Today is Friday, Sept. 16, the 259th day of 2005. There are 106 days left in the year. On this date

Today is Friday, Sept. 16, the 259th day of 2005. There are 106 days left in the year. On this date in 1919, the American Legion is incorporated by an act of Congress.
In 1638, France's King Louis XIV is born. In 1810, Mexico begins its revolt against Spanish rule. In 1893, hundreds of thousands of settlers swarm onto a section of land in Oklahoma known as the "Cherokee Strip." In 1940, President Roosevelt signs into law the Selective Training and Service Act, which sets up the first peacetime military draft in U.S. history. In 1940, Samuel T. Rayburn of Texas is elected Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1953, "The Robe," the first movie presented in the widescreen process CinemaScope, has its world premiere at the Roxy Theater in New York. In 1965, "The Dean Martin Show" premieres on NBC. In 1974, President Ford announces a conditional amnesty program for Vietnam war deserters and draft-evaders. In 1977, Maria Callas, the American-born prima donna famed for her lyric soprano and fiery temperament, dies in Paris at age 53. In 1982, the massacre of hundreds of Palestinian men, women and children by Lebanese Christian militiamen begins in west Beirut's Sabra and Chatilla refugee camps.
September 16, 1980: Mahoning County Prosecutor Vincent Gilmartin says petitions filed by Concerned Citizens Against Taxes to place a referendum on the county's piggyback sales on the November ballot were defective. Joseph Altrudi, chairman of the referendum effort, says he is not surprised that county officials found "some kind of technicality to prevent the people from voting on this tax."
Mahoning County Common Pleas Judge Elwyn Jenkins issues a restraining order temporarily ending a strike by WRTA bus drivers, mechanics and maintenance personnel.
Teamsters Local 377 drops its lawsuit challenging Youngstown's 32-hour work week in favor of a move to seek an arbitrator's ruling and hearings before the Youngstown Civil Service Commission.
September 16, 1965: Members of the freshman class at Youngstown University are greeted at orientation by university cheerleaders, Patty Stropich, Concetta Antonucci, Tammy Taback, Laraine Santangelo, Marguerite Stenglein, Gwen Wegele, Ilona Johnson and Judy Wasley. Upperclassmen Jackie Fynes and Elaine Dixon conducted the orientation.
Youngstown's Board of Control transfers the city's rights to some Erie-Lackawanna Railroad property, opening the way for construction of a 500-car parking garage by the Strouss-Hirshberg Co.
Niles firemen carefully file a brass nut off the finger of Tonna Jones, 6, who slipped the "engagement ring" on her finger while playing house and then couldn't get it off. Her father had tried to saw it off, but decided to turn to the professionals after giving her a small nick.
September 16, 1955: Thomas A. Hall, 45, of Farmdale, Hubbard High School principal, is killed when his car rams into a stalled tractor-trailer in Route 90, about 3 miles north of Fowler Center. He was returning home after a football pep rally at the high school.
Mrs. Bertha Marshall Young, 81, dies in Greenville Hospital, becoming the fifth elderly Sharon area woman to die of injuries suffered in the crash of a car and truck near Vienna. The women were en route to a church supper near Kinsman.
Ohio University's well-coordinated grid machine methodically concentrates its power in a 70-yard surge in the third period to beat down the dogged resistance of the Youngstown University Penguins and go on to a 6-0 victory in front of 12,500 fans at Rayen Stadium.
September 16, 1930: The Youngstown Board of Education decides that Chaney High School will use Wright Field in W. Federal St. as its home football field this fall. The school board offers owners of the field 10 percent of the gate for use of the field.
Youngstown City Council establishes a prevailing rate of 50 cents an hour for all laborers working on contracts in which the city is wholly or partially interested.
A stiffening of steel prices and less willingness to take orders in which there is little or no profit is reported by J.A. Campbell, chairman of Youngstown Sheet & amp; tube Co. "Business looks better," says Campbell, just back in Youngstown from a stay in New York.
Philis Tesone of 368 Summit Ave. is crowned Knights of Pythias Queen at Idora Park. She wins a $500 prize. Four runners-up -- Thelma Stewart, Estelle Mae Parker, Sara Beatty and Irene Bloomstine -- win diamond bracelets.