Glancing Backward, 9/12/11

Published: September 12, 2011

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Today is Monday, Sept. 12, the 255th day of 2011. There are 110 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Sept. 12, 1961, the privately funded Woman in Space Program effectively came to an end as 13 female pilots who had applied to become NASA astronauts were informed by the space agency that their spaceflight simulation tests in Pensacola, Fla., would not be taking place, after all.

Glancing Backward Locally:

25 years ago - 1986

The local traffic pattern will be taking a turn for the better today with the long-awaited opening of the new river bridge between Towanda and Wysox and the reopening of York Avenue as a main thoroughfare to Route 6 both being realized.

Recently the goal for the 1987 Central Bradford County United Way campaign was set at $155,000.

Eugene and Nina McCarthy of LeRaysville are celebrating their 33rd wedding anniversary.

50 years ago - 1961

The Wyalusing Valley Joint School Board yesterday accepted the New Albany elementary school, subject to the completion of the pinch list of incomplete work by George R. Taylor & Sons, the general contractor.

The Towanda Rotary Club, at its weekly meeting yesterday, was shown a film on the proper construction of a cellar fall-out shelter.

A building permit for a new medical arts building on North Keystone Avenue, Sayre, has been granted by the borough's zoning officer.

75 years ago - 1936

Harden Brothers, local electrical contractors, have just completed the largest and most up-to-date lighting installation of any public building in the Towanda area at the First Methodist Church in Towanda.

Celebrating a birthday today is Clarence Miller of Towanda. "Tubby" is the secretary of the Bradford County Volunteer Firemen's Association.

Only one and one-half match points separated the first three places in the bridge tournament at the Piollet home recently. Miss Alice Johnson and Henry Dunn were first with 61.8 percent. Mrs. Marion Johnson and Mrs. Innes were second with 61.1 percent.

Elsewhere on this date:

In 1974, Emperor Haile Selassie (HY'-lee sehl-AH'-see) was deposed by Ethiopia's military after ruling for 58 years.

In 1977, South African black student leader Steve Biko (BEE'-koh) died while in police custody, triggering an international outcry.

In 1986, Joseph Cicippio (sih-SIHP'-ee-oh), the acting comptroller at the American University in Beirut, was kidnapped (he was released in December 1991).

In 1992, the space shuttle Endeavour blasted off, carrying with it Mark Lee and Jan Davis, the first married couple in space; Mae Jemison, the first black woman in space; and Mamoru Mohri, the first Japanese citizen to fly on a U.S. spaceship.

Ten years ago: Stunned rescue workers continued to search for bodies in the World Trade Center's smoking rubble a day after a terrorist attack that shut down the financial capital, badly damaged the Pentagon and left thousands dead. President George W. Bush, branding the attacks in New York and Washington "acts of war," said "this will be a monumental struggle of good versus evil" and that "good will prevail."

Five years ago: In a speech in his native Germany, Pope Benedict XVI quoted from an obscure medieval text that characterized some teachings of Islam's founder as "evil and inhuman," unleashing a torrent of rage across the Islamic world (the pontiff later said he sincerely regretted that Muslims were offended). Syrian guards foiled an attempt by suspected al-Qaida-linked militants to blow up the U.S. Embassy in Damascus.

One year ago: The United States won its first world basketball championship since 1994, beating Turkey 81-64 behind a sensational performance from tournament MVP Kevin Durant, who scored 28 points. Lady Gaga swept the MTV Video Music Awards with eight wins, wearing a dress made of meat as she accepted the video of the year award for "Bad Romance." Movie director Claude Chabrol, one of the founders of the French New Wave movement, died in Paris at age 80.

Today's Birthdays: Actor Dickie Moore ("Our Gang") is 86. Actor Freddie Jones is 84. Country singer George Jones is 80. Actor Ian Holm is 80. Actress Linda Gray is 71. Singer Maria Muldaur is 69. Actor Joe Pantoliano is 60. Singer-musician Gerry Beckley (America) is 59. Rock musician Neil Peart (Rush) is 59. Actor Peter Scolari is 56. Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback is 55. Actress Rachel Ward is 54. Actress Amy Yasbeck is 49. Rock musician Norwood Fisher (Fishbone) is 46. Actor Darren E. Burrows is 45. Rock singer-musician Ben Folds (Ben Folds Five) is 45. Rock musician Larry LaLonde (Primus) is 43. Actor Josh Hopkins is 41. Actor Paul Walker is 38. Country singer Jennifer Nettles (Sugarland) is 37. Actor Ben McKenzie is 33. Singer Ruben Studdard is 33. Basketball player Yao Ming is 31.

Singer-actress Jennifer Hudson is 30. Actress Emmy Rossum is 25.

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