Today is Saturday, Dec. 27, the 362nd day of 2008. There are four days left in the year. On this

Today is Saturday, Dec. 27, the 362nd day of 2008. There are four days left in the year. On this date in 1968, Apollo 8 and its three astronauts make a safe, nighttime splashdown in the Pacific.

In 1831, naturalist Charles Darwin sets out on a round-the-world voyage aboard the HMS Beagle. In 1904, James Barrie’s play “Peter Pan: The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up” opens at the Duke of York’s Theater in London. In 1932, Radio City Music Hall opens in New York City. In 1945, 28 nations sign an agreement creating the World Bank. In 1947, the children’s TV program “The Howdy Doody Show” makes its debut on NBC under the title “Puppet Playhouse.” In 1979, Soviet forces seize control of Afghanistan. President Hafizullah Amin, who was overthrown and executed, is replaced by Babrak Karmal. In 1985, Palestinian guerrillas open fire inside the Rome and Vienna airports; a total of 20 people are killed, including four of the attackers, who were slain by police and security personnel.

December 27, 1983: Three days of record cold temperatures in the Youngstown area — -12 on two days and -6 on a third — continue to cause misery in the area. Numerous water pipe breaks are reported, including one in the basement of the Mahoning County Administration Building.

Youngstown Mayor-elect Patrick Ungaro names Richard Marsico the deputy director of public work and William Dundee head of the Buildings and Grounds Department.

December 27, 1968: O.J. Simpson of Southern Cal is named player of the year and Woody Hayes of Ohio State, coach of the year, by the National Sportswriters and Broadcasters Association.

William L. Spencer of the Equitable Life Assurance Society is elected president of the Youngstown Area Chamber of Commerce, succeeding Atty. James E. Bennett Jr.

December 27, 1958: Youngstown Police Chief Paul Cress says his investigation has cleared two city police officers of a charge of abuse of their police powers raised by Councilman McCullough Williams over the arrest of three men at the Bel-Fair Tavern on Belmont Avenue. McCullough said the owner, Orlando Thomas, was arrested out of personal animosity by the police officer; Cress said police were called to the tavern for a disturbance and acted properly.

December 27, 1933: Warren City Council approves development of the Warren Airways field on Parkman Road, which at 327 acres would be the largest airport between Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Most of the land has been leased at $1 a year for seven years and work will be done by CWA crews.

A cold wave sweeping the nation drops temperatures in the Youngstown area below zero, with a -2 registered at the experimental farm in Canfield.