21 WFMJ archives  / January 14, 1997 | Pamela Hemtosh, foreground, was among the students seeking solitude in the halls of Austintown Fitch High School to practice their presentations for the debate/speech competition 27 years ago. 

January 14


2000: U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. gets 56 percent of the vote to win the endorsement of the Trumbull County Democratic Party for re-election, besting challengers Robert Hagan and George Tablack. Timothy Ryan, 26, won the 32nd State Senate seat endorsement with 109 votes to Darlene St. George's 79.

To dispel rumors about Youngstown Osteopathic Hospital's imminent closure, the hospital's CEO, Sean McKibbon, distributed a memo stating that increasing patient numbers and continuing cost reductions are critical to the hospital's reorganization and viability.

The multidenominational watchdog group ACTION names a nine-member Responsible Government Panel that will accept written confidential complaints of corrupt actions by public officials.   
 
1985: John Palermo is elected chairman of the Mahoning County Board of Commissioners, succeeding Thomas Carney. Freshman Leonard Yurcho is vice chair. All are Democrats.

Trumbull County Commissioner Arthur Magee was elected chairman of the board of commissioners by fellow Democrats Anthony Latell and Reed Thomas Battin. Battin, who defeated Republican Margaret Dennison in November, was vice chair.

Youngstown's Harry Arroyo retained his International Boxing Federation Lightweight Championship by KOing Terrence Alli in the 11th round at Bally's Park Place Casino in Las Vegas.


1975: William H. Cossler, vice president of Youngstown Building Materials and Fuel Co., is elected president of the Ohio State Board of Education.

Jeffrey L. Landau, 25, is found shot to death in the living room of his home on Fifth Avenue Ext. in Liberty Township. He had been shot in the head several times.

Republican President Gerald Ford and the Democratic Congress agreed that an anti-recession tax cut was necessary. Still, they disagreed over how much of the cut should go to middle—and lower-income taxpayers. 


1950: A steady stream of traffic flows over the new Spring Common Bridge, 22 months after the old span was closed and work began on its $2 million replacement.

Youngstown's first traffic fatality of the year is Richard Hamady, 5, who was struck by a car while walking home from kindergarten.


Judge Henry Beckenbach says charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor will be filed against owners of cars that are stolen by juveniles while left on the street with their keys in them.