In February 1975, with the need for more police officers and to meet guidelines established by the Governor’s Justice Commission, patrolmen were hired for the Altoona Police Department. The new officers attended the Allentown Police Academy that March for 10 weeks of training. Academy Commander Capt. David M. Howells Sr. (front row, left) is pictured with his academy graduates. Of the 31 graduates, five officers are from the Altoona Police Department: Charles J. LaMark (front row, second from left), Joseph E. Rettenberger (front row, fourth from left), David M. Jones (front row, sixth from left), Frank J. Shields Jr. (third row, left by pole) and William J. Kimmen Jr. (fourth row, left of tower). The photo was submitted by Charles J. LaMark.

Readers are encouraged to send or deliver old local photographs of general interest for use in Yesteryear. Information about people and places should be included. Photos must be 30 years old or older and should be sent to Yesteryear, Altoona Mirror, P.O. Box 2008, Altoona, PA 16603, or emailed to community@altoonamirror.com. For more information, call Brenda Carberry, community news coordinator, at 814-946-7459.

Local news on this date

June 20. 1951

The only Grand Army of the Republic (Civil War Veterans) Home in the United States was located in Brookville, Pa., and five GAR groups, their Daughters of Union Veterans Auxiliary and Sons of Union Veterans, finished meetings in Altoona where they elected officers at Theodore Roosevelt Junior High School.

June 20, 1976

The new Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art opened to the public on the St. Francis College mall in Loretto, in what was formerly the Doyle Gymnasium. Bishop James J. Hogan said Mass to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Altoona-Johnstown Catholic Diocese at the Maurice Stokes Memorial Field House at St. Francis.

June 20, 2001

The Southern Alleghenies Emergency Medical Services Council, Sandra Jablonski executive director, held a seminar at the Blair County Convention Center about the impact of gangs, cults and violence on kids.

June 20, 2016

Weis Market in the Park Hills Plaza became one of the first area businesses to sell six-packs of beer after Gov. Tom Wolf signed a new liquor bill that allowed unlimited sales in two months.

June 21, 1951

Sigel’s School of Dance, run by Bill and Rosalie Sigel, was to present its annual recital titled “Curtain Going Up” at the Jaffa Mosque with children from the Williamsburg Children’s Home and St. John’s Orphanage in Cresson as special guests.

The Altoona Bible Institute, Wilbur F. Henry president and the Rev. S.J. Halk dean, held its 16th annual graduation ceremonies at the Juniata Pavilion, graduating six students. Mrs. M.S. Bittner, president of the Altoona Bible Institute Alumni Association, concluded with a talk. About 170 people attended the ceremonies.

June 21, 1976

A highlight at the Experimental Aircraft Association sponsored Air Show at the Blair County Airport in Martinsburg was the appearance of a giant U.S. Navy E-2C Early Warning Radar Plane with a giant rotating radar disc and antenna mounted on top of it.

A new Dairy Queen/Brazier Store was completed at 701 Pleasant Valley Blvd., the third in Altoona and employed 24 people. The Minneapolis-based chain had more than 4,600 stores worldwide.

June 21, 2001

A custom-made Mustang Cobra SVT Convertible seized by Pennsylvania State Police from a drug dealer was on display in Hollidaysburg and was being used as a teaching tool to show that crime doesn’t pay. The SVT stood for Ford’s Special Vehicle Team.

Allan G. Hancock, founder of the Hancock Group Inc., which offered financial and insurance services, was named Small Business Person of the Year by Saint Francis University. Hancock served as mayor of Altoona from 1980 to 1984.

June 21, 2016

The Altoona Area School Board approved spending $500,000 to rent temporary classrooms for Ebner Elementary School, modular wood-framed buildings that would provide four classrooms for students. Two members voted against the deal, saying they preferred to add on to the school itself.

The Laurel Highlands Council of Boy Scouts of America were hoping to establish a Blair County Boy Scout Camp at Camp Anderson, which was located in Bald Eagle, outside Tyrone. The Pittsburgh chapter had planned to close Camp Anderson.

National, world news on this date

June 20

In 1782, the Continental Congress approved the Great Seal of the United States, featuring the emblem of the bald eagle.

In 1837, Queen Victoria acceded to the British throne following the death of her uncle, King William IV.

In 1893, a jury in New Bedford, Massachusetts, found Lizzie Borden not guilty of the ax murders of her father and stepmother.

In 1947, gangster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel was shot dead at the Beverly Hills, California, home of his girlfriend, Virginia Hill, likely at the order of mob associates.

In 1967, boxer Muhammad Ali was convicted in Houston of violating Selective Service laws by refusing to be drafted and was sentenced to five years in prison. (Ali’s conviction would ultimately be overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court).

June 21

In 1834, Cyrus Hall McCormick received a patent for his mechanical reaper.

In 1893, the first Ferris wheel opened to the public as part of the Chicago World’s Fair.

In 1942, an Imperial Japanese submarine fired shells at Fort Stevens on the Oregon coast, but caused little damage.

In 1982, a jury in Washington, D.C., found John Hinckley Jr. not guilty by reason of insanity in the 1981 shootings of President Ronald Reagan, Press Secretary James Brady, Metropolitan Police Officer Thomas Delahanty and Secret Service Special Agent Tim McCarthy.

In 1989, a sharply divided Supreme Court ruled, in Texas v. Johnson, that burning the American flag as a form of political protest was protected by the First Amendment.

Local news compiled by Tim Doyle. National, world news from The Associated Press.