Did you hear the Celebration this morning on Merrell In the Morning? Here's what you missed: Blake Shelton's birthday, the first woman in space, $61,000 in $2 bills, and more!

Today's Celebrations

International Sushi Day

1812 - The United States issued a declaration of war on Great Britain. And so began the War of 1812, prompted by Britain’s violations of America’s rights on the high seas and the involvement of the British in Indian uprisings on the frontiers.

1983 - Dr. Sally Ride became the first American woman in space, beginning her ride aboard the space shuttle Challenger for a six-day Odyssey.

Celebrity Birthdays

1914 - E.G. (Edda/Everett Gunnar) Marshall - Emmy Award-winning actor: The Defenders [1961-62, 1962-63}; Chicago Hope, The New Doctors, Twelve Angry Men, The CBS Radio Mystery Theatre; died Aug 24, 1998

1942 - Roger Ebert - film critic: of Siskel and Ebert fame; died Apr 4, 2013

1942 - (James) Paul McCartney [72] - Grammy Award-winning [1990] musician, songwriter, singer: group: The Beatles: 49 hits: She Loves You, I Want to Hold Your Hand, Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band; group: Wings: 35 hits:Another Day, Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey, My Love, Live and Let Die, Band on the Run, Listen to What the Man Said, Silly Love Songs, Let ’Em In, Ebony & Ivory [w/Stevie Wonder], The Girl is Mine [w/Michael Jackson]; actor: Yellow Submarine, A Hard Day’s Night, Help!, Let It Be, Magical Mystery Tour, Give My Regards to Broad Street; inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame [3-15-1999]

1952 - Carol Kane [62] - Emmy Award-winning actress: Taxi [1981-82, 1982-83}; The Princess Bride, Hester Street, Addams Family Values, Carnal Knowledge, Dog Day Afternoon, Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Ted & Venus, My Blue Heaven, When a Stranger Calls

1952 - Isabella Rossellini [62] - model: over 500 covers; actress: Twin Peaks, Fearless, Blue Velvet, Crime of the Century, The Impostors

1976 - Blake Shelton [42] is born in Ada, Oklahoma. Beginning with his 2001 debut, "Austin," he mixes ballads and party anthems with biting personal humor on his way to multiple wins as Male Vocalist of the Year and a regular role on the NBC series "The Voice"

Tabloid News

Workers at Hornady Manufacturing in Grand Island got something interesting in their pay envelope Friday.

According to Jason Hornady, vice president at Hornady Manufacturing, the company handed out $61,000 worth of $2 bills to its employees as part of the company’s annual bonus pay.

He said a couple of years ago, his father, Steve Hornady, president of the company, decided to give part of their employees’ bonuses in the form of $1 coins and ask them to spend it in Grand Island.

Using the dollar coins proved to be too cumbersome, Hornady said, so $2 bills replaced the coins, with the same instruction of spending the bills within the community as a sign of the support Hornady Manufacturing has economically within the community.

“We gave out $48,000 worth of $2 bills and asked our employees to spend that money in town, and if people look at you funny, tell them where you work, and we think that they will notice,” Hornady said. “This year it is going to be $61,000 worth of $2 bills.”

 

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