West Deer High School - Coalagra Yearbook (Russellton, PA)

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8 X Jointure, Coal Rights Head Big Decisions ln addition to planning and formulating policies to admin- ister and govern the routine, more often complicated, busi- ness of a school district, the school board members this term had to tackle many other problems that arose. Many meetings were spent discussing the future of the school district. It was becoming quite evident that over- crowding would deluge the senior high school in the next couple of years. What was to be done? Could the district afford building a new high school on its own? Should the district, instead, take the advice of county supervisors and combine with neighboring districts? lt was a big decision- and one that had to be made soon. Another toughie that arose during the year was whether to buy coal rights under the school district properties. The Republic Steel mining operations were heading toward the school building areas. The decisions of when and how much to buy, without causing financial chaos, faced the school directors. During the year board members met for meetings over 50 times, not counting the many committee meetings held. All this was done by a group of devoted township citizens who serve without pay as members of the West Deer Board of Education. PROBLEMS-A big decision board members had to make during the year was conceming the purchase of coal under the school district properties. This was necessary to eliminate the possibility of future land subsidence damaging valuable buildings. Looking over the underground coal map for the area are, from left, Mr. Siegel, board solicitorg Mr. Morris, Republic Steel mining engineerg Mr. Burns, superintendentg Mr. Buydoso, Mrs. Mr. Semko, and Mr. Castello. Coal rights were later purchased. HEAD MAN-Current president of the West Deer board is George Vranesh, Sr. Mr. Vranesh is now a veteran member .of the board who has served in every ofiicial capacity. He lives in Russellton and has one son, George, Jr., who was elected president of the senior class. Stout, 'M f -. X... ...- -' Q STUDENTS' BUDDY-Mrs. Edna Mae Stout completed her term fl as board president in January. A resident of Allegheny Acres, Mrs. Stout has become a favorite with the students for her constant willing- ness to help in every way. She is the only woman on the board. n 4 an - 3 X, .f. S-sf. . f ,fr -5 X J? f 7 N tix I ' V XX i., A 1' . za - .f,, 1 Q -Q . Q X. --

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'58-'59 Headlines Still Concern Outer Space Man's continued efforts to conquer outer space took top priority in the year's happenings. Wounded prestige-wise by the Russian successes during 195.7-58, the United States turned the tables and during 1958-59 gave the Soviets a run for their money. From the Cape Canaveral proving grounds, the mighty four ton Atlas, larger than the one and a half ton Sputnik YE OLE' HOOLA HOOP-The craze which raged with fever tempo in 1958-59 was the Hoola Hoop fad. West Deer students will always remem- ber the pep meeting when a group of seniors modeled the latest sack dresses and demonstrated hoola hoopingf' III, streaked skyward. In addition three army Explorer satellites and the Navy's 3111 lb. Vanguard were successfully projected into orbit. The Air Forceis Pioneer moonshot soared 79,000 miles into the heavens, the farthest extent of man's penetration into outerspace. It was a year in which the peace-loving world was gripped with tension, fearful that the Middle East would turn out to be the fuse which would ignite the Third World War. Secretly aided by the United Arab Republic, Iraqi Army officers overthrew the government of King Feisal, assasinat- ing the young monarch in the process. President Eisenhower ordered American Marines ashore in Lebanon to stabilize the shaky government of Premier Chamoun. In another trouble-torn area, Red Chinese guns merci- lessly pounded the oiishore islands of Quemoy and Matsu, while the East-West Berlin situation seemed certain to erupt at any moment. Sorrow placed in the year's events. The beloved Pontiff, Pope Pius XII, was laid to his final rest in St. Peterls. Pope John XXIII assumed the position of spiritual leader to the worldwide Catholic nation. Flames devoured Our Lady of Angels school in Chicago. The nation bowed its head in grief upon learning that 87 youngsters and three nuns lost their lives in the inferno. For weeks on end, the names of presidential assistant Sherman Adams and gift-giving industralist Bernard Cold- fine appeared in newspaper headlines throughout the country. A bushy-haired Texan pianist, Van Cliburn, captured the admiration of his countrymen and the Russian people by winning first prize in the International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow. Twenty-five years from now, old time baseball fans will sit in the sun -and reminisce about the action-packed 1958 World Series. Trailing the Milwaukee Braves three games to nothing, the New York Yankees sprang back to take the coveted World Championship title. And how about those amazing Pittsburgh Pirates who ended the season in second place! In the local area, the West Deer Board of Authority strug- gled with the vexing problem of water supply. Mining of underground coal deposits robbed dozens of families of their water supply. Township residents clamored for action. Sev- eral estimates of the Oakmont Water Authority were rejected on the grounds of overly steep costs. Weight-conscious or not, the hoola-hoop fad affected young and old alike. Everyone from 7 to 72 prided them- selves on the length of time they were able to keep the tricky instrument whirling about their hips. Cowpokes shared the television screen with Frankensteins and Draculas. Along with the spine-tingling horror movies, television studios employed a special brand of ghoulish hosts to narrate them. Matt Dillon of Gunsmoke out-trendixedw his gun-toting competitors. Ed Sullivan triumphed over long time rival, Steve Allen. Numerous operators of movie theatres saw their profits steadily declining as the drive-ins attracted more and more of the movie going crowds. On the whole, movies revealed a more mature quality. Tabbed box office hits by.their pro- ducers were: The Big Country, Proud Rebel, The Defiant Ones, I Want to Live, and Gigi, to name a few. Hollywood gossip centered around the Eddie Fisher. Elizabeth Taylor, Debbie Reynolds triangle. The American public generally took the side of the spurned Miss Reynolds: in several instances her once be-loved ex-husband was booed during public appearances. Rock In roll still comprised the music popularity polls, with an occasional ballad or novelty ranking high in sales. Disc jockeys spinned, people hummed: Tom. Dooley, The Chipmunk Song, Stagger Lee, Venus, One Night. Any record bearing the name of Ricky Nelson sold like hotcakes. Amid the cheers of the male population, the fashion world buried the sack dress during the latter months of the year. To be in high fashion, my lady switched to the high-waisted empire look. In the area of school fashion, the emphasis was placed on the long, leggy look, achieved by wearing danskins, ranging from the palest blues to the darkest browns. Many a young fashionplate sported fingernails tinted the color of her outfit. For the long-haired girl. the French twist replaced the old standby ponytail. Those who preferred their hair short had it styled according to personal preference. So from satellites to hoola hoops, the year 1958-59 will be one long remembered. 117