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• ORCHID: To two Destination Imagination teams from Lincoln K-8 school in Warren for winning at the recent state competition to qualify in the DI global finals in Kansas City, Mo., later this spring. The fourth-grade team coached by Cara Venetti excelled in the Improv Festival Frency category. Also competing and winning in that category were the seventh- and eighth- graders from Lincoln. Because of a clash with the last week of classes this academic year, the team unfortunately will not be able to compete for global honors in Kansas City, Mo. Their state victories nonetheless bring overflowing pride to themselves and their school.
• ONION: To the sleazy scammer who has been ripping off county residents in recent weeks by calling them posing as a Trumbull County Sheriff's Office sergeant. Reports say the impostor tells callers they need to send him money to cover their fines and avoid arrest. Officials in the sheriff's office, however, stress they never will call and request payment over the phone for any reason. Don't let yourself be hoodwinked, and should you receive such a call, report it immediately to the sheriff's office by calling 330-675-2730.
• ORCHID: To Brookfield High School drone racing team for taking first place at last weekend's inaugural Trumbull County Drone Racing League. The high-flying event took place in two hangars at the Youngstown Warren Regional Airport. Hosting the first-ever competition were the Trumbull County Educational Service Center, Winner Aviation and Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. Now that those civic-minded sponsors have gotten the competition firmly off the ground, we look for bigger and more robust competition in the 2023 event.
• ORCHID: To Eastern Gateway Community College and Warren-based Covelli Enterprises for partnering to offer free college benefits to Covelli's nearly 6,000 Ohio-based Panera Bread employees and their families. The benefit began this semester for the in-person and online programs. Eligibility will be determined by Covelli Enterprises, but initially will be offered to its employees in good standing. For the students' costs not covered by federal grants, EGCC will provide a last-dollar scholarship.
• ONION: To motorists who risk becoming stranded on busy interstate highways or dark rural no-man's lands by neglecting to regularly check their gasoline level in their vehicle. At a time when gas prices have only begun to inch downward after reaching historic highs above $4 per gallon, we can understand the temptation of squeezing out every last drop of gasoline before filling up. Don't succumb to that temptation and the wealth of possible safety hazards stalling out invites.
• ORCHID: To Mahoning Valley-based Phantom Fireworks for its proactive work in contributing to the investigation of a suspect in a New York City subway mass shooting this week. William Weimer, a vice president of the company, recognized fireworks activated at the scene were Phantom brands. Through diligent cybersleuthing, Weimer and others at Phantom traced the fireworks' sale to a Wisconsin showroom and to Frank James, 62, the suspect arrested by police one day after the tragedy. New York authorities say the evidence Phantom uncovered may well prove valuable once James goes to trial.
• ORCHID: To JAC Management for its perseverance and hard work to ensure the Y-Live concert returns after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We expect fans will be thrilled to see country music megastar Luke Bryan finally make good on plans over the past two years to perform in Youngstown. This year's Y-Live event is moving to Wean Park between the Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre and the Covelli Centre on July 16. That's likely a smart move given the star power of Bryan.
• ORCHID: To Chris Matta, a Masury native, for being appointed chief engineer of the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission earlier this year. The 22-year turnpike veteran will have his work cut out for him this year, what with a massive $233 million improvement and modernization program planned for the stretch of the highway, including work in Mahoning and Trumbull counties. We wish Matta success in that project and in his new leadership post.
editorial@tribtoday.com