Years Ago

Today is Monday, Dec. 19, the 353rd day of 2011. There are 12 days left in the year.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

On this date in:

1777: Gen. George Washington leads his army of about 11,000 men to Valley Forge, Pa., to camp for the winter.

1843: “A Christmas Carol,” by Charles Dickens, is first published in England.

1910: The artificial fiber rayon is first commercially produced by the American Viscose Co. of Marcus Hook, Pa.

1971: “A Clockwork Orange,” Stanley Kubrick’s controversial movie adaptation of the Anthony Burgess novel, has its world premiere.

1986: Lawrence E. Walsh is named independent counsel to investigate the Iran-Contra affair.

VINDICATOR FILES

1986: The answer to cost efficiency at the Warren Municipal Court lies in computerization, not elimination of one of two judgeships, says city Prosecutor Michael Scala.

Youngstown Mayor Patrick J. Ungaro says he will meet with county Prosecutor Gary Van Brocklin to get the city‘s Land Bank program back on track after more than a year’s delay in its implementation.

1971: President Nixon’s Price Commission approves a substantial price increase averaging 5.3 percent for Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co.

Cardinal Mooney’s speech team wins the sweepstakes trophy at the Woodrow Wilson High Tournament. It is the fourth straight sweepstakes win for Coach Denny Barrett’s team.

1961: Mayor-elect Harry Savasten names Engineer Fred G. Bowser Youngstown’s new fire chief.

A 44-year-old South Side beauty shop operator, Miss Freddie Mae Buddin, is found burned to death under mysterious circumstances in the basement of her home at 1031 Parkwood Ave.,

1936: Six masked gunmen rob the Steiner Packing Co. of about $750 from a safe after overpowering and binding five employees. They escape in a commandeered car.

The Mahoning County Democratic Club votes unanimously to condemn Prosecutor-elect William Ambrose, a Democrat, for hiring a Republican as his assistant prosecutor.