The Boardman Township Police Department has been selected for accreditation through the Ohio Collaborative Law Enforcement Accreditation Program it was announced last week during the quarterly meeting of the Ohio Collaborative Community Police Advisory Board in Columbus.
      Gov. Mike DeWine created the program in 2024.
      Law enforcement agencies that participate in the Ohio Collaborative Law Enforcement Accreditation Program must meet 32 policing standards that address various core responsibilities in law enforcement such as professional conduct, bias-free policing, crisis intervention and community engagement. Standards also address policies surrounding criminal arrests, use of force, vehicular pursuits, appropriate policing of youth, patrol practices, record and evidence management, agency wellness and career development.
      24 agencies in Ohio th...Read More >>

     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      After receiving more than 100 applications for the position of Township Administrator, Boardman Trustees interviewed 15 of those applicants and have narrowed the list down to five persons, Steve Yacovone, chairman of the board, announced on Monday night.
      Those persons are Joseph Sinnott, 60, who served as mayor of Erie, Pa. from 2006-18; Mark Ragozine, 34, who currently serves as safety service director for he city of Girard, Oh.; Brian Blad, 57, who served for terms as mayor of Pocatello, Idaho; Jeremy Shaffer, 43, a former township trustee in Dodson, Oh. and who is currently the director of human resources in Wilmington, Oh.; and Adam Thompson, 45, who has served since Aug., 2004 as the director of finance for the city of Port Richey, Fla.
      Boardman Trustees Yacovone,...Read More >>

     The Ohio Senate has passed Senate Bill 216, sponsored by Sen. Al Cutrona (R-Canfield), that designates a portion of State Route 7 (Market St.) in Boardman as the Clarence ‘Sonny’ Smith Jr. Memorial Highway.
      “Sonny Smith poured out his heart and soul to the Mahoning Valley,” said Sen. Cutrona. “His philanthropy across the community, especially to Youngstown State University and Boardman Township, affected the lives of countless Ohioans.
      “This bill recognizes a great citizen of the Boardman community.”
      Active in the Mahoning Valley, Smith was a strong supporter of Youngstown State University as well as Boardman High School. He he served as an elected member of the Boardman School Board from 1960-1971.
      A successful businessman, he was also a generous philanthropist for Youngstown State Universit...Read More >>