The north

10 years ago

May 11, 1998:This year dormant crops, such as alfalfa, grass, hay and winter wheat, benefited from the mild winter, but so have deer, which farmers say seem to be in greater abundance than in previous years. Ronald G. Robbins's alfalfa and winter wheat crops, town of Hounsfield, came through the winter largely intact, but he already has seen herds of 40 to 50 deer grazing in his fields.

25 years ago

May 11, 1983:The Northland Division of the Scott Fetzer Co. will lay off 25 production employees Monday, and is considering a one-week shutdown of the plant near the end of June. Robert E. Hutchinson, manager of industrial relations, said the layoffs and possible one-week closing were a reaction to a cutback in orders by a major customer.

50 years ago

May 11, 1958:The second annual Loyalty Day in Watertown was celebrated with a luncheon at the Hotel Woodruff and a parade watched by hundreds of area residents who were willing to brave a cold and dark afternoon. The events were sponsored by Barben-Jones Post 1400, Veterans of Foreign Wars.

75 years ago

May 11, 1933:The taxicab price war ended Wednesday when the operators of the various taxicab concerns in Watertown boosted their price back to 25 cents, which was the prevailing price established some time ago. The price war, which lasted five days, brought the price down to 15 cents and in some cases down to 10 cents per person.

100 years ago

May 11, 1908:Three hoboes headed the line in police court this morning. They were arrested yesterday having a barbecue on Water Street. Several chickens had been slain and were being fricasseed by the "men of the underworld," a la Jack London.

125 years ago

May 11, 1883:Three teams with loaded wagons were swept off the dike in Castorland by high water Monday. One of the wagons was loaded with maple sugar, and the others with dry goods. The only damage done was to the goods.

The world

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Today is Sunday, May 11,the 132nd day of 2008. There are 234 days left in the year. This is Mother's Day.

Today's Highlight in History:

On May 11, 1858, Minnesota became the 32nd state of the Union.

On this date:

In 1502, Christopher Columbus left Cadiz, Spain, on his fourth and final trip to the Western Hemisphere.

In 1647, Peter Stuyvesant arrived in New Amsterdam to become governor of New Netherland.

In 1888, songwriter Irving Berlin was born Israel Baline in Temun, Russia.

In 1910, Glacier National Park in Montana was established.

In 1944, Allied forces launched a major offensive against German lines in Italy.

In 1946, the first CARE packages arrived in Europe, at Le Havre, France.

In 1973, charges against Daniel Ellsberg for his role in the "Pentagon Papers" case were dismissed by Judge William M. Byrne, who cited government misconduct.

In 1985, 56 people died when a flash fire swept a jam-packed soccer stadium in Bradford, England.

In 1988, master spy Harold "Kim" Philby, the notorious "Third Man" of a British espionage ring, died in the Soviet Union at age 76.

In 1996, an Atlanta-bound ValuJet DC-9 caught fire shortly after takeoff from Miami and crashed into the Florida Everglades, killing all 110 people on board.

Ten years ago:A French mint produced the first coins of Europe's single currency, the euro.

Five years ago:Lithuania became the first ex-Soviet republic to approve entry into the European Union as voters completed a weekend referendum.

One year ago:North and South Korea adopted a military agreement, enabling the first train crossing of their border in more than half a century.

Today's Birthdays:Comedian Mort Sahl is 81. Rock singer Eric Burdon (The Animals; War) is 67. Actress Shohreh Aghdashloo is 56. Actress Frances Fisher is 56. Actor Boyd Gaines is 55. Country musician Mark Herndon (Alabama) is 53. Actress Martha Quinn is 49. Actress Natasha Richardson is 45. Country singer-musician Tim Raybon (The Raybon Brothers) is 45. Country musician Keith West (Heartland) is 40. Actor Coby Bell is 33. Actor Jonathan Jackson is 26.

Thought for Today:"A mother never realizes that her children are no longer children." — Holbrook Jackson, British critic and historian (1874-1948).