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

Page 33 text:

Terri Tapper and Chris Thomen (above) admire each other s presentation roses. Graduate Susan Woolley (above) is assisted into her graduation cap and gown during line-up. Kevin Peek and Pam Paitsell (left) jump and shout for joy after being officially graduated. Melanie Kenney (below) smiles as she looks at her diploma after receiving it on stage. Daniel Ayers, salutatorian, Lisa Busse and Geoff Slaughter, co-valedictorians, and Tom Lewis, class president, (left) walk up the aisle and later took part in the commencement program. Graduate Christy Anderson (below) receives her diploma from school boardmember Richard Harbit. May Graduation—29

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Inclement weather sends graduates into humid gym Graduates in cap and gown packed the halls, casually leaning against walls, walking around, and talking. Excitement and tension permeated the air. A few anxious seniors glanced at their watches. Suddenly, the word got through. “Hey! We’re lining up!” An instant transformation took place. Graduates began running around in a semipanicked state. I can’t find my place in line!” Is my cap on straight?” Where’s my partner? As the chaos subsided, seniors real¬ ized they wouldn’t be going far fast and had time to get their act toget her. Graduates marched into a humid gym, which Mr. Ken Brist referred to as the Crown Point oven,” to the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance.” Within 25 minutes, the 417 graduates were at their seats, and Daniel Ayers, salutatorian, led the Pledge of Alle¬ giance. Afterwards, Tom Lewis, class president,gave the invocation and the welcome. After a music interlude. Monsignor Vincent Lengerich of St. Mary ' s Church of Crown Point gave the Baccalaureate message, “Truth-Keep It Accessible.” Then as Mr. Ken Brist, principal, read the names, graduates walked across the stage and received their diplomas from school board members. Shouts of joy and relief, hugs, kisses, and tears filled the gym as Dr. Phillip McDaniel, superintendent, pronounced the Class of ' 81 graduated. Sherry Adams, Denise Agnos, Laura Brown, and Shelly Brown (below) lead the processional into the gym. Monsignor Vincent Lengerich (above) of St. Mary’s Dr. Phillip McDaniel, (above) superintendent of Church gives the Baccalureate message, ••Truth.’’ Crown Point schools, graduates the Class of ’81. Director Mr. Michael Wade (above) leads the senior choir members in Parting Blessing. 28—May Graduation

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LiiiraL mm Region faced by problems, changes A nine-month Nipsco strike, contro¬ versy over a new Crown Point townhall, and a massive drug bust in Lake, Porter, and Jasper Counties highlighted the 1981 year. Nipsco workers walked off the job in June over a cost of living increase dis¬ pute. This strike was not settled until the beginning of March. The city of Crown Point proposed the building of a new city hall. This new hall would be located on the site of the old juvenile building on Joilet Street. This new building would house the Police Department, Emergency Medical Ser¬ vices, and all the city’s administrative offices. A controversy started over this building when the city planned to raise the property taxes to help finance this new building. Two-hundred policemen were involved in the biggest drug bust in Indiana’s his¬ tory. In this bust on March 24, 123 drug dealers were arrested in Lake, Porter, and Jasper Counties. This drug bust came after eight months of investigation and undercover work. The Crown Point Community School Corporation’s Central Division Office planned to move from the Board of Edu¬ cation building to the old Timothy Ball School. These plans were hampered when a fire broke out in the beginning of April. Total damages were estimated at $250,000. This damage made it impos¬ sible for the Central Office to move into the building in the middle of April as pre¬ viously planned. The Indiana State legislature reduced six million from its school financing pro¬ gram. Many schools in the area faced the fact that they had to cut back on some of their special programs and also had to fire some of their teachers. During 1981 several arsons were reported, including Round the Clock Res¬ taurant in Merrillville and County Seat Motors in Crown Point. The Lake County Library added a new addition this year. The new addition was damaged in April by a windstorm. 30—Local News