Today is Tuesday, July 15, the 197th day of 2008. There are 169 days left in the year. On this date

Today is Tuesday, July 15, the 197th day of 2008. There are 169 days left in the year. On this date in 1971, President Nixon startles the country by announcing he would visit the People’s Republic of China.

In 1870, Georgia becomes the last Confederate state readmitted to the Union. In 1870, Manitoba enters confederation as the 5th Canadian province. In 1918, the Second Battle of the Marne, resulting in an Allied victory, begins during World War I. In 1948, President Truman is nominated for another term of office by the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. In 1958, President Eisenhower orders U.S. Marines to Lebanon, at the request of that country’s president, Camille Chamoun, in the face of a perceived threat by Muslim rebels. In 1964, Sen. Barry M. Goldwater of Arizona is nominated for president by the Republican National Convention in San Francisco.

July 15, 1983: Youngstown Fire Chief Charles O’Nesti and Police Chief John E. Lynch III say that Sheriff James A. Traficant Jr. was irresponsible to store confiscated fireworks at the U-Haul Co. moving center on Mahoning Avenue without notifying the city. The manager of the facility said he didn’t know he was storing fireworks until the owner of the explosives called him.

Howard C. Aley, whose bicentennial book, “A Heritage to Share” placed his vast knowledge of the Mahoning Valley on thousands of area library shelves, dies of a heart attack. He was 72.

The Paramount Theater on Federal Plaza is being sold for $50,000 to Richard Blackwell and William Andrews, who say they want to convert the property into an art theater.

July 15, 1968: A crowd estimated at 6,000 attends the Youngstown Symphony summer festival concert at Mill Creek Park. Franz Bibo conducts the full orchestra in music from “West Side Story,” “My Fair Lady,” “Porgy and Bess,” “Carousel” and “Oklahoma.”

Mrs. Josephine Emrich, 41, and her daughters, Hermine, 14, and Erika, 16, suffer superficial burns and Mrs. Emrich is knocked unconscious when lightning strikes near a tree at Farmer Jim’s recreation area in Bazetta Township.

The national commander of the Italian-American War Veterans tells the Ohio state ITAM convention at the Hotel Ohio that he supports President Johnson’s proposal for a strict national gun control law because the presence of firearms in homes or businesses increases the odds that someone will be shot.

July 15, 1958: Youngstown Sheet Tube Co.’s second-quarter earnings increase slightly to $4.2 million or $1.23 per common share.

U.S. Rep. Michael J. Kirwan of Youngstown blasts a Senate-passed bill designed to establish government subsidized prices for domestic tungsten, lead, zinc and fluorspur.

Dick Schwartz, a 20-year-old Ursuline graduate, is a long-shot winner of the Ohio Amateur Golf Tournament, beating Bob Benning of Dayton on Schwartz’ home course, Tippecanoe Country Club. He is the third Youngstowner to win the state amateur crown.

July 15, 1933: The steel industry in the Youngstown district is increasing the minimum wage from 33 cents an hour to 40 cents an hour, putting an estimated $1.2 million in the pockets of 30,000 to 40,000 workers each month.

Some of the owners of 60 buildings in the area of downtown Youngstown have told building inspector Fred C. Medicus that the buildings will be torn down at once.

James A. Henderson of Youngs-town is elected to the executive committee of the 9th District of the Ohio Automotive Dealers Association.