Today is Sunday, June 15, the 166th day of 2003. There are 199 days left in the year. This is

Today is Sunday, June 15, the 166th day of 2003. There are 199 days left in the year. This is Father's Day. On this date in 1215, King John puts his seal to Magna Carta ("the Great Charter") at Runnymede, England, granting his barons more liberty.
In 1520, Pope Leo X threatens to excommunicate Martin Luther if he does not recant his religious beliefs. In 1775, the Second Continental Congress votes unanimously to appoint George Washington head of the Continental Army. In 1836, Arkansas becomes the 25th state. In 1844, Charles Goodyear receives a patent for his process to strengthen rubber. In 1849, James Polk, the 11th president of the United States, dies in Nashville, Tenn. In 1864, Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton signs an order establishing a military burial ground, which becomes Arlington National Cemetery. In 1904, more than 1,000 people die when fire erupts aboard the steamboat General Slocum in New York's East River. In 1944, American forces begin their successful invasion of Saipan during World War II. Meanwhile, B-29 Superfortresses make their first raids on Japan. In 1978, 25 years ago, King Hussein of Jordan marries 26-year-old American Lisa Halaby, who becomes Queen Noor. In 1994, Israel and the Vatican establishes full diplomatic relations.
June 15, 1978: Youngstown Councilman Leonard Yurcho, D-4th, questions the Board of Control's hiring of a nonresident, Atty. Paul Dutton of Boardman, to handle appropriation cases on sewer projects.
Youngstown City Council ratifies a contract with municipal employees that provides across-the-board pay hikes of 35 cents an hour for most members of the six municipal labor unions.
Official results from the June 6 election in the Leetonia Exempted Village School District tax levy shows the vote on a 5.5-mill levy ended in a tie, meaning that it failed. Election night returns had showed the levy being approved by one vote.
Sharon City Council approves the hiring of a Pittsburgh firm to go after delinquent wage, per capita and occupational privilege taxpayers.
The strike by about 180 production workers at the Taylor Winfield Corp. in Warren, members of United Steelworkers Local 6529, hits the one-year mark. The company has said it will abandon its Mahoning Avenue production facilities in Warren.
June 15, 1963: Possession of fireworks in Ohio is illegal, and Youngstown Fire Chief Fred G. Bowser says the law will be enforced. He urges parents to make their children aware of the dangers of fireworks and the penalties they will face if caught with them.
Atty. Gen. Robert F. Kennedy tells about 2,500 Negro demonstrators that there is no race discrimination in the Justice Department, "but I am not going to go out and hire a Negro just because he is not white."
Winning 22 out of 25 matches, the Lowellville Rod and Gun Club captures the Ohio-Pennsylvania Rife League title. Dan Pyle was high point man for the season.
June 15, 1953: Thirty-eight passengers aboard a special Erie Railroad train carrying 1,000 baseball fans on the return trip from Cleveland are injured when the train made a sudden stop at the Youngstown terminal. Standing passengers were thrown helter-skelter to the floor.
One hundred and sixty beer truck drivers, members of Teamsters Local 377, are on strike in Youngstown, ending weeks of negotiations with Renner Brewing Co. and all beer distributors in Mahoning and Trumbull counties. The companies offered the drivers a raise of $4.40 a week, which would bring their pay for a 40 hour week to $84.
S. Joseph "Sandy" Naples, Youngstown racketeer and ex-convict, is released from the Mahoning County Jail after serving 76 of 90 days on a gambling conviction. His release was ordered by Municipal Judge Robert B. Nevin, who said Naples has been in ill health with stomach ulcers and it is customary to release prisoners early for good behavior.
June 15, 1928: Herbert Hoover is the overwhelming choice of the Republican Party as its presidential nominee, electing him on the first ballot. Sen. Charles Curtis of Kansas is emerging as the vice presidential front-runner.
In an effort to collect approximately $300,000 outstanding in delinquent special assessment taxes, 15 suits involving $18,955 are filed in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
The fate of Lansdowne Field, which had been precarious, is settled. It will be developed into a first-class airport for Youngstown.
Al Kish and his partner, Helen A. Clark of Youngstown, Idora Park's entries in the Madison Square Garden endurance dancing derby, hit the 108-hour mark and are one of the 24 couples remaining, of 132 who began.