Today is Monday, Aug. 23, the 236th day of 2004. There are 130 days left in the year. On this date

Today is Monday, Aug. 23, the 236th day of 2004. There are 130 days left in the year. On this date in 1914, Japan declares war against Germany in World War I.
In 1754, France's King Louis XVI is born at Versailles. In 1926, silent film star Rudolph Valentino dies in New York at age 31. In 1939, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union sign a non-aggression treaty. In 1944, Romanian prime minister Ion Antonescu is dismissed by King Michael, paving the way for Romania to abandon the Axis in favor of the Allies. In 1972, the Republican national convention, meeting in Miami Beach, Fla., nominates Vice President Spiro T. Agnew for a second term. In 1979, Soviet dancer Alexander Godunov defects while the Bolshoi Ballet was on tour in New York. In 1982, Lebanon's parliament elects Christian militia leader Bashir Gemayel president. He is assassinated some three weeks later.
August 23, 1979: Trumbull County Sheriff Richard Jakmas invokes the state's Ferguson Act and fires striking deputy sheriffs. Some 60 members of the deputies' union vow to continue their walkout
Three anti-busing candidates are among eight candidates vying for three seats on the Warren Board of Education. They will be targeting Constance Goldberg, the only incumbent seeking re-election after voting for a school desegregation plan. Incumbents James Culver and Barbara Miller are not seeking re-election.
Ashtabula County commissioners say they have been promised by U.S. Steel Corp. executives that planning for a major steel mill in the northeast Ohio county is progressing.
August 23, 1964: Youngstown Mayor Anthony B. Flask says he has received a letter from Dr. Howard Jones, president of Youngstown University, saying that university personnel could conduct promotional examinations for the city police department.
A 13-year-old Cincinnati boy calmly tells police that he stabbed a four-year-old neighborhood girl to death after she screamed when he attempted to molest her. He carried the body outside and dragged it under the porch, where it was found after police searching for the missing girl noticed the boy looking toward the porch.
August 23, 1954: A 9-year-old Pittsburgh area boy, Donald Miller, drowns at McConnell's Mill after losing his footing while wading in Slippery Rock Creek. He is the fourth drowning victim at the park in 1954 and the 12th in the last six years.
People are riding at Idora Park so that others may walk, since part of every dollar spent on tickets for rides at Idora Park will result in a contribution to the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis.
"Cadillac Charlie" Cavallaro, ex-gambler and petty racketeer, is listed in poor condition in South Side Hospital with a broken back and five fractures of one leg after being knocked to the ground by a truck pouring concrete at the Ohio Turnpike. Urged by friends to go into legitimate work, Charlie got a construction job and had been working on the turnpike for about a month.
August 23, 1929: Indictments charging two Campbell officials with taking bribes will be asked by U.S. District attorney Wilfred J. Mahon of Cleveland when a special U.S. grand jury is convened in Cleveland, Mahon announces.
A lone armed bandit escapes with $2,698 from Arnold Sacher, Dennick Ave. grocery storekeeper, in a daylight robbery downtown. Sacher had just withdrawn the money from the Dollar Bank for use in cashing General Fireproofing employee pay checks and was returning to his car when accosted by the robber.