Good morning, Whitewater.
Friday will bring early showers but then a cloudy-but-dry afternoon to Whitewater, with a high of sixty-nine. Sunrise today is 5:15 and sunset 8:33, for 15h 18m 08s of daytime. The moon is a waning crescent with 19.7% of its visible disk illuminated.
WEST BERLIN, June 12 — President Reagan sought today to undercut Europe’s perception of Mikhail S. Gorbachev as a leader of peace, bluntly challenging the Soviet leader to tear down the Berlin wall.
Speaking 100 yards from the wall that was thrown up in 1961 to thwart an exodus to the West, Mr. Reagan made the wall a metaphor for ideological and economic differences separating East and West.
”There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace,” the President said.
”Secretary General Gorbachev, if you seek peace – if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe – if you seek liberalization: come here, to this gate. ”Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. ”Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”
Mr. Reagan made the remarks with the Brandenburg Gate in East Berlin in the background. An East Berlin security post was in view….
On this day in 1899, Wisconsin experiences her most deadly tornado, claiming over one-hundred lives:
1899 – New Richmond Tornado
On this date the worst tornado disaster in Wisconsin history occurred. The storm virtually leveled New Richmond on the day the Gollmar Brothers Circus came to town. At the time, New Richmond was a prosperous town of 2500 people and one of the most scenic places in Wisconsin. On the day of the storm, the streets were filled with residents and tourists waiting for the afternoon circus parade. Shortly after the circus ended, the tornado passed through the very center of town, completely leveling buildings. Over 300 buildings were damaged or destroyed. Massive amounts of flying debris resulted in multiple deaths in at least 26 different families. In all, the storm claimed 117 lives and caused 150 injuries. [Source: National Weather Service]