December 12 

2000: In a 5-4 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court says that there is no constitutionally acceptable procedure by which any further recount of votes in the presidential race between Texas Gov. George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore can be pursued. The ruling effectively gives Florida's electoral votes and the presidency to Bush. 

Vindicator police reporter Patricia Meade and editorial page editor Dennis Mangan are in Sicily with a group of Mahoning Valley politicians and activists attending a United Nations conference on organized crime. 

Most Mahoning and Shenango Valley Oldsmobile dealers say they will be able to do fine after General Motors discontinues the Oldsmobile brand, selling other GM brands. There was no comment from Taylor Oldsmobile in Boardman, which is a single-brand GM dealership. 

 

1985: The Columbiana County Board of Health plans to appeal a permit issued by the state for a $90 million hazardous waste incinerator that Waste Technologies Industries would operate in East Liverpool.

Erecting a Christmas tree in the rotunda of the Mahoning County Courthouse is normally routine, but this year was an exception. The first 25-foot tree refused to stand and was eventually cut up for use as garland.  The second tree fell once, but crews stabilized it and prepared it for decoration on the second attempt. 

A two-month controversy is laid to rest when Warren City Council votes 8-3 to allow Planned Parenthood of the Mahoning Valley to move its Warren clinic into the city-owned Community Service building. A heated debate pitted religious and moral views against civil rights, free choice, and financial considerations. 

 

1975: Plans to build a large new shopping complex adjacent to Cafaro's Eastwood Mall on Route 422 in Niles are announced by William F. Cafaro, chairman of Cafaro Co.

A year after the brutal murder of GM guard Benjamin Marsh and his wife and child in their Canfield home, General Motors issues a reminder that there is a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the murderer or murderers. 

Dean E. Beck, manager of the Ohio Edison Co.'s Salem District since 1963, is retiring after 47 years with the company. His successor is Paul Stepuk. 

 

1950: General Fireproofing Co. and the United Steelworkers of America CIO agree on a new contract which will give workers an average increase of 16 cents an hour, similar to raises awarded hourly workers in basic steel. 

While visiting Youngstown, Joseph B. Kyle of Gary, Ind., grand exalted ruler of the Benevolent Order of the Elks, says America is threatened by a godless enemy, Communism, and American boys are dying 10,000 miles away in Korea to protect our freedom. 

Brewster Yale Beach, deacon and assistant rector of St. John's Episcopal Church, will be ordained to the office of priest in a ceremony presided over by Bishop Beverley D. Tucker, bishop of the Diocese of Ohio.