Historical Headlines - September 26

09/26/1969 – Armstrong County Commissioners today halted plans for a proposed county airport and industrial park. In a directive to the county’s airport authority, the commissioners closed the door on further efforts to locate an acceptable site for the proposed facility. They further stipulated that if an airport is to be located at any time in the future, it should not take first and second class farmlands. Commissioners cited an incomplete Allegheny Valley Expressway and diminishing federal and state funds as reason for their actions.

09/26/1969 - William and Michael Bell and Pam and Lisa Kammerdiener, all of Templeton, were baptized on Sunday at Templeton Presbyterian Church, by the Rev. William Mervin.

09/26/1969 - Farmer Bob Henson of Kenton, England, turned down a trip to the United States because he did not think he could get his favorite beer. Organizers of the trip and the brewer rescued Henson’s holiday and ensured that the 20 pints a day Henson drinks would be on hand at his hotels.

09/26/1969 – Indiana University of Pennsylvania Kittanning campus freshmen were initiated by sophomores. The freshmen girls were required to wear pigtails and they only had one roll of blue toilet paper between them. Boys had only one roll of pink toilet paper and were required to wear their hair parted down the middle and slicked down. Among the female students were Alice Shockley of Apollo, Linda Jordan of Dayton, Cindy Walker and Lois McCauley, both of Apollo.

09/26/1969 – Girls looking to be crowned Homecoming Queen at tonight’s Ford City football game had their picture in the newspaper: Belinda Blaniar, Carol Wolk, Nancy Varholla, Linda Alcibiade, Terry Mohney, Marian Lorence, Nancy King, Nancy Peters, Dolores Mikula, Gloria Pisoni, Sandy Peterson, and Cammy Suwala.

09/26/1969 – Three Kittanning students have been charged with malicious mischief after they sprayed red and white paint on the cannon on the lawn of the Ford City school building, the $00 school bulletin board, lamps at the 4th Avenue entrance to the school, and on the wall of the cafeteria near 5th Avenue. Stanley Sadeski, Ford City Police Chief, said that anyone damaging property in Ford City in the guise of football rivalry “will be dealt with to the full extent of the law.” The boys were ages 16, and 17.

09/26/1964 - One of the biggest crowds ever to see a football game in Ford City last night saw the Sabers bow in defeat to a fired-up Leechburg Blue Devil team, 27-6. An estimated crowd of 5,000 jammed the stadium.

09/26/1959 - Armstrong Water Company employes have moved in extra equipment to remove a woody, musty taste in local water, caused by a high concentration of organic matter in the drought-shrunken Allegheny River.

09/26/1959 - Armstrong County public school teachers were told today that state School Code provisions requiring daily reading of the Bible at the opening of classes is still in effect despite a court decision that such action is in violation of United States Constitution.

09/26/1959 - Formal opening took place today of the American Home Improvement Company business, Ford St., Ford City.

09/26/1950 – U.N. troops took Seoul, the capital of South Korea, from the Communists.

09/26/1949 - First production was shipped by truck from a new galvanizing operation at the old plant of Apollo Steel Co, Apollo.

09/26/1949 - Anniversary Rites Held by Churches, Slate Lick Presbyterian Close 150th Year Celebration; Atwood Marks 75th.

09/26/1949 - This week will mark the formal opening of the new streamlined warehouse and offices of Harry Pollock Company, Kittanning wholesale grocers. Ground for the new brick building, S. Grant Ave, was broken last December.

09/26/1944 - Ford City Eagles degree team, led by president John P. Badura, initiated a class of 29 candidates into the fraternity at Vandergrift.

09/26/1944 - Severely wounded in both legs on July 22 during battle actions in France, Pfc. William H. Roberts Jr. is reported recovering slowly in a base hospital in England to which he was removed. Roberts’ wife, Emma, is a resident of the Gruskin Apartments, Kittanning.

09/26/1939 - Burned about the body when his clothing took fire while he was repairing his automobile, Flory Lawrence Polesky, 62-year-old Sagamore man, died of accidental suffocation and second degree burns.

09/26/1934 - A request has been filed with Major Lynn G. Adams, Police by Dr. Craig McKee, secretary of Kittanning Kiwanis Club, asking that a detail of 12 State Police be sent to Kittanning on Oct. 6 to handle crowds expected here for the polo game. Club officers estimate that several thousand persons will be in attendance to see the battle between the Chartiers Heights Club and the Allegheny County Police Team. The Kiwanis Club is sponsoring the contest.

09/26/1929 - John Rote of the Kittanning High School faculty was injured in a fall from an automobile on the Kittanning-Ford City road.

09/26/1929 - West Penn Power Company has completed a program of renovation in the store, office, garage and storeroom here.

BIBLE MEDITATION – Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. – John 20:29 Must we, like Thomas, see to believe, or can our faith stand solidly on its own feet, without a sign?