MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1996
The Federal Aviation Administration will propose new de-icing regulations next week for turboprop aircraft like the American Eagle ATR72 that crashed in icy weather near Chicago in 1994, a spokesman said Friday. Drucella Andersen said the regulations, prompted by the 1994 crash of the French-italian ATR, which killed 68 people, would go into effect 30 to 60 days later. The crash was blamed on a peculiar form of ice droplets on the wings. Those planes have since been modified to prevent such icing. Andersen said the regulations would advise the cockpit and ground crews on how to detect and avoid flying in such ice and would likely be different for each type of turboprop.
50 years ago — 1971
NASHVILLE – Bills to lower the voting age to 18, create a department of consumer protection and eliminate racial imbalance in public schools were introduced in the legislature Tuesday. The voting age bill was sponsored by Reps. James Williams and Robert Hawks, Memphis Democrats. The United States Supreme Court has upheld an act of Congress giving 18-yearolds the franchise in federal elections, but denied inclusion of state and local elections, and lawmakers foresee chaotic election conditions unless persons between 18 and 21 are permitted to vote in state and local elections. An amendment to the state constitution, however, would be needed before Tennesseans under 21 could vote.
75 years ago — 1946
Creeping paralysis continued to spread through Memphis’ telephone system yesterday when 9,721 telephones of the “7” exchange went out of service as additional operators left their switchboards. Although the “7” exchange at Madison and Mcneil is not being picketed by striking workers of Western Electric Co., operators there failed to report for duty yesterday morning.
Their action followed a meeting of Local 806, Southern Federation of Telephone Workers (Independent) at the Claridge Friday night when members pledged that if all telephone company employees could not work, none would work.
100 years ago — 1921
NASHVILLE – Two Memphis bills are ready for the governor. If it had not been for a Senate amendment exempting Tom Allen’s viaduct and sewer bond issue from taxation, the bill would be ready tonight for the governor’s signature, and Memphis could proceed forthwith to issue the $1,750,000 in bonds provided for, and that without a referendum. As it is, the House today will concur in the exemption amendment, and the bill will be rushed to the governor for his signature. The Memphis school bond issue of $1,000,000 went through finally this afternoon, also without a referendum, leaving no bond bills from Memphis except the $2,000,000 water bond issue, which, it has been definitely agreed, will carry a referendum.