The north

10 years ago

May 10, 1998:Equipped with rakes, brooms and squeegees, volunteers scoured Watertown's Public Square on Saturday morning in an effort to build community pride and spruce up downtown. More than 20 volunteers and downtown merchants gathered to wash windows, weed and rake grassy areas and sweep winter grime from sidewalks.

25 years ago

May 10, 1983:A statewide task force met at Alexandria Bay to ask Transportation Secretary Elizabeth Dole to force Consolidated Railroad Corp. (Conrail) to open its books to public scrutiny. Conrail officials claim the company has been profitable since government takeover. But in light of the impending sale, the task force feels disclosure is essential. Conrail declared bankruptcy in 1976, and, under the Northeast Rail Service Act of 1981, the federal government is obliged to sell the rail system.

50 years ago

May 10, 1958:A $30,000 project that will expand Niagara Mohawk Power Corp.'s underground electrical system will get under way soon, according to Karl Clinton, power company manager. Mr. Clinton pointed out that the purpose of the program is to increase the electrical capacity for the areas south and west of Public Square.

75 years ago

May 10, 1933:There has been a decided decrease in the number of people getting aid from the city welfare department during the past few weeks, it was learned from the welfare office, indicating that business conditions in Watertown and this vicinity are improving. A number of men have obtained employment on farms, in factories and in general utility work.

100 years ago

May 10, 1908:A discovery made Saturday seems to prove that the weapon that killed Mrs. Sarah Brennan on April 28 has been found. A small hatchet is in the hands of Dr. Isabelle Meader, who is making an analysis. The hatchet was found in the barn behind the Brennan home in Brownville.

125 years ago

May 10, 1883:One week from today the taxpayers of Watertown will vote on the question of raising money to purchase a telegraph fire alarm and an electric striker for the fire alarm bell. Both are much needed.

The world

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Today is Saturday, May 10,the 131st day of 2008. There are 235 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

One hundred years ago, on May 10, 1908, the first Mother's Day observance in the United States, inspired by Anna Jarvis, took place during church services in Grafton, W.Va., and Philadelphia.

On this date:

In 1775, Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys captured the British-held fortress at Ticonderoga.

In 1869, a golden spike was driven at Promontory, Utah, marking the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in the United States.

In 1933, the Nazis staged massive public book burnings in Germany.

In 1940, during World War II, German forces began invading the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium and France. That same day, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain resigned, and Winston Churchill formed a new government.

In 1978, Britain's Princess Margaret and the Earl of Snowdon announced they were divorcing after 18 years of marriage.

Ten years ago:The FAA grounded older models of the Boeing 737 after mandatory inspections of some aircraft found extensive wear in power lines running through their wing fuel tanks. Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams won full backing for the Northern Ireland peace accord in a fundamental reversal of decades-old policy.

Five years ago:The leader of Iraq's largest Shiite Muslim group, Ayatollah Mohammad Baqir al-Hakim, returned triumphantly to his U.S.-occupied homeland after two decades in Iranian exile. The New York Times announced on its Web site that one of its reporters, Jayson Blair, had "committed frequent acts of journalistic fraud," according to an investigation conducted by the paper.

One year ago:British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced he would step down June 27. The Democratic-controlled House, by a vote of 255-171, defeated legislation to require the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq within nine months.

Today's Birthdays:Sportscaster Pat Summerall is 78. Author Barbara Taylor Bradford is 75. Rhythm-and-blues singer Henry Fambrough (The Spinners) is 70. TV-radio personality Gary Owens is 69. Actor David Clennon is 65. Writer-producer-director Jim Abrahams is 64. Singer Donovan is 62. Singer Dave Mason is 62. Rhythm-and-blues singer Ron Banks (The Dramatics) is 57. Former Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., is 50. Actress Victoria Rowell is 49. Rock singer Bono (U2) is 48. Playwright Suzan-Lori Parks is 45. Model Linda Evangelista is 43. Rapper Young MC is 41. Actor Erik Palladino is 40. Country musician David Wallace (Cole Deggs and the Lonesome) is 36. Race car driver Helio Castroneves is 33. Rock musician Jesse Vest is 31. Actor Kenan Thompson is 30. Rhythm-and-blues singer Jason Dalyrimple (Soul For Real) is 28. Rock musician Joey Zehr (The Click Five) is 25. Singer Ashley Poole (Dream) is 23.

Thought for Today:"Nothing recedes like success." — Walter Winchell, American columnist and broadcaster (1897-1972).