Ray Ingraham
Friday Facts: The Honorable Harold Ramis, No Batmobiles
:: On this day in 1889, boxer John Lawrence Sullivan punched Mayor John Overholt’s wife directly in the face, knocking her out instantly. No reason was ever given for the assault, and neither the mayor nor Sullivan ever chose to speak of it again.
:: A 1971 city ordinance prohibits the display of the Batmobile (from… »
The History of Barkay Bros. Funeral Home: Part II
Joel and Isaac Barkay, proprietors of Barkay Bros. Funeral Home on East Folkim St., announced recently that they had accepted an undisclosed sell their business. The local funeral home had been run by the Barkay family for 72 years. Joel and Isaac, lifelong bachelors aged 69 and 67 respectively, agreed to sit for an interview… »
The History of Barkay Bros. Funeral Home: Part I
Joel and Isaac Barkay, proprietors of Barkay Bros. Funeral Home on East Folkim St., announced last week that they had accepted an undisclosed offer from the giant mortuary services conglomerate ServLimited International to purchase their business. The local funeral home had been run by the Barkay family for 72 years. Joel and Isaac, lifelong bachelors… »
Update: Gov Nixes Mayor’s Guantanamo Deal
Mayor Maribeth Cosgove’s offer to the Obama administration to accept Guantanamo detainees [Our City to Become the Next Guantanamo?, 2.23] has been rescinded by an angry state governor’s office.
In a press release, Governor Allen (D) chastized Cosgrove for her rashness, and reminded her that the Ostahanoc River Maximum Security Prison is a federal, not a… »
A look back: City Timeline 1600 – 1899
By no means complete, this timeline serves to give a general overview of major events in the city’s history, from previously posted items here on The City Desk. Please note that contradictions to this list may crop up in the future, as history is a rather tricky thing, indeed.
– Ed.
16?? - Oldest known village ordinance… »
Profile: The Absent-Minded Philanthropist
“One of my foster mothers always said God gave me such a big heart to make up for my lack of common sense,” jokes Bill Mayweather. “If that’s true, I must have a heart the size of a city block.”
Mayweather, 37, works in the housekeeping department at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Shaffer Blvd. He… »
City Residents Going Out of Town For Guns
This recession has meant hard times and few customers for most local businesses, but 23 miles south of the city, in nearby Lakeview Falls, at least one retailer is doing well. Slaven’s Outdoor World has been filled to capacity with city residents looking to purchase firearms. In fact, according to owner Lou Slaven, sales are… »
Briefs: Laziness/Self-Plagiarism, Newspaper Endorsements
Did Sunday’s editorial cartoon by Journal-Clarion artist Jeff Norwood look familiar? Longtime readers may have noticed that it was identical to the cartoons printed in the paper on the week of Halloween in 2004 and 2000.
The cartoon features a trick-or-treater wearing a scary-looking hockey mask, standing on a porch holding a flashlight under his chin…. »
Case of Mistaken (New) Identity Leads to Mob Hit?
Joseph Green, head of the regional division of the FBI’s Witness Protection Program, held a press conference yesterday to publicly apologize to the friends and family of Anthony “Tony” Battaglia, who was found murdered in his Roxboro home late last week, in the city’s first major “old-fashioned” gangland slaying in nine years.
Battaglia, formerly of New… »
The Blotter: Sloppy Blows, Newsstands Moved, Pets and Children Saved
As a public service, The City Desk periodically offers up selected items culled from local police reports. (Note: More violent, standard items do not frequently show up here, as they are covered in the local papers with regularity.)
10:30 pm
Corner of Merriman and 112th Streets: Two men, both wearing NFL jerseys, are arrested outside Stoats’ Sports… »



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