Today is Friday, Oct. 21, the 294th day of 2005. There are 71 days left in the year. On this date in

Today is Friday, Oct. 21, the 294th day of 2005. There are 71 days left in the year. On this date in 1805, a British fleet commanded by Adm. Horatio Nelson defeats a French-Spanish fleet in the Battle of Trafalgar; Nelson, however, is killed.
In 1797, the U.S. Navy frigate Constitution, also known as "Old Ironsides," is launched in Boston's harbor. In 1879, Thomas Edison invents a workable electric light at his laboratory in Menlo Park, N.J. In 1944, during World War II, U.S. troops capture the German city of Aachen. In 1945, women in France are allowed to vote for the first time. In 1959, the Guggenheim Museum in New York opens to the public. In 1960, Democrat John F. Kennedy and Republican Richard M. Nixon clash in their fourth and final presidential debate.
October 21, 1980: U.S. Rep. Lyle Williams, R-19th, is behind his Democratic challenger Harry Meshel in raising funds for the congressional race, but has been gaining. Meshel's campaign reports show he has raised $136,832, to Williams' $103,096.
Responding to a question by Joe D'Altorio of Youngstown, President Jimmy Carter says that if Iran were to release the American hostages he would unfreeze that country's assets in the United States and would begin working to renormalize relations with Iran.
First Lady Rosalynn Carter attends a reception at the VIP Lounge in Niles hosted by Mrs. Mary Shaker, wife of the Trumbull Democratic Party secretary Mitchell Shaker.
October 21, 1965: U.S. Rep. Michael J. Kirwan of Youngstown and Sen. Allen J. Ellender, D-La., are honored for development of water resources at the annual meeting in Cincinnati of the Ohio Valley Improvement Association.
Youngstown's notorious swindler, former 6th Ward Councilman John J. Tobin, who has been a Long Beach, Calif. resident for years, is arrested in Los Angeles, accused in a $50,000 insurance scam.
Linda Brown, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Brown of Lake Milton, reigns as Homecoming Queen at Heidelberg College, where she is a senior.
October 21, 1955: Mary Janice Welsh of 439 Indianola Road, a sophomore, is Youngstown University's first homecoming queen. She will be crowned by the 1954 Youngstown College queen, Shirley Pitts, at half-time ceremonies of the YU-Baldwin Wallace game.
Two Bailey bridges are erected over a washout on the Merritt Parkway, Connecticut's main east-west highway, unsnarling traffic that reached back 15 miles at one time. Commercial Shearing & amp; Stamping Co. of Youngstown built Bailey bridges during World War II and the Korean War.
The Youngstown Chamber of Commerce urges its members to work to defeat a CIO-initiated proposal to raise unemployment compensation maximum payments from $50 to $59 a week, saying the increased cost would ruin many small businesses.
October 21, 1930: Russell McKay is named general chairman of the welfare committee that has been organized to effect ways and means of relieving Youngstown's unemployment problem.
The contract for construction of a new W. Federal St. branch of the YMCA is awarded to Louis Adovasio and Son at a cost of $195,000. The building, to be used primarily by Negro men and boys, will be one of the finest of its kind anywhere.
The home economics department of the Youngstown school district has effected savings that allow the schools to offer delicious hot noonday lunches to junior and senior high school students for 15 cents, a reduction of 2 cents. Soups, vegetables, main courses and dessert will be available each day.