Years Ago

Today is Sunday, May 20, the 141st day of 2012. There are 225 days left in the year.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

On this date in:

1862: President Abraham Lincoln signs the Homestead Act, which is intended to encourage settlements west of the Mississippi River by making federal land available for farming.

1927: Charles Lindbergh takes off from Roosevelt Field in Long Island, N.Y., aboard the Spirit of St. Louis on his historic solo flight to France.

1932: Amelia Earhart takes off from Newfoundland to become the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.

1939: Regular trans-Atlantic mail service begins as a Pan American Airways plane, the Yankee Clipper, takes off from Port Washington, N.Y., bound for Marseille, France.

1942: During World War II, the Office of Civilian Defense is established.

1959: Nearly 5,000 Japanese-Americans have their U.S. citizenship restored after renouncing it during World War II.

1961: A white mob attacks a busload of Freedom Riders in Montgomery, Ala., prompting the federal government to send in U.S. marshals to restore order.

1969: U.S. and South Vietnamese forces capture Ap Bia Mountain, referred to as “Hamburger Hill” by the Americans, following one of the bloodiest battles of the Vietnam War.

VINDICATOR FILES

1987: Kirila Contractors submits the low bid of $7.9 million to smooth out bumps that developed after the resurfacing of I-80 in Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge Robert A. Nader issues a $500,000 finding against Vera Williams, mother of Death Row innate Danny Lee Hill, in the 1986 shooting of Donald Moss, who was left paralyzed. Moss’ lawyer says it’s unlikely his client will collect anything from Mrs.. Williams, who is serving time at Marysville Reformatory for the shooting.

A Youngstown police officer who struck and killed an elderly man in I-680 failed a Breathalyzer test, but Chief Randall Wellington says criminal charges can’t be brought because the test was administered after the two-hour limit prescribed by state law.

1972: The United Presbyterian Church delegation pulls out of talks aimed at unifying nine major denominations into a unified Protestant church, which likely dooms the effort.

Warren Western Reserve defeats Woodrow Wilson, 7-1, to win the NEO Class AAA District Tournament and advance to regional play for the second straight year.

1962: The Ohio National Guard holds an impressive ceremony and display of military hardware at the rededication of the armory named for Col. Wade C. Christy. Maj. Gen. Loren G. Windom, adjutant general of Ohio, oversees the ceremony on Armed Forces Day.

When Republic Steel Corp. brings its new Manufacturing Division to Youngstown, about 100 jobs will come to the area, along with a shot in the arm for Republic’s Truscon Steel plant.

1937: The bluebells are in full blossom in Poland Manor, attracting many sightseers.

Ruth Wright will be crowed queen of the 10th annual Youngstown College May Day the Lowellville girl had also been queen of the 1936 Junior Prom.

The chamber of Commerce urges Mahoning County commissioners to abandon “expensive administrative policies” and conserve its resources to provide necessary help for the poor.