Today is Saturday, July 31, the 213th day of 2004. There are 153 days left in the year. On this date in 1777, the Marquis de Lafayette, a 19-year-old French nobleman, is made a major-general in the

Today is Saturday, July 31, the 213th day of 2004. There are 153 days left in the year. On this date in 1777, the Marquis de Lafayette, a 19-year-old French nobleman, is made a major-general in the American Continental Army.
In 1556, St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus -- the Jesuit order of Catholic priests and brothers -- dies in Rome. In 1875, the 17th president of the United States, Andrew Johnson, dies in Carter Station, Tenn., at age 66. In 1948, President Truman helps dedicate New York International Airport (later John F. Kennedy International Airport) at Idlewild Field. In 1953, Senator Robert A. Taft of Ohio, known as "Mr. Republican," dies in New York at age 63. In 1964, the American space probe Ranger 7 transmits pictures of the moon's surface. In 1972, Democratic vice-presidential candidate Thomas Eagleton withdraws from the ticket with George McGovern following disclosures Eagleton had once undergone psychiatric treatment.
July 31, 1979: Richard Meredith assumes his duties as superintendent of Niles schools, succeeding long-time superintendent Donald Renwand.
Ohio will probably lose two congressional seats in the 1980 census, forcing a major redrawing of boundaries in the northeast part of the state as people continue to move from northern industrial states. The lines of the 19th District in the Youngstown district are likely to see considerable change.
Homer S. Miller Jr., grounds superintendent at the Canfield Fairgrounds since 1947, is retiring. A wheelbarrow and a rake were the only tools he needed when he first took the job. The fairgrounds was only 125 acres. It has grown to 353.
July 31, 1964: The Chevrolet Division of General Motors has reached a preliminary agreement with the city of Warren to provide water to the Chevrolet and Fisher Body plants being built in Lordstown.
The first class of 447 students at Mahoning Valley Vocational School Inc. located at the Youngstown Air Force Base has registered to begin classes. The $2.5 million project will operate as a private, nonprofit school in cooperation with the Ohio Board of Education, Ohio Youth Commission and Ohio Bureau of Unemployment Compensation, using federal funds.
Youngstown's six swimming pools will remain open through Labor Day, with free swimming the last two weeks. Meanwhile, Borts pool is closed temporarily after an unusually high bacteriological count is found in the water. The chlorine count, which should be a minimum of 0.4 parts per million gallons was at 0.2.
July 31, 1954: Mahoning Juvenile Court Judge Henry P. Beckenbach continues his warfare against teenage gangs, severely reprimanding 11 youths and sending one to industrial school.
Dr. Samuel H. Sheppard is jailed on a warrant charging him with murder of his wife, Marilyn. A team of 12 detectives is grilling him in Cuyahoga County Jail after a motion by Sheppard's lawyer that he be released is rejected by Judge Frank J. Merrick.
Playing at Idora Park, Vaughn Monroe, with Richard Hayman and his Mercury recording orchestra. Admission, $1.50.
July 31, 1929: David Clapp, 41, of Cornersburg is shot dead by a close friend and hunting companion, who mistook Clapp's head for a groundhog and fired.
With completion of the first span, on the east side, the Meander dam that will impound water to supply Niles and Youngstown, is half finished. For the first time in a number of weeks, the public will be permitted to view progress on the dam on Sunday.
Dale "Red" Jackson and Forest O'Brine come back to earth after living 17 days in the skies over St. Louis in their monoplane. In setting a longevity record of 420 hours aloft, the pilots earned $30,000.
A local price war brings the price of gasoline down 2 cents, to 18 cents a gallon at Standard, Texas, National, Sinclair and Vahey service stations in the Youngstown area.
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