Today is Wednesday, Dec. 17, the 351st day of 2003. There are 14 days left in the year. On this date

Today is Wednesday, Dec. 17, the 351st day of 2003. There are 14 days left in the year. On this date in 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright of Dayton, Ohio, go on the first successful manned-powered airplane flights, near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, using their experimental craft, the Wright Flyer. (They make four short flights with the Flyer before an ocean gust lifts and badly damages the plane.)
In 1777, France recognizes American independence. In 1830, South American patriot Simon Bolivar dies in Colombia. In 1933, in the first world championship football game, the Chicago Bears defeat the New York Giants, 23-21. In 1939, the German pocket battleship Graf Spee is scuttled by its crew, ending the World War II Battle of the River Plate off Uruguay. In 1944, the U.S. Army announces it is ending its policy of excluding Japanese-Americans from the West Coast. In 1957, the United States successfully test-fires the Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time.
December 17, 1978: The former Rockwell International bumper plant in Newton Falls is coming back to life after being purchased by J.K. & amp; M. Enterprises Inc. of Youngstown.
Nissan Motors, the Japanese manufacturer of Datsun cars and trucks, wants to build a U.S. assembly plant, and Gov. James A. Rhodes wants it for Ohio, preferably for the Youngstown area.
December 17, 1963: Shareholders of Lee Rubber & amp; Tire Co. vote overwhelmingly to sell the corporation's Republic Rubber Division plant in Youngstown to Aeroquip Corp. of Jackson, Mich.
Richard E. Kelly, Youngstown's income tax investigator, is elected commander of the United Veterans Council.
John G. Himes, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Himes, Bears Den Road, Youngstown, is the highest ranking student in Mahoning County on the Ohio Scholarship test. He is a senior at Cardinal Mooney.
December 17, 1953: Charles G. Nichols, president and general manager of the McKelvey Co. is named general chairman of the committee to spearhead a drive to sell $18 million worth of U.S. Savings Bonds in Mahoning County in 1954.
The U.S. Navy has launched a full search for Lt. (j.g.) Fred Troescher Jr. of Youngstown and other crew members of a Navy weather plane that has been missing for two days over the Philippine Sea. It disappeared while on a weather charting flight from Guam.
In a surprise move, the Struthers City Council unanimously adopts a 4-mill city income tax that will go into effect for two years, reducing by one mill a tax that was approved for 1953. Council also repealed a graduated income tax law that had been passed but was being challenged by Youngstown Sheet & amp; Tube Co.
December 17, 1928: While two companions act as lookouts, three unmasked robbers hold up a gambling joint in Campbell, escaping with between $4,000 and $6,000 in cash and jewels. It was the second hijacking of a gambling house in Campbell in a week, police said.
Orville Wright, the first man to fly, is the center of international attention at a ceremony at Kitty Hawk, N.C., to mark the 25th anniversary of the first flight. More than 30 nations were represented at the celebration. Four living witnesses of the flight gave their versions of the day.