Today is Thursday, March 6, the 66th day of 2008. There are 300 days left in the year. On this date

Today is Thursday, March 6, the 66th day of 2008. There are 300 days left in the year. On this date in 1857, the United States Supreme Court rules in Dred Scott v. Sandford that Scott, a slave, is not a U.S. citizen and cannot sue for his freedom in federal court. In 1834, the city of York in Upper Canada is incorporated as Toronto. In 1836, the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, falls to Mexican forces after a 13-day siege. In 1853, Verdi’s opera “La Traviata” premieres in Venice, Italy. In 1933, a nationwide bank holiday declared by President Franklin D. Roosevelt goes into effect. In 1935, retired Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. dies in Washington. In 1944, U.S. heavy bombers stage the first full-scale American raid on Berlin during World War II. In 1957, the former British African colonies of the Gold Coast and Togoland become the independent state of Ghana. In 1967, the daughter of Josef Stalin, Svetlana Alliluyeva, appears at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India, and declares her intention to defect to the West.

March 6, 1983: Gov. Richard F. Celeste says he plans to establish a state development office in Mahoning County to speed up economic recovery in Greater Youngstown.

The price of a gallon of unleaded gasoline drops to 98.9 cents at several Mahoning Valley service stations, the first time it has dipped below $1 since 1979.

Bessie Barnes Austin is still running the feed store she bought in downtown Hubbard in 1938. The store itself was built between 1883 and 1885.

March 6, 1968: Dr. Sidney Franklin resigns as health commissioner after weeks of tension between him and the Youngstown Board of Health.

An order to close all after-hours cheat spots in Campbell immediately and to submit daily reports is issued by Safety-Service Director John E. Ontko to Police Chief John Washko.

Carol Ann McDaniel, a 1964 graduate of Champion High School, is elected May Queen at Grove City College.

March 6, 1958: The Youngstown University Penguins whip Wilmington, 80-59, in the Ohio NAIA finals at South Field House and will head to the national tournament in Kansas City.

Gerald K. Hayes of 110 W. Boston Ave. is the unanimous choice of the 6th Ward Democratic executive committee to fill the 6th Ward council seat vacated by insurance swindler John J. Tobin Jr.

An unidentified culprit turns in three false alarms in less than 20 minutes, pulling alarm boxes at Erie Street and Marion, Market Street and Myrtle Avenue and then back at Erie and Marion.

March 6, 1933: Attorneys for Sen. James J. Davis of Pennsylvania demand a further postponement of his trial in New York on federal lottery charges on the ground that his presence is needed in Washington for a special session of Congress.

The Youngstown Raver’s Tavern cagers under “Red” Holzbach’s direction win the 150-pound lightweight basketball tournament at Beaver Falls, Pa., beating the Walter Millers of Beaver Falls, 55-41.

Mrs. Catherine Chase Campbell of Youngstown is one of six women to receive a doctor of philosophy degree from Radcliffe College. Her dissertation was entitled “Post-glacial Changes in Conditions of Sedimentation off the New England Coast, as Shown by Foraminifera.”