Years Ago

Today is Monday, Dec. 20, the 354th day of 2010. There are 11 days left in the year.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

On this date in:

1803: The Louisiana Purchase is completed as ownership of the territory is formally transferred from France to the United States.

1860: South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the Union as all 169 delegates to a special convention in Charleston vote in favor of separation.

1945: The Office of Price Administration announ-ces the end of tire rationing, effective Jan. 1, 1946.

1987: More than 4,300 people are killed when the Dona Paz, a Philippine passenger ship, collides with the tanker Vector off Mindoro island.

1989: The United States launches Operation Just Cause, sending troops into Panama to topple the government of Gen. Manuel Noriega.

VINDICATOR FILES

1985: The annual report of the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District says the district continues to provide quality water for Youngstown and Niles, but potential sources of contamination, including three major highways that cross the reservoir, should be cause for concern.

Dr. Carol Gay, an English professor at Youngstown State University and founder of YSU’s highly acclaimed English Festival, dies in Northside Medical Center at the age of 52.

1970: In an unusual maneuver, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators are mounting a filibuster to block funding for development of a supersonic transport plane that has passed he House and has the backing of the administration.

Paul Corey, a Youngstown native and executive assistant to Cuyahoga County commissioners since 1961, is named by Gov.-elect John J. Gilligan to the post of state personnel director.

1960:Edward E. Finamore, city park and recreation superintendent, OKs the first skating of the season on Crandall Park lake. Lincoln Park Lake and the flooded tennis courts at Borts Field had been opened earlier.

Seventh Ward Councilman George Vukovich is spearheading an effort to raise $2,600 for the erection of a marble war memorial in South Side Park, close to South Avenue.

1935: Mayor-elect Lionel Evans names Carl L. Olson his police chief and Frank W. Barton the finance director.

Councilman Michael J. Kirwan says he is considering running in the May Democratic primary for 19th District Congress.

John Logan, 36, is charged with manslaughter in the death of Arthur Doyle, following an argument over Doyle’s lighting a cigarette from an oil lamp.