Health officials: Safe to hold outdoor sporting events in East Palestine

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio - Officials from the Ohio Department of Health and the Columbiana County Health District were in East Palestine Wednesday.
ODH Director Bruce Vanderhoff and Columbiana County Health District Commissioner Wesley Vins met with East Palestine Schools Superintendent Chris Neifer to assure the district that it is safer for them to hold all usual activities, including outdoor sporting events.
The meeting follows a letter sent from the two health departments to the schools last week.
That letter cited continued air monitoring being done in the village which has shown no harmful levels of contaminants from the Norfolk Southern train derailment.
If harmful levels of contaminants are found, the Ohio Department of Health said the school district would be notified immediately.
Both Dr. Vanderhoff and Commissioner Vins told the district that physical activity could help students cope with the stress and anxiety that many East Palestine residents have gone through since the February derailment.