Vindicator file photo / June 17, 1972 | Lt. Col. Robert Fisher administered the oath of office to five Youngstown State University cadets who were commissioned second lieutenants in the U.S. Army 50 years ago.  From left, Fisher;  Col. John H. McLain, USAR, who spoke at the ceremony; Barth J. Gervelis of Kinsman, Frank B. Wanat and Jeffrey M. Clossman of Youngstown; second row, Larry L. Sundin of Youngstown, and Mark Andrews of New Castle, Pa.
 
 
June 17
 
1997: Stambaugh's, the 151-year-old Youngstown-based hardware and home improvement store, will close seven stores, in Howland, Boardman, Hermitage, Dover, Market Street in Youngstown, McKinley Heights, and Canton. That will leave five stores in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys and 11 others scattered through Ohio.
 
Ron Barb, the owner of the Remnant Room carpet store on Simon Road that was destroyed by fire, says he is opening a new store on U.S. Rt. 422 across from  Boardman Park which will be called Carpet King Factory Outlet. 
 
Patrick Mahon, a first-grader at Kirkmere Elementary, will be going to Columbus as one of 12 finalists in Secretary of State Bob Taft's poster contest to encourage voting.  The trip to Columbus for the ceremony is almost a family tradition since his sister, Amanda, a fourth-grader, was a three-time finalist. 
 
1982: The Ohio General Assembly passes a $644 million tax increase designed to put the state's finances in order. It includes a 50 percent surcharge on the state's income tax that will run for nine months, beginning in July. The local delegation, all Democrats, were split in their votes, with Reps. Ronald Gerberry, Robert Nader, and Joe Williams voting in favor. State Sens. Harry Meshel and Tom Carney, and  Reps. Thomas Gilmartin, Joseph Vukovich, and John Wargo voted against. 
 
Clarence E. Barnes, executive director of the Youngstown Urban League, is feared to have drowned after his fishing boat capsized in Lake Erie off Ashtabula. Three teenagers -- his son, Arnette, 16; a nephew, James Banks, 18, and a neighbor, David Culliver Jr., 15 -- were rescued by the Coast Guard as they clung to the boat.
 
Youngstown has 50 lifeguards for its six-city swimming pools that are due to open a 10-week season, but Kevin Tarpley, a former manager of the Chase and South Side pools, says 70 lifeguards would be ideal. 
 
1972: "Our society must accept the costs of education as a concrete investment, fully as important as expressways, post offices, and computers," Dr. William S. Carlson, president of the University of Toledo, tells Youngstown State's graduates. 
 
Five boys between the ages of 11 and 15 face juvenile court charges in connection with vandalism and arson at three Youngstown schools. Damage is estimated at more than $8,000.
 
1947: Warren  "Bus" Hennon, 33, a veteran New Castle pilot, dies in South Side Hospital of injuries suffered when his plane crashed at Bernard Airport on June 8.
Clifton Reichard of Poland is elected governor of Ohio's 11th annual Boys State. 
 
Youngstown Police Chief William J. Cleary tells city council that it would not be practical to synchronize traffic lights downtown because city blocks are of different lengths and traffic flow is inconsistent.