YEARS AGO

YEARS AGO

Today is Sunday, July 5, the 186th day of 2015. There are 179 days left in the year.

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On this date in:

1687: Isaac Newton first publishes his ‘‘Principia Mathematica,” a three-volume work setting out his mathematical principles of natural philosophy.

1811: Venezuela becomes the first South American country to declare independence from Spain.

1865: The Secret Service Division of the U.S. Treasury Department is founded in Washington, D.C., with the mission of suppressing counterfeit currency.

1935: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the National Labor Relations Act.

1940: During World War II, Britain and the Vichy government in France break off diplomatic relations.

1946: The bikini, created by Louis Reard, is modeled by Micheline Bernardini during a poolside fashion show in Paris.

1947: Larry Doby makes his debut with the Cleveland Indians, becoming the first black player in the American League.

1954: Elvis Presley’s first commercial recording session takes place at Sun Records in Memphis, Tenn.; the song he recorded was “That’s All Right.”

1975: Arthur Ashe becomes the first black man to win a Wimbledon singles title as he defeats Jimmy Connors, 6-1, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4.

1991: A worldwide financial scandal erupts as regulators in eight countries shut down the Bank of Credit and Commerce International.

2010: Israel eases its blockade of Hamas-ruled Gaza to allow virtually all consumer goods; the move is welcomed by the White House, but Gaza business leaders and rights activists say the measures are far short of what Gaza needs.

2014: Ukrainian troops force pro-Russian insurgents out of Slovyansk, a key stronghold in Ukraine’s embattled east .

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1990: Fifth Ward Councilman David L. Engler says Youngstown police should set up checkpoints along known drug routes in the city, much like sobriety checkpoints that were recently upheld by the Supreme Court.

Dave Martin, who is producing the Lisbon Championship Rodeo at Hoppel’s Arena south of Lisbon is offering $1,000 to anyone who can ride “Buffalo Bill,” a half buffalo, half Brahma bull, for eight seconds.

Youngstown patrolman Luther Griffiths and Mark Vrable say an angry crowd threw two large stones weighing 35- to 40-pounds at their cruiser, one smashing through the rear window and the other striking the roof and hood. The officers had broken up a crowd of about 100 unruly youths after the fireworks display at the McCartney Road Hills store.

1975: Five swimmers try unsuccessfully to save Donald J. Yekel, 20, of Youngstown from drowning at the Palmyra Lake Park in Ellsworth Township. Among those who tried to rescue him were Larry Rhodes, Joseph Hahn Jr., Edward Williams, Ralph Zarlengo and Richard Wentz.

Sister M. Agatha Ferenchak of the Vincentian Sisters of Charity, Pittsburgh, marks the 50 th anniversary of her entrance into the religious life with a Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Matthias Church.

An estimated 3,000 people turn out for an “old fashioned” Fourth of July on Federal Plaza sponsored by the Bicentennial Commission of Youngstown and Mahoning County.

1965: Twenty-nine Youngstown area and Western Pennsylvania youths are arrested in rioting of 150 to 175 college-age youths that kept Geneva-on-the-Lake in an uproar. Two police cruisers were destroyed, and officers and rioters had minor injuries.

The Rev. Truman Halvorsen of Boardman is elected moderator of the 1966 Baptist General Conference International Convention at Cuyahoga Falls.

George Shuba, former Brooklyn Dodger outfielder who has returned to Youngstown and works at the post office, will play in an exhibition game at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Former major leaguers will take on broadcaster Bob Prince and other radio and TV personalities.

1940: The new Cedar Street Bridge linking Poland Avenue with East Federal Street in downtown Youngstown is open to traffic.

The Youngstown area got 5.38 inches of rain in June, based on readings at Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. Columbiana County , however, got only 3.07 inches of rain, according to L.H. Copeland, U.S. Department of Agriculture weather observer.

Three Youngstown district men who pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to forging WPA pay- roll checks ranging from $28 to $37 are sentenced to prison terms of 60 days to 13 months.