In the early 1960's, the Southern Local School District was created. The district encompasses 106 square miles located in the southwestern corner of Columbiana County in Washington Township. A new high school and administrative offices are located on State Route 39. A new 49,952 s.f. building was built in 1962 and opened its doors in the fall of 1963 for students in grades 9 - 12.

In early 1983, Southern Local made some difficult choices to remain open. They closed their first school, Wayne Elementary, the school library, athletics and extra curricular activities were cancelled, and they implemented split sessions. They entered into state receivership.

In the 1991, Southern Local closed two more schools, Summitville's Franklin Building and the No. Sixteen School Building. This consolidation reorganized the school and created Southern Local Jr. Sr. High School (7-12), Intermediate (3-6) and the Primary (K-2). Modular buildings were added to the Jr. Sr. High and Highlandtown Elementary to accommodate the classes added to each building.

In 2002 construction began to create the new/remodeled K-12 complex on the property located on State Route 39. The doors opened in January 2004 closing the Highlandtown Elementary building and the Salineville Intermediate building. The new complex service approximately 900 students, approximately 65 teachers, 2 principals, and 1 associate principal.

The Community

The Southern Local District encompasses the rural communities of Gavers, Highlandtown, Millport, Salineville, and Summitville. The district is located approximately 30 miles east of Canton, 35 miles south of Youngstown, and 25 miles north of Steubenville. Major employers in the district are Summitville Tile, Inc., producers of ceramic tile, Huntington Bank, Inc., a large regional financial institution with branches throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, JPI Group, plastic recycling industry, and Alpine Natural Springs, providers of bottled water. The Southern Local School District combines a rural atmosphere with the advantages of nearby metropolitan area.

Tradition

The music for the Southern Local Alma Mater and Fight Song were composed by Oscar Gartrell in 1963. Mr. Gartrell is a former band director and teacher of Southern Local. The words for the Alma Mater were written by Sally Griffith.

Dear Southern, how we love thee,

to thee we shall be true.

All hail our high school colors

of grand old gold and blue.

We're always there to cheer thee,

what e're the deed may be.

To our grand old alma mater,

we'll always honor thee.

Below are the words to the original Alma Mater for Salinville School, before it became our current Southern Local.

Lying in Ohio's hills

Is our fair Alma Mater

Bounded by Her rocks and rills,

Salineville is Her name.

Sing to Her, cheer to Her,

Our Alma Mater true.

Here our hearts are filled with joy,

All hail the Gold and Blue.

The words of the Fight Song were written by the cheerleaders; Kathy Rose, Sherry Mercer Jackie Needham, Bonnie Chevorant, Patty Briceland, and Loretta Phillips.

Fight you Southern Local Indians
Fight with all your might,
Fight to win our school a victory,
To show them what is right,
Fight you Southern Local Indians,
Blue and Gold will fight,
To win our school a victory
SO FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!

For a period of time, schools were not required to actively honor veterans then September 11, 2001 happened. The first Veterans' Day Assembly was organized in 2002. There was an assembly held with the entire school and community until November 2020. The school still had a Veterans' Day event in 2020, event was held virtually. In 2021, following the protocols for the pandemic, a Veterans' Day assembly was held.

November 11, 2021 - Veterans Day Assembly

November 11, 2022 - Veterans Day Assembly

November 10, 2023 Veterans' Day Assembly

November 11, 2024 Veterans' Day Assembly

Southern Local High School

In 1963, the support group came together to build a new football field near the new high school. The new football field was named the Wigwam Stadium. The first home game of 1963 was the inauguration of the new Wigwam Stadium. For the first time in school history, lighting was included in the construction of the new field, Friday night games could now be scheduled and played.

During the construction of the K-12 complex, work to upgrade the Wigwam was done. (Pictures of the Wigwam during the construction can be viewed "Updating the Wigwam" below.) During the 2013-14 and the 2018-19 updates of the Sports complex, pictures were not taken of the progress of converting the football field to artificial turf, adding the weight room and wrestling building, and the construction of the baseball field.

During the 2017-2018 school year, a serious discussion about what to do about the baseball field. The softball team was using the Arrowhead Field located where the Highlandtown Elementary once stood and the baseball team was using Salineville's baseball field. The school board evaluated their options, do they help Salineville with the cost to renovate the baseball field, upgrade Arrowhead Field which meant purchasing more land to meet the standards for the baseball field or build on to the school's property and add to the sporting complex. Board member Jay Cole, volunteer to donate his time and equipment to construct the new baseball field. The decision to add the baseball field to the sports complex was made and construction began. By the spring of 2019, the baseball field was completed and ready for its first home game. Game day, the new field was inaugurated with the superintendent, Tom Cunningham throwing out the first pitch.

Mr. Robert "Bob" Shansky has been inducted into the Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Mr. Shansky has been coaching volleyball for 47 years. He has a career mark of 657-391. His teams have won a combined total of 20 league championships and two district titles (both when coaching East Liverpool). His teams have been district runner-ups seven times, and led a team to regional runner-up. He has been District 1 Coach of the Year nine times and a five-time recipient of the Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Achievement Award. He has also represented Ohio as coach of the OVAC All-Star match several times.

Homecoming Royalty
Jr/Sr Prom Royalty

2025 PROM

2024 PROM

2023 PROM

2022 PROM

2021 PROM

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2019 PROM

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Marching Band Members

Southern Local High School senior Emily Walker was recently touted by the Columbiana County Educational Service Center during their recent Heads Above the Rest recognition. Walker, the daughter of Steve Walker and Rob and Shannon Marra of Summitville, was honored as the school’s Franklin B. Walter All-Scholastic Award nominee and received a $100 scholarship. The award, which was established by the Ohio Educational Service Center Association (OESCA), is based upon outstanding academic achievement and the CCESC hosted nominees from each school and announced the county’s scholarship recipient.

National Honor Society Members

Row 1 (L to R): Destiny Huffman, Allyssa Shroades, Gianna Pecorelli, Gianna Rodgers, Cheyenne Bennett, Kennedy Lewis, Brandon Brown, Ethan Richards, Jacob Junkins, Logan McCartney, Maleah Rose, Lola Perfetto

Row 2: Autumn Rodgers, Cheyenne Buzzard, Aiylee Treloar, Katelyn Harshbarger, Griffin Wellington, Colton Spahlinger, Nathan Mehaffey, Noah Chase, Richard Sloan, Jacob McCurdy, Breena Frischkorn

Row 3: Haylee Kellogg, Hunter Dickson, Casie Heddleston, Kaitlynn Board, Lindzie Keyes, Jazzmen Echols, Alexandria Heckathorn, Wyatt Bach, Casey Edmiston, Gabryelle Deitch, Ryli Bettis

Row 4: Alyssa Deeley, Makenna Jones, Madalyne Jone, Brooke Boyle, Connor Dickey, Jaeylynn Potts, Aubrey Brookes, Haley Kincaid

Row 1 (L-R): Aiylee Treloar, Cassie Heddleston, Kaitlynn Board, Jazzmen Echols, Paige Riggs, Lindsey Bregar, Alexis Ensinger, Natalie DeSellem, Joseline Stanley, Kaitlynn Ketchum, Josh Gilliam, Ethan Richard

Row 2 (L-R): Lindzie Keyes, Katelyn Harshbarger, Aleah Bach, Esther Forbes, Ashley Shroades, Gabriel Blissenbach, Aiden Brothers, Logan McCartney, Gianna Rodgers, Cheyenne Bennett, Kennedy Lewis

Row 3 (L-R): Kenneth Frischkorn, Wyatt Bach, Maddox Dickey, Seth Hawk, Tyler Rawlings, Hunter Robinson, Lillian Patterson, Jacob Junkins, Casey Edmiston

Row 4 (L-R): Noah Chase, Brandon Brown, Alexandria Heckathorn, Logan Redfern, Landyn Kauffman, Nathan Mehaffey, Griffin Wellington, Colton Spahlinger, Richard Sloan, Gianna Pecorelli

Row 1 (L-R): Aiylee Treloar, Cassie Heddleston, Kaitlynn Board, Jazzmen Echols, Kaitlyn Ketchum, Josh Gilliam, Ethan Richards

Row 2 (L-R): Lindzie Keyes, Katelyn Harshbarger, Logan McCartney, Gianna Rodgers, Cheyenne Bennett, Kennedy Lewis, Gianna Pecorelli

Row 3 (L-R): Noah Chase, Brandon Brown, Kenneth Frischkorn, Wyatt Bach, Jacob Junkins, Casey Edmiston, Richard Sloan

Row 4 (L-R): Alexandria Heckathorn, Logan Redfern, Landyn Kauffman, Nathan Mehaffey, Griffin Wellington, Colton Spahlinger

NHS 2023 INDUCTEES

Monday, February 27, the Southern Local National Honor Society Chapter welcomed 27 inductees. The induction ceremony will be held Friday, March 17 at 6pm in the high school cafeteria.

The 2023 inductees include: seniors; Katie Calderon, Payton Hersman, Rebecca Hawke, Olivia Kerns, Brady Ketchum, Kya McCulley, Charlie Price, Corbin Stillwell, Gavin Tribelo juniors; Aleah Bach, Gabe Blissenbach, Lindsey Bregar, Aiden Brothers, Natalie DeSellem, Maddox Dickey, Alexis Ensinger, Esther Forbes, Ayden Frischkorn, Seth Hawk, Evan Haught, Rylee Mellott, Lillian Patterson, Paige Riggs, Tyler Rawlings, Hunter Robinson, Ashley Shroades, Josie Stanley

2022 - 2023 NHS Members

Row 1 (l to r): Zack Tribelo, Aiden Spahlinger, Cooper Edmiston, Andrea Rodgers, Grace Brothers, Noah Perfetto, Zoey Almy, Shirley Adkins, Jessica Lafferty, Elizabeth Wilson, Cameron Sloan
Row 2: Kya McCulley, Katie Calderon, Rebecca Hawke, Payton Hersman, Charlie Price, Gavin Tribelo, Olivia, Kerns, Brady Ketchum, Corbin Stillwell
Row 3: Aleah Bach, Maddox Dickey, Rylee Mellott, Ashley Shroades, Esther Forbes, Josie Stanley, Lillian Patterson, Paige Riggs, Adyen Frischkorn, Aiden Brothers
Row 4: Seth Hawk, Hunter Robinson, Gabe Blissenbach, Evan Haught, Alexis Ensinger, Lindsay Bregar, Natalie DeSellem, Tyler Rawlings

SOUTHERN LOCAL COLUMBIANA COUNTY SPELLING BEE CHAMPIONS
SOUTHERN LOCAL SPELLING BEE

2025 District Spelling Bee

Seventeen students participated in the District Spelling Bee which was held Friday, February 7 in the Elementary gymnasium. The winners will advance to the County Spelling Bee. The County Spelling Bee will be held March 1st at Beaver Local.

Round four, eighth grader, Eliana Forbes became the 3rd place winner. Sixth grader, Riley Parrish and 5th grader Sylus Bryan battled for 1st and 2nd place. The seventh round, Sylus Bryan correctly spelled benediction and dignified to be declared the winner.

Congratulations to all Spelling Bee participants!

Southern Local held their District Spelling Bee on February 7. Sixteen spellers from grades 5 through 8 competed for the honor to attend the County Spelling Bee. The County Spelling Bee will be held March 2 at Beaver Local.

It took 9(nine) rounds to determine the winners. Round 5 (five), Gemma Jackson and Delaney Beadnell had a spell off to determine who would be the 3rd place winner. Delaney correctly spelled her word to become the 3rd place winner. Addysin Andrenok and Emerson Gotschall competed to determine who would be 1st and 2nd place winners. The 9th Round, Addysin misspelled her word. Emerson correctly spelled dispersal. She correctly spelled lavish to claim the 1st place winner.

Congratulations to all participants!

2023 Participants

Southern Local held their annual Spelling Bee, Wednesday February 15 in the Elementary Gymnasium. Students from grades 5 through 8 participated in the Spelling Bee. They include: 5th Grade: Landon Cranston, Gemma Jackson, Jaymen Maines, Liam Pitts, and Maddie Smith 6th Grade: Addysin Andrenok, Bryton Beadle, Eliana Forbes, Brook Hickman, Lucie Lee, and Daniel Peters 7th grade: Delaney Beadnell, Emerson Gotschall, and Gracie Lee 8th grade: Ava Reed and Ella Roberts. The County Spelling Bee will be held Saturday March 4 at 9:30 at the Crestview Performing Arts Complex.

By round 4, we had our three representatives and a total of 19 rounds to determine who the 2023 1st place champion would be for the County Spelling Bee. Sixth grader, Daniel Peters is our 3rd place winner. Seventh grader, Delaney Beadnell is our 2nd place winner. Eighth grader, Ava Reed in our 1st place winner. Congratulations to our winners!

The Pandemic of 2019 known as COVID-19 has changed our normal daily lives. Cases started in the United States in late December. By March of 2020, Governor Mike DeWine ordered schools and businesses closed. Only essential workers were working. This meant all school activities were cancelled. The school play, spring sports, Prom, District Showcase, and graduation were either cancelled or greatly modified. Education went from face-to-face to remote learning. But keeping the students morale up was not easy.

The school website became a way to showcase the students' work and hopefully give them something to look forward too. The first virtual art show was created. The art teacher, Mrs. Ronshak had been collecting student works since January for the District Showcase. Normally the District Showcase was held in March but had been moved to May this year. Instead of matting the works, the pieces were photographed and displayed on the front page. The 2020 - 2021 school year was not a "normal" school year. Although we would play sports, the crowd size was reduced. Although we had homecoming, there were no dances. The decision to have the District Showcase in May was made in the spring was held outdoors. A Virtual Art Show was in the process of being created to be published on the school website.

VIRTUAL ART SHOWS

SENIOR TRIBUTES

VIRTUAL GRADUATION

The Class of 1959 published the school's first yearbook. The named the yearbook The Warrior. Two staff members, Mrs. Eleanor Whelan and Mr. Richard Jones agreed to sponsor the new venture.

Thanks to The Warrior we have a look our history. In 1959, the superintendent was called Executive Head. Mr. Jack Baker provided a word of advise to the all who reads the yearbook. "Learn to understand and improve yourself today - that you may make your maximum contribution to society tomorrow."

In 1959, The Warrior documented athletics and organizations students were involved in. The boys enjoyed football, basketball, and basketball. The girls enjoyed cheerleading. Their activities in 1959 included, majorettes, senior band, chorus, Quill and Scroll, Librarians, Science Club, Latin Club, Student Council, Blue and Gold and Yearbook Staff.

In 1963, the last class to graduate from Salineville High School documented the events of the year. The Warrior was dedicated to the all the Salineville High School Alumni and to Allen Richardson, Class of 1959 who was responsible for the first Salineville High School's first yearbook. By 1962-63, Salineville High School had a football and basketball teams. Their organizations included National Honor Society, Quill and Scroll, Latin Club, Chorus and Librarians. Their activities included The Warrior staff, The Blue and Gold staff, Marching Band, Concert Band, Solo and Ensembles, Homecoming, Senior Class Play, Junior-Senior Prom, Senior Class Trip, and Graduation. Included in the yearbook are a few construction pictures of the new Southern Local High School.

2023-2024 Art Hallway Painted

Art Hallway Gets a New Look

The art club worked hard to raise enough money to pay local artist, Sara Gordon to design and paint the hallway walls outside the art room. Ms. Gordon worked with the Art Club to create the design and engage students in the project. In April, Ms. Gordon painted the base coat for the project. The week prior to painting, Ms. Gordon sketched the drawing on the walls. The week of May 6, 2024, the walls students, staff and the artist transformed the walls from white to a beautiful mural.

View the art galleries below to see the mural from start to finish.

2018 - 2019 Senior Hallway painting

Blank Walls Become Colorful

During the construction / remodel of the K-12 complex, the hallway walls were painted white. Some years later, someone made the decision to paint the hall walls a light tan color. The elementary art teacher, Ms. Kim Adams received a grant to paint the school's walls with inspirational works of art. The Jr. Sr. High School was inspired to use the new motto and vision statement as inspiration as the backdrop for the senior hallway. The hallways were completed in two phases. Below are pictures of the halls in the Jr. Sr. High as the volunteers painted the walls.

2006 - 2007 Gymnasium Indian

May through August 2024 - Artificial Turf refreshed

2013 - 2024 Football Field

In the Spring of 2013, Superintendent John Wilson wrote about the improvements planned for the wigwam stadium in the District Newsletter. The scope of the project included raising the visitors' bleachers and adding a press box on the visitors' side. On the Home side, the bleachers would be added to increase the capacity from 980 people to 1,700. The plan included adding an asphalt practice track, asphalt the area in front of the concession stand, increase the parking with a chip and seal next to the administrative modular, and the replace the grass field with a proper drainage and a synthetic field.