Jim Loboy has called the Valley home his whole life. His interest in weather started as a teen when he would watch the skies in Campbell and try and guess if he would have baseball practice. He attended YSU and graduated with his degree in telecommunications with a minor of study in advertising. Before graduation Jim landed a spot as a DJ with legendary WHOT. While there he became known for his work with charity efforts. He was buried alive for the food bank and walked to New York City raising money for 911 victims.

He was hooked on weather when he was asked to fill-in on WYTV in the late 90’s. He earned his broadcast meteorology certification from Mississippi State University in 2000. He began full time on Daybreak in 2006. Jim teaches weather at Butler Community College. He enjoys golf and do it yourself projects. Jim lives in Campbell with his wife Debra and daughter Chloe.

Tracking severe/winter weather while you sleep is a responsibility he takes very seriously.

You can contact Jim at jloboy@wytv.com.

Len Rome, originally from Pittsburgh, came to the Valley and WYTV in 1982 after working at TV stations in Erie, Pennsylvania, Greenville, South Carolina and Akron, Ohio.

He’s a graduate of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and he’s picked up numerous awards for his writing and reporting.

His interest include backyard astronomy, ballroom dancing and distributing $2 bills to confuse cashiers.

After anchoring evenings, Len moved to mornings in 2001… he really enjoys anchoring Daybreak but considers that Loboy character a bad influence.

Len lives in Austintown and has three children, all of whom lovingly refer to him as the First National Bank of Dad.

You can contact Len at lrome@wytv.com.

Stan Boney is a veteran of Youngstown TV news. He was born and raised in Findlay, Ohio, graduated from Ohio University and, after a brief stint in Dayton, arrived in Youngstown in 1979 to work for WYTV and never left.

His first job with WYTV was weekend sports anchor. He later covered Trumbull County, before taking over the weather duties in 1981, a position he held for 30 years.

In 2008, Stan became of the co-anchor of 33 News, and in 2011 gave up his weather job when he was named the anchor of 33 News at 5:30, 6 and 11 p.m.

When he’s not working, Stan enjoys reading, golf, and gardening. One of his goals is to visit as many National Parks as possible.

He has a daughter Mollie, and lives in Boardman with his wife Debbie.

You can contact Stan at sboney@wytv.com.

Want to win some great prizes?  Just watch Daybreak on 33 WYTV, weekdays from 5 – 7AM.  When Len Rome asks the “Question of the Day”, visit this page and enter the correct answer in the field below along with your name, email address, and where you are from!  One winner will be chosen randomly out of all the correct answers.

2 GC McDonald Frappe (Approx Retail Value $4)
2 GC Fruit & Yogurt Parfait (Approx Retail Value $4)
$10 GC Dogs On The Run in East Palestine
$20 GC Elmton & Tumbler (Approx Retail Value $25)
4 tx Canfield Fair (Approx Retail Value $24)

Sponsored by McDonald’s of NEO Co-Op, Dogs on the The Run, The Elmton, Canfield Fair, and 33 WYTV.

Winners must pick prizes up at:

WYTV
3930 Sunset Blvd.
Youngstown, OH 44512
M-F 8:30AM-4:30PM.

You have 7 days to pick up your prize. If a prize is a ticketed event you are responsible to pick up prize before event. Please make sure you don’t miss a ticketed event by not coming to pick up your prize.

Eligibility: The contest is open to persons, 13 years or older at the time of entry. Employees of the station, and their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, agents, employees, advertising and promotion agencies and members of their immediate families (spouses, parents, children, and siblings and their spouses) are not eligible. Contestants may only win the contest once every 12 months.

To see a list of past winners click here.

To enter, fill out the form below.

Chase is a born Buckeye. He grew up in Richwood, Ohio and has cheered on the Ohio State football and basketball teams ever since he can remember.

Chase joined the WKBN Sports Team in February 2014. Before that, he was a Sports Anchor/Reporter in Zanesville, Ohio. He graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University, where he worked as a Sports Producer and Anchor for the school’s TV station.
Chase also interned for both WBNS 10 TV and NBC 4 Sports in Columbus.

In his free time, naturally, Chase loves to play and watch all kinds of sports. He is an avid golfer, runner, and basketball player. When not doing something sports-related, he loves playing the piano and hanging out with his family. Most recently his new niece! He is also an active member of his home church, Richwood Church of Christ.

Chase is excited to continue his broadcasting career in Youngstown and learn more about the local teams. More than anything, Chase loves to hear and tell a good story. So if you have an idea or know of a newsworthy player or team, let him know!

Josh came to the valley from Bluefield, West Virginia where he was the weekend anchor for nearly two years.

Here in Youngstown Josh started as a VJ, but became the weekend weatherman for several months before moving to sports where he is an anchor and reporter. He grew up in the suburbs of Pittsburgh and is an avid Pittsburgh Penguins, Steelers and Pirates fan. Josh graduated from Point Park University in Pittsburgh where he was the play by play man for the Pioneers Men’s and Women’s basketball teams. There he won a national award for best sports play by play from the IBS. He was also the Myron Cope scholarship winner as a senior.

Josh’s sports coverage is extensive, covering the Steelers in Tampa Bay during their trip to the Super Bowl. You can follow him of twitter @jpfrketic where he provides his followers the latest sports news, scores, and analysis of teams in the Valley. If you have a score or a story idea tweet him, or email him at Josh.Frketic@wytv.com

Cory Froomkin is the weekend meteorologist for WYTV 33 News. He is a graduate of Kent State University, and is currently pursuing his meteorology certificate through Mississippi State University. Cory was born and raised in the Mahoning Valley, and is always excited to give you the latest forecast or breaking weather story. Cory enjoys running and traveling, when he can.

WYTV Weeknight Meteorologist Ryan Halicki was born and raised in the Mahoning Valley and joined the WYTV news team in 2010. Since the age of 7, Halicki has known that this is the career path he wanted to follow and is very happy to launch his career in Youngstown. Weather is his passion and something he is tracking 24/7.

He was born in Youngstown and is a graduate of Hubbard High School. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Youngstown State University.

In his off-the-clock time, you may find him running on one of the areas many scenic trails. He also has an interest in learning about culture and enjoys all the ethnic festivals the area has to offer throughout the summer. He is also a “Foodie” with a love for ethnic food.

Ryan looks forward to providing you with accurate weather forecasts, keeping you safe when weather threatens your hometown and helping you plan your day. Catch him weeknights on WYTV 33 News.

You can contact Ryan at rhalicki@wytv.com

Katie Dugan became a part of the 33-WYTV family in March 2015 as a member of the 33 News Daybreak team.

A graduate of McDonald High School in 2009, Katie attended and graduated from Ohio University’s Scripps School of Journalism in 2013. While in college, she began her career as an intern locally, then at WBNS 10TV in Columbus and then at Fox News Channel in New York City.

In October 2013, Katie moved to Clarksburg, West Virginia, where she worked as a morning anchor and reporter at WBOY.

Katie is thrilled to return home where she can be close to her family and continue her career in the Mahoning Valley.

When she is away from the office, Katie enjoys reading, writing and taking her dog, Bailey, out for walks.

You can email her story ideas at katie.dugan@wytv.com.

Darius Rucker and the Southern Style Tour is coming to the Covelli Centre on October 10th and 33 WYTV wants to give you the ultimate VIP experience!

Enter for a chance to win two (2) tickets to the show AND exclusive VIP access including a special acoustic performance and admittance to a pre-show party.

One (1) winner and one (1) guest will receive:

– 2 tickets to Darius Rucker on 10/10/2015 at the Covelli Centre at 7:30PM. This will also include a VIP experience consisting of entrance to the pre-show party and an exclusive acoustic performance. (ARV: $400.00)

– WYTV (The Station) is not responsible for delays or any type of cancellation related to the VIP Experience.

The contest will run Friday 09/25/2015 at 9AM through Wednesday 10/07/2015 at 11:59PM.

To enter, fill out the form below.

Corban Baker joined 33-WYTV News in 2015 as the evening anchor.

Corban is a Valley native, graduating from Brookfield High School in 2003. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2003 to 2008 and is a veteran having served two tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He returned to the Valley to attend Youngstown State University, where he graduated in 2012 with a degree in Telecommunications. He spent three years in southern California, working as a Production Specialist, Reporter and Anchor at a news station in Palm Springs, California from 2012 to 2015. He has also worked as an actor and comedian throughout California.

Corban enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, fishing and camping. He also loves to travel and is an avid fan of the Cleveland Browns, Indians and Cavaliers as well as Ohio State and Youngstown State sports.

Email Corban at Corban.Baker@wytv.com.

33 WYTV want to make you a CMT VIP!

You and a guest could be enjoying the CMT Suits and Boots tour with Brett Eldredge and Thomas Rhett coming to the Covelli Centre on Thursday, December 3.

One lucky winner and a guest will enjoy a meet and greet before the show and great tickets to hear this amazing night of country music.

Enter below – the deadline is Monday, November 30!

Winners must pick prizes up at:

WYTV
3930 Sunset Blvd.
Youngstown, OH 44512
M-F 8:30AM-4:30PM.

You have 7 days to pick up your prize. If a prize is a ticketed event you are responsible to pick up prize before event. Please make sure you don’t miss a ticketed event by not coming to pick up your prize.

Eligibility: The contest is open to persons, 13 years or older at the time of entry. Employees of the station, and their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, agents, employees, advertising and promotion agencies and members of their immediate families (spouses, parents, children, and siblings and their spouses) are not eligible. Contestants may only win the contest once every 12 months.

GIRARD, Ohio (WYTV) – Two friends turned a simple idea into an annual event that provides bicycles to needy families.

Joan Dallessandro and Debbie Minniti said they were walking through a store during the holidays five years ago when they noticed that the most popular item on children’s wish lists were bicycles. They began brainstorming ways to raise money to purchase bikes for the kids, and they soon came up with a unique idea to raise the funds.

The fundraiser started at their favorite local restaurant, Master’s Bar and Grille in Girard, where they made and sold jello shots and dubbed the fundraiser, “Shots for Tots.” The name stuck, and customer purchased enough jello shots to buy three or four bicycles for kids that year.

But since then, Dallessandro and Minniti took their fundraiser to a new level.

“Then we started doing different things, besides just selling the jello shots at events,” Dallessandro said. “We had raffles for baskets, and then this year was our best year ever. We had a poker run, we had a golf outing, and we raised enough money to buy 130 bicycles.”

With a name like “Shots for Tots,” the women enlisted the help of the U.S. Marines at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna, who did not hesitate in their involvement. Now, each year, they pick up the bikes, sometimes needing two trips, and then distribute them to children on Christmas.

“I think this a good opportunity for the community to see that there is good in people. I’m mean, we started off, Joan and I, and we ended up, we have about 12 people that are actually on our committee,” Minniti said. “This whole establishment, I mean, we couldn’t do it without a single raffle ticket that’s sold to somebody that just walks into the bar, and I think it just helps people to see the good in the community.”

The women hope to continue “Shots for Tots” every holiday season and say it warms their heart to see people come in and have fun for a good cause.

It is for these efforts that WYTV is recognizing Dallessandro and Minniti as this week’s Hometown Heroes award.

You and three guests could be headed to see the toughest Monster Truck Tour at the Covelli Centre!

Fill out the form below to enter between Monday, January 11 at 10AM and Friday, January 22 at noon for a chance to win four tickets (ARV $112) and a $100 gift certificate good at the souvenir stand of the event!

Winners must pick prizes up at:

WYTV
3930 Sunset Blvd.
Youngstown, OH 44512
M-F 8:30AM-4:30PM.

You have 7 days to pick up your prize. If a prize is a ticketed event you are responsible to pick up prize before event. Please make sure you don’t miss a ticketed event by not coming to pick up your prize.

Eligibility: The contest is open to persons, 13 years or older at the time of entry. Employees of the station, and their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, agents, employees, advertising and promotion agencies and members of their immediate families (spouses, parents, children, and siblings and their spouses) are not eligible. Contestants may only win the contest once every 12 months.

33 WYTV News Daybreak is spending eight weeks getting fit and healthy in the morning.  Jim Loboy and Katie Dugan will team up with Creekside Fitness & Health Center and Dr. Shayesteh – join them on their journey.  Every Wednesday morning on Daybreak, be a part of the health kick with some great ideas for working out and tips to eating healthy.

Plus, at the end of eight weeks, one lucky winner will be following in their footsteps – taking home:
(1) 2-month membership at Creekside Fitness & Health Center (ARV: $110)
(1) 2-session consultation package from Dr. Shayesteh (ARV: $150)

Enter below – the winner will be announced on 33 WYTV News Daybreak on Wednesday, March 23.

Eligibility: The contest is open to persons, 18 years or older at the time of entry. Employees of the station, and their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, agents, employees, advertising and promotion agencies and members of their immediate families (spouses, parents, children, and siblings and their spouses) are not eligible. Contestants may only win the contest once every 12 months.

DALLAS (AP/MEDIA GENERAL) -– Gunmen shot and killed five police officers and wounded seven others in Dallas Thursday night during a peaceful protest over fatal police shootings of black men in other states.

Police Chief David Brown blamed “snipers” and said three suspects were in custody while a fourth had exchanged gunfire with authorities in a parking garage downtown and told negotiators he intended to hurt more law enforcement officials. Early Friday, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said the fourth suspect had died.

Police did not immediately identify any of the suspects or mention a possible motive.

The shooting began about 8:45 p.m. Thursday while hundreds of people were gathered to protest the fatal police shootings in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and suburban St. Paul, Minnesota.

Reaction to the shooting flooded social media, with the hashtags #Dallas and #DallasPoliceShooting trending by Friday morning. Below is a sampling of reaction from around the country.

https://storify.com/MEGNational/twitter-reacts-to-dallas-police-shootings

BOARDMAN, Ohio (WYTV) – Several broken water pipes along Southern Boulevard in Boardman caused flooding and traffic jams Wednesday.

At 2 p.m., a tractor trailer heading southbound made a left turn onto U.S. 224, striking a fire hydrant. An 8-inch water line under the roadway then ruptured and the road buckled as a result of water damage.

“It all began when a truck turning onto Southern Boulevard hit a fire hydrant and cleaned it off, and then it slowly progressed to where water was bubbling up through 224 and buckling the pavement. We were worried about a sink hole,” said Boardman Assistant Fire Chief Don Kloes.

Youngstown Water said the pipe ruptured as a result of the truck striking the fire hydrant. As of Thursday morning, the break has been repaired and Southern Boulevard is open, but about 20 water customers are under a boil alert. Those customers affected have been notified with door hangers.

Shaun Butler, owner of Burkland Monuments on 224 and Southern Boulevard, said he lost customers as water continued to spill into the intersection.

“It just rose right up. It looked like it was going to swallow the intersection…No one can get in or out, so we’re going to be here for a while,” he said Wednesday afternoon.

Just as crews finished correcting the first break and turned the water back on, two other pipes along Southern Boulevard southbound burst. Crews shut the water off once again and repaired those lines.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra is returning to the Covelli Centre on November 17th and WYTV wants to give you the ultimate experience!

If you’re the lucky grand prize winner – you get a pair of front row tickets to see TSO!  Plus, we’ll make sure you have the best holiday light display in the Valley with a limited edition Light-O-Rama TSO Signature Series ShowTime Central Control System that syncs your Christmas Lights with the music of TSO.

Your home will be a professional light display set to your favorite TSO music!

Even if you’re not the lucky grand prize winner, five runners-up will still get a pair of tickets to the show on November 17th.

Sign up below for your chance to win!

More information about TSO at the Covelli Centre:
http://covellicentre.com/event/tso-the-ghosts-of-christmas-eve-the-best-of-tso-and-more/

More about Trans-Siberian Orchestra:
http://www.trans-siberian.com/

Use the form below to enter the contest:

Delores Crawford is the Community Affairs Director for WYTV. She hosts “Sunday Morning with Dee” airing on WYTV, Sundays at 7:30 a.m.

Dee joined WYTV with an extensive career in community involvement. She has held positions with the Mahoning County Department of Human Services, Youngstown United Way and at Youngstown State University. She has also served on numerous boards and committees throughout Mahoning County.

Delores is a life-long resident of Youngstown who enjoys giving to the community. In her spare time, she loves to fish and visit with her son Michael, his wife Dionne and their three children.

Contact Dee at newsroom@wytv.com.