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Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Feb 8, 2008

1904 - The Russo-Japanese War, a conflict over control of Manchuria and Korea, began as Japanese forces attacked Port Arthur.

1910 - The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated.

1915 - D.W. Griffith's groundbreaking - and controversial - silent movie epic about the Civil War, "The Birth of a Nation," premiered in Los Angeles.

1924 - The first execution by gas in the United States took place at the Nevada State Prison in Carson City as Gee Jon, a Chinese immigrant convicted of murder, was put to death.

1974 - The last three-man crew of the Skylab space station returned to Earth after spending 84 days in space.

2007 - Model, actress and tabloid sensation Anna Nicole Smith died in Florida at age 39 of an accidental drug overdose.

The following is a list of deaths in the area. Obituaries are on Page 7A.

J. Elaine Armstrong/Wamego

Jewel Green/Lyndon

Paul Jackson/Topeka

Raymond Kurtz/Frankfort

Henry Meiners/Topeka

Areila Oakman/Topeka

Peggy Peyton/Topeka

Doug Rash/Topeka

Donald Semple/Wamego

Frank Sevcik/Hoyt

Helen Sourk/Wetmore

Clyde Tillman/Topeka

Donald Trackwell/Topeka

Glenn Weaver/HiawathaFormer ABC News anchor

Ted Koppel__68

Actor Nick Nolte__67

Comedian Robert Klein__66

Country singer Dan Seals__60

Actress Brooke Adams__59

Actress Mary Steenburgen__55

Author John Grisham__53

Rock singer Vince Neil

(Motley Crue)__47

Actor Gary Coleman__40

Actress Mary McCormack__39

Actor Seth Green__34

Actor Josh Morrow__34

Rock musician Phoenix (Linkin Park)__31

Actor Ryan Pinkston__20

Actress Karle Warren ("Judging Amy")__16

PERTH, Australia - Heath Ledger's death by accidental overdose should serve as a warning to others not to mix prescription drugs, his father said, calling the loss an enduring agony for his family.

The New York medical examiner announced Wednesday that the 28- year-old "Brokeback Mountain" star died Jan. 22 from the effects of taking six types of painkillers and sedatives .

Family members returned home from the United States this week and were reportedly planning a private service to lay Ledger to rest.

His former girlfriend Michelle Williams and the couple's 2-year- old daughter, Matilda, arrived Wednesday to attend the ceremony, News Ltd. newspapers reported.

The West Australian newspaper reported Thursday that the family was hoping to hold a wake Saturday at a Colonial-style waterfront restaurant at Cottesloe Beach, a resort village south of Perth that was a favorite spot of the actor's.

Kim Ledger, the actor's father, said in a statement released Wednesday that the family was humbled to be "among millions of people worldwide who may have suffered the tragic loss of a child."

"Few can understand the hollow, wrenching, and enduring agony parents silently suffer when a child predeceases them," he said.

He said the toxicology results should "put an end to speculation" about the cause of death.

"While no medications were taken in excess, we learned today the combination of doctor-prescribed drugs proved lethal for our boy," Kim Ledger said. "Heath's accidental death serves as a caution to the hidden dangers of combining prescription medication, even at low dosage."