21 WFMJ archives / April 9, 2003 | Chris Crutcher, a featured author at the 24th annual Youngstown State University English Festival, autographed a copy of his book “Whale Talk” for Sarah Elias of Canfield. More than 3,000 junior and senior high students attended the three-day event, which was established by two YSU professors to memorialize their daughter, Candace Gay.

April 4

1999: The congregation of Old North Church in Canfield has its first service in the new church on Herbert Road. 

Mill Creek Park naturalist Ray Novotny warns that 17-year cicadas are due to emerge and western Mahoning County is likely to see the worst of it. 

Youngstown State University history professor Saul Friedman has written a book, "Amcha: An Oral Testament of the Holocaust," the latest of 10 books he has written. 

1984: The Ohio State Personnel Board of Review rules that Mahoning County Sheriff James A. Traficant Jr. violated seven state rules when he laid off 20 deputies in October. The employees could be eligible for back pay for the two months they were on furlough. 

Three members of the Girard Board of Education sign a judicial order in which they agree to comply with Ohio's Sunshine Law, avoiding the issuance of an injunction by Judge Mitchell F. Shaker that was sought by two other board members. 

Two former Champion Township women, Tammy Christie, 19, and Glenis Bernhard, 20, were among six passengers and crew on a Cessna jet that disappeared on a training flight shortly after taking off from Fort Lauderdale. 

1974: Albert Shipka, president of the Greater Youngstown AFL-CIO Council, announces union support for a capital improvement tax appearing on the Youngstown ballot. 

The Youngstown Board of Control increases the contract for the Downtown Mall by $75,000 to allow the contractor to buy decorative paving bricks for the project. 

1949: Bishop James A. McFadden returns home to Youngstown from Rome and receives one of the warmest welcomes ever, with 3,000 people waiting at Youngstown Municipal Airport to greet him. 

Major Gen. Robert S. Beightler, wartime commander of the 37th Division, tells a large audience at an Army Week banquet in the Mural Room in Youngstown that no nation will provoke the United States to war as long as this is the only nation with atom bombs.

Jimmy Dorsey, the sentimental gentleman, was on stage at the Palace in Downtown Youngstown with his trombone and his orchestra.