The Sun remembers 1958: News of the day

Friday, Sept. 1, 2000 | 9:42 a.m.

Feb. 1: Satellite in Orbit Around Earth

Story: Officials announced early today that the American Earth satellite is traveling in an egg-shaped orbit at an altitude ranging from somewhere over 200 miles to well over 1,000 miles above the Earth.

They said the maximum height was "somewhat greater" than either of the two Soviet Sputniks.

Scientists said the satellite went into orbit at 10:55 p.m. EST, seven minutes after its take-off at 10:48 p.m. EST, and that after circling the Earth, it passed over the West Coast at 12:48 a.m. EST and over Florida 10 minutes later. It completed the first orbit at 12:55 a.m. EST.

Feb. 27: Teachers Urged to "Blackjack" Gamblers in Pay Hike Fight

Story: Clark County teachers seeking a wage boost were told last night to tap the "crude display of wealth Las Vegas shows to the world" by soaking the gamblers with a 10 or 15 percent profits tax.

Teachers union representative Henry Clarke, of Los Angeles, charging that gamblers' support was needed in the teacher wage fight, said, "We will get them behind us by threatening the thing they hold dear -- money!"

In a meeting at the Las Vegas High School gym, about 150 members of the Las Vegas Classroom Teachers Association also moved to start injunction proceedings against the county board of education, alleging that they acted illegally in approving the 1958-59 budget.

May 29: Start Today On 1st Leg Of Vegas Freeway

Story: First federal freeway construction in the state of Nevada will officially get underway today at 2 p.m. with simple ground-breaking ceremonies by a group of state officials, headed by Gov. Charles Russell.

The event is scheduled at Apex, about 25 miles northeast of Las Vegas on US Highway 91. Otis Wright, division engineer for the state highway department, and William Holcomb, assistant state highway engineer, will also take part in the ceremonies.

The initial freeway construction will extend from Crystal to Dry Lake. Estimated cost of the project is $3,000,000.

July 2: Gala Stardust Hotel Opening Today

Story: The Stardust, a 1,065-room resort hotel located in the very center of the famed Strip in Las Vegas, opens at high noon today with all the spectacular fanfare befitting the largest resort hotel in the world.

The invitational list of guests includes governors, senators, city and county officials, civic leaders and movie stars as well as 75 of the nation's top press representatives from New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Opening festivities will include a gigantic aerial fireworks display, a very unique "ribbon cutting" ceremony that promises to delight even blase Las Vegas and emphatically brief speeches.

Sept. 19: Sabrejet Flight Sets World Record

Story: Without making use of in-flight refueling, a flight of F-100 Super Sabrejets of Tactical Air Command, set a new record for a 7,600 mile flight from Germany to Nellis Air Force Base, it was disclosed by Air Base officials here yesterday.

The flight of 10 Super Sabres, led by 37-year-old Col. Woodard E. Davis of Selma, Ala., made the record flight in 17 hours and 10 minutes.