Man tries to withdraw guilty plea

IRONTON — Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge Charles Cooper said Wednesday he will consider a request from Steven Triplett to withdraw the man’s guilty plea.

Triplett, 33, formerly of Kitts Hill, pleaded guilty in 2009 to aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary. He was sentenced to eight years in prison for each count, to be served concurrently.

The Ohio Fourth District Court of Appeals recently ruled that he should be resentenced because of a wording error.

The judge should have told Triplett that he shall, not may, serve probation following his release from prison, the court ruled.

Triplett was in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court Wednesday, when his attorney, David Reid Dillon, asked to withdraw his guilty plea.

He argued that the error means that Triplett’s sentence is void.

Lawrence County Prosecutor J.B. Collier recommended the man be resentenced, calling it a bookkeeping issue.

Cooper said he would decide before the end of the week.

— Lori Kersey

Old Central School property to go on sale

IRONTON — The property where the former Central School used to be will go on sale next week.

The Ironton Board of Education voted Tuesday night to sell the lots after an unsuccessful auction over the weekend, Superintendent Dean Nance said.

No bids were placed on the property, he said.

The eight lots are along South Fifth and South Sixth streets between Oak and Ellison streets.

Beginning 8 a.m. Monday, each of the lots will have a for sale sign with a price. Corner lots are priced at $27,500, while the interior lots are $24,500.

A plat of the Central School Subdivision and more information can be found at the district’s website, www.tigertown.com.

— Lori Kersey

Hamlin teen wins United Way Idol

HAMLIN, W.Va. — After a summer full of preparation and anticipation, United Way Idol 2011 concluded its competition on Sept. 2, when five finalists competed at the Lincoln County Fall Festival.

Shelby Kidd, 19, from Hamlin, beat out the competition for the United Way Idol 2011 title.

The competition took place as an opening act to national recording artist, Sean Patrick McGraw.

Kidd won a plaque, tickets to see Luke Bryan in concert this month and Gino’s Pizza gift certificates. She also had the opportunity to open for Audio Outlaws, who played at the festival on Sept. 3.

The United Way Idol 2011 finalist contest was presented by the Lincoln County Summer Stage and United Way of the River Cities. All contest proceeds benefited United Way of the River Cities.

For more information about United Way of the River Cities, contact Cassey Bowden at 304-523-8929, ext. 2.

‘Rolling Clean: A life well lived’ opens at SSU

PORTSMOUTH — A new show that tells a story about recovering alcoholics — clean and sober motorcycle clubs — by photographer Craig Fetherolf, opened at Shawnee State University’s Appleton Gallery on Thursday, Sept. 15.

The show will continue through Thursday, Oct. 6 at the gallery.

Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

‘Kingdom of Survival’ opened at SSU

PORTSMOUTH — The new movie, “The Kingdom of Survival” featuring Shawnee State University’s own author and outlaw historian, Professor Mark Mirabello, Ph.D., was shown at Clark Memorial Library’s Flohr Lecture Hall on Thursday, Sept. 15.

Several principles who were instrumental in the making of the film were at the opening on campus.