Hooking the top stories of 2003

With the new year just four days old, it isn't too late to select the top stories of 2003 before offering fearless predictions for 2004. (The word fearless stems from the accuracy of last year's column that foresaw such major events in the Mahoning Valley as Youngstown State University's increasing student tuition -- again.)
So, what were the major stories of 2003? No, they all weren't Page One headline grabbers, nor were they of the variety that tugged at readers' heartstrings or their pocketbooks. Rather, the three chosen for this column all offered a poignant commentary about the Mahoning Valley.
The first was published Oct. 13 and appeared on B4. It carried the following headline: "Vice cops received a 'thank you' from a teacher at Hillman Elementary."
The story dealt with one of the oldest professions and focused on Youngstown Patrolwoman Kelly Lamb -- who posed as a hooker (prostitute, streetwalker) on the South Side.
The following comment from Lt. Rod Foley, commander of the vice squad, gave the story its importance:
"Once we cleared out all the 'girls' with citations, we put Kelly out there. It was her first time. She was appalled at the prices quoted, like $3."
Yes, big spender, $3. And we thought only our politicians were cheap -- judges and lawyers fixing cases for lunch money, grass seed and dollar amounts that would make any bribe taker worth his salt cringe.
This region is becoming pathetic; we can't even do hooking right.
Mob hit
Remember back in December 1996 when Paul Gains was the target of a Mafia contract hit after winning the election for Mahoning County prosecutor? The shooters hired by the mob were so incompetent, they made a mockery of the serious business of murder.
After dropping Gains to the floor of his kitchen, the hit man stood over the prosecutor-elect ready to finish the job. He pressed the trigger. Nothing. The gun jammed. He fled.
You can bet your "Godfather" movies that the dons of the Mafia families in New York had a hearty laugh at the Valley's expense.
And now this -- "Hey, baby, what do I get for $3?" The john deserved to be arrested just for being so cheap.
The second top story of 2003 -- with a more serious strain -- ran on the front page under this headline: "Investment company pays funds back to MVSD."
It dealt with the decision by McDonald & amp; Co. of Cleveland to repay the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District $65,000. That was the amount a 1997 special state audit of the water district found had been improperly paid to company, which had been hired by former directors Edward Flask and Frank DeJute to sell bonds to finance a major capital improvements project.
McDonald, in turn, hired Atty. Holland Greene, an associate of Atty. Michael Morley, to review some of the legal work. Greene was sent a check for $65,000 from McDonald, which then ended up in Morley's corporate account.
Morley is a former chairman of the Mahoning County Democratic Party.
Why is the repayment significant? Because even though the Cleveland firm is not admitting any wrongdoing, its action does vindicate the state auditor's office and former Auditor Jim Petro. Petro is now Ohio attorney general.
Criticism
And it shows that while we in the Valley may be unwilling or unable to police those in positions of power and those who control the public purse strings, there are conscientious outsiders prepared to do the dirty work for us.
And that brings us to the third top story for 2003, which has to do with a man who epitomizes the Valley's dirt -- James A. Traficant Jr.
Traficant, who served as the region's congressman for 17 years before being sent off to federal prison, made the front page just before the end of the year. Here's the headline that greeted readers: "Traficant sentence extended 24 days."
It seems that the former sheriff of Mahoning County just can't grasp the concept of incarceration: And so he's finding out that there's a price to be paid for misbehaving.
Traficant will have to stay 24 more days beyond his July 17, 2009, release date.
While the reason for this penalty has not been made public, it can be concluded that Traficant isn't being a good inmate.
There's a message there for other Valley public officials who are either serving time or will be serving time (no, we aren't done with our crooked politicians): Leave your macho mentality at home. Once behind bars, you're just another criminal.