21 WFMJ archives  / February  16, 1985 | These four members of the East Junior High math team finished first among 21 junior and senior high teams that competed 40 years ago in the Mathcounts Regional Contest at Youngstown State University.  From left, Shawn McCracken, Kelly Lee, Russell Keen, and Cherry Wongkatrool. 

February 23

2000: U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. faces three of his primary election challengers during a debate televised by WFMJ, Christopher Doutt, Robert Hagan, and George Tablack. "I have a tremendous record, maybe the greatest in the country," Traficant said, but all his opponents wanted to discuss was an ongoing federal corruption investigation. 

A 17-year-old Lisbon boy is accused of stealing a Columbiana County phone card and, with the help of friends, making $5,000 worth of calls, some to foreign countries and telephone sex lines. The card was taken from the commissioner's office while the boy was working as a janitor as part of a training program. 

For the second time in three weeks, a child dies in a house fire in Youngstown. The latest victim is 17-month-old Jayontae Driver. Fire Chief John O'Neill notes that the house on Willis Avenue had no smoke detectors. 

 

1985: Minneapolis-based North Star Steel Co. has made a conditional offer to buy the idled Hunt Energy plant on W. Federal Street. The company plans to employ 300 people at the mini-mill. 

U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. plans to visit Japan to discuss his proposal for Mitsubishi Motors to build its first U.S. plant in the Mahoning Valley. 

Amy Eilberg was introduced at the New York Jewish Theological Seminary as the first woman to be ordained as a rabbi in Conservative Judaism in the United States. 

 

1975: Ralph J. Garduno, who is wanted for two murders and one attempted murder, is characterized by a Stark County detective as a hired killer so nonchalant that he shot one man in the head while in full view of a second man. 

Werner Lange, a 1964 graduate of South High School, earns his Doctor of Philosophy degree from Goethe University in Frankfort-Main, Germany. 

John E. Holzbach has coordinated outdoor education for the Howland School District for seven years and has been named superintendent of Boardman Township Park.

 

1950: Six hooded bandits boldly break into the Cleveland home of multi-millionaire William G. Mather, slug his 60-year-old wife, and escape with $350,000 worth of jewelry. 

Freezing rain coats the highways in Trumbull and Portage counties, causing the closing of nine schools. 

Atty. Chester Harrison Crumpler, assistant Mahoning County prosecutor, dies after suffering a heart attack in the lobby of Mahoning National Bank. He was 60.