25 Years Ago

It's March 1980. Former President Gerald Ford says that Ronald Reagan cannot win the election in November because he is too conservative.

 Actor Jay Silverheels, 62, best known for his portrayal of Tonto, dies in Los Angeles of pneumonia and complications from a stroke he suffered six years ago.

 John Connally withdraws from the Presidential race after a poor showing in the South Carolina Primary.

 An ABC-Harris Poll says President Carter would defeat Ronald Reagan 58% to 40% if the election were held today.

 In Iran, the Ayatollah Khomeini vetoes any releases of the American hostages before May.

 Soviet troops advance into eastern Afghanistan.

 President Carter and Ronald Reagan are the winners in the Florida, Georgia, and Alabama Primaries.

 Jean Harris, 56, a headmistress at an exclusive girls school in Virginia, admits that she shot and killed the "Scarsdale Diet" doctor, Dr. Herman Tarnower, in his bedroom.

 John Wayne Gacy is found guilty of killing 33 young men and boys in Chicago. He is sentenced to death.

 The Shah of Iran flies from Panama to Egypt for medical treatment.

 Senator Kennedy wins the New York Democratic Primary.

 The United States Olympic Committee agrees to President Carter's request that they boycott the Summer Olympics in Moscow in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

 In Washington, Mount St. Helens erupts. The volcano last erupted in 1857.
 Americans are receiving the 1980 census forms in the mail. 

 Mantovani, 74, a successful orchestra leader with many best-selling albums of ‘beautiful music,' dies.

 Jesse Owens, 66, who won four gold medals in the 1936 Olympics, dies of complications from cancer.

 In Owego, the Front Street Arcade moves to Main Street, across from the movie theater. The arcade is a hangout for teenagers who enjoy playing the video games, pinball machines, and other amusements.

 In Binghamton, a water pipe bursts and floods three floors of Drazen's.

 Union Endicott High School presents The Music Man. Tickets cost $1.50 (students) and $2.50 (adults).

 About 50 people participate in the  2nd Annual Monopoly Tournament sponsored by the Vestal Monopoly Club.  Walter Bielinski wins the tournament, eight-year-old Robert Place comes in second.

 An Elmira businessman signs a leasing agreement for the Tioga Park Race Track and he will apply for a racing license from the state.

 Singer Harry Chapin performs at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. 
Tickets are $7.50 and $8.50.

 A mid-March winter storms dumps about five inches of snow on the Southern Tier.

 A fire in Waverly destroys the old Simons and Abrams Furniture Store and the Country Woodshed Tavern, and damages several other buildings.

 In the Village of Owego, John B. Shafer, Taxpayers Party candidate, defeats Gertrude Baker of the Peoples Party in the race for mayor.

 Monday night TV shows include Little House on the Prairie, WKRP in Cincinnati, That's Incredible, The Last Resort, M*A*S*H, Family, Lou Grant, and Stone.

 Top tunes include Another Brick in the Wall by Pink Floyd, Longer by Dan Fogelberg, Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen, Desire by Andy Gibb, and  Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl by the Spinners

 Movies playing in local theaters include All That Jazz, Just Tell Me What You Want, Being There, And Justice for All, Chapter Two, Kramer vs. Kramer, 10, The Prize Fighter starring Tim Conway and Don Knotts, Coal Miner's Daughter, Little Darlings with Tatum O'Neal and Kristy McNichol, Hide in Plain Sight, When Time Ran Out starring Paul Newman, and Little Miss Marker with Walter Matthau and Julie Andrews.

 Happy St. Patrick's Day!