Friday nights in "Wide-Open Wheeling" were changed forever on December 10, 1971. Wheeling Police Chief Edward Weith led more than 25 officers and men on raids at downtown bars. The raids were all conducted simultaneously at 11 p.m. after days of preliminary undercover investigations with aid from two state agencies. The warrants were prepared secretly. Only Police Chief Edward Weith, Mayor James Haranzo, and Police Clerk Charles Timberlake (the typist), and state and federal agents knew about the warrants. Next, telephone calls were made at 9 p.m to the 25 men who took part in the raid. The participants were only told to report to the city building at 10 p.m. The News-Register published the names, home addresses, and at what location the arrests was made:

                               -George Lekanudous, 52, of 208 South Penn St., Menu Bar and Grill, 2601 Chapline St., possession of whiskey and possession of gambling equipment.

                        -Charles Jacovetty, 58, of 1617 Jacob St., J&C Bar, possession and sale of whiskey.

                        -Ruby Jean Murphy, 20, of 143 Fourteenth St., same bar, sale of whiskey.

                        -Ernie Sinkarow, Valley View, Ernie's Cafe, 1110 Sixteenth St., sale of whiskey.

                        -Joseph Woodrow Long, Box 109, Elm Grove, same bar, possession of whiskey.

                        -John Joseph Billota, 27, Menu Bar, possession of whiskey.

                        -Betty Elizabeth Lewis, 46, of 50 Thirteenth St., Sammy's Bar, 3529 Jacob St., possession of whiskey.

                        -June Irene Williams, 48, Martins Ferry, Club Della's, Short Market Street, sale of whiskey.

All those arrested had to post bond of $506 apiece. Their hearings were scheduled for later the next week in Wheeling Municipal Court.

            The raid at the Menu Bar was the most sensational. Chief Weith and his team of police officers approached the bar at 11:00 p.m. to begin their raid. Unfortunately, two of the Menu Bar's customers were exiting and caught site of police. They ran back inside to tip off the bar owner. Sure enough, when the police tried to open the door, it was locked. Undaunted, Chief Weith yelled out "Open the door, I am a police officer. I have a search and seizure warrant."  Weith could plainly see Menu Bar owner George Lekanudous through the frosted glass of the front door. Lekanudous made no attempt to open the door, so Weith repeated his statement two more times. When the door still was not opened, Weith kicked it in and continued with the raid. The raid at the Menu Bar turned up "a gambling device known as the "Clock," decks of playing cards, 18 tipboards and five punchboards. Weaponry taken as evidence included four pistols:  a Colt .38 special, a Smith and Wesson .38 special, a High Standard .22 Magnum Derrigner, and a .22 blank gun manufactured in Italy. Ammunition for the weapons was also confiscated, along with "a blackjack, a pair of brass knuckles and a package (of) M-80 firecrackers."  The Christmas spirit was alive at the Menu because one case of the confiscated liquor contained gift-wrapped half-gallon bottles with bright ribbons on top.

            Comments by officials concerning the raid showed agreement on the goal of curbing illegal activity downtown. Chief Weith told the News-Register:

This isn't stopping tonight. We're going to continue to stage raids and clamp down on all illegal activities. We're trying to protect the legitimate private club operators in our city who purchase the necessary licenses to sell whiskey. They pay a fee to sell whiskey and operate a private club and deserve to have their investment protected.

Mayor James Haranzo said that the raids were:

...closing the door on Wheeling as an open city...This should emphasize that the chief is taking over the law enforcement in the city with a free hand, with no interference from council...Wheeling no longer is going to have the reputation of being an open city.

            Mayor Haranzo didn't have to worry about Councilman William Muegge interfering with the raid. Muegge's comments showed support:

The so-called untouchables are no longer untouchable, as far as I'm concerned...The chief has the absolute support of council in his efforts to stop any illegal activity going on in the city.

Wheeling's heavy industry reorganized itself to fill orders for war supplies during the Civil War. This including iron and steel plate, as well as cannonballs, both for the North and South. Labor was at a premium, so wages were high. The population of Wheeling swelled, placing increased demands on available forms of entertainment. This point was raised by the Intelligencer in December, 1863. The entertainment available in Wheeling during the war years became more intellectual in nature as a result of the better tastes of the newcomers. The Intelligencer noted that before the war, the popular amusements included "negro spirituals, circuses, and 'lower forms of amusement.'"  Now, typical entertainments included "Artemis Ward" and the "Sanford Operatic Troupe," both of which had also appeared in Washington, D.C.