Morton High School - Top Hat Yearbook (Hammond, IN)

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STUDENT OBTAIN AWARDS ’OR ACADEMICS, SPORTS Chosen by The Teachers for her knowledge of American hisrory and government, Priscilla Punick won the Daughter ' s of the American Revolution Citizenship Award and the Voice of Democracy Award. Seniors Sean Egon, Joe Guerra, and Ron Kaminski oil received o finalist position in National Merit Scholarship Competition and dassmotes Dan Churilla and John Weis were named semi-finalists. Sports Tltllsts-Jane Herring, Frank Johnson, Aaron Soto, and Tony Gresham. Notional Merit Finalists-Sean Egan, Ron Kaminski, and Joe Guerra. A wards-17

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The last week of high school. Thor ' s rhe dream of oil underdoss- men. Dur even rhough ir has ar¬ rived for 362 Morron students, it ' s still hard to believe. Why with rhe senior banquet and final exams coming up, nor to mention Senior Ditch Day, who has rime to really re flea on what is about to hap¬ pen. During rhe commencement exercises, which rook place on June 7, we remember ourselves as freshman-confused and scored. Still four years later, we ' re con¬ fused. For just os one stage of our lives is about to end, another is just beginning. Then, os o doss, you throw up your cops and give what many think will be your lost cheer for Morron. Dur that isn ' t true, for in rhe future we will always express our spirit for Morron. H1IH SI IIII H HIM U0RICN HCH MI4 4 I

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AMERICANS FREED AFTER 444 DAYS On November 4, 1979, 66 American diplomats were token hosroge by Iranian militant students in Tehran, Iran. This action set off a world wide concern for the safe release of these Americans. Why did the Iranians capture these Americans? Decouse the Ayatollah Khoemeini, along with the militants, demanded that the exiled Shah of Iran be returned home to face revolutionaryjustice. America was the Shah ' s home after he feld Iran in fear of a rebillion. In January, the Shah was treated for cancer and in late July the Shah passed away,- his impact to be resolved by President James Earl Carter. Throughout the ordeal, President Jimmy Carter had taken action specifically intended to retaliate against the Iranians. The President ordered Iranian students to report to the Immigration and Naturalization Service for visa checks and also validated all visas issued to Iranians for future entry in the United Stares. In addition, Carter froze Iranian assets before Iran could withdraw its money from the U.S. banks. Prior to Thanksgiving, two black marines and a woman were released. Shortly thereafter, 10 more hostages were sent home in rime for o Thanksgiving reunion with their families. In several instances, the United Nations met to no avail, namely because of the countries of Iran and Russia. Then in 1980 came one of the most humiliating episodes in United Stares military history — failure of a commando mission sent to rescue the hostages. Drawn up by President Carter, the April 25 mission failed because three helicopters had been grounded by malfunctions. Eight American servicemen died when a helicopter crashed into an airplane. Ironically, they met their deaths after the mission was called off. On the 251st day of the crises, Richard Queen, a vice consul or the embassy, was released because he needed more sophisticated medical care . Queen ' s illness was later diagonosed as multiple sderosis. Although many talks concerning the hostages rook place since the takeover, new hope arose from a new round of talks on January 18, 1981. These talks, held at the Algerian Foreign Ministry, were efforts to conclude negotiations to end the 14-month hosroge crises by trading billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets for 52 American captives. The U.S. ream led by Deputy U.S. Secretary of Store Warren Christopher and the Algerian officers, who acred as intermediaries, worked continuously through the night. Agreement with Iron was reached the following day, January 19, but Iran ' s chief hostage negotiator said the flight to freedom awaited official word that 9 billion dollars had been transferred to the Dank of England. This official word was received the following day, January 20, 1981, the 444rh day of captivity for the 52 Americans. At 10.30 a.m., Chicago rime, the hostages had taken off on the first leg of their long-delayed journey home. Desides o landing in Athens, Greece, where the jet was refueled, the hostages ' next stop was Algeria. There they were to board an American jet and then travel to their home” for the next five days, an American Military Hospital, in Weisbaden, West Germany. Then finally, at about 3 p.m. on Sunday, January 25, 1981, the 52 Americans first stepped on U.S. soil. After landing at Stewart Airport in Newburgh, New York, the former hostages went with their families to the West Point Military Academy. The nation ' s official welcoming celebration was held on January 27 at Andrews Air Force Dase in surburban Maryland. The festivities or Andrews were followed by on elaborate ceremony at the White House. It was now a fact that the entire nation shored in the joy for the safe return of the hostages. A yellow ribbon became the national symbol; only one of the factors which helped unify the United Stares. HAMMOND UNLOADS WASTE The City of Hammond was found responsible for discharging pollution in Lake Michigan during the latter parr of the post summer. The Environmental Protection Agency said the discharge forced Chicago beach closures last summer between August 6 and November 1. The EPA sued the Hammond Sanitary District for damages of $10,000 for every rime it violated pollution laws, as it was found to be the main polluter. High concentrations of bacteria entered a well beneath the station, due to an unwanted connection between storm and sanitary sewers. The pumping station discharged rhe liquid to the lake. The U.S. District Court of Chicago is going to ensure that action is taken to seal this unwanted connection. The Metropolitan Sanitary Disrrict of Chicago was responsible for beach dosings from July 21 through rhe 23. 16 National LOCAL