By Ray Tincher | For The Times-Post

In 1970, on most college campuses, protesting the Vietnam War was the popular thing to do.

President Nixon was elected on the premise of ending the Vietnam War. On May 9, in Washington, D.C., an estimated 100,000 people demonstrated against the war.

Hollywood had not become as political as today.

Diana Ross and The Supremes performed their farewell performance together at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas. The American Football League and the National Football League officially merged under the NFL name, with 26 teams realigned into the American Football Conference and the National Football Conference.

General Motors rolled out its second-generation automobile named “Camaro.” American Motors Corp. followed with a new car called “Gremlin.” The Lapel Review ran an advertisement with a special price for the Gremlin-X, only $2,299.

The Expo ’70 World’s Fair opened in Suita, Osaka, Japan, and for the first time “The Complete New English Bible” was published.

The 1970 United States Census Bureau collected its information. There were 203,392,031 U.S. residents recorded.

Apollo 13 (Jim Lovell, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert) was launched toward the Moon. An oxygen tank exploded, forcing the crew to abort the mission and go through a suspenseful ride and return to Earth.

The New York Knicks won their first NBA Championship, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 113-99 in Game 7 of the series at Madison Square Garden. Also, NBC anchor Chet Huntley retired from full-time broadcasting; plus, Casey Kasem’s popular musical radio program “American Top 40” made its debut.

Back in Lapel, the folks were experiencing another nasty winter.

Slick roads were caused several vehicle wrecks.

The Lapel Fire Department also had a busy year. In 1970, it reported 50 calls. Four of those calls were “false alarms.” They voted in new officers for 1971: Chief Tom Cloverdale; Assistant Chief Robert Asbury; Captain David Lloyd; 1st Lt. George Shaw; 2nd Lt. Larry Scott; Secretary-Treasurer Chauncy Breece and Chaplain Earl Roudebush.

You can generally tell when Indiana is having a bad winter by the bowling scores. At the Lapel Bowling Alley, Ed Smedley rolled an actual 615, and Gerald Hankins had an actual high game of 226.

The other excitement in town was the seventh-grade Bulldogs defeated Pendleton in a double overtime game. Then, they beat Markleville enroute to capturing the Pendleton Junior Tourney Crown. Both teams had previously beaten Lapel.

During 1970, another “Hot Topic” in the Fishersburg area was the possible expansion of the Stone Quarry.

Residents of Fishersburg and surrounding area had become very concerned about the expansion of the quarry. They had formed a committee to look into the aspects of preventing the expansion. The committee members were Harry Herron, Neil Lloyd, Catherine Tonyes, Bill Simmermon, Bill Stage, Jack Watkins, Dick Ford and Karl Huffman.

The committee also was asking for support from citizens of Lapel to stop the expansion. In addition, petitions were circulated to be presented to the Madison County Planning Board.

At Lapel High School, the 1970 faculty was busy as usual with the usual things, including preparing the seniors for graduation.

The class of 85 students had reached the pinnacle of achievement in their high school career. The faculty listed in alphabetical order were : Robert Adams — choir; Linwood Benner — English; Price Brookfield — coach, physical education and health; Larry Eckhart — coach, Marka Eckhart — physical education and health, Bill French — shop, Robert Gehlbach — geometry, Sue Hersberger — English, Dallas Hunter — athletic director, Elizabeth Huntzinger — home economics, Genevieve Lyon — art, Anita Michael — art, Marion Noggle — English and Latin, Larry Pearson —math, Marvin Pike — social studies, Lucille Rockey — history, Elizabeth Shaul — typing, Marilyn Shaw — home economics, Jean Snyder — biology, Fred St. John — vocational agriculture, Jeannie Terhune — music, Donald Trisler — history, Margret Trisler — language, Jon Trippeer — industrial arts, James Wampler — band, Pauline Webb — typing, Irma Wells — librarian, Annie Whalen — English, Janie Woods — English, and Jane Worton — Home Eco;

The 1970 senior class was led by class sponsors Anne Whalen and Dallas Hunter. David Fuqua – president, Rick Butler — vice president, Linda Howell — secretary and Michael Poston — treasurer; Robert Allison Jr.; Pamela Barnard; Susan Lynn Barnhizer; Jim Bauer; Stuart Russell Bodenhorn; Michael Lynn Bolton; Dan Boone; Anna Marie Boyd; Lynn Anne Brinker; Pamela Sue Buckner; Terry Campfield; Sandy Caplinger; Kevin Castor; Daniel Clark; Kevin Collins; Blaine Allen Coomer; Bob Keith Cox; Steven Philip Duffitt; Marshall Lee Everitt; Melanie Lea Fearnow; Norman Lee Filburn; Linda Sue Finch; Gary Flowers; Steven Goodman; Rick Green; Elizabeth Jo Gustin; Durenda Anise Hall; Iva Helen Harris; Russell Heiny; Patty Ann Henderson; Carol Lee Hopkins; Beth Houk; Terry Ernestine Howell; John Henry Hudson; Rolla P. Hughes; Kerry Dean Jarrell; Freddie Neal Jennings; Sharon King; Stephen Lackey; James Melvin Lawrence; Tim Lawson; Rex Wayne Layton; Dale Edward Lewis; Jim Martin; Teresa Ann May; Diana Kay McClintock; Janet McCutcheon; Peggy Lee McNally; Richard Kim Mills; Bonnie Le Needler; William Neese; John Wayne Newby; Phillip Kent Parks; Rex Allen Passwater; Brenda Kay Paulsel; Steven Edward Perry; Charles Peterson; Judy Ann Pigg; Brenda Kay Pitcock; Gary Plumlee; Carol Jo Retherford; Deanna Sue Rinker; Leslie Dee Romine; Sharon Kay Schuyler; Gary Brent Stinson; Nancy Jean Sylvester; D’Ann Teeters; Peggy Timmons; Constance Lynn Turner; Gene Upton and Brent Watkins.

The varsity basketball team finished the season with a winning record of 17-5. It lost to a good Madison Heights team in the sectional. However, the LHS “B” Team won the White River Conference and finished with a 16-5 season. The cross country team had an outstanding season, being victorious in 13 of 15 matches.

This senior class tried to win the float competition with its “Blue River” float. The 1969 Homecoming Queen was Susan Barnhizer. David Fuqua was elected King. And Debby Wise was crowned the “Prom Queen.”

Annual awards recognition to the outstanding students went to Bonnie Needler — Betty Crocker Homemaker Award; American Legion Boy’s State — Rex Layton and Mike Poston; Girls’ Staters — Terry Woodward and Nancy Sylvester; Brenda Paulsel represented Madison County in Washington, D.C.; Outstanding Teenagers were Mike Poston, Kyle Wolke and Kevin Castor; Mike Poston, a finalist in the National Merit Scholarship competition, won the highest academic award of LHS.

Vincennes University was the location of the LHS Band Camp. After spending a week marching, drilling and lots of practicing, the band marched in the Farmers’ Day Parade, then the State Fair Band Contest. The LHS Band faithfully supported most major sporting events held at home.