Elkhart High School - Pennant Yearbook (Elkhart, IN)

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The success of the Winter Dance can be seen on the faces of many couples who dance to the music of Stencil Forest. Senior Brian Bowlby and Michelle Martin add some Cnristmas greenery and lights to the school's roof. The quickly drifting snow may not be this far away from the few cars in the parking lot by the day's end. Winter 19

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Days off allow students to thaw out away from their freezing classrooms Freezing cold first hour rooms were a sure sign that winter had arrived to ECHS. As students stayed huddled in warm coats, hats, and mittens, the chilling winds of winter seeped through the cracks of the closed windows. Many students wondered if it was colder inside or out. Although the season stayed mild for quite a while, it became colder later. On Tuesday, February 10, schools were closed at 11:00 a.m. because of near blizzard conditions. The weather worsened, and students rose the next morning to the cheery words: All Elkhart Community Schools are closed. Radios carried the same message on Wednesday and Thursday. Students then relaxed during an extra long weekend because Friday and Monday were previously scheduled days off. By Tuesday though, everyone got a little worried any more days off would mean extra days in the summer, so they solemnly came back. The mostly mild winter was ideal for those who would rather be in Florida, but the sudden shifts from balmy spring-like days to a group of snowy days, did little to help those battling a cold or flu. On some days classes were extra small because of the large number of students out with the flu. Although the epidemic caused some area schools to close, ECHS students struggled to do the double load of daily homework plus make-up work. When students weren't fighting the flu, their activities depended a lot on the shifting weather. Those who looked forward to the extra income of snow shoveling jobs could never be sure when or if they might have work, just as skiers and snowmobilers began to lose hope. A calm winter doesn't have to be boring, though. Activities such as Friday night basketball games, choir concerts, and dances filled the students' frosty winter evenings. A lone skier discovers beauty and solitude while skiing in the mountains during Christmas vacation. Lying down with his handy tissue box and pail Keith Lochmandy is prepared to fight the flu effectively. 18 Winter

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Elkhart is New bridges across ihe meandering Elkhart River were a temporary nuisance but added much to the community when finished. Someplace Special Before the white man borrowed the land from the Indian, before the Indian gazed upon the Elkhart and St. Joseph Rivers, before anyone experienced Elkhart, Elkhart was someplace special. Central students have worked to keep it that way. Through the various youth councils, Central students have voiced their opinions. The Island Park concert, a poll of student drug use, and asistance with family problems were only a few projects sponsored by the various councils. Editorials in the Pennant newspaper clarified the positions of many students. By working at the Democratic and Republican headquarters, students helped bring out the voters. Many students became mvolved with activities provided by the community. Three programs sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities at the Midwest Museum of American Art gave students a deeper understanding and appreciation of art. Aside from the activities of Central students other leaders of our community worked to maintain an Elkhart worth experiencing. Conn decided to come home. Miles Laboratories built a new plant and, for the second year in a row, sponsored a student exchange program to Germany with its parent company, Bayer A.G. Despite controversy and smear attempts on her administration. Mayor Eleanor Kesim managed to shake up the police department, remove some corruption and make Elkhart less permissive in the areas of gambling and drug dealing. One experience newly elected president Ronald Reagan attempted to abolish was inflation. He attempted radical slashes in social programs which were designed to help the poor and needy. Huge cuts in the federal budget were made with only the military coming out virtually unscathed. Let's hope when you look back on this book in a number of years that Elkhart and the world will still be someplace special. Mayor Eleanor Kesim is Someone Special constructed pav the background 20 Elkhart lssues