BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      Health issues are forcing longtime Boardman Township Administrator Jason Loree to step down from his position after nearly two decades.
      Loree, 44, is currently battling autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a genetic disorder that causes cysts to form on the kidneys. The condition leads to kidney function decline over time, and it is particularly concerning as it increases the risk of aneurysms. The disease took the life of his mother in 2021.
      Loree has undergone open-heart surgery due to complications from PKD, further complicating his health situation. He is currently on an active transplant list and is preparing for dialysis and a possible transplant to address the severe impact of the disease on his health.
      If te...Read More >>

     Law enforcement used pepper spray to disperse a large group of juveniles who were reported fighting at Youngstown Skate, 7080 Tiffany Blvd., last Saturday night, Apr. 11 near 9:30 p.m., although no arrests were made.
      That followed a what police described as a social media post that encouraged a “Teen Takeover” at Youngstown Skate earlier the same day.
      Ptl. Angelo Pasquale, who was working an extra duty detail at Youngstown Skate on Apr. 11 said that after the business started to close, “large groups of...juveniles began to engage in physical altercations inside the business.
      “Due to the overwhelming amounts of individuals fighting, additional help was requested from other police agencies.”
      The use of pepper spray helped to move the crowd off the Youngstown Skate property.
   &n...Read More >>

     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      On Mon., Apr. 20, the fifth administrator in the history of Boardman Township will assume office. Mark Ragozine, 37, will replace Jason Loree, 44, in the position.
      The position of township administrator was created in 1976 when State Rep. Thomas J. Carney, a democrat and a former Boardman Township Trustee, introduced House Bill 983 to the 111th General Assembly.
      At that time, Boardman Township’s zoning inspector was Robert A. Schaal, a former employee of the Mahoning County Engineers, who led Democrat Boardman Trustee Robert W. Bannon’s successful campaign for office and was rewarding by being named to the zoning post.
      In 1978, Democrat Thomas Barrett was elected as a Boardman Trustee, unseating longtime Trustee and Republican ...Read More >>