La Porte High School - El Pe Yearbook (La Porte, IN)

Page 10 text:

LaPoxtb Is PctAtiJhgod by Qh up The worst blizzard ever to hit the Midwest swept through LaPorte in January of 1978. Many were left stranded by the record high snow drifts for days, as snow plows were unable to move through the heavy snow. Snow mobiles became the main means of transportation for many resi- dents of LaPorte County who were left without food or needed medi cal assistance. The National Guard was called in to aid motorists stranded by the blizzard and help clear the roads so that travel was possible. Upon hearing of the devastating bliz zard. President Carter declared Indiana a disaster area in order to help the state financially with snow removal costs. 'lai j

Page 12 text:

CM QbuhblhipCuAS tkb lAxduJi 1978, it seemed, was the year for strikes. First the teacher’s strike and then an even more dev- astating strike; that of the coal miners. The miner’s strike not only affected the city of LaPorte, but the entire midwest as well. Drastic energy cutbacks were made by schools and businesses, evening activities canceled, heat cut down, and unnecessary lights turned off. President Carter was forced to use the Taft-Hartley Act against the miners when an agreement could not be reached, ordering them back to work. 8