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

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28 Local Top Regional Stories Of 1981 The following article appeared in The Times on January 3, 1982. Top Hat would like to thank Bill Chapman, Executive Editor, Cynthia Richards, Times Business-Labor Editor, and The Times Staff for their cooperation in Top Hat's publishing the article below. The Calumet Region of Hammond dried off from a flood, suffered under an ever-softening economy, cleaned up after two major plant explosions, and recovered from the financial troubles of the Regional Transportation Authority last year. Along with those stories, 1981 brought two sensational murder trials and the murder of a major East Chicago government offical. The long-suffering patients at St. Ann's nursing home were left homeless and Northern Indiana Public Service Co. gave up the Bailly Nuclear battle. Those were just a few of the stories that significantly affected the Two rescue men use their radio to call for more help, as people needed rafts or boats to escape the flood, which Region during the year, as determined by the editorial staff of The Times. Here is a summary of the most significant local news of the last year: Flood Probably the biggest story of the year was the June 14 flood — the rainfall and Little Calumet River overflow left as much as 60 inches of water standing and more than $50 million damages. Although the water receeded in four days, it took months to rebuild the damage, and some homes still haven't been completely repaired. Economy The economy has been bad news for the Region throughout the year. Five East Chicago companies have closed their doors, leaving more than 1,000 workers jobless. The closings started in early fall with Energy caused a great amount of damage. (Photo by George Ross) Cooperative Inc. Following that announcement came the closing of M T Chemical Co., MRI Corp., Metalist Redi-Bolt Inc. and Graver Energy Systems Inc. Added to those unemployed are the thousands laid off from the Region's steel mills, auto plants, metal fabricating facilities and other manufacturers — creating an unemployment rate significantly higher than the national rate of 8.4 percent. Inland Many of the Region's jobless were so desperate that when Inland Steel Co. announced it would accept applications in late January, a near-riot ensued as more than 5,000 responded. Six people were injured in the melee — although Inland had no

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wounded in the shooting March 30. The story edged out the return of By Tim Salach Mortonite Columnist Music as a rule in this past year was marked by trends which saw the old fading quickly, the new coming on strongly and the middle ground taking a back seat in the entire picture. Perhaps the most notable exception to this rule was found in Mick Jagger and the boys, also known as The Rolling Stones. For this second decade band from England, 1981 will be a legendary year. The smash success of their latest album “Tatoo You” was matched only by their runaway sold out concert tour. It was a shining year for the Glimmer Twins and company. While the Moody Blues and REO Speed wagon also found 1981 to be a memorable year, for the most part the news was bad for old Sandra Day O'Connor, the first female Supreme Court Justice. rockers. The future of the Who was in doubt while bassist John Entwistles solo album enjoyed at best limited success. The Electric Light Orchestra's “Time” LP went practically unnoticed while many of his long time fans tried to forget about Bob Dylan's “Shot of Love” in spite of its noble religious theme. For the most part, the news was best for the new comers, or relative new comers to the rock scene. Enjoying success for the first time were groups such as Survivor, Quarterflash, and the Go Gos. The airwaves were virtually dominated by their songs “Poor Man's Son”, “Harden My Heart”, and “Our Lips are Sealed”. Rick Springfield's “Working Class Dog” became one of the year's most highly acclaimed albums, while Triumph's “Allied Forces” established the Canadian trio as one of rock's front runners. points to 5,224 for the hostage story. Details of the top five: Previously successful groups also left their mark on the world of rock this past year. Leading the charge was Styx' “Paradise Theater”, Journey also moved back into the limelight with their album “Escape” featuring the hit single “Don't Stop Believing”. The Police continued to become one of the most successful new wave bands around with the release of the album “Ghost in the Machine” and the song “Every Little Thing”. The J. Geils Band also proved it was for real with the release of their second hit album in a row “Freeze Frame” featuring the song everyone seemed to be humming “Centerfold Individuals also emerged on the scene as prevalent forces this past year. Billy Squier stepped from his old “Piper” days to release one of the most successful albums of the year, “Don't Say No” Since November 1979, when Muslim fundamentalist militants Ozzy Osbourne threw off his “Black Sabbath” cloak to match the popularity as an individual he enjoyed as a member of the band. Stevie Nicks' “Bella Donna”proved that there was life after “Fleetwood Mac” for the sultry lead singer. Another sultry lead singer finding it easy to make it on her own was Deborah Harry, the namesake of “Blondie”, with her first solo effort, “Koo Koo” Had it not been for the exploits of the Plasmatics and Wendy 0. Williams, punk rock would probably have been all but forgotten by the average American. As it is, the demented spin off of rock ‘n' roll is still clinging to what little life it has left. The year which just past may be seen as a lull in the evolution of rock, or it may be seen as a time of transition, or changing of the guard. Whatever it is, its implications will not soon be forgotten. Turk who authorities said had connections to right-wing terrorist organizations. Two American women were wounded in the attack. The 61-year-old Polish-born pontiff was hit in the stomach but was sufficiently recovered within a day to take Communion and listen to mass. He spent three months in and out of hospitals. Reagan It was probably the sharpest reversal in the course of government since 1932. Ronald Reagan, a man of devoutly conservative principles, became president and proceeded to cut taxes, government spending, particularly in social programs, and to beef up the defense budget. The latter was in line with a new hard-line anti-Communist approach to international affairs. Reagan was supported in his course be a newly Republican Senate and a House nomially in Democratic hands but actually in political disarry. Newcomers Succeed In 1981

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29 Local Chemical Two chemical plant explosions rocked the Region this year — one in February and the other in November. The DeSoto Inc. plant in Chicago Heights exploded early Feb. 11. One man died in the blast and 24 others were injured. The Anderson Co. in Gary met a similar fate Nov. 5. One woman died and several others were injured in that early morning explosion. RTA The Regional Transportation Authority’s financial problems came crashing down on the Calumet Region in June. South Suburban Safeway Inc. of Harvey closed for three days after being unable to purchase gasoline. Today, the carrier is only operating at about half its service level of a year ago. The RTA raised Safeway fares to 90-cent and fares on the Illinois Central Gulf commuter train by 33 percent. The ICG was also forced to implement service cuts. St. Ann’s More than 100 residents of St. Ann’s Home in Hammond, many of whom have a long history of mental illness, were thrown out of the nursing home in August in a funding dispute between the state and the homes’ owners over how much should be paid for their care. Their fate is still uncertain, pending a court decision expected in January. The incident highlighted problems with the care of the chronically mentally ill in Indiana. Judges Indiana courts, for the first time in history, have two federal judges in the Northern District of Indiana at Hammond, as well as U.S. States Attorney. It is also the first time the men to occupy those seats were home grown — U.S. Magistrate James T. Moody is a Hobart native. Sullivan Merrillville resident Britt Sullivan faces a second trial for the murder of his wife, Sheila. She was 8V2 months pregnant when she was beaten and stabbed to death in the family-owned garden shop. Sullivan’s first trial, held in Lafayette in October, resulted in a hung jury. Visnak On Sept. 17, Daniel Visnack hired two youths, Randall Weidner and James Kubik, to kill the 19-year-old woman in 1979. Visnack received life without parole, Weidner, 19, got 80 years, and Kubik, 18, got 70 years. The victim was raped and suffocated only a few months after her marriage to Visnack. Given Former East Chicago attorney Jay Given was shot to death while leaving a city fundraiser. There still are no suspects in the May 15 shooting. Cooper Vietnam vet Gary Cooper of Hammond also died by gunfire — in a battle with Hammond police. The unemployed welder was apparently despondent about lack of work. He went berserk and flashed back to his war days, his wife said after the incident. Hammond police killed him in a hail of bullets during a gun battle at Cooper’s home, 6718 Magoun Ave. NIPSCO After a decade-long battle, NIPSCO announced Aug. 26 it would scrap plans to build the controversial jobs to offer and was merely trying to update its employment files. Bailly Nuclear I in Burns Harbor. Legal and regulatory battles sent the plant’s cost skyrocketing — from an original $187 million to the last estimate of $1,815 billion. The next battle between NIPSCO and its customers will be over who should pay the $200 million already spent on the project. NIPSCO workers on strike! (Photo by John Smierciak)