Paoli High School - Hillcrest Yearbook (Paoli, IN)

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In the News by Chris Lindley Natural, Man-made Disasters Set Tone for World in 1986 A series of disasters is the best way to describe this year. Explosions, earthquakes, eruptions and other calamities rocked the world in 1985 and 1986. For Americans, the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger after takeoff was a sad and tragic event. All seven crew members were killed, and President Ronald Reagan declared a week of national mourning. Among those killed was Crista McAuliffe, a school teacher and the first civilian to venture into space. As a consequence of the tragedy, NASA's space program will be set back severely. On the international scene, a massive earthquake rocked Mexico City to her knees. After the tremors had subsided, the Killer Quake had killed 5000 people. The world nations immediately sent vast amounts of aid to rescue the stricken residents. Another catastrophe swept Latin America when a Colombian volcano, Nevada del Ruiz, erupted, totally destroying Armero, a city of 25,000. Again the world community responded to the cry for help. Not to be left out of the fun Mother Nature was having elsewhere, the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico spun themselves into huge hurricanes. Hurricane Elaina smashed Florida while Gloria dashed up the East Coast. Juan added numerous lives to the toll, and the effects of Kate were felt even in Orange County. No less destructive was a manmade disaster — the nuclear accident at Chernobyl power plant located in the Ukraine, USSR. Though the Soviet news agency reports only 19 dead at last count, around 25,000 residents were forced to evacuate the country's breadbasket. Experts predict that the long-term effects to crops and lives will be severe. Terrorism continued to be a thorn-in-the-side for the United States. An Egypt Air plane was hijacked, coincidentally the same plane that brought the people from the Achille Lauro ship, another hijack victim. The Achille Lauro incident included one of the most atrocious events committed by terrorists. While taking hostages, those overtaking the Mediterranean cruise ship threw overboard a wheelchair-bound passenger. Plane travel became suspect not only because of terrorism problems but also due to crashes. More lives were lost, including nearly 300 soldiers from Fort Campbell, Ky. Finally the Reagan Administration decided to crack down on terrorism. Officials believed Colonel Muommar Gadhafi, leader of Libya, to be the main instigator and ordered retaliation on what were thought to be terrorist training camps in their country. FI bombers left Britain and hit Libyan targets. Reagan later warned Syria about harboring terrorists. South Africa crackled as antiapartheid demonstrators staged riots that were quelled with force by the white-minority government. Some progress was made in the area of civil rights when the hated passbooks for blacks were abolished. Dictators Duvalier in Haiti and Marcos in the Phillipines were toppled, with Marcos bringing particular curiosity as tales of immense wealth and overspending incensed Americans. Researchers were stumped, however, over AIDS. Movie star Rock Hudson made Acquired Immune Dif-ficiency Syndrome a famous disease when he became a victim, leaving $250,000 for its future study. As worry over the rare, disease swept the nation, it became a critical question as to how much contact with its victims was safe. One Kokomo boy was in and out of school due to conflicting views and legal battles. Uncertainties about the disease have led it to be termed the epidemic of fear. 22 Our Times

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OUR TIMES Nelsons Win Big in Terrorism Fear in All Disasters Take Lives of Thousands

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 What went wrong? asked headlines everywhere as the smoky trails of the Challenger explosion, opposite, prompts the most vivid memory of 1986. Cover photograph of the space shuttle from the VIP viewing area was taken by PHS science teacher Carroll Ritter, who witnessed two launches and applied for the teacher in space program. Peace talks between Reagan and Gorbachov had a local flavor when Paoli residents staged a candlelight vigil for their success on a windy night in the fall. Marchers viewed keeping candles lit in the wind as symbolic of the difficulties of world peace as elementary teacher Pat Hamm, below, relights candles for seventh graders Mendy Dunn and Gretta Leinbach. Aid Campaigns Target Needy Through the dark clouds of disaster, destruction and catastrophe, the bright happenings boldly shone. President Reagan and Soviet leader Gorbachov held a superpower's summit at Geneva, Switzerland. Coming out of the summit was the possibility of another summit later in the year. The Prince and Princess of Wales paid the United States a visit, and top musicians and other celebrities banded together to host aid concerts for the hungry, homeless and the farmers. Hands Across America attempted to create an unbroken chain of human hands across the nation in an effort to help the country's destitute. November 1985 was scheduled as the return time for the famous Halley's Comet. After promotions and fanfare, prospective viewers were disappointed to find the comet was invisible without a telescope or binoculars. In the sports field, the oldies hit it big. Billy Shoemaker rode Ferdinand to a Kentucky Derby win and Jack Nicholas won the Masters golf tournament. On the baseball diamond, Pete Rose bested Ty Cobb's record for hits, but the Kansas City Royals stole their World Series from the Cardinals. Chicago Bears' Superbowl championship won the hearts of sentimental sports fans. Curiosity seekers reveled when remains of the Titanic were found, but less resulted with greater fanfare when A1 Capone's secret vaults in Chicago were opened on live national television to reveal emptiness. What do Girl Scout cookies, Tylenol capsules and baby food jars have in common? Each product suffered recalls and accusations of tampering in consumer crises over product safety. Our Times 23