Today in history

Today is Thursday, May 21, the 141st day of 2009. There are 224 days left in the year. On this date in 1927, Charles A. Lindbergh lands his Spirit of St. Louis near Paris, completing the first solo airplane flight across the Atlantic Ocean.

In 1832, the first Democratic National Convention gets under way, in Baltimore. In 1840, New Zealand is declared a British colony. In 1881, Clara Barton founds the American Red Cross. In 1892, the opera “Pagliacci,” by Ruggero Leoncavallo, is first performed, in Milan, Italy. In 1924, 14-year-old Bobby Franks is murdered in a “thrill killing” committed by Nathan Leopold Jr. and Richard Loeb, two students at the University of Chicago. In 1932, Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean as she lands in Northern Ireland, about 15 hours after leaving Newfoundland. In 1979, former San Francisco City Supervisor Dan White is convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the slayings of Mayor George Moscone and openly gay Supervisor Harvey Milk; outrage over the verdict sparks rioting. (White is sentenced to seven years, eight months in prison; he ends up serving five years and commits suicide in 1985.)

May 21, 1984: State House Rep. Ralph Pratt, D-10th, wants the House Conservation Committee to hold public hearings on a proposal by Sechan Industries to operate a hazardous waste disposal site in Slippery Rock Township.

Youngstown police begin executing 70 arrest warrants for gambling violations that grew from a sweep of establishments housing illegal poker machines.

Atty. James Pazol, a past president of the Mahoning Lodge of the B’nai B’rith, receives the lodge’s Guardian of the Menorah award at a dinner at the Squaw Creek Country Club.

May 21, 1969: “Die Fiedermaus,” a comic opera, is chosen by the Youngstown Symphony Society for the inauguration of its new home, the Youngstown Symphony Center in the former Warner Theater. Franz Bibo will conduct the orchestra. The Manhattan Festival Ballet and the Youngstown Philharmonic Chorus will join in the production.

Austintown Township trustees reject a controversial zone change request for a large truck terminal on Crum Road near the Pleasant Hill Plat.

Advertisement: Sfara Sales and Service of New Castle has the largest stock of Fiat Spyder sport cars between New York and Chicago with prices starting at $2,136.

May 21, 1959: Thick black smoke visible for miles pours from a tire fire at the Belkin Tire Service storage garage at 217 E. Front Street. Nine fire companies fight the fire, keeping it from spreading to gasoline tanks at a nearby service station.

Donald F. Pipino , associated with the Vagnozzi Agency, is elected president of the Youngstown Association of Insurance Agents at the annual dinner at the Youngstown Country Club.

Ben Richman and Patricia Cowie are appointed directors of the summer recreation program of Boardman Township Park.

May 21, 1934: Steel mills of the Mahoning Valley receive demands from six Amalgamated Association lodges for recognition and inform the committees representing the lodges that they would not be recognized.

The Beaver-Mahoning waterway appears certain to receive an allocation of funds for construction if Congress adopts a measure contemplated by the House appropriations committee setting aside $200 million for rivers and harbors.

Members of the Mahoning County Liquor Dealers Protective Association are continuing a fight for a 2 a.m. closing hour in the city liquor ordinance.