Today is Monday, Dec. 23, the 357th day of 2002. There are eight days left in the year. On this date

Today is Monday, Dec. 23, the 357th day of 2002. There are eight days left in the year. On this date in 1823, the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement C. Moore is published in the Troy, N.Y., Sentinel.
In 1783, George Washington resigns as commander in chief of the Army and retires to his home at Mount Vernon, Va. In 1893, the Engelbert Humperdinck opera "Hansel and Gretel" is first performed, in Weimar, Germany. In 1941, during World War II, American forces on Wake Island surrender to the Japanese. In 1948, former Japanese premier Hideki Tojo and six other Japanese war leaders are executed in Tokyo. In 1968, 82 crew members of the U.S. intelligence ship Pueblo are released by North Korea, 11 months after they had been captured. In 1975, Richard S. Welch, the CIA station chief in Athens, is shot and killed outside his home. In 1980, a state funeral is held in Moscow for former Premier Alexei N. Kosygin, who had died Dec. 18 at age 76. In 1986, the experimental airplane Voyager, piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, completes the first nonstop, non-refueled, round-the-world flight as it lands safely at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
December 23, 1977: A Chessie System employee is injured in a 22-car derailment near state Route 5 and Newton Falls Road that has caused the closing of Route 5.
Mrs. Michael Kuzio thought something looked wrong in her West Middlesex, Pa. backyard. When she investigated she discovered a mine shaft collapse that left a hole four-feet by five-feet wide in more than 20 feet deep in her yard.
A Liberty Road woman indicted by the Mahoning County grand jury for illegal voting blames poll workers at Thorn Hill School for giving her two ballots. She says the workers apparently were confused and gave her both hers and her daughter's ballots.
Bob Stoops has to be one of the most outstanding athletes ever to perform at Cardinal Mooney High School His football abilities earned him major-college offers and now his is a chief contributor to the Cards' success on the basketball court.
December 23, 1962: Melanie John Thomas, 7, of Canfield, is the second place winner in Ohio Bell Telephone Co.'s art contests for children. Melanie, who polished her talent during a six-week course at the Butler Institute of American Art over the summer, created a montage in crayon depicting the many meanings of Christmas
Mary Lou Ryhal, a former New Castle resident who has gained stardom on the Mitch Miller television show, will return to perform in a benefit show at the Castleton Hotel.
Cincinnati's No. 1 ranked Bearcats sink ambitious Davidson, 72-46, to give Cincinnati its 26th straight win, and 64th straight on their home court. Davidson had upset number 2 ranked Duke earlier in the week.
December 23, 1952: Ohio Turnpike officials hear from the horse's mouth the problems that turnpike construction will create in Mahoning County with the cutting up of farms and blocking off of highways. More than 30 property owners attend a public hearing.
Mahoning County Sheriff Paul Langley is drafting schedules for a 40-hour work week for deputy sheriffs. In addition to instituting the shorter work week, Langley is asking commissioners to increase the salary of all deputies by 10 percent.
Thousands of shoppers are crowding downtown Youngstown stores in a last-minute rush to purchase Christmas gifts. Heavy traffic is also anticipated on Christmas Eve.
December 23, 1927: Crews are having no success in raising the U.S. Submarine S4 from the Atlantic Ocean and the work may be abandoned until spring. There has been no sign of life from the trapped sailors for days.
Singing of Christmas carols, rehearsal of swan songs and a decision not to reduce the salary of Mayor-elect Joseph L. Heffernan are the chief attractions at a Youngstown City Council meeting.
A painting by Rembrandt, believed to be the artist's first self-portrait, is purchased in Paris by dealer Edouard Jonas for $26,000 and is being shipped to New York. Some Poles are upset at the sale by Count Tarnowski because it is one of only three Rembrandts known to be in that country.