Friday, April 24, 2009
Today is Friday, April 24, the 114th day of 2009. There are 251 days left in the year. On this date in 1898, Spain declares war on the United States after rejecting America’s ultimatum to withdraw from Cuba. (The United States responds in kind the next day.)
In 1792, the national anthem of France, “La Marseillaise,” is composed by Capt. Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle. In 1800, Congress approves a bill establishing the Library of Congress. In 1877, federal troops are ordered out of New Orleans, ending the North’s post-Civil War rule in the South. In 1915, the Ottoman Empire rounds up Armenian political and cultural leaders in Constantinople at the start of what many scholars regard as the first genocide of the 20th century in which an estimated 1.5 million Armenians died. In 1916, some 1,600 Irish nationalists launch the Easter Rising by seizing several key sites in Dublin. (The rising is put down by British forces almost a week later.)
April 24, 1984: During a campaign visit to the Mahoning Valley, former Vice President Walter Mondale says during a press conference at the Youngstown Municipal Airport that since Ronald Reagan became president, 200,000 steelworkers have lost their jobs nationally and the Mahoning Valley’s economy has stagnated. Mondale visited the palatial Liberty Township home of J.J. Cafaro to shoot pool, bowl, meet with a group of Mahoning Valley businessmen and politicians, and add about $30,000 to his campaign coffers.
Twelve people appear in Struthers Municipal Court to swear out felonious assault charges against two Mahoning County sheriff’s deputies accused of terrorizing patrons at Mr. C’s Lounge in New Middletown.
April 24, 1969: Teamsters Local 377 pickets the Mahoning County Jail in a dispute over who represents deputies, the Teamsters or an independent union that is being represented by Atty. Don L. Hanni Jr.
Youngstown City Council approves a $450,000 street resurfacing program and approves borrowing money to finance it.
April 24, 1959: Downtown merchants are almost unanimous in their assessment that the first Downtown Sale Day for 1959 was the best ever, aided by thousands of special sales items and bright skies and balmy temperatures.
Gran Lanes Inc. on Mahoning Avenue, holder of five transferred liquor permits that met with opposition from neighbors, is issued another permit by the Department of Liquor control, for carry-out 3.2 percent beer.
April 24, 1934: The Ohio Edison Co. announces it will restore darkened city street lights at its own expense.
An order for 6,000 tons of steel reinforcing bars, costing about $250,000, is booked by Truscon Steel Co. for the Boulder Dam project.