May 15, 2008
Portsmouth Mayor, Engineer Approves Columbia Rebuilding
Scott’s Vehicle Towed Later That Night
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Portsmouth, Ohio (HNN) - I’m first and foremost a film critic and lover of old theatres. I’ve been a member of the Theatre Historic Society. I volunteered countless hours to research legal issues related to Huntington’s Keith Albee. So, this is about the Columbia, not politics.
After reporting that the Columbia Music Hall would likely fall to the ground and have a grave stone erected in its place, owner/manager Lee Scott and his wife, attorney Christine Scott, apparently had a change of heart.
According to a Portsmouth news forum, Lee Scott has received permits to rebuild the remnants of the nearly century old Columbia Theatre. Mayor Jim Kalb and a city engineer issued the permits.
Scott wrote that he “went to the Mayor’s office [May 13] and the Engineer’s office to get [the] OK to rebuild.”
Early May 14 Scott wrote, “I am going to try once more to rebuild including the front. If no problems… you will have something nice. One problems and I file suit and tear her down along with anything else I can buy in the downtown.”
Less than twelve hours later, while Scott was attending an auction at the Portsmouth Elks, Portsmouth Police began searching his truck, parked at Fourth and Market Street. According to the forum’s operator, Joe Ray, “Lee Scott’s vehicle was searched and released back to him this evening [May 14]. No drugs were found. No arrest made. Damage was done to the vehicle while searching according to witnesses.”
Interestingly, the action occurred while reporters and spectators looked on. And, it occurred again, less than twelve hours after Scott vowed to rip down the remains of the theatre and any other property he can purchase downtown if harassment continued.
Prior to the fire in November at the Columbia Music Hall, Scott went on record in the Portsmouth Daily Times that he had declined to pay an extra fee for additional police protection around the theatre. That night, the Columbia burned. The ATF and local and state agencies ruled the fire arson. The reporter who wrote the article was later fired by the Portsmouth Daily Times.
To read further items on this continuing story of historic preservation versus powers that be, click: http://www.runboard.com/bmoesnewsforum.f1.t12572.
Incidentally, Shane Cartmill, public information officer of the Ohio State Fire Marshal’s office, reminded readers that several arson fires remain unsolved, including the one at the Grandview Inn South Point which destroyed 50 rooms.
“We are offering a Blue Ribbon Arson Reward in that one for up to $5,000,” Cartmill said. The Ohio office continues to investigate the Columbia fire, too.
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Portsmouth Mayor, Engineer Approves Columbia Rebuilding
Scott’s Vehicle Towed Later That Night
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Portsmouth, Ohio (HNN) - I’m first and foremost a film critic and lover of old theatres. I’ve been a member of the Theatre Historic Society. I volunteered countless hours to research legal issues related to Huntington’s Keith Albee. So, this is about the Columbia, not politics.
After reporting that the Columbia Music Hall would likely fall to the ground and have a grave stone erected in its place, owner/manager Lee Scott and his wife, attorney Christine Scott, apparently had a change of heart.
According to a Portsmouth news forum, Lee Scott has received permits to rebuild the remnants of the nearly century old Columbia Theatre. Mayor Jim Kalb and a city engineer issued the permits.
Scott wrote that he “went to the Mayor’s office [May 13] and the Engineer’s office to get [the] OK to rebuild.”
Early May 14 Scott wrote, “I am going to try once more to rebuild including the front. If no problems… you will have something nice. One problems and I file suit and tear her down along with anything else I can buy in the downtown.”
Less than twelve hours later, while Scott was attending an auction at the Portsmouth Elks, Portsmouth Police began searching his truck, parked at Fourth and Market Street. According to the forum’s operator, Joe Ray, “Lee Scott’s vehicle was searched and released back to him this evening [May 14]. No drugs were found. No arrest made. Damage was done to the vehicle while searching according to witnesses.”
Interestingly, the action occurred while reporters and spectators looked on. And, it occurred again, less than twelve hours after Scott vowed to rip down the remains of the theatre and any other property he can purchase downtown if harassment continued.
Prior to the fire in November at the Columbia Music Hall, Scott went on record in the Portsmouth Daily Times that he had declined to pay an extra fee for additional police protection around the theatre. That night, the Columbia burned. The ATF and local and state agencies ruled the fire arson. The reporter who wrote the article was later fired by the Portsmouth Daily Times.
To read further items on this continuing story of historic preservation versus powers that be, click: http://www.runboard.com/bmoesnewsforum.f1.t12572.
Incidentally, Shane Cartmill, public information officer of the Ohio State Fire Marshal’s office, reminded readers that several arson fires remain unsolved, including the one at the Grandview Inn South Point which destroyed 50 rooms.
“We are offering a Blue Ribbon Arson Reward in that one for up to $5,000,” Cartmill said. The Ohio office continues to investigate the Columbia fire, too.
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Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
