Breaking News

Letters to the Editor

The deer-kill numbers aren’t adding up

DEAR EDITOR: I was at a Metroparks meeting Oct. 10th and received some interesting information that I would like to share. It was reported in The Vindicator last week that 67 deer had been slaughtered. The ODNR previously stated to the park director, Aaron Young, 50 deer was the limit to slaughter. I talked to the president of the board, Miss Bennett, and was told to speak with Mr. Young, who was too busy to talk to me. I then talked to the Chief of Metro Park Police. His explanation was that the sharpshooters were allowed to slaughter 50 deer, no more. Where- as the hunters ...

Mayor-elect McDowell making good decisions

DEAR EDITOR: The Nov. 18 Vindicator story on Mayor-elect Derrick McDowell was very encouraging. McDowell has demonstrated wisdom in your choosing to consider keeping Community Planning and Economic Development Director Nikki Fields, Law Director Lori Shells Simmons, Finance Director Kyle Miasek, Police Chief Carl Davis and Fire Chief Barry Finley in their current positions. They can hit the ground running on Day One with no learning curve to tackle. I hope McDowell considers doing the same with other department heads who are already proven to be qualified and competent, doing good ...

Sound off!

On Nov. 7, 2025 I filed a civil complaint in Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas against the Boardman Township Trustees et. al. Judge R. Scott Krichbaum, a Boardman resident, will be presiding at trial should sides fail to agree on a settlement and / or Judge Krichbaum dismisses the suit. As Judge Krichbaum will be hanging up his robe at the end of the year I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him on his distinguished career on the bench and wish him the very best in retirement. — Boardman WOW...2,000 dollars was going to every American and now only going to ...

47’s mental health … or the lack thereof

DEAR EDITOR: It amazes me that major media outlets: CNN, FOX, CBS, MSNBC, etc., haven’t given serious coverage of Trump’s mental health, specifically his erratic, often consistent and deviant departure from the norm. In other words, behaviors usually considered acceptable cultural and societal functioning. While I am usually a believer in Frank Zappa’s comment that “Without departure from the norm, progress is not possible,” 47’s erratic and often bizarre abandonment from the norm captures everyone’s attention with the often-repeated comment, “Is that guy crazy?” ...

Fetterman and the human rights test

DEAR EDITOR: The World Jewish Congress has given its highest recognition, the Theodor Herzl Award, to Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), primarily for his support for Israel. Fetterman, honored at the most recent award ceremony, declared: “The proudest thing that I’ve done in my entire Senate career is to stand for Israel and with the Jewish community worldwide through this horrible Gaza war after the trauma of Oct. 7.” Fetterman has further stated that his “devotion” to Israel is “becoming increasingly incompatible with being a proud Democrat.” But shouldn’t being a ...

Who benefits from bishop’s decision?

DEAR EDITOR: The Diocese of Youngstown’s (Bishop Bonnar’s) new ban on funeral visitations inside church buildings, effective Dec. 1, 2025, is being sold as a matter of “decorum” and respect for sacred space. I was raised Catholic, and went to Catholic school from kindergarten through college. In all that time, I never saw a policy that so neatly drains the humanity out of one of life’s most vulnerable and sacred moments. For years, local Catholics have gathered in their own parishes to grieve, pray and say goodbye. Now Bishop Bonnar has decided that this long-standing ...