Today is Sunday, June 15, the 167th day of 2008. There are 199 days left in the year. This is

Today is Sunday, June 15, the 167th day of 2008. There are 199 days left in the year. This is Father’s Day. On this date in 1215, England’s King John puts his seal to Magna Carta (“the Great Charter”) at Runnymede.

In 1775, the Second Continental Congress votes unanimously to appoint George Washington head of the Continental Army. In 1836, Arkansas becomes the 25th state. In 1844, Charles Goodyear receives a patent for his process to vulcanize rubber. In 1849, James Polk, the 11th president of the United States, dies in Nashville, Tenn. In 1864, Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton signs an order establishing a military burial ground, which becomes Arlington National Cemetery. In 1904, more than 1,000 people die when fire erupts aboard the steamboat General Slocum in New York’s East River. In 1944, American forces begin their successful invasion of Saipan during World War II. In 1993, former Texas Gov. John Connally, who was wounded in the gunfire that killed President Kennedy, dies at age 76.

June 15, 1983: Mahoning County commissioners will seek state funding to renovate or expand the county jail.

Hardrives Paving & Construction Co. of Youngstown and Gennaro Pavers of Hillsville will split Youngstown’s street resurfacing program, which is funded by the Community Development Agency.

The Hunt Steel Co. of 2669 W. Federal St. receives the small-employer of the year award from the Disabled American Veterans of Ohio.

June 15, 1968: A group of laymen concerned with strengthening gun control laws solicits signatures at 10 Youngstown churches. The petitions will be forwarded to Ohio congressmen and senators.

Youngstown’s 43 public schools will close Dec. 1 unless voters approve an operating levy in November, says Superintendent W. W. Zinser. State officials told Zinser that no state or federal funds are available to bail out the city.

About 200 members of the Teamsters Local 377 strike six Youngstown area beer and beverage distributors, halting deliveries for Genessee, Superior, Union, Kohn, Mahoning and C&K.

June 15, 1958: Sharon Steel manufactures steel under the most exacting of metallurgical standards for use in electromagnets at the $100 million atom smasher being built at Madison, Wisc.

Thirteen agents of the Internal Revenue Service raid the Girard Sporting Club, a gambling joint on West Liberty Avenue. The club’s operation was exposed by The Vindicator but ignored by local police for weeks.

The Youngstown Area Chamber of Commerce adopts a resolution opposing a proposed split between Youngstown and Warren in the metropolitan district established by the U.S. Census Bureau. Warren interests are lobbying the Commerce Department for that city’s own metropolitan designation.

June 15, 1933: Five Youngstown merchants are facing a grand jury investigation as the result of a state examiner’s report accusing them of presenting false bills in relief orders.

The mercury drops to 36 degrees in the Youngstown district, causing frost damage to some gardens. The record low came overnight only a few days after the temperature in Youngstown reached 100 degrees.

Carroll Thornton is appointed a director of the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District, replacing Fred A LaBelle, who resigned.