Today in history

Today is Thursday, May 14, the 134th day of 2009. There are 231 days left in the year. On this date in 1948, according to the current-era calendar, the independent state of Israel is proclaimed in Tel Aviv.

In 1509, the Republic of Venice suffers a crushing defeat at the hands of French forces in the Battle of Agnadello. In 1643, Louis XIV becomes King of France at age 4 upon the death of his father, Louis XIII. In 1796, English physician Edward Jenner succeeds in inoculating 8-year-old James Phipps against smallpox by using cowpox matter. In 1804, the Lewis and Clark expedition to explore the Louisiana Territory as well as the Pacific Northwest leaves camp near present-day Hartford, Ill. In 1900, the Olympic Games open in Paris, held as part of the 1900 World’s Fair. In 1942, Congress votes to establish the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps. Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait” is first performed by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

May 14, 1984: U.S. Rep. Lyle Williams, R-17th, accuses Democratic rival James A. Traficant Jr. of being more concerned about controlling a political machine in the Mahoning Valley than getting people back to work or stemming organized crime.

Ohio’s seventh bald eagle nest is being built in Ashtabula County by a young male and female eagle that biologists say are in the courting stage. Other eagle nests are known in Lucas, Sandusky, Trumbull and Ottawa counties.

Coming to Frank Kenley’s Theater of the Stars in Warren, Robert Goulet and Rosemary Clooney in “An Evening to Remember.”

May 14, 1969: Sharon teachers reject a school board request that they return to classes and negotiate in the evening, as a teachers’ strike enters its third day.

Mrs. Nicholas Ficocelli of Vienna is installed as president of the Youngstown Diocesan Council of Catholic Women at the 24th annual convention at St. Joseph Church, Mantua.

Bill Drahuschak of Austintown, a first team All-Ohio gridder in the fall Associated Press selections, will attend Bowling Green State University.

May 14, 1959: Municipal Judge Martin P. Joyce institutes night traffic court in Youngstown Municipal Court, with 45 traffic offenders on hand the first night.

A 35-year-old Windham policeman faces dismissal after allegedly assaulting a councilman during a card game at the Windham fire station. It is the second incident regarding a card game in Windham in recent months; former Mayor Harley Miller resigned after a game was raided by sheriff’s deputies.

The Youngstown Transit Co. earned $12,012 in April for a 9.8 percent return on its investment, Traction Commissioner James W. Cannon tells city council. It’s the second month the company exceeded the 7 percent maximum return allowed the franchise.

May 14, 1934: Youngstown Mayor Mark Moore asks city council to authorize the purchase of 12 new trucks for the city street department. Meanwhile, city employees continue to receive half pay for full time work.

Relatives of Joseph Ziunko, 17, who was killed when his bicycle collided with an automobile driven by Ray Goodwin, 17-year-old son of Police Chief Leroy Goodwin, criticize police for not taking action against young Goodwin.

Eighteen delegates from Youngs-town and a large delegation from Warren attend the Sixth District Amalgamated Association meeting in Canton where plans are made for a possible strike in the steel industry should the companies fail to recognize the unions.