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Year 1 in the books, big things await in year 2

Almost a year ago, I was packing up my life in Pittsburgh, putting it into the back of a U-Haul and moving about an hour and a half to the northwest here in Youngstown. I was going from being a sports reporter at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review to heading my own sports department here at the Tribune Chronicle and Vindicator. Talk about a big change, but it was one I was ready for and one I always envisioned for myself. Growing up, I wanted to be the next Chris Berman or Stuart Scott in front of the camera on ESPN, but as I got older, I realized how important local journalism was for ...

Time to put fishing back on the radar

“One of these days …” It’s a threat, a promise or a dream. It all depends on the circumstances. Anglers often aspire to fulfill an ambition “one of these days.” Perhaps it’s to visit a faraway lake or to catch a bucket-list species. For many, however, the “one of these days” aspiration is to take up fishing or perhaps to return to the sport they loved as a kid. Ohioans who are contemplating fishing as a new hobby or to dust off their long-idle fishing tackle have their once-a-year opportunity to cast their lines without having to invest in a fishing license. ...

A strong 1st impression

Mahoning Valley athletes, you’ve got our attention. Another year has come and gone for our area’s athletes, but for nearly all of the writers in this outlet’s sports department, it was Year 1 in the Youngstown area. Talk about a strong first impression. In the fall, we were fortunate enough to see the Ursuline football make it all the way to the state championship game. Though the Irish came up just shy of the ultimate achievement to their stellar season, it was a pleasure to see the excitement that drew. As it turns out, my very first Ohio high school football game was ...

Recalling a home run fishing trip of sorts

Sometimes a fishing trip can be a home run even when the fish fail to show up. For retired Mathews High School teacher Mike Miller, a long weekend of frustration on Pymatuning Lake with his father and brother turned out to be one of the best days of his life. Mike’s dad, Gerry Miller, was a hard-working man who toiled at two jobs to support his family in Vienna. When Gerry did finally make time to go fishing, the trips often turned into three-day expeditions that were — in Mike’s words — “fish, fish, fish.” Summer was waning in 1968 when Gerry announced to Mike and ...

Like in life, coaches rely on mentors and other resources

As a journalist, whenever I find myself in a jam and in need of advice I always turn to former colleagues, bosses, and professors. There’s my former editor at the Verde Independent in Cottonwood, AZ, Dan Engler. He was the one who gave me my first full-time job as a journalist and someone who taught me so much about the business. In fact, before I took this job I reached out to him to talk about the opportunity, just to have a sounding board. Then, there are my former professors at Arizona State University, Paola Boivin and Brett Kurland. Two of the best to ever do it. Dan gave ...

Local anglers giving back to support community

When the opportunity to give back to the community presents itself, some people step up and some turn away. It’s human nature. Some are givers. But even the most generous givers appreciate the opportunity to have some fun to go along with their investment. A dedicated corps of bass anglers has answered the call in Youngstown annually since 2000. Every year on the Saturday after Memorial Day, they gather at Aqua Ohio’s Evans and Pine Lakes to compete for the title of champion of the United Way Bass Classic. Now known as the Muransky Companies Bass Classic, the tournament started ...