Today is Wednesday, Sept. 3, the 246th day of 2003. There are 119 days left in the year. On this

Today is Wednesday, Sept. 3, the 246th day of 2003. There are 119 days left in the year. On this date in 1783, the Treaty of Paris between the United States and Great Britain officially ends the Revolutionary War.
In 1658, Oliver Cromwell, the Lord Protector of England, dies. In 1939, Britain and France declare war on Germany, two days after the Nazi invasion of Poland. In 1940, Artie Shaw and his Gramercy Five record "Summit Ridge Drive," "Special Delivery Stomp," "Keepin' Myself for You" and "Cross Your Heart" in Hollywood for RCA Victor. In 1943, the British Eighth Army invades Italy during World War II, the same day Italy signs a secret armistice with the allies. In 1967, Nguyen Van Thieu is elected president of South Vietnam under a new constitution. In 1967, motorists in Sweden begin driving on the right-hand side of the road, instead of the left. In 1976, the unmanned U.S. spacecraft Viking 2 lands on Mars to take the first close-up, color photographs of the planet's surface. In 1978, Pope John Paul I is installed as the 264th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.
September 3, 1978: Land in five states once owned by Niles-based Albee Homes Inc. is being auctioned by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Youngstown. The auction is the apparent end to the liquidation of the empire built up by brothers Sam, Alex and William Gross.
The Automobile Information Council reports that one in four jobholders in Ohio is employed in auto-related work: Manufacturing, servicing or selling automobiles, vans or trucks or using them, such as taxi or truck drivers.
Youngstown's newest enterprises, two plasmapheresis centers -- commercial blood banks that pay donors for their plasma -- are opening on Federal Plaza, but both have sought to minimize attention surrounding their openings. "This obviously isn't the type of business we're encouraging downtown," says the Youngstown Chamber of Commerce.
September 3, 1963: A Boston leather company, Beggs & amp; Cobb Inc., offers to buy controlling interest in the Ohio Leather Co. of Girard, paying $18.75 per share of stock. Ralph Ewe, Ohio Leather president, says Beggs & amp; Cobb intends to continue to operate Ohio Leather as a separate entity.
An estimated $200,000 worth of rare coins is taken from V & amp; H Coins, 6207 Market St., in a burglary that Boardman police described as well-planned and professional.
The Mahoning County Sheriff's office is investigating the stabbing of a 25-year-old New Middletown man who entered a Poland Township home, disrobed and attempted to crawl into the bed of a sleeping couple.
September 3, 1953: An attempt by the Ohio Turnpike Commission to make peace with the city of Elyria ends in a shouting match. The Elyria delegation wants the route of the turnpike shifted from north of the city to south, which Commission Chairman James S. Shocknessy says isn't even open to discussion.
French police report that $71,400 in French and foreign currencies was stolen from the Riviera home of retired American film producer Jack L. Warner during an all-night party hosted by his 18-year-old daughter.
A two-day work stoppage on 10 miles of the Ohio Turnpike in Mahoning County ends when laborers return to their jobs. The dispute involved a demand by one member of the Hod Carriers Union that he be appointed a "roving steward" on the job. The would-be rover was fired and other members of Local 125 of the union returned to work.
September 3, 1928: Yankee slugger Babe Ruth refuses to pose for a photograph with Republican Presidential Candidate Herbert Hoover prior to a game between the Yankees and Senators in Washington, D.C. "It's a matter of politics," was the Babe's only explanation.
Dr. Henry Van Dyke, moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly, says religious tolerance will be the principal issue in the 1928 presidential campaign between Herbert Hoover and Al Smith. He said a "widespread cabal" is attempting to defeat Smith because Smith is a Catholic.
With day and night attendance at the Mahoning County Fair near a record at 20,000 on opening day, organizers are hoping that the second day of the event will set a record. Fair skies and warmer weather are predicted.