Today is Thursday, Dec. 20, the 354th day of 2001. There are 11 days left in the year. On this date

Today is Thursday, Dec. 20, the 354th day of 2001. There are 11 days left in the year. On this date in 1803, the Louisiana Purchase is completed as ownership of the territory was formally transferred from France to the United States at ceremonies in New Orleans.
In 1790, the first successful cotton mill in the United States begins operating at Pawtucket, R.I. In 1860, South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the Union. In 1864, Confederate forces evacuated Savannah, Ga., as Union Gen. William T. Sherman continues his "March to the Sea." In 1879, Thomas A. Edison privately demonstrates his incandescent light at Menlo Park, N.J. In 1945, the Office of Price Administration announces the end of tire rationing, effective Jan. 1, 1946. In 1968, author John Steinbeck dies in New York at age 66. In 1980, the government of the Soviet Union confirms that former Premier Alexei N. Kosygin had died two days earlier at the age of 76. In 1987, more than 3,000 people are killed when the Dona Paz, a Philippine passenger ship, collided with the tanker Vector off Mindoro island. In 1989, the United States sends troops into Panama to topple the government of Gen. Manuel Noriega. In 1996. a judge in Orange County, Calif., gives O.J. Simpson full custody of his young children. Astronomer Carl Sagan died in Seattle at age 62.
December 20, 1976: The body of William A. Workman, 29, formerly of Warren is found by children playing in a wooded area on the Youngstown's East Side, the apparent victim of a handgun slaying.
A single-engine plane crashes into the upper deck of Memorial Stadium in Baltimore minutes after the end of the Baltimore Colts-Pittsburgh Steelers NFL playoff game. The pilot and three police officers suffered minor injuries. The stands had emptied early after the Colts' 40-14 loss to the Steelers.
Parental concern within a school is the most important factor in education, says Sister Charlotte Italiano, principal of St. Patrick School, during the fourth and last of a Sunday morning adult series on desegregation of Youngstown schools.
December 20, 1961: A fire which took the life of a 47-year-old South Side beautician was deliberately set, probably using kerosene, says arson investigator Michael Melillo. Dead is Mrs. Freddie Mae Buddin.
The Mahoning County grand jury indicts five of six prisoners who attempted to escape county jail Dec. 10 and urge that an expert be hired to make the jail more secure.
A team of Youngstown detectives believes it has cleared up a series of purse snatchings, armed robberies and burglaries from evidence gathered since the arrest of a man hauling a safe in a station wagon earlier in the month. Two 16-year-old boys are also in custody.
December 20, 1951: It is costing Youngstown and Mahoning County at least $4,200 a day to battle the snow that has been falling for nearly a week.
Charges that civil service jobs are "for sale" in Struthers are made at a council meeting when a letter from five candidates for city posts is read by Council Clerk John F. Pearce. All claim they were approached by certain policemen and outside parties and offered full-time appointments for payment of "certain sums."
Seventy-five little folk are guests of the Rotary Club of Youngstown at the Hotel Pick-Ohio at the club's annual Christmas party for crippled children.
December 20, 1926: A new telephone building for Youngstown will be erected on the South Side of Youngstown, says J.C. Merrell, local commercial manager of the Ohio Bell Telephone Co.
Window-smashing thieves hold a carnival in Youngstown, hitting three places. At the Ray Brenner jewelry store, N. Phelps St., a portion of glass was removed and loot that will approach $10,000 in value was taken.
Mayor Charles F. Scheible vetoes an ordinance passed by Youngstown City Council changing the name of Market Street to Main Street.