Local History

50 years ago: Harold Fenske, Jr. was named assistant administrator at Union Hospital.

10 years ago: New Ulm Junior Legion defeated Eagle Lake 16-2 in VFW baseball action.

5 years ago: The Economic Development Authority approved the option of a six-month lease for Garden Terrace apartments.

One year ago: New Ulm Fire Chief Paul Macho and New Ulm Police Commander/Emergency Management Director Dave Borchert spoke with state and federal politicians about flood damage.

And elsewhere…

Today is Tuesday, July 9, the 190th day of 2019. There are 175 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight:

On July 9, 1850, the 12th president of the United States, Zachary Taylor, died after serving only 16 months of his term. (He was succeeded by Millard Fillmore.)

On this date:

In 1755, British General Edward Braddock was mortally wounded as his troops suffered a massive defeat during the French and Indian War (he died four days later).

In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was read aloud to Gen. George Washington’s troops in New York.

In 1937, a fire at 20th Century Fox’s film storage facility in Little Ferry, New Jersey, destroyed most of the studio’s silent films.

In 1947, the engagement of Britain’s Princess Elizabeth to Lt. Philip Mountbatten was announced.

In 1962, pop artist Andy Warhol’s exhibit of 32 paintings of Campbell’s soup cans opened at the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles.

In 1982, Pan Am Flight 759, a Boeing 727, crashed in Kenner, Louisiana, shortly after takeoff from New Orleans International Airport, killing all 145 people aboard and eight people on the ground.

In 1992, Democrat Bill Clinton tapped Tennessee Sen. Al Gore to be his running mate.

In 1995, Jerry Garcia performed for the final time as frontman of the Grateful Dead during a concert at Chicago’s Soldier Field (Garcia died a month later).

In 2001, a divided court in Chile ruled that Gen. Augusto Pinochet could not be tried on human rights charges because of his deteriorating health and mental condition, a ruling that effectively brought the 85-year-old former dictator’s legal troubles to an end.

Ten years ago: The Group of Eight industrialized nations opened their summit in L’Aquila, Italy, to Group of Five developing countries Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa, as well as Egypt.

Five years ago: President Barack Obama began a two-day visit to Texas, where he met with state officials, including Gov. Rick Perry, to discuss the influx of unaccompanied children at the U.S.-Mexico border.

One year ago: President Donald Trump chose Brett Kavanaugh, a solidly conservative, politically connected federal appeals court judge, for the Supreme Court to fill the seat left vacant by the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy.

Today’s Birthdays: Actor-singer Ed Ames is 92. Former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld is 87. Actor Brian Dennehy is 81. Actor Richard Roundtree is 77. Author Dean Koontz is 74. Football Hall of Famer O.J. Simpson is 72. Actor Chris Cooper is 68. TV personality John Tesh is 67. Actor Jimmy Smits is 64. Actor Tom Hanks is 63. Actress Kelly McGillis is 62. Actress-rock singer Courtney Love is 55. Actor David O’Hara is 54. Rock musician Xavier Muriel is 51. Actor Scott Grimes is 48. Actor Enrique Murciano is 46. Rock singer-musician Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse) is 44. Musician/producer Jack White is 44. Rock musician Dan Estrin (Hoobastank) is 43. Actor-director Fred Savage is 43. Country musician Pat Allingham is 41. Actress Linda Park is 41. Actress Megan Parlen is 39. Rhythm-and-blues singer Kiely Williams (3lw) is 33. Actor Mitchel (cq) Musso is 28. Actress Georgie Henley is 24.

Thought for Today: “If writers were good business men, they’d have too much sense to be writers.” — Irvin S. Cobb, American humorist (1876-1944).

Copyright 2019, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.