YEARS AGO

YEARS AGO

Today is Thursday, Oct.15, the 288th day of 2015. There are 77 days left in the year.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

On this date in:

1783: The first manned balloon flight takes place in Paris as Jean-Francois Pilatre de Rozier ascends in a basket attached to a tethered Montgolfier hot-air balloon, rising to about 75 feet.

1815:Napoleon Bonaparte, deposed emperor of the French, arrives on the British-ruled South Atlantic island of St. Helena, where he spends the last 51/2 years of his life in exile.

1915: “The Metamorphosis,” Franz Kafka’s famous absurdist tale about a man named Gregor Samsa who wakes up one morning to discover that he has been transformed into a huge, insect-like creature, is first published in the German literary journal Die Weissen Blaetter (The White Pages).

1940: Charles Chaplin’s first all-talking comedy, “The Great Dictator,” a lampoon of Adolf Hitler, opens in New York.

1945: The former premier of Vichy France, Pierre Laval, is executed for treason.

1946: Nazi war criminal Hermann Goering fatally poisons himself hours before he was to have been executed.

1960: Peace demonstrators stage activities across the country as part of a “moratorium” against the Vietnam War.

1975: The book “Against Our Will: Men, Women and Rape,” a history of sexual assault authored by Susan Brownmiller, is first published.

1990: Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev is named the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

South Africa’s Separate Amenities Act, which had barred blacks from public facilities for decades, is formally scrapped.

1991: Despite sexual- harassment allegations by Anita Hill, the Senate narrowly confirms the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court, 52-48.

2005: Iraqis vote to approve a constitution.

A crowd that had gathered to protest a neo-Nazi march in Toledo, Ohio, turns violent, prompting the mayor to declare a state of emergency.

2010: The Obama administration reports that the federal deficit has hit a near-record $1.3 trillion for the just-completed budget year.

2014: Fresh signs of slow global economic growth and the Ebola crisis send stocks on Wall Street tumbling as much as 460 points in the most-turbulent day since 2011 before partially recovering.

VINDICATOR FILES

1990: Jeffrey Chagnot, Youngstown economic development director, says two Youngstown businesses, Wick-Pollock In and Valley Foods, that owe more than $1.5 million in city loans are behind in their repayment. Valley Foods disputes the claim.

Quarterback Ray Isaac and Archie Herring, the second best kickoff returner in Division I-AA football, power the Youngstown State University Penguins to a 34-6 victory over Liberty University.

1975: Warren police investigating a burglary at the P&D Party Center on E. Market Street shoot and kill a 21-year-old burglar.

Four Sharon school teachers are arrested and the Sharon Teachers Association is fined as teachers defy an order by Judge John Q. Stranahan that they end their six-week strike and return to the classroom.

Atty. Harry N. Savasten mayor of Youngstown in 1962-63 dies in St. Mary Hospital, a part of the Mayo Clinic group in Rochester, Minn.

1965: U.S. Rep. Michael J. Kirwan of Youngstown says he is gratified by House approval of a $9.24 million appropriation to start construction of the National Fisheries Center and Aquarium in the nation’s capital.

Rocky Marciano, retired world heavyweight champ, is guest speaker at a Columbus Day banquet at our Lady of Mount Carmel Center on Summit Ave., Mrs. Rose Fumi and Dr. Frank Bellino are honored for community service, and Atty. Don Hanni is toastmaster.

In the second round of the $10,000 two-ball golf tournament at Churchill Valley Country Club, Youngstowners George Bellino and Leo Jennings hold onto second place.

1940: Gus Hall, Youngstown-area Communist leader, and five other people are indicted by a Mahoning County grand jury in connection with purported irregularities on Communist nominating petitions filed with the county board of elections.

City tax consultant William I. Davies tells Youngstown City Council that “fixing” traffic tickets has cut into Youngstown’s 1940 revenue by $11,000.

Dom Rosselli, assistant football and basketball coach at Youngstown College, is appointed head basketball coach to succeed Ray Sweeney. Rosselli starred in football, basketball and tennis at The Rayen School and General College.