Police report: K9 retraining, sergeant test set for Jan. 24; resident praises Halloween patrols, asks about hospital reopening

The Martins Ferry police chief reported Nov. 5 that the department’s K9 is being retrained with a new handler and that the civil-service sergeant’s test has been scheduled for Jan. 24 at noon. The chief asked council for permission to use the council chambers to administer the test.

The chief also described conversations about moving the city to an electronic parking system that would notify enforcement staff of meter infractions, and commended officers and EMS for their response to an incident involving an 8‑year‑old who required CPR.

During public comment, resident Richard Hoard (915 Virginia Street) thanked the police and fire departments for visible patrols and foot presence during Halloween trick-or-treating and said the event felt "very safe," attributing that to on-foot and vehicle patrols. Hoard also asked about any updates on reopening the East Ohio Regional Hospital; council replied there were no new developments to report. He asked about activity at the former Chevrolet property and whether an auto-repair business might be moving in; council said it had not received recent confirmation.

Fire department representatives reminded council of the annual Christmas parade scheduled after Thanksgiving (referred to in the meeting as Nov. 28), with staging beginning at 4:30 p.m. and the parade starting at 6:30 p.m., and invited council and administration to the fire department’s annual meeting on Dec. 13 at Vigilant Station on Pearl Street. For parade questions the meeting named Dustin Smith and Joe Joswack as contacts.

No formal council action was recorded on the police or parade items at the Nov. 5 meeting.