21 WFMJ archives / May 1, 1983 | The ten top spellers in the Vindicator’s 50th spelling bee at the South High Field House 40 years ago were, front from left, Laura Mihara, Suzanne Yunker, Amy Brenner, Chantail Greggs (the champion, from St. Patrick School Youngstown), Ursel McElroy; back row, Howard Huang, Frank Esposito, Joseph Switka, Gary  Palm and William Huff.
 
 
May 3
 
1998: Daniel Jones, an 11-year-old Vindicator carrier, is hailed as a "little hero" by Alberta Balogh, 89 after Daniel noticed the smell of natural gas as he placed her Sunday paper on the porch of her McDonald home. Police are notified, and a broken natural gas pipe is discovered. 
 
Hazardous waste, including PCBs, arsenic, lead, zinc, and other heavy metals, will be buried in a small section of the 42-acre William Taylor Estate off Church Street in Wheatland. Mayor Thomas Stanton said he would have preferred the removal of the material, but the state said that would cost $3 million, twice as much as burying the material would cost. 
 
Kennywood Park in suburban Pittsburgh, one of the few remaining family-owned amusement parks in the country, marks its 100th season. 
 
1983: U.S. Sen. Pete Wilson, R-Calif., will be the commencement speaker at Grove City College. 
 
Youngstown Mayor George Vukovich vetoes an ordinance that would have abolished a lieutenant's rank in the Police Department.
 
Speaking at Youngstown State University, William Colby, former CIA director, says El Salvatore could become another Vietnam unless the Reagan administration heeds the lessons learned in Southeast Asia. 
 
1973: Youngstown Schools Superintendent Robert L. Pegues Jr. says that after nine months at the head of the 25,000-student system, he believes the district's image is improving, and he hopes that voters approve a $17-million bond issue. 
 
An arson fire explodes like a bomb and levels the Pocket Lounge at 2021 Logan Ave. A 19-year-old North Side youth is taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital by his father for treatment. 
 
David Riccuitti, 26, manager of the News Center on Market Street, is in serious condition in South Side Hospital after being wounded by his own gun while struggling with a man he accused of stealing a package of lunch meat.
 
1948: About 20 male patrons of a private club on Mason Street in Niles are robbed in the early morning hours by six or seven masked bandits armed with sawed-off shotguns. 
 
St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Petersburg prepares for a three-day celebration of its 75th anniversary. The church has about 225 members. 
 
In a rare page one editorial, The Vindicator urges Youngstown voters to approve a 2.5 mill tax levy.