Today in history

Today is Thursday, July 23, the 204th day of 2009. There are 161 days left in the year. On this date in 1914, Austria-Hungary issues an ultimatum containing a list of demands to Serbia following the killing of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serb assassin; the dispute leads to World War I.

In 1885, Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th president of the United States, dies in Mount McGregor, N.Y., at age 63. In 1892, Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia is born. In 1945, French Marshal Henri Petain, who had headed the Vichy government during World War II, goes on trial, charged with treason. (He is condemned to death, but the sentence is commuted; Petain dies in prison on this date in 1951.) In 1952, Egyptian military officers led by Gamal Abdel Nasser launch a successful coup against King Farouk I. In 1958, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II names the first of four women to peerage in the House of Lords.

July 23, 1984: The economic well-being of some 11,200 auto workers at the Lordstown General Motors complex and nearly 9,000 electrical workers at GM’s Packard Electric Division is on the line as union leaders and auto industry negotiators begin talks on a new contract.

Ida Barnes, president of Mahoning County Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, says Ohio should comply with a federal requirement that the drinking age be increased to 21 because it will save lives, especially those of young drivers. The state faces loss of federal highway funds unless it raises its drinking age.

Youngstown Mayor Patrick Ungaro is looking for $25,000 to reopen 13 city parks that were closed when the Park and Recreation Department ran out of operating funds.

July 23, 1969: Consolidated net income for all of Lykes-Youngstown Corp. for the first half of 1969 is down more than 50 percent over a similar period a year earlier, with steel business off 121 percent.

The Poland Board of Education awards contracts for the $2.5 million high school on Dobbins Road. Charles Shutrump & Sons will be the general contractor.

July 23, 1959: Stockholders of Cleveland Raceways Inc. approve sale of their two properties, ThistleDown and Cranwood, to Edward J. DeBartolo, Youngstown real estate developer.

U.S. Housing Administrator Norman P. Mason recertifies for another year Youngstown’s “workable program” for the elimination of slums.

The atmosphere is grim as about 5,000 striking members of USW Local 1330 at the Ohio Works of the U.S. Steel Corp. show up to get the last pay they’ll receive until the strike is over.

July 23, 1934: Many Mahoning Valley residents say John Dillinger, the outlaw who was shot and killed by federal agents in Chicago, had lived for several months in Youngstown in the summer of 1933 after escaping from an Indiana jail. They say he worked during that time in Masury gambling houses. One of the banks he is alleged to have robbed was in Farrell, where $24,000 was taken.

A drill competition under the auspices of Youngstown Post No. 15 of the American Legion will be held Aug. 25 at South High Stadium. At least 10,000 people are expected to attend.

The old McKinley farm, once the property of the father of former President William McKinley, about a mile northwest of Lisbon, has been optioned by the Columbiana Council of Boy Scouts of America and if purchased will be used as permanent Scout headquarters