One hundred years ago, on June 30, 1908, the Tunguska Event took place in Russia as an asteroid exploded above Siberia, leaving 800 square miles of scorched or blown-down trees.
In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt signed the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act.
In 1934, Adolf Hitler carried out his “blood purge” of political and military rivals in Germany in what came to be known as “The Night of the Long Knives.”
In 1936, the novel “Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell was published in New York.
In 1958, the U.S. Senate passed the Alaska statehood bill by a vote of 64-20.
In 1963, Pope Paul VI was crowned the 262nd head of the Roman Catholic Church.
In 1985, 39 American hostages from a hijacked TWA jetliner were freed in Beirut after being held 17 days.
Today’s Birthdays: Singer Lena Horne is 91. Actor Tony Musante is 72. Actress Nancy Dussault is 72. Singer Glenn Shorrock is 64. Jazz musician Stanley Clarke is 57. Actor David Garrison is 56. Rock musician Hal Lindes (Dire Straits) is 55. Actor-comedian David Alan Grier is 53. Actor Vincent D’Onofrio is 49. Actress Deirdre Lovejoy is 46. Actor Rupert Graves is 45. Boxer Mike Tyson is 42. Rock musician Tom Drummond (Better Than Ezra) is 39. Actor Brian Bloom is 38. Actor Brian Vincent is 38. Actress Monica Potter is 37. Actor Rick Gonzalez is 29. Actress Lizzy Caplan is 26. Rhythm-and-blues singer Fantasia (“American Idol”) is 24.
Ten Years Ago in the C-P: Two hundred girls from 16 counties and 30 Girl Scout troops were entertained at the Park United Methodist Church by Master Storyteller Gladys Coggswell.
Thought for Today: “Many a man thinks he is patient when, in reality, he is indifferent.” — B.C. Forbes, Scottish journalist (1880-1954).
