Today is Thursday, May 5, the 125th day of 2005. There are 240 days left in the year. On this date in 1961, astronaut Alan B. Shepard Jr. becomes America's first space traveler as he makes a 15-minute

Today is Thursday, May 5, the 125th day of 2005. There are 240 days left in the year. On this date in 1961, astronaut Alan B. Shepard Jr. becomes America's first space traveler as he makes a 15-minute sub-orbital flight in a capsule launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla.
In 1821, Napoleon Bonaparte dies in exile on the island of St. Helena. In 1862, Mexican forces loyal to Benito Juarez defeat French troops sent by Napoleon III in the Battle of Puebla. In 1925, John T. Scopes is arrested in Tennessee for teaching Darwin's theory of evolution. In 1942, during World War II, Japanese forces land on the Philippine island of Corregidor. In 1945, in the only fatal attack of its kind during World War II, a Japanese balloon bomb explodes on Gearhart Mountain in Oregon, killing the pregnant wife of a minister and five children. In 1955, the baseball musical "Damn Yankees" opens on Broadway. In 1980, a siege at the Iranian embassy in London by armed men demanding the release of political prisoners in Iran ends as British commandos and police storm the building. Nineteen hostages are rescued; two others had already been killed by their captors; four of the five hostage-takers also are killed. In 1981, Irish Republican Army hunger-striker Bobby Sands dies at the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland in his 66th day without food. In 1985, President Reagan keeps a promise to West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl by leading a wreath-laying ceremony at the military cemetery in Bitburg.
May 5, 1980: The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency will not issue any orders for a week in Youngstown's dumping of raw sewage into the Mahoning River during a strike by municipal employees. The city is dumping 28 million gallons of untreated sewage a day into the river and the EPA has begun taking specimens to monitor river quality.
William C. Oberg, 54, is fatally wounded during a robbery at a Wick Avenue motel. Youngstown Mayor George Vukovich criticizes Gov. James A. Rhodes for not authorizing the State Highway Patrol to assist the city with law enforcement during the strike of municipal employees, including police.
May 5, 1965: Youngstown Mayor Anthony B. Flask turns back a challenge by former Mayor Frank R. Franko in the Democratic primary and will oppose former Councilman George L. Stowe, who was unopposed on the Republican primary, in November.
An increase in crime in Boardman Township is the result of reduced police manpower, says Chief Robert Fink. With two resignations, the department is down to seven full-time and four part-time officers.
An upset is scored in the Campbell mayoral race when Rocco Mico, veteran Campbell politician, defeats Joseph Vrabel, mayor since 1960, in a three-way race in the Democratic primary.
May 5, 1955: Mayor Frank Kryzan and Police Chief Paul Cress name five numbers and gambling joints they say are operating in Mahoning and Trumbull counties outside of Youngstown.
An 18-year-old Pennsylvania youth sought for shooting a Pittsburgh district police officer from an ambush is arrested on the outskirts of Warren, about a block from the home of a relative.
An immense $942 million budget, the biggest in Ohio history, is working its way through the General Assembly. As reported out of the House Finance Committee the budget is $11 million higher than the two-year budget recommended by Gov. Frank J. Lausche.
May 5, 1930: Direct air passenger service between Youngstown and Washington using big transport airplanes will be inaugurated within days, says Clifford Ball, who operates the Cleveland-Pittsburgh-Washington air mail service.
A 6-year-old boy, Maynard Rork, is in Riverside Hospital after being wounded by a shotgun blast while playing in the backyard of his Elm Road Ext. home near Warren. Police have no clues in the shooting.
Charles M. Schwab, chairman of Bethlehem Steel Corp., is definitely connected with a stock purchase of the pro-merger forces, helping to finance the purchase of 5,422 shares of Youngstown Sheet & amp; Tube Co. stock at $180 per share.
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