Today is Friday, Dec. 5, the 340th day of 2008. There are 26 days left in the year. On this date in

Today is Friday, Dec. 5, the 340th day of 2008. There are 26 days left in the year. On this date in 1933, national Prohibition comes to an end as Utah becomes the 36th state to ratify the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, repealing the 18th Amendment.

In 1776, the first scholastic fraternity in America, Phi Beta Kappa, is organized at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va. In 1782, the eighth president of the United States, Martin Van Buren, is born in Kinderhook, N.Y. (He is the first chief executive to be born after American independence). In 1792, George Washington is re-elected president; John Adams is re-elected vice president. In 1831, former President John Quincy Adams takes his seat as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1848, President James K. Polk triggers the Gold Rush of ’49 by confirming that gold has been discovered in California. In 1932, German physicist Albert Einstein is granted a visa, making it possible for him to travel to the United States.

December 5, 1983: The acquisition of the Sherwin-Williams Container Corp. by the new United States Can Co. could lead to the addition of 20 to 30 jobs at the company’s Myron Street plant in Hubbard.

Niles Mayor-elect John P. Shaffer says former councilman Lewis M. Slanina will be his service director and retiring police sergeant Anthony L. Marsico will be the safety director.

Checks totaling $5,738 were made out to two Youngstown city council aides for unused vacation time despite the fact that authorization legislation for the payments wasn’t yet law.

December 5, 1968: John B. Sutherland, recently named manager of the Fisher Body fabricating plant at Lordstown, will take over as manager of both the assembly plant and the fabricating plant after Robert K. Bates is transferred to a plant in Michigan.

Second Ward Councilman Herman P. Starks says the city should not undergo a reapportionment because the population is in flux with various public works projects causing relocation.

With the city schools closed for the month of December because of a lack of funds, about 500 boys have been using the facilities at the YMCA each day, swimming, playing basketball and using the weight lifting equipment.

December 5, 1958: Ray Lyle, the driver of a parochial school bus, and Steve Rockney, a Boardman Township contractor, save 65 St. Christine school children from possible harm after the bus catches fire in Tippecanoe Road between Cornersburg and Shields Road.

The Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority announces plans to build 350 units of low-income housing in the city.

Edwin R. Watkins, 63, chairman of the board of the Mahoning National Bank, dies of a heart ailment in North Side Hospital.

December 5, 1933: W.R. Mc-Namara of the state relief commission says Mahoning County will receive from the federal government 123,750 pounds of salt pork, 123,750 pounds of flour and 49,500 pounds of butter for distribution to the county’s poor.

Youngstown School Superintendent George Roudebush tells the board of education that items cut from school programs because of the depression must be returned as soon as possible in the best interest of the children.

Police Chief Leroy Goodwin denies charges of an Ohio State University professor that Youngstown has organized gangs of the worst type. Goodwin announces that eight detectives will be placed on night time duty to round up law violators of all kinds.