21 WFMJ archives  / December  1989 | Monique Godfrey, 12, performed an African folk dance during a Kwanzaa celebration at New Bethel Baptist Church 35 years ago. 

December 31


1999: Mahoning County Sheriff Randall Wellington says the department will tighten its hiring practices after two deputies who his predecessors had hired were arrested on cocaine trafficking charges.

Zambelli Fireworks of New Castle, Pa., will provide fireworks to ring in the year 2000 in nearly 400 cities worldwide, including New York City, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Boston. 

The Mahoning Valley McKinley Club, which usually has its annual dinner at the McKinley Memorial in Niles near McKinley's Jan. 29 birthdate, is moving the dinner to March, hoping to get a Republican presidential candidate as the speaker. 

1984: Wolfgang Jansen is named executive vice president and general manager of Sharon Steel Corp., succeeding Paul H. Eckberg. 

Lillian Butcher Stambaugh, who devoted her life to Youngstown's cultural life through the Monday Musical Club and other organizations, dies of a heart ailment at 88.

Atty. John Weed Powers announces the opening of his office for the general practice of law in the Mahoning Bank Building. 

1974: Ohio traffic officers will begin ticketing drivers who "loaf" in the passing lane under a law that goes into effect Jan. 1. 

Atty. Carmen Policy successfully argued for the suppression of evidence against adult movie operators, arguing that the film Fantasy Girls was illegally seized by police. The Youngstown prosecutor's office agreed to drop the charges. 

A 17-year-old New York high school honor student kills three and wounds 11 while firing a rifle from the roof of Orlean High School. 

1949: Sen Robert A. Taft, Ohio Republican, says the U.S. Navy should intervene if necessary to keep the island of Formosa out of the hands of the Communist Chinese.

Michael J. Kirwan, who has represented the 17th District since 1937, takes out petitions to seek the Democratic nomination for another term. 

Grand Prize winner in the Junior Chamber of Commerce Christmas lighting contest is John F. Ammon of 360 S. Hazelwood Avenue on the city's West Side. Other winners: Mrs. Michael R. Tucci, North Side; John J. Javorsky, East Side; and Ralph Sheeley, South Side.