25 Years Ago

 It's February 1979. Patty Hearst, 24, is released from prison.
 
In Iran, the Ayatollah Khomeini is welcomed back into the country after a 15-year exile.

 A freak snowstorm dumps up to eight inches of snow in the Southwest.

 In Washington, farmers demonstrate to win support for higher crop prices. 

 US Ambassador to Afghanistan, Adolph Dubs, 56, is kidnaped, and then shot to death in an exchange of gunfire between his kidnapers and Afghan security forces.

 TV coverage of the House begins.

 A blizzard hits the east coast from South Carolina to New York. Baltimore gets 18 inches of snow, Washington get 23 inches of snow.

 In the Town of Binghamton, the  ski lodge at Innsbruck USA is destroyed by a fire. The resort closed two years ago.

 The Owego-Apalachin School District decides to return to full-day Kindergarten classes.

 During a spell of sub-zero weather, a water pipe breaks at a Binghamton apartment building, sending tons of water into the basement. About 200 mostly elderly residents evacuate.

 Record cold weather hits the Northeast. It's 14 degrees below zero in Binghamton, and 49 degrees below zero at Saranac Lake.

 The Tioga County Republicans celebrate Lincoln's Birthday and honor outstanding party members Henrietta Whitney and Ronald Robinson.

 Two men armed with guns rob a small grocery store in Apalachin. They assault the store's owner, and run off with $550 in cash.

 A 7-11 in Waverly is held up by two men who get away with cash.

 Bishop David F. Cunningham, former Bishop of Syracuse Diocese, dies.

 A total eclipse of the sun occurs on February 26. It is visible in the western United States, and partially visible in the east. However, clouds and rain in the Southern Tier completely blot out the event.

 WEBO-FM will be the first local radio station to switch to an all-disco format on March 1. The station, 101.7 FM, will also change its name to WWWT.

 The Town of Owego decides to stop thawing out frozen pipes on resident's property. This courtesy has cost the town more than $3,000.

 Tuesday night TV shows include Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, Three's Company, Taxi, Paper Chase, and Starsky and Hutch.

 Movies playing in local theaters include Ice Castles, The Lord of the Rings, The Great Train Robbery, Every Which Way But Loose, California Suite, Halloween, Same Time Next Year, The Brinks Job and The Warriors.

 A 1979 Dodge St. Regis costs $7298, a Dodge Challenger costs $5398, and a new Dodge Colt costs $4298.

 Happy Valentine's Day!