Vindicator file photo / September  18, 1982 | Admiring the awards following the Fall Garden and Horticulture Show of the Men's Garden Club of Youngstown 40 years ago were, from left, Ted Lenz, club president; Vincenzo Rubino, 2nd place winner; Charles Gomez, 3rd place, and Ernest B. Szaima, show chairman. Sweepstake's winner was Dom T. Smiley. 

September 26 

1997: A three-foot-long Savannah monitor lizard abandoned next to a trash bin outside an Adams Street apartment in Warren has been adopted by the Columbus Zoo. 

Sixty-nine members of the Mathews Education Association are on strike at the Trumbull County school district

State Sen. Robert F. Hagan of Youngstown introduces a bill that would require private prisons to adhere to a list of state regulations.

1982: U.S. Rep. Lyle Williams, a Republican representing the 19th District and seeking his third term, is campaigning on his success in bringing jobs to the Democratic Mahoning Valley. 

The second phase of a $375,000 renovation is underway at St. Vitus Catholic Church in New Castle, Pa.  The 2,200-family parish is the largest in Lawrence County. 

Mahoning County Sheriff James A. Traficant Jr. says a voice stress test -- a type of lie-detector -- shows he is telling the truth when he says his signature on a written confession to bribery was forged by the FBI.

1972: Lisbon hires a village meter maid who will work a 44-hour-week at a salary of $300 per month.

Thomas A. Cleary, vice president-operations at Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co., is elected president of the 12,000-member Association of Iron and Steel Engineers.

Two suspects are arrested and $13,000 recovered after three armed men robbed the Hubbard branch of Mahoning National Bank. 

1947: The federal government earmarks $160,000 for improvements at Youngstown Municipal Airport if the city comes up with $180,000.

Directors of the Youngstown Area Chamber of Commerce recommend passage by city voters of a half-mill levy for maintenance of Mill Creek Park. 

Raymond Martz Jr. is elected president of the student council at Youngstown College. Other officers are Harvey McElhaney, Elaine Carlisle and Warren Pritchard.