Today is Sunday, May 9, the 130th day of 2004. There are 236 days left in the year. This is Mother's

Today is Sunday, May 9, the 130th day of 2004. There are 236 days left in the year. This is Mother's Day. On this date in 1754, a cartoon in Benjamin Franklin's Pennsylvania Gazette shows a snake cut into sections, each part representing an American colony; the caption reads, "Join or die."
In 1502, Christopher Columbus leaves Cadiz, Spain, on his fourth and final trip to the Western Hemisphere. In 1913, the 17th amendment to the Constitution, providing for the election of U.S. senators by popular vote rather than selection by state legislatures, is ratified. In 1926, Americans Richard Byrd and Floyd Bennett become the first men to fly over the North Pole. In 1936, Italy annexes Ethiopia. In 1960, the Food and Drug Administration approves a pill as safe for birth control use. In 1961, Federal Communications Commission chairman Newton N. Minow condemns television programming as a "vast wasteland" in a speech to the National Association of Broadcasters. In 1974, the House Judiciary Committee opens hearings on whether to recommend the impeachment of President Nixon. In 1978, the bullet-riddled body of former Italian prime minister Aldo Moro, who'd been abducted by the Red Brigades, is found in an automobile in the center of Rome. In 1980, 35 motorists are killed when a Liberian freighter rams the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay, Fla., causing a 1,400-foot section to collapse.
May 9, 1979: After meeting in emergency session, the Interfaith Action Council agrees to close Interfaith Park indefinitely and authorizes the covering of the pool in which three small children drowned.
The Basilica of the Assumption in Covington, Ky., is filled with about 1,500 hierarchy, clergy and laymen from Covington, Youngstown and many of the country's major cities as the Most Rev. William A. Hughes of Youngstown is installed as the eighth bishop of Covington.
A typewriter key and ribbon and a packet of letters to Dr. Leo DiBlasio may play a role in linking Dorothy Mae DiBlasio to an alleged conspiracy to murder her ex-husband and his second wife.
Dade County, Fla., clean air ordinance that would segregate smokers from nonsmokers in most public places appears headed for defeat by a margin of about 1,200 votes.
May 9, 1964: Mrs. Mae Watt of Myron Avenue, whose service to the community extends over 50 years, is honored as mother of the year by the Mothers' Council of the W. Federal Street YMCA.
A flag-raising ceremony in Central Square by Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps recruiters marks the opening of Armed Forces Week.
Miss Barbara D. Drabkin, representing the Women's Recreation Association, wins the first place trophy in the intramural after-dinner speaking contest at the YMCA. She spoke on the special attributes of personality that a woman would bring to being president of the United States.
May 9, 1954: The Youngstown Area Safety Council urges motorists to participate in the free, voluntary car safety program during May to assure that they can see, steer and stop while driving. "Good maintenance goes hand in hand with good driving," says Myron H. Watkins, council president.
Maj. Clifford D. Rhodes is named officer in charge of the Army Reserve center in Miller Street, succeeding Maj. Chester Thomas.
Five thousand trees and shrubs are being planted along the southern approach to Meadville's new $4 million Ray F. Smock viaduct, which will be dedicated in June.
Paper and pencil voting in Trumbull County may have ended with the May primary as commissioners take estimates for 300 voting machines that are to be delivered before the November general election.
May 9, 1929: The Ohio Rebekah Assembly are attending the 43rd annual convention of the Assembly at the Hotel Ohio in Youngstown.
It takes just 10 minutes to auction two famous old Italian pictures for $500,000 at the Anderson Galleries in New York. "Crucifixion" by Piero Della Francesca sells for $375,000, the highest price ever paid for a painting at public auction. "Madonna and Child" by Fra Filippo Lippi sells for $125,000.
J.W. Johnson, 35, of Garrettsville, saves George Baurie, 5, from 9 feet of water despite being unable to swim. Johnson was walking along a creek when he saw the boy's arm protruding from the water. Johnson jumped in, grabbed the child and took him to safety by walking on the bottom.