25 Years Ago

 It's January 1980. In London, film director Alfred Hitchcock, 80, is knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.

 Johnny Carson urges his viewers to write the Miss America Pageant to protest the firing of Bert Parks as the pageant's host.

 President Carter orders economic and diplomatic strikes against the Soviet Union in response to their military invasion of Afghanistan.

 Former President Richard Nixon quietly celebrates his 67th birthday.

 Former AFL-CIO leader George Meaney, 85, dies.

 Former ambassador and current Presidential candidate George Bush predicts that by mid-March, the field of nine Republicans candidates will be down to two - himself and Ronald Reagan.

 In Japan, Beatle Paul McCartney is arrested for bringing marijuana into the country.

 The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Los Angeles Rams 31-19 in Superbowl XIV in Pasadena.

 In the Iowa Caucuses, President Carter beats Senator Kennedy, and George Bush beats GOP front-runner Ronald Reagan. Bush claims he will win the Republican nomination. 

 President Carter asks the US Olympic Committee to boycott the 1980 Summer Olympic Games in Moscow unless the Soviet Union withdraws its troops from Afghanistan.

 In his state of the Union Address, President Carter warns the Soviet Union that the US is ready to defend the Persian Gulf with military force, and he announces plans to resume a draft registration. 

 Former Justice William O. Douglas, 81, dies.

 The House and Senate vote in favor of boycotting the Summer Olympics.

 Six Americans escape Iran after hiding for three months at the Canadian Embassy and at the homes of Canadian diplomats.

 Binghamton morning radio DJ Ted Baer switches from WNBF to WENE.

 The Broome County Chamber of Commerce sponsors the two-day Project Green Grass at the Holiday Inn-Arena. The event allows local students to meet with local employers. 

 Fire destroys the Alamo Restaurant at 3000 E. Main Street in Endwell. The owners are expected to rebuild the building which once housed Grover's Pig Stand.

 At the Forum in Binghamton, Forrest Tucker and Butterfly McQueen star in the 
musical Showboat.

 Many businesses in downtown Owego are displaying "Free the Hostages" posters in their window in support of the 50 Americans being held in Iran.

 In Johnson City, Former President Gerald Ford speaks to a crowd of approximately 600 at the Fountains Pavilion. Ford calls Carter's economic and foreign policies a disaster.

 The owner of Riverside Towers at 5 Riverside Drive in Binghamton announces plans to convert the luxury apartment building into a cooperative.

 The price of gas has increased ten cents in the last month. The cost of a gallon of regular (leaded) gas is $1.18, unleaded costs about $1.22, and premium is about $1.24.

 Top tunes include Please Don't Go by K.C. & the Sunshine Band, Escape (The Piña Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes, Send One Your Love by Stevie Wonder, Do That to Me One More Time by Captain & Tennille, Rock With You by Michael Jackson, and Coward of the County by Kenny Rogers.