Crown Point High School - Excalibur Yearbook (Crown Point, IN)

Page 19 text:

The death of rock ' n roll king Elvis Presley (left cen¬ ter) plunged many fans into deep mourning. Mean¬ while. hucksters made a small fortune selling souve¬ nirs at Presley’s tomb. The Panama Canal (far left) was a frequent news item in 1977. President Carter sought Senate ratification of the controversial Pan¬ ama Canal Treaty which would turn over control of the canal to Panama by the year 2000. “Star Wars (left) broke the box office receipts record previously held by “Jaws. The movie tells the story of a heroic young man. a beautiful princess, and two robots as they try to save the universe from the evil clutches of the Galatic Empire. “Star Wars” spawned an entire industry of T-shirts, dolls, and posters. Bing Crosby (above left), one of the most beloved singers of ail time, died while playing golf in Spain. For many. Christmas won ' t be the same without hearing his rendition of “White Christmas. Americans were treated to an odd spectacle when the NASA Space Shuttle (top) made its maiden voyage on the back of a Boeing 747. Bert Lance (above) resigned as the President ' s Budget Director. The hot summer of 1977 was uncom¬ fortable for people across the nation. On July 20, the Conemaugh River flooded Johnstown, Pennsylvania, leaving at least 77 persons dead and causing an estimated $325 million damage. The mud is gone, and the homeless have shelter, but this city is troubled by mental strain and rising joblessness as it rebounds from its sum¬ mer flood. On a muggy July 25 evening a summer storm knocked out high-voltage power lines in New York suburbs—and within the hour returned nine million people to the dark, heat, and disquiet of a pre-elec - tric age. The blackout halted commerce and transportation, blackened the night, sheltered the lawless, and turned high rises into prisons. After 25 hours of darkness, cheers ech¬ oed as civilization switched back on. But there was a resigned feeling among the powerless that a city twice eclipsed in 12 years could go dark any time again. A Boeing 747 hauled NASA’s 2,200 ton space shuttle orbiter 24,000 feet above Edward’s Air Force Base and released it for its maiden test flight back to earth. This exercise marked not only another milestone in America’s space program but also a new age in space commerce. Bert Lance, President Carter’s Budget Director, came under fire because of his flamboyant banking past in Georgia. For a time the President loyally stood behind his old friend, but Lance later resigned, casting the first shadow over Carter’s presidency. The President encountered other prob¬ lems, most notably with energy. “With the exception of preventing war,” he told the nation, “the energy crisis is the greatest challenge our nation will face during our lifetime.” Carter hastily drew up an energy bill and sent it to Congress for approval. The bill zipped through the House in record time but screeched to a halt in the Senate. After months of debate, the Senate passed an energy bill radically different from that passed by the House. The two houses were then faced with the momentous task of reconciling the two pieces of legislation. The Blizzard of ’78 hit the Midwest on January 26, the eleventh anniversary of the Blizzard of ’67. For four days the area was virtually paralyzed by snow blown into huge drifts. School was called off, roads were closed, and people were advised to stay home. Thousands mourned the death of Elvis Presley, the King of rock ’n roll. His tomb became almost a national shrine, as fans tearfully said goodbye to a legend. Mean¬ while, hucksters had an opportunity to make a fast dollar. Portions of Presley’s personal belongings, including clothing, were sold to eager crowds. Hubert Horatio Humphrey, perhaps the most beloved politician of our time, lost his battle against cancer in January. The Minnesota senator will be remembered for his fights for civil rights, free medical care for the elderly, and his tenure as vice- president. National News — 15

Page 18 text:

0C=3 @,11 M@w® - 63 Year marked by extremes in weather, space progress, and alien” movies President Jimmy Carter (above) suffered a drop in popularity during his first year in office and spent months deadlocked with Congress over energy legis¬ lation. New York City’s eerie skyline (top left) domi¬ nated The Big Apple ' s 25 hour long blackout. “The Happy Warrior, Sen. Hubert Humphrey (top right) waged many political battles during his life-time, but lost his final battle against cancer. — 14 — National News

Page 20 text:

7 © © County Foundation’s restoration celebrates courthouse centennial January 26, 1978 was the anniversary of the “Great Blizzard of 1967.” Once again a blizzard struck Northwest Indiana with over a foot of snow. Merchants have opened new businesses (above) within the town including Papa’s Deli, La Piniata, Hairbenders, and other new stores by Great Escape Enterprises. Four foreign exchange students (left) joined the CPHS student body: Andrea Merten, West Ger¬ many; Tom Tallgren, Sweden; Francisco DeSouza, Brazil; and Ana Marie Correa, Chile. The Lake County Courthouse (opposite far right) has undergone a resto¬ ration and preservation program. The tower clock has been restored and the inside of the building has been renovated. In 1978, Crown Point is celebrating the 100th birthday of the Lake County Court¬ house.