Today in history

Today is Friday, December 8, the 342nd day of 2017 and the 78th day of autumn.

On this date in the SCV: In 1948, The Signal reported that an army of hunters, conservatively estimated to number 10,000 riflemen, moved into the mountains and valleys of Soledad Township and began firing. At the end of two days they had managed to kill about 800 deer and badly wounded one human being, Lieut. Sewell Griggers of the Sheriff’s Aero Squad, flying over Liebre mountain on the first day of the season with U. S. Ranger Berriman, looked down. What he saw reminded him of a heavy bearing tomato patch, with the tomatoes in motion, as red shirted hunters moved through the brush. With so many city riflemen trigger happy and on the prowl, very few of the native nimrods ventured into the Forest. It wasn’t safe.

Today’s Highlights in History: In 1941, the United States declared war on Japan and officially entered World War II.

In 1980, John Lennon was shot to death outside his Manhattan apartment building.

In 1991, the leaders of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine signed an agreement dissolving the Soviet Union and establishing the Commonwealth of Independent States.

In 1993, President Bill Clinton signed into law the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Today’s fact: SpaceX became the first private company in the world to successfully launch, place in orbit and recover a spacecraft on this day in 2010.

Today’s sports: In 1940, the Chicago Bears routed the Washington Redskins in the NFL championship game, 73-0. It remains the largest margin of victory in NFL history.

Today’s number: 500,000 – pounds of cotton exported by the United States in 1793, before Eli Whitney’s invention of the cotton gin. By 1810, the U.S. was exporting 93 million pounds of cotton annually.

Today’s moon: Between full moon (Dec. 3) and last quarter moon (Dec. 10).