Conversations With Columbiana County Tad Herold

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.