Milestones Dec. 27, 1999

TRANSFERRED. THE PANAMA CANAL, 50-mile engineering feat, shipping lane and cruise-ship highlight; after 96 years of U.S. control; to Panama. At a ceremonial hand-over, Jimmy Carter, who brokered the transfer treaty in 1977, told Panama's President Mireya Moscoso, "It's yours."

RETIRING. CHARLES SCHULZ, 77, Peanuts creator, whose angst-ridden Charlie Brown has been a staple of funny pages for nearly 50 years; on Jan. 4; because of colon cancer (see story, page 146).

DIED. GROVER WASHINGTON JR., 56, smooth Philadelphia blues and jazz-funk saxophonist, after playing four songs and collapsing at a taping of a cbs-tv show; in New York City. Washington...

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