Bloomington High School South, The Gothic, 1978, Page 126

Description:	Coal strike, blizzarddominate 1977-78 newsThe 1977-78 school year was one ofbig news on the national and international fronts—big news that oftendirectly affected the lives of South students.The longest coal strike in the history ofthe nation was undoubtedly the topnational news story. Americans throughout the Midwest, for the first time inmany years, were forced to cut back onmany of the luxuries of life, in somecases on the necessities.The strike, which began in earlyDecember, stretched until March 24,when the new contract was ratified.In February the strikes effects beganto be widely felt as schools, businesses,industries, and homes were forced tocurtail their electrical usage drastically.Most electricity in the Midwest is generated by the burning of coal.In late January, what was later termedThe Blizzard of 78 struck the OhioValley, burying Bloomington and mostother cities of the Upper Midwest inseveral feet of snow. Much of the nationwas paralyzed until streets, homes, andbusinesses could be dug out.Septembers top stories included thedeath of South African black leader SteveBiko while in police custody. Bikos deathstirred an international controversy dueto the high racial tensions that surrounded and preceded the event.Bert Lance, head of the White HouseOffice of Management and Budget,resigned in September following monthsof public controversy over his allegedmismanagement of his personalfinances. Though no evidence was everfound of wrong doing while in publicoffice, Lance critics claimed that theerrors he made in his personal financescould have been reflected in his handlingof the U.S. budget if he had not resigned.Also in September, President Cartersigned the controversial Panama Canaltreaties which, later approved by theSenate in a close vote, call for handingownership of the canal over to Panama inthe year 2000. Much protest was voicedamong Americans who claimed that Carters treaties would result in mismanagement of the canal by the Panamanians.Last fall Congress decided to raise theminimum wage of $2.65. The bill wasmade applicable to teenagers by a margin of only one vote in the House.Two American spacecrafts, Voyager 1and 2, were launched last fall on a trip toJupiter and beyond. The unmannedresearch flights are expected to continuefor an eternity, according to one spaceofficial. After completing their planetaryLEFT: A supersonic Air France Concorde takes off from Roissy Airport inParis.RIGHT: The energy crisis transformedleisurely rides down escalators into vigorous exercise.126 News
Source:	http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-bloomsouth/id/1168
Collection:	Bloomington High School South

Further information on this record can be found at its source.