21 WFMJ Archives / March 12, 2003 | It was "Book Time with Ronald McDonald" 23 years ago at West Elementary School in Youngstown. Applauding were, from left, Leandrah Panno, 6; Isaiah Hudson, 6; and Shantrele Jones, 5, kindergarten students of Mary Potesta.

March 12 

2001: The Trumbull County Drug Task Force and the Ohio Board of Pharmacy arrested 29 people, including one doctor, following secret indictments after a 10-month investigation into street sales of the pain reliever OxyContin.

Crowds bundle up and brave temperatures in the mid-30s for the 23rd St. Patrick's Day parade that marched down Market Street in Boardman. 

Ryan Shaffer, a 15-year-old home-schooled student in West Farmington, Trumbull County, has opened a computer business, building computers for $829 to $1,749 and also offering upgrades on existing computers.  He says he is paying himself $12 an hour to operate the company, Thrill-o-Byte.

 

1986: Betty Williams, the Irish Catholic homemaker who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her role as a peacemaker in Northern Ireland, says during an appearance at Youngstown State University that working for world peace is everyone's job. 

Dr. Frederic D'Amato, chairman of the Youngstown Parks and Recreation Commission, says the decision to breach the Lake Milton Dam was made out of concern for the safety of residents downstream if the dam failed. 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average, a 30-stock index, hit a record high of 1746 on signs of stability in oil prices and a reduction in interest rates. 

 

1976: Monetary loss is expected to exceed $100,000 in a fire that heavily damaged the El Rio Restaurant at 4256 Youngstown Road S.E. in Warren. 

Responding to instructions by Niles Municipal Court Judge Charles Zubyk, Niles police checked 108 stores in Niles for the possible sale of obscene materials.

Emil A. "Spitz" Renner, 92, of 43 Gypsy Lane, chairman of the board of the former Renner Brewing Co. in Youngstown and a champion billiards player, dies at the Assumption Nursing Home. 

  

1951: Hugo J. DeLaCroix, Mahoning County Civil Defense coordinator, is resigning after being called back to work at Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co., which had temporarily loaned his services to the county. 

The Monday Musical Club presents Patrice Munsel, coloratura soprano with the Metropolitan Opera, at Stambaugh Auditorium.  Ticket prices range from 60 cents to $3.60.

Youngstown's hope of retaining a Mid-Atlantic League baseball franchise dims as the conference board meets to draw up a 130-game schedule for six teams, none of which is from Youngstown.