90 YEARS AGO
August, 1931
August 19, 1931: Paper Says Fight Looms On Andrews
The News Leader said today that a movement is being made by a group of county treasurers to defeat T. Coleman Andrews, Governor Pollard’s selection as Auditor of Public Accounts, when he comes up for election by the General Assembly in January. The paper said that James M. Hayes, Jr., former Motor Vehicle Commissioner, is among the candidates who are being mentioned to oppose Mr. Andrews.
Opposition to Mr. Andrews, the News Leader says, is slated to come into the open at the annual meeting of the Treasure’s Association at Ocean View Monday.
75 YEARS AGO
August, 1946
August 19, 1946: President Sets Hot Pace For Newsmen
Puffing and panting newsmen trailed President Truman on a two-mile stroll in this naval air station today.
The time was 6:55 a.m.
Clad in a light summer cord suit and soft straw hat, the President walked down the gangplank of the White House yacht USS Williamsburg, accompanied by Capt. James H. Foskett, his naval aide, another naval officer and secret service men.
Reporters, falling into step behind this fast-stepping group, divided their attention between the President and the foggy dew.
In 30 minutes it was all over. Stopping, before returning to his ship, the president grinned at the newsmen, exchanged a few pleasantries, and went into breakfast, after disclosing his speed as 120 paces a minute.
The reporters returned to their own escort shop, the “Weiss,” and went back to bed.
50 YEARS AGO
August, 1971
August 19, 1971: Helicopter Aids Escape Of Prisoners
A helicopter landed secretly in the patio of a Mexico City prison on Wednesday, and two prisoners escaped in it.
The director of the prison said one of those who fled was Joel D. Kaplan, a New York businessman convicted in 1963 of killing his partner in the American Sucrose Co., Lois Vidal, also of New York City. Kaplan was serving a 30-year term.
The other man who escaped from Santa Marta Acatitla prison was a Venezuelan, Carlos Antonio Contreras Castro, prison director Jose Luis Campos Burgos said. He was being held for fraud and forgery.
Informed sources said the helicopter carried enough fuel for eight hours of flight and was believed headed for Tegucigalpa, Honduras, or somewhere in Venezuela.
Sources said the craft had landed earlier in the day in Ventaprieta, Hidalgo State, alongside an automobile with Texas license plates. The pilot was believed to be an American, and the sources said it is thought the helicopter was flown into Mexico from the United States.
25 YEARS AGO
August, 1996
August 19, 1996: Triad Program Continues To Grow, Helps Residents
The Alleghany Highlands TRIAD is continuing to grow and its membership is increasing throughout the Highlands area.
The local TRIAD is made up of the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office, The Covington Police Department, the Clifton Forge Police Department, The AARP and the League of Older Americans jointly.
Several successful crime prevention programs and defensive tactics seminars have been conducted, with visits and meetings set up at various senior citizen locations and retirement homes, Future programs are being planned and a community-wide elder-check program is to be implemented soon through TRIAD.
The TRIAD concept has served to strengthen the already good relationships enjoyed among the participating agencies and has provided a valuable link between law enforcement and the senior citizens of the Alleghany Highlands.
10 YEARS AGO
August, 2011
August 19, 2011: Forest Service Battling Fire
The U.S. Forest Service is battling a forest fire at Rainbow Gap between Clifton Forge and Iron Gate.
The fire, initially reported at 3 p.m. Wednesday, had burned approximately five acres of natural forest land on Wilson Mountain by Thursday.
Karen Stevens, acting ranger for the Forest’s Service’s James River District in Covington, said the fire was started by lightning.
As of Thursday afternoon, 17 people were involved in battling the blaze. Stevens said the Forest Service is being assisted at the scene by the Virginia Department of Forestry.
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