Central High School - Centralia Yearbook (Bay City, MI)

Page 14 text:

National News national Tragedies

Page 13 text:

% State News Insurance costs, because of large awards made by juries in liability trials, became prohibitive for schools, physicians, and festival sponsors, among others. Engel stadium with its new look was out-of-view except on foot-Premiums ball game days because of insurance costs. To use the stadium the school system had to settle for 24 hour insurance on game days. Some physicians refused to deliver babies because of soaring insurance costs. Favorite attractions at area festivals were dropped for the same reason. Citizens' petitions and the legislature were attempting to find a solution for the problem. Drunk drivers were the focus of attention as Gov. James Blanchard asked the legislature and the State Police to set up sobriety checklanes around the state to detect and deter those driving while intoxicated. With the American Civil Liberties Onion on one side of the contro-Sobriety Checklanes versy and groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving on the other, the first check lanes were set up on the Memorial Day Weekend. Two drivers were arrested for allegedly having excess alcohol levels. As the school year ended the controversy was headed for the Michigan Supreme Court. With nearly a year with the mandatory seat belt law in effect. compliance had dropped to below 50 percent from a high of slightly more than 50 percent in 1985. o . Some experts said that the law had reduced the number of traffic Oeai Dc IS injuries and fatalities. The fine, first set at 10 dollars, went up to 25 Save Lives dollars in 1986. News stories about accidents included the information on whether or not belts were worn. The percentage of drivers who wore belts was nearly the same as the percentage who disregarded the 55 mile speed limit, according to studies. Yeoi in Review Jakus 9

Page 15 text:

Liberty Restored After 100 years of standing in New York Harbor the Statue of Liberty was badly in need of repairs. With Lee loccoca heading fund-raising, the job was finished in 1986. Contributions came from businesses and individuals throughout the United States. While contributions from corporations were needed, many deplored the commercialization of the Lady with the torch. France, whose school children helped pay for the original statue, also celebrated Liberty’s birthday. Win n the statue was presented to the United States, the French meant it as a symbol of the special kind of freedom enjoyed in this country and at that time, desired in France. Only later did the statue become a symbol of the open door immigration policy. Hands Across America captured the imagination of individuals and groups and the originator nearly succeeded in having a 3.000 mile chain of humans holding hands all at the same time from coast Hands Held t0 coast across America. Coast To Coast The purpose, aid to the hungry and homeless, was to raise 50 million dollars through contributions from the hand holders. Michiganians had to travel to Ohio or Indiana to take part in the 3 p.m. hand-holding and singing. Some desert areas were symbolically joined, and whether or not the homeless were much helped the idea had tremendous appeal. Gas Prices Gas prices dropped below one dollar a gallon resulting in the heavier traffic on highways and by-ways. OPEC nations were unable to catch the falling prices despite meetings, coercion, and pleading. What was good for the economy of the northern states was bad news for Texas, which found itself in the position of the rust-belt states it had scorned a few years earlier. Year In Review Jak