25 Years Ago
by Beverly Brown

 It's April 1979. President Carter tours the Three Mile Island Nuclear Plant. The situation at the plant remains stable, but six counties in central Pennsylvania are on "advance alert" and could have to evacuate their homes. Carter says the safety of the citizens is his primary concern.

 In California, Patty Hearst marries Bernard Shaw.

 Actor Edgar Buchanan, 76, dies in California. He starred in more than 80 feature films, but is best known as "Uncle Joe" on the TV show Petticoat Junction.

 Gas prices have risen as much as 5¢ in some areas. The cheapest gas in the country is 62.9¢/gallon for full service regular leaded gas in New Orleans. The most expensive is 95.9¢ for premium unleaded in Chicago.

 Johnny Carson hosts the 51st Annual Academy Awards show. Jon Voight is chosen Best Actor (Coming Home). Jane Fonda wins for Best Actress (Coming Home). Maggie Smith (California Suite) and Christopher Walken (The Deer Hunter) are chosen as Best Supporting Actors. The Deer Hunter wins as Best Picture of the year.

 The CIA reports that international terrorism increased 21% in 1978, with almost half of the 353 incidents occurring in Europe.

 An opinion poll shows that if the 1980 Presidential Election were held today, Jimmy Carter would beat Ronald Reagan. The poll also shows that Edward Kennedy would beat Reagan if the election were held today.

 Iran and Kuwait raise the price of crude oil by $1.80 a barrel. In Manhattan, gasoline prices approach $1.00/gallon.

 An earthquake in Yugoslavia levels villages and kills 200 people.

 Frank "Fuzzy" Zoeller wins the 43rd Masters Golf Championship.

 Tennis star Chris Evert marries John Lloyd.

 The price of gas in Honolulu reaches $1.02/gallon for full service premium unleaded gasoline.

 In Owego, the American Legion Ambulance Service wants to raise $20,000 for a new garage and headquarters on North Avenue.

 The Broome Dusters hockey team make the AHL playoffs.

 Ralph Nader speaks to a large crowd of students at SUNY Binghamton. He seeks support for his fight to shutdown the nations's 71 nuclear reactors.

 SUNY students stage an anti-nuclear demonstration.

 New York State officials decide not to build a large nuclear power plant in Clementon.

 The Southern Tier has a rainy Easter Sunday.

 The Binghamton Dusters defeat the Hershey Bears in the Calder Cup quarterfinals, and move into the semifinals.

 Twenty-two lots are available in the new Maryvale development in Apalachin. Houses are priced from $46,900.

 A groundbreaking ceremony is held for a three-story addition to the Security Mutual Life Insurance Building in Binghamton. 

 In the Calder Cup semifinals, the Broome Dusters lose every game to the New Haven Nighthawks, including a humiliating defeat of 1-15 in the second game.  

 Thursday night TV shows include Mork and Mindy, NOVA, Angie, Highcliffe Manor, Quincy, Hawaii Five-O, and Barney Miller.

 Movies playing in local theaters include Saturday Night Fever, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Hair, The China Syndrome, The Deer Hunter, Fastbreak with Gabriel Kaplan, Every Which Way But Loose, The Champ with Jon Voight and Ricky Schroeder, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and Love at First Bite with George Hamilton.

 A one-pound bag of jelly beans costs 45¢, a box of 15 marshmallow peeps costs 49¢, and a 7-ounce bag of "Robin" Malted Milk Eggs costs 59¢.