Today is Tuesday, Feb. 3, the 34th day of 2009. There are 331 days left in the year. On this date in

Today is Tuesday, Feb. 3, the 34th day of 2009. There are 331 days left in the year. On this date in 1959, a single-engine plane crashes shortly after midnight near Clear Lake, Iowa, claiming the lives of rock-and-roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, as well as pilot Roger Peterson. That same day, an American Airlines Lockheed Electra from Chicago crashes into New York’s East River while approaching LaGuardia Airport, killing 65 of the 73 people on board.

In 1809, German composer Felix Mendelssohn is born in Hamburg. Congress passes an act establishing the Illinois Territory effective March 1. In 1865, President Abraham Lincoln and Confederate Vice President Alexander H. Stephens hold a shipboard peace conference off the Virginia coast; the talks deadlock over the issue of Southern autonomy. In 1913, the 16th Amendment to the Constitution, providing for a federal income tax, is ratified.

February 3, 1984: Mahoning County will receive a $1.3 million state grant to build a facility housing nonviolent felons, but will not be among 28 counties getting money to build or renovate jails.

Two Republican members of the Board of Elections, Dr. William Binning and Ruth Lindesmith, vote to use the county’s old voting machines rather than switch to electronic machines. Don L. Hanni Jr. dissented; board member Russell Saadey was absent.

BancOhio Corp. of Columbus and National City Corp. in Cleveland say they have agreed to merge, creating the largest bank holding company in Ohio and one of the 30 largest in the nation.

February 3, 1969: About 850 employees of five Youngstown aluminum-working companies walk out when their three-year USW contracts expire, idling Benada Aluminum, Saramar Aluminum, Superior Industries, Aerolite Extrusion and General Extrusions.

Richard Szymanski, a senior at Cardinal Mooney High School, is selected to serve as student mayor of Youngstown during the annual Hi-Y and Tri-Hi-Y Civic Day program.

February 3, 1959: Mahoning County Commissioner Edward J. Gilronan responds to a draft by Republican leaders and agrees to run for mayor of Youngstown.

Third Ward Councilman McCullough Williams Jr. asks Youngs–town Police Chief Paul Cress to close the Black & Tan Cafe at 801 W. Rayen Ave. as a public nuisance.

Despite two fare increases, the Youngstown Transit Co. shows a 62 percent decline in net income from a year earlier, dropping to $43,056 from $114, 641.

February 3, 1934: The nation’s major steel companies join Weirton Steel Co. in announcing that they will resist efforts by the National Labor Relations Board to oversee elections that would supplant their company unions.

U.S. Rep. John Cooper of Youngstown wins passage of his amendment in the appropriations committee prohibiting the U.S. Bureau of Prisons from using convict labor to build steel office furniture.

The mercury dips to five below zero in Canfield, giving the Mahoning Valley its coldest temperature of 1934.