Jan 3 2000 The last Peanuts daily comic strip penned by Charles Schulz is published Jan 3 1997 Flood waters start to recede in the North West after rains of as much as 40 inches followed repeated heavy snow storms. The result was over $2 billion in damage from Washington to Northern California Jan 3 1997 Bryant Gumbel, host of the Today Show, retires from the show Jan 3 1980 Joy Adamson, author of 'Born Free', dies. She was murdered in Northern Kenya by a servant over a wage dispute Jan 3 1977 Apple Computer company founded Jan 3 1961 U.S. severs ties with Cuba Jan 3 1959 Alaska becomes the 49th state Jan 3 1947 The opening of Congress is first televised Jan 3 1938 The March of Dimes campaign against polio is started Jan 3 1883 The artificial drinking straw patented Jan 3 1882 Oscar Wilde first visits the U.S.

Jan 3 1951 Mel Gibson, actor and hunk Jan 3 1949 Victoria Principal, actress and beauty Jan 3 1944 Stephen Stills of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young Jan 3 1918 Maxene Andrews, one of the Andrews Sisters Jan 3 1892 J.R.R. Tolkien, author of 'The Hobbit' and the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy, is born in Bloemfontein, South Africa , is born