Local history

50 years ago — June 5, 1976

Altoona Area High School, Walter Betar principal and John A. Dillen class president, held its 100th annual graduation ceremonies that year at the Jaffa Mosque.

25 years ago — June 5, 2001

The Keith Junior High School Band, Jon Yon director, won 11 awards at the Music in the Park Festival in Darien Lake Park, N.Y., and dedicated the wins to percussion coach Jeff Osmolinski, killed in a recent auto accident.

10 years ago — June 5, 2016

Melvin L “Mel” Ellis, 82, Altoona, a two-time Altoona City Councilman, died June 3. He was a U.S. Army veteran, served on the Altoona Redevelopment Authority, Eldorado Kiwanis, Altoona Drug and Crime Commission and Teener Baseball League.

— Compiled by Tim Doyle

World history

Today is Friday, June 5, the 156th day of 2026. There are 209 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On June 5, 1968, U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy was shot and mortally wounded after claiming victory in California’s Democratic presidential primary at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles; assassin Sirhan Bishara Sirhan was arrested at the scene.

Also on this date:

– In 2004, Ronald Wilson Reagan, the 40th president of the United States, died in Los Angeles at age 93 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.

– The Associated Press