The north
10 years ago
July 20, 1998:Just as they were shaking off the north country's ice storm disaster and dangerously cold weather, a few Northern New York forest rangers turned in their thermal gloves and hats for fire gear and headed south to combat Florida's treacherous forest blazes.
25 years ago
July 20, 1983:St. Lawrence River fish may contain lead, but the state Department of Environmental Conservation says it may be a year or more before it conducts tests to find out.
50 years ago
July 20, 1958:Fire extensively damaged the Massena Observer building in downtown Massena on Sunday morning, ruining the inside of the operating plant and resulting in smoke and water damage to the newspaper offices. Cause of the blaze was attributed to an overheated casting box.
75 years ago
July 20, 1933:The 115th annual Jefferson County fair, to be held Aug. 29 through Sept. 1, will be one of the biggest in history, according to plans of the Jefferson County Agricultural Society, which is the sponsor. A parade will be held depicting the progress made by the various villages of the county in the past century. A war scene will be presented by military organizations. Horse races and other attractions will be held every day and night with floodlights being used at night.
100 years ago
July 20, 1908:Unless the Black River Traction Co. further violates the mandates of the law, this time in the form of an order by the Public Service Commission, the tracks on Pearl Street, Sewall's Island, will be changed from the side to the center of the highway before Aug. 1. Service will then be resumed from the junction of High and Factory streets to Pearl Street near Water Street. The company in February asked the commission to allow it to abandon the High Street line. This petition was refused.
125 years ago
July 20, 1883:Miss Anna Hinman, the noted trance speaker, will lecture at the Sulphur Springs church on Sunday, July 29, at 7 p.m.
The world
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Today is Sunday, July 20,the 202nd day of 2008. There are 164 days left in the year.
Today's Highlight in History:
On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin became the first men to walk on the moon.
On this date:
In 1917, the draft lottery in World War I went into operation.
In 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was nominated for an unprecedented fourth term of office at the Democratic convention in Chicago.
In 1976, America's Viking 1 robot spacecraft made a successful, first-ever landing on Mars.
In 1977, a flash flood hit Johnstown, Pa., killing more than 80 people and causing $350 million in damage.
In 1988, Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis received the Democratic presidential nomination at the party's convention in Atlanta.
In 1988, Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini accepted a truce with Iraq, even though he said the decision was like drinking poison.
Ten years ago:Russia won an $11.2 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund to help avert the devaluation of its currency.
Five years ago:Gen. John Abizaid, the top commander of coalition forces in Iraq, predicted that resistance to U.S. forces in Iraq would grow in coming months as progress was made in creating a new government to replace the dictatorial regime of Saddam Hussein.
One year ago:President Bush signed an executive order prohibiting cruel and inhuman treatment, including humiliation or denigration of religious beliefs, in the detention and interrogation of terrorism suspects.
Today's Birthdays:Rockabilly singer Sleepy LaBeef is 73. Actress Diana Rigg is 70. Rock musician John Lodge (The Moody Blues) is 65. Country singer T.G. Sheppard is 64. Singer Kim Carnes is 63. Rock musician Carlos Santana is 61. Actress Donna Dixon is 51. Actor Frank Whaley is 45. Rock singer Chris Cornell is 44. Rock musician Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam) is 42. Actor Reed Diamond is 41. Actor Josh Holloway ("Lost") is 39. Singer Vitamin C is 39. Actor Simon Rex is 34. Actress Judy Greer is 33. Actor Charlie Korsmo is 30. Singer Elliott Yamin ("American Idol") is 30. Actor John Francis Daley is 23. Country singer-professional dancer Julianne Hough is 20. Actress Billi Bruno is 12.
Thought for Today:"No man can resolve himself into Heaven." — Dwight L. Moody, American evangelist (1837-99).
