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Basketball Classic worth keeping, but needs improvement

As the curse goes, “May you live in interesting times.” It’s sure been an interesting few days for those following Youngstown State basketball. The Penguins survived their first-round matchup of The Basketball Classic on Wednesday night in a 70-65 victory over Morgan State. Then, the fun began. The Basketball Classic’s website initially showed that YSU was set to play at Wofford last night. That alone would’ve been a tough sell, as it would have given the Penguins just Thursday to travel. Then, the game was set for today at 2 p.m. Obviously, that isn’t happening. The ...

Spring thaw means it’s time to jig for walleye

Nothing says spring to a walleye angler quite as definitively as dragging a jig through the tailraces of the dams throughout our region. For most of my adult life, I have looked forward to the annual thaw that drains fresh cold water to our reservoirs in March. Lakes Milton, Berlin and Mosquito, in particular, grew popular with anglers who knew the dams’ discharges were the places to be once the current hit a certain volume and the water reached the right temperature to activate the walleyes in the downstream river stretches. Around St. Patrick’s Day each year, anglers pull out ...

Fishing licenses play important role for anglers

Spring is the season when many anglers buy their Ohio fishing license to ensure they are properly authorized to fish for their favorite species across our state. While licenses these days expire 12 months after their purchase, many anglers follow tradition and buy theirs in March, just as they did for decades under the former system when licenses expired Feb. 28. A fishing license is required to fish in Ohio’s public waters. Ohio resident fishing licenses cost $25 and are valid for one year from date of purchase. Fishing licenses (and hunting licenses) are important for ...

Big bucks earmarked for Ohio waterway improvements

Big bucks for important environmental projects are earmarked for Ohio waters as our state and nation continue working to improve our stewardship of precious natural resources. The U.S. EPA announced Lake Erie and three major tributaries will receive $1 billion in investments as part of the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill. The money is to clean up and restore waters designated as “areas of concern.” They are judged to be severely degraded locations. Without clean air and clean water, what’s the point, right? Nevertheless, some critics will decry the expenditures ...

YSU teams hoping to finish strong

YOUNGSTOWN — Four games in two weeks. That’s all the stands between Youngstown State’s men’s and women’s basketball teams and the postseason now. With the Horizon League Tournament knocking on the door, each YSU squad is in a different position. Here’s how the postseason pictures are shaping up. MEN’S OUTLOOK The Penguin men find themselves chasing the top four spots in the league after a disappointing loss to Robert Morris on Sunday. That, coupled with Purdue Fort Wayne’s surprising 102-98 win in triple overtime against Cleveland State, saw YSU tumble clear ...

Confident Penguins on verge of history

YOUNGSTOWN — What a difference some momentum can make. Three weeks ago, Youngstown State had just gotten swept by Purdue Fort Wayne in a tough-to-stomach 82-71 defeat at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. It was the Penguins’ fifth loss in six games, and had sunk YSU to a 10-10 overall record and 4-6 mark in the Horizon League. Now, 21 days later, the Penguins are winners of six straight, seeking their first seven-game win streak since the 1997-98 season and are in contention for a coveted top four position in the Horizon League Tournament. They stand at 16-10 overall and ...