Today is Thursday, Feb. 14, the 45th day of 2008. There are 321 days left in the year. This is

Today is Thursday, Feb. 14, the 45th day of 2008. There are 321 days left in the year. This is Valentine’s Day. On this date in 1929, the “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” takes place in a Chicago garage as seven rivals of Al Capone’s gang are gunned down.

In 1778, the American ship Ranger carries the recently adopted Star and Stripes to a foreign port for the first time as it arrives in France. In 1859, Oregon is admitted to the Union as the 33rd state. In 1894, comedian Jack Benny is born Benjamin Kubelsky in Waukegan, Ill. In 1895, Oscar Wilde’s final play, “The Importance of Being Earnest,” opens at the St. James’ Theatre in London. In 1903, the Department of Commerce and Labor is established. (It is divided into separate departments of Commerce and Labor in 1913.) In 1912, Arizona becomes the 48th state of the Union.

February 14, 1983: Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. is honored as the 43rd Annual Pittsburgh Man of the Year for his investment in the city. He has taken over management of the Civic Arena and is in a joint venture to develop the 46-story Oxford Center.

Bruce Alexander, a 5-11 senior, leads the Youngstown State University Penguins with 28 points as they crush Cleveland State, 99-77, before a crowd of 2,326 at Beeghly Center.

Youngstown Mayor George Vukovich says he will not seek a third term.

February 14, 1968: Youngstown and Warren are in the midst of a developing megalopolis that planners predict will see cities grow together in a band stretching from Pittsburgh to Chicago and Milwaukee by the year 2000.

H.E. Katschke will retire as executive of the Mahoning Valley Boy Scouts Council, ending an association with Scouting that spans two generations.

The new 17,000-square-foot ice skating rink and lodge facilities are ready to open at Mill Creek Park.

February 14, 1958: Weekly sales drop from $5,440 to $2,450 in the week after the Youngstown Transit Co.’s decision to end its experimental $2 pass and restore the price to $2.75.

Robert Mainer, operator of Bob’s Auto Service in North Lima, calls on district auto wreckers to organize to combat what he called “county and city police showing favoritism to Passerelli Bros. Auto Service.”

A move is underway to authorize a private secretary for each of Youngstown’s councilmen to assist them in their official duties. The salary is likely to be $3,000; councilmen are paid $600 a year.

February 14, 1933: The sixth case of the year of a foreign body in a child’s lung is treated at the bronchoscopic clinic of the Youngstown Hospital when a thumb tack was removed from a lower bronchus of Albert Meredith, 15, of Ravenwood Ave.

Defying threats of death, Mrs. Helen Tascione of Lakewood Ave., testifies at the robbery hearing of a 30-year-old Youngstown man and told how she had paid $530 to an alleged blackmail ring in Youngstown.

Youngstown Finance Director Hugh Hindman announces that the city will take bids on 10,000 tons of coal that will be distributed to the needy.