June 7th

South High School Junior Tyreshia Cody places fourth in the 100m 33" Hurdles at the 2008 OHSAA State Track & Field Finals. After placing eighth in the 2007 regional final, Tyreshia qualified for the 2008 state final with a time of 15.64, tied for the second best qualifying time overall. Her 15.28 was her best time all season. In placing fourth, Cody received 2008 All-Ohio honors from the Ohio Association of Track & Field Coaches.

April 28th

23-year-old United States Army National Guard Private Joshua Jamal O’Bannon dies of complications related to a collapse a day earlier. O'Bannon collapsed about 100 yards before the finish line of the inaugural United States Army National Guard Warrior Challenge training exercise at Camp Lazarus in Delaware, Ohio. After being carried across the finish line by fellow recruits, O’Bannon was transported to Riverside Methodist Hospital to receive treatment for heat exhaustion the afternoon of April 27th. Coroners say O’Bannon passed away due to complications from an enlarged heart, sickle cell trait, and severe dehydration brought on by physical stress.

A 2003 graduate of South High School, Josh was a three-year varsity football letterman, and earned All-City honors as a sophomore and as a junior, as well as All-District honors as a sophomore.  He was also a four-year track and field letterman, as well as a two-year varsity basketball letterman. Josh continued his football career at Robert Morris University, where he played four years at cornerback for the Colonials.  Josh earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Robert Morris and was scheduled to attend graduation in May.  His mother, Kim O’Bannon, attended the commencement to receive the diploma her son worked so hard to earn.