLE, OHIO – John O. Costine, Ohio’s longest continuously practicing attorney and a cherished member of the St. Clairsville community, died Thursday evening at the age of 100. His son, Eric Costine, recalled how residents grew accustomed to seeing his father make his daily walk to the Belmont County Courthouse, always sporting a fedora and carrying his legal documents.

Born on October 16, 1924, Costine celebrated his 100th birthday in October and devoted more than 70 years to the practice of law. A graduate of Ohio Northern University’s law program in 1950, he began his legal career in 1952 working alongside his father, John E. Costine, founder of the Costine Law Firm in St. Clairsville.

Before embarking on his legal career, Costine studied at Bethany College and served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the Pacific Theater.

The fondness he developed while at sea fostered a lifetime love of sailboats and sailing. He taught his wife of 69 years the love of sailing even though she did not swim and had a fear of water.

The legacy of the Costine family in the legal field spans 104 years, with both of his sons following in his footsteps. Eric now serves as the judge of Belmont County’s Western Division Court, and his brother Mark recently retired as the county’s juvenile and probate judge.

John O. Costine is survived by his three children and their spouses, his brother Tom and his wife, as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation and memorial services were held at Toothman Funeral Home in St. Clairsville on Monday and Tuesday (March 10 and 11), with burial scheduled at Union Cemetery in St. Clairsville.

Belmont County Voters Approve Three Local Levies, Reject One, in May 6 Election

River News Network Staff
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Belmont County Voters Approve Three Local Levies, Reject One, in May 6 Election

BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio — In the May 6 primary election, voters in Belmont County approved three local levies, focusing on services such as cemetery maintenance and fire protection. However, a proposed levy for current expenses in Wheeling Township was defeated.

Approved Levies:

  • Village of Belmont Cemetery Levy: Residents passed an additional 1.5-mill levy intended for ongoing cemetery maintenance, with a vote of 28 in favor and 22 against.
  • Kirkwood Township Cemetery Levy: Voters approved an additional 1-mill levy for cemetery upkeep over the next five years, passing narrowly with 10 votes for and 7 against.
  • Village of Flushing Fire and EMS Levy: A renewal of a 5-mill levy for fire and emergency medical services was overwhelmingly approved, with 49 votes in favor and 9 against.

Rejected Levy:

  • Wheeling Township Current Expenses Levy: A proposed additional 0.75-mill levy for current expenses over five years was rejected by voters, with 91 opposing and 54 supporting the measure.

Overall voter turnout in Belmont County was 6.85%, with 3,086 ballots cast out of 45,081 registered voters.

Ohio Issue 2 passes by a large margin, boosting funding for local infrastructure projects

River News Network Staff
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Ohio Issue 2 passes by a large margin, boosting funding for local infrastructure projects

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio voters overwhelmingly approved Issue 2 on Tuesday, a bond measure that will increase funding for local infrastructure projects across the state.

With 67.76% of the vote in favor and 32.24% against, the measure passed by a wide margin.

OptionVotesPercentage
✅ For588,25167.76%
❌ Against279,87332.24%
Total868,124100%

The Belmont County commissioners and other local labor and government leaders endorsed the measure ahead of the election.

Issue 2 raises the annual limit on general obligation bonds from $200 million to $250 million, allowing for up to $2.5 billion in funding over the next decade. The funds will be used to support projects such as road and bridge repairs, water system upgrades, and other essential infrastructure improvements.

Since the program began in 1987, it has financed more than 19,000 projects throughout Ohio. Officials say the increase in bonding capacity will allow local governments to maintain and modernize public infrastructure without relying solely on local tax increases.

Legislation proposed to update Ohio’s Homestead Tax Exemption

River News Network Staff
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Legislation proposed to update Ohio’s Homestead Tax Exemption

COLUMBUS, OHIO – State Representatives Daniel Troy (D-Willowick) and Thomas Hall (R-Madison Township, Butler County) have introduced House Bill 103, a bipartisan proposal aimed at updating Ohio’s Homestead Tax Exemption Program, according to The News-Herald.

The program, originally approved by Ohio voters in 1970, provides property tax relief to lower-income Ohioans aged 65 and older, and later expanded to include permanently and totally disabled homeowners.

According to Rep. Troy, the program has undergone several changes since its inception. In 2007, the General Assembly temporarily broadened eligibility to all homeowners aged 65 or those with permanent disabilities, irrespective of income, and replaced the previous tiered benefits system with a flat $25,000 exemption.

The 2013 budget bill restored income limits, setting the threshold at $30,000 to qualify for the $25,000 reduction, with those already receiving the benefit being grandfathered in. More recently, in 2024, the income cap was adjusted to $38,600.

However, Troy contends that these measures have not kept pace with the rising cost of living and escalating property taxes. He emphasized that updating the Homestead Exemption Tax Program is crucial as Ohio’s population ages, ensuring that older citizens and disabled residents living on fixed incomes can remain in their homes without undue financial burden.

You can read the full text of House Bill 103 below:

OH HB 103Download

Steubenville mayoral race hangs in the balance, Jefferson County election results

River News Network Staff
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Steubenville mayoral race hangs in the balance, Jefferson County election results

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ohio — The race for the Republican nomination in Steubenville’s mayoral contest remains razor-thin, with political newcomer Ralph Petrella holding a slim 10-vote lead over longtime public figure Kimberly Hahn — but with 24 ballots still uncounted, the outcome is uncertain the day after Tuesday’s primary election.

Unofficial results from Tuesday’s primary show Petrella with 789 votes to Hahn’s 779. However, the Jefferson County Board of Elections has yet to process 10 provisional ballots and 14 absentee ballots that have not yet been received but could still be counted if they meet state requirements.

The official certification of the election results is scheduled for May 22. The eventual nominee will go on to face Independent candidate Willie Paul, who filed his candidacy on Monday, in the November general election.

Other Jefferson County Results

  • In uncontested council races, Republican Tracy McManamon (Second Ward) and Jennifer Terpenning (Sixth Ward) each received complimentary votes and currently face no opposition in November. Marc Barnes, also unopposed in the Republican Fourth Ward primary, will challenge Democratic incumbent Royal Mayo in the general election.
  • In Toronto’s District 41, voters approved a local option permitting Tucker’s Tavern to sell wine, liquor, and mixed drinks on Sundays. The measure passed by a 70-28 vote.

The final results — including the pivotal mayoral nomination in Steubenville — will be officially certified on May 22.

ODNR stocking local reservoirs with fish this week

River News Network Staff
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ODNR stocking local reservoirs with fish this week

BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources will stock Barnesville Reservoir #4 and St. Clairsville Reservoir with trout this week.

Rainbow trout releases will take place across Ohio during March through May in 2025, as long as areas are ice-free and accessible to anglers. Stockings of these public lakes and ponds are excellent opportunities for families to fish together.

Fishing for catchable-sized trout is a great way to introduce young people to the outdoors. Rainbow trout are raised at state fish hatcheries and measure 10-13 inches before they are released by the ODNR Division of Wildlife.

The daily harvest limit for inland lakes is five trout per angler.

Buckeye State Sheriffs’ Association demands GoFundMe remove fundraiser for alleged “cop-killer”

River News Network Staff
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Buckeye State Sheriffs’ Association demands GoFundMe remove fundraiser for alleged “cop-killer”

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Robert Cornwell, Executive Director of the Buckeye State Sheriffs’ Association, is demanding that the online fundraising platform GoFundMe shut down multiple fundraisers supporting Rodney Hinton Jr. Hinton, who is charged with murdering Hamilton County Deputy Sheriff Larry Henderson on May 2.

Deputy Henderson, was killed while working a traffic detail when he was was struck by a vehicle on Friday afternoon near the University of Cincinnati.

Hinton, 38, is the driver accused of hitting Deputy Henderson. Hinton’s son was reportedly shot and killed by a Cincinnati police officer just one day earlier.

“On behalf of the law enforcement community in Ohio and across the nation, we implore the GoFundMe organization to immediately take down any fundraising efforts for an assassin,” said Cornwell.

“Mr. Hinton and his family and friends should not benefit at the expense of a law enforcement officer who was doing the job he was hired to perform,” Cornwell added.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine ordered flags across the state to be lowered to honor Henderson.

The Buckeye State Sheriffs’ Association (BSSA) represents all sheriffs in the State of Ohio, as well as over 3,000 deputy sheriffs and 17,000 private citizens.

Form Energy will make first iron-air battery shipment

River News Network Staff
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Form Energy will make first iron-air battery shipment

WEIRTON, W.Va. – The founder of Form Energy says the Weirton plant will ship its first iron-air batteries to a Minnesota power utility sometime in July.

Chief Operating Officer Ted Wiley says the Weirton plant now has 450 employees… including a batch which transferred from a now-closed facility in Eighty-Four, Pennsylvania.

March Declared as Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month in Belmont County

River News Network Staff
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March Declared as Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month in Belmont County

BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO – The Belmont County Commissioners adopted a resolution earlier this week declaring March as Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month to highlight the importance of supporting those affected by the neurological disease.

During the meeting, a visitor from Carroll County, Edward Hale, a multiple sclerosis advocate who has the condition, took the floor. Hale, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2006 and shared his personal journey and the challenges of living with the disease.

“Multiple sclerosis affects people in many different ways,” Hale explained. “From vision problems and headaches to numbness and burning sensations in the extremities, no two experiences are exactly alike.”

He detailed his own struggles with symptoms and the lack of a cure, noting that while medications help manage side effects, the disease continues to impact lives significantly.

Hale also recalled that in March 2006, Ohio became the first state in the U.S. to officially designate an entire month to raise awareness about multiple sclerosis, rather than limiting recognition to a single week. This proclamation, initially signed under Governor Bob Taft, has since become a cornerstone for community advocacy and support.

Commissioners spoke with Hale about the causes and manifestations of the disease. While the exact cause of multiple sclerosis remains unknown, Hale emphasized the importance of research and shared observations about possible environmental factors, including historical links to industrial practices and mining in the Ohio Valley and counties along the Ohio River.

BINGO! Belmont County commissioners approve license for new bingo exercise game at senior centers

River News Network Staff
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BINGO! Belmont County commissioners approve license for new bingo exercise game at senior centers

BELMONT COUNTY – Who called BINGO? The Belmont County commissioners did at their Wednesday meeting when they voted unanimously to approve a two-year license agreement with Exercise Innovations LLC to implement the “Bingocize” game at the county’s senior centers.

Reimbursement for the program will be processed through Title III funds.

Lisa Kazmirski, the Director of Senior Services of Belmont County, says the program, which carries the trademark “Bingocize,” is already popular in several senior centers across the country and is expected to bolster engagement through hands-on activities that promote both physical wellness and social interaction for seniors.

“We’re looking at more than just a fitness routine,” Kazmirski said. “This program is about fostering community, providing certified training for our staff, and ultimately giving our seniors a fun, evidence-based approach to maintain their health.”

With 10 senior centers currently active in the county—including a center managed by volunteers—the new program is expected to standardize key activities while allowing for tailored approaches at centers with differing capacities.

Commissioner J.P. Dutton noted that Belmont County has a large number of senior centers compared to other Ohio counties, but geography and access make the various centers vital to their communities.

Kazmirski added that just like each community wants its own school, senior citizens want centers they can access in their own towns.

All commissioners agreed that Senior Services of Belmont County does an excellent job in serving seniors with activities, meals and socialization.

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