Ash Wednesday service planned

STEUBENVILLE — St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Steubenville will hold its Ash Wednesday service at 9 a.m. Wednesday. The public is invited to attend.

Wednesday service planned at church

MINGO JUNCTION — Harmony Church of Mingo Junction will hold a Sacrament of Ashes and holy communion service at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. The message will be entitled, “Heart Matters.”

Lenten Bible study planned

WINTERSVILLE — Two Ridges Presbyterian Church is inviting the community to join its Lenten Bible study beginning Wednesday and continuing each Wednesday throughout the Lenten season. The class will begin at 1 p.m. This year’s focus will be on “You Are Not Alone,” by Max Lucado.

“Through scripture, reflection and discussion, participants will explore God’s constant presence in our lives and the hope we find in Christ, especially during challenging times,” church officials stated. “The study will offer a meaningful opportunity for spiritual growth, encouragement and fellowship during the season of Lent.” All are welcome to attend, including non-members of the church. Anyone who is looking for a place to deepen their faith during Lent is being encouraged to visit the church, located at 1085 Canton Road in Wintersville.

Weirton author publishes book

WEIRTON — Weirton resident Paul Tedesco has published a paperback version of his book “There’s No Place Like (Nursing) Home: Stories of Dementia, Dying and Peeing on the Christmas Tree.”

This book is a compendium of true stories — funny and sad — about the care given to family members throughout the endless challenges and when dealing with dementia. The work is about not only surviving alongside family, but maintaining one’s faith and having a sense of humor during the most painful of circumstances as the loved one disappears “a minute at a time.” The paperback, as well as the Kindle and Nook e-versions, are available on Amazon, at Barnes and Nobles and at all major online booksellers.

Vendor showcase planned

STEUBENVILLE — The Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce will host a community-wide small business vendor showcase from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 28 at Tink’s Treats, located inside the Fort Steuben Mall. The event is open to the public. Admission is free. Shop locally and buy on the spot, with each vendor being cash and carry, chamber officials noted. Anyone interested in becoming a vendor is asked to contact the chamber to see if they qualify. Vendors must then register with the chamber, with members receiving free registration and non-members paying a $30 fee. Vendors will receive an 8-ft. table, two chairs and a table linen. All vendors must provide a free drawing item at their table during the show. Call (740) 282-6226 or e-mail info@jeffersoncountychamber.com.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available, according to officials. Sponsorships include: Shopping bag sponsors, $300, logo featured on the official, reusable shopping bags which are given to the first 100 shoppers to carry their purchases and promotional items during the event; supporting sponsors, $200, logo featured on advertisement, social media, signage at the event and opportunity to place a promotional item into each shopping bag; map handout sponsors, $100, logo featured on the event map handout distributed to all attendees, including full-page advertisement on the back of the map; and promotional Insert sponsors, $50, include your promotional item, coupon or giveaway to the first 100 shoppers at the event.

Mock trial competition continues

COLUMBUS — Approximately 1,000 Ohio high school students are back in court, bringing them one step closer to representing Ohio at the National High School Mock Trial Competition, scheduled in May.

Of the 250 teams participating in district competition in January, more than 100 are advancing to the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education’s 43rd-annual Ohio Mock Trial Regional Competition, taking place inside courtrooms throughout Ohio on Friday.

Among those competing is the team from Steubenville High School. Students will argue both sides of a motion hearing that combines forensic science, emerging technology and Fourth Amendment questions. The case involves the 2000 murder of Caleb “C.J.” Jansen, a warehouse worker found strangled in his apartment. A violent struggle left DNA under the victim’s fingernails, but no match was found and the case went cold. That is, until 25 years later when student Frankie Moyo uploaded the DNA to a genealogy site — unknowingly triggering a chain of events that lead police straight to Morgan Remy, a former security guard at C.J.’s workplace. Not only is Remy’s DNA a match, but police discovered C.J.’s long-missing gold signet ring hidden in Remy’s home. But this isn’t an open-and-shut case. Before trial, the defense files a motion to suppress the genetic genealogy evidence, arguing the police violated the Fourth Amendment by using a third party’s DNA without a warrant. The court must now decide: Is this powerful new investigative tool a breakthrough or a constitutional overreach? 

According to Program Coordinator Jenna Lewis, the case challenges students to grapple with how advancing technology intersects with long-standing constitutional protections.

Each team consists of five to 12 students who assume the roles of attorneys and witnesses to present both sides of an original, unscripted case based on an important constitutional issue. Each team competes in two trials against opposing teams. At the regional competition, teams must win both trials to advance to the state competition. State competition will take place March 12-14. National competition will be May 7-9 in Des Moines, Iowa.