50 years ago: 1975

A group called the Citizens Food Buying Group was formed with Connie Perretta as coordinator to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables through local wholesalers to “fight the price war.” Soap, cereal and others were to be added. The group met at Simpson United Methodist Church.

25 years ago: 2000

Tour de ‘Toona bicycle race promoter Rep. Rick Geist honored some of the tour’s 70 sponsors with a luncheon at the Allegro Restaurant in Altoona, the 15th anniversary of the race. Rep. Geist noted that this was the biggest cycle event in the country that women participated in, 200 being signed up this year.

10 years ago: 2015

Five businesses were to be inducted into the Blair County Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame for 2015: Garvey Manor Nursing Home, Lena’s Cafe, New Pig Corp., The Village at Morrisons Cove and the former Alaskaland Restaurant. Excellence in Small Business, Young Emerging Business, Community Service, Sustainability and Technology Business Awards were also being presented to 12 other businesses.

Today is Monday, July 21, the 202nd day of 2025. There are 163 days left in the year.

Today’s highlight in history:

On July 21, 1925, the so-called ‘Monkey Trial’ ended in Dayton, Tennessee, with John T. Scopes found guilty of violating state law for teaching Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. (The conviction was later overturned.)

On this date:

– In 1861, during the Civil War, the first Battle of Bull Run was fought at Manassas, Virginia, resulting in a Confederate victory.

– In 1944, American forces landed on Guam during World War II, capturing it from the Japanese some three weeks later.

– In 1954, the Geneva Conference concluded with accords dividing Vietnam into northern and southern entities.

– In 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin blasted off from the moon aboard the ascent stage of the lunar module for docking with the command module.

– In 2011, the 30-year-old space shuttle program ends as Atlantis landed at Cape Canaveral, Florida, after the 135th shuttle flight.