Today is Tuesday, Sept. 16, the 260th day of 2008. There are 106 days left in the year. On this date

Today is Tuesday, Sept. 16, the 260th day of 2008. There are 106 days left in the year. On this date in 1908, General Motors is formed in Flint, Mich., by William Durant.

In 1498, Tomas de Torquemada, notorious for his role in the Spanish Inquisition, dies in Avila, Spain. In 1810, Mexico begins its successful revolt against Spanish rule. In 1893, more than 100,000 settlers swarm onto a section of land in Oklahoma known as the “Cherokee Strip.” In 1919, the American Legion is formally chartered by an act of Congress. In 1940, President Roosevelt signs into law the Selective Training and Service Act, which sets up the first peacetime military draft in U.S. history; Samuel T. Rayburn of Texas is elected Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1966, the Metropolitan Opera opens its new opera house at New York’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. In 1968, Republican presidential nominee Richard Nixon exclaims, “Sock it to ME?” in a taped bit for the NBC-TV comedy program “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In.” In 1977, Maria Callas, the American-born prima donna famed for her lyric soprano and fiery temperament, dies in Paris at age 53. In 1982, the massacre of hundreds of Palestinian men, women and children by Israeli-allied Lebanese militiamen begins in west Beirut’s Sabra and Chatilla refugee camps. In 1988, Hurricane Gilbert slams into the Mexico coast for the second time in three days.

September 16, 1983: Miss Ohio Pamela Rigas of Canfield wins the swimsuit competition on the second day of the Miss America competition in Atlantic City.

Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini knocks out Orlando Romero in the ninth round of a championship bout in New York’s Madison Square Garden to win the lightweight championship.

Youngstown State University unveils a scale model of a $12 million high technology building that will be constructed on Wick Avenue across from the Maag Library.

September 16, 1968: The Youngstown Board of Education will borrow $1.5 million against anticipated personal property taxes to meet October payroll and other bills.

More than $2,000 and five cases of whisky are stolen from the Grecian Village at 128 W. Boardman St., two doors from Youngstown’s police station.

Shirley Walley wins her fifth straight Class AA medal play championship in the Women’s Youngstown District Golf Association.

September 16, 1958: Two more cases of polio are reported at St. Elizabeth Hospital, bringing the total to 16 since August. Both cases are deemed nonparalytic.

Youngstown Police Chief Paul Cress administers the oath of office to six rookie patrolmen: John B. Carney Jr., John J. Fabrizi Jr., Thomas Beardman, Robert H. Scullen, John P. Scahill Jr. and Clarence E. Sexton Jr.

September 16, 1933: Judge Erskine Maiden Jr. issues a temporary injunction restraining the Youngstown planning commission from enforcing a rule that prohibits funeral homes in residential sections of the city. The suit was brought by Harry S. Day, a funeral director at 292 W. Madison Ave.

Dr. John Hayes of the Ohio Health Department visits Youngstown and announces his complete support for actions taken by Health Commissioner Dr. C.H. Beight in combating the infantile paralysis epidemic. Dr. Beight has ordered schools closed and prohibited public gatherings, including high school football games.

Farmers in Liberty Township are envisioning a revival of the good old days when the township was an important coal mining district after a six-foot vein of high grade coal is discovered on the Stewart farm on Warner Road.