🌱 Could this court fight change how East Palestine settlement money is paid?

Hello East Palestine! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Could this court fight change how East Palestine settlement money is paid?
• Which East Palestine students are battling robots for county bragging rights?
• See how East Palestine band directors are headed to the Rose Parade

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around East Palestine? Post it to East Palestine photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
Today's East Palestine Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. Everyone deserves to be connected. That's why T-Mobile and UScellular have joined forces to connect people from big cities to small towns and everywhere in between. UScellular is now a part of T-Mobile. Find out more at T-Mobile.com/Better-Together.
Find a T-Mobile store near East Palestine.

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Clouds and sun; not as cold, with a high of 34 and low of 30 degrees.
• Wednesday: Breezy in the morning, temps: high: 40, low: 31.
• Thursday: Cloudy; p.m. rain, breezy, with a high of 55 and low of 24 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Attorneys say East Palestine settlement administrator outsourced claims to India (wfmj.com) — Residents affected by the East Palestine train derailment may see changes in how settlement money is handled, as attorneys ask a federal judge to force the former claims administrator to return millions in fees over alleged mishandling. New court filings question overseas processing, data security, and payment calculations, and the judge is now weighing whether the firm should be held in contempt.
   

• CCESC kicks off three robotics leagues (salemnews.net) — East Palestine students are competing this season in countywide VEX robotics leagues organized by the Columbiana County Educational Service Center. Local teams are facing neighboring districts like Lisbon, Columbiana, and East Liverpool in multiple rounds through February, with community members invited to attend and cheer them on as they advance toward championship events.
   

• Local band directors to participate in SABD project (morningjournalnews.com) — Two East Palestine High School band directors, Jennifer Mollenkopf and Kyle Zimmerman, will represent the community in the 2026 Tournament of Roses Parade as part of the Saluting America’s Band Directors project. Alongside other Columbiana County educators, they’ll march with more than 350 directors, honor first responders, and can be seen locally on TV or streaming at 11 a.m. Jan. 1.
   

📸 Around East Palestine

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

📣 East Palestine Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Wednesday December 17

• DJ Trivia — BIRDFISH
  Birdfish Brewing Co. , 140 E Park Ave , Columbiana
  5:00 pm

Thursday December 18

• Armida's Cucina — BIRDFISH
  Birdfish Brewing Co. , 140 E Park Ave , Columbiana
  5:00 pm

Friday December 19

• Cousins Maine Lobster — BIRDFISH
  Birdfish Brewing Co. , 140 E Park Ave , Columbiana
  12:00 pm

Saturday December 20

• Family Story Time- Holidays Around the World
  Springfield Local High School , 11335 Youngstown - Pittsburgh Rd , New Middletown
  11:00 am
• Hoshi Japanese Hibachi — BIRDFISH
  Birdfish Brewing Co. , 140 E Park Ave , Columbiana
  12:00 pm
• The Conkle Brothers LIVE at Brewlounge Beer Co.
  Brew Lounge Beer Company & Patio , 115 Town Center Ave , Columbiana
  7:00 pm

Sunday December 21

• Smokin’ T’s BBQ: Where Flavor Meets Purpose — BIRDFISH
  Birdfish Brewing Co. , 140 E Park Ave , Columbiana
  12:00 pm

Monday December 22

• Birdfish Bar Bingo — BIRDFISH
  Birdfish Brewing Co. , 140 E Park Ave , Columbiana
  6:00 pm

Friday December 26

• Boozin' & Groovin' // Analog Night with tiltnboogie — BIRDFISH
  Birdfish Brewing Co. , 140 E Park Ave , Columbiana
  7:00 pm

Saturday December 27

• Two and a Half Greeks — BIRDFISH
  Birdfish Brewing Co. , 140 E Park Ave , Columbiana
  12:00 pm

Tuesday December 30

• Color Café
  Springfield Local High School , 11335 Youngstown - Pittsburgh Rd , New Middletown
  10:30 am
• EFF-N ROLLZ — BIRDFISH
  Birdfish Brewing Co. , 140 E Park Ave , Columbiana
  5:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Pizza Hut, Inc. posted a job opening for Production/Cook in East Palestine. Apply here.
• Ohio Staffing posted a job opening for Master Merchandiser in East Palestine. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near East Palestine here.

🗞 Nearby News

Columbiana

• Inclusive playground one donation closer to goal (wytv.com)
• High school scoreboard – Dec. 13, 2025 (tribtoday.com)
• The Brightside Project hosts annual 'Bright Christmas' event (wfmj.com)

Lisbon

• Wilson highlights infrastructure gains in Lisbon (morningjournalnews.com)
• Making for a ‘Bright Christmas!' (salemnews.net)
• Lawsuits filed by refuse company, EL still pending (morningjournalnews.com)

Ok East Palestine! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook