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THE VOICE OF WILKES COMMUNITY COLLEGE
VOLUME 17, NUMBER 3
WILKESBORO, NORTH CAROLINA
FEBRUARY 13,1987
The Day
Challenger
Exploded
I remember that particular Tues
day morning, cold and windy. Ten
nis class was called off, so I rushed
home hoping that Challenger had
not yet launched.
This was no ordinary flight on
this 28th day of January. It was
special to all of us because a school
teacher, Christia McAuliffe, was
to be the first private citizen in
space.
I got home around 11:00 a.m.
and flipped the TV to C N N news.
Other stations did not carry the
shuttle launch because the flights
have become so routine. Fifty-five
times Americans had been sent
into space, and 55 times they have
come back safely.
The countdown was on hold at
the time, so I looked in the Winston-
Salem Journal about the shuttle,
ironically, it was a small inset on
the second page about Challenger
being delayed for the third time in
three days by a “workers’ comedy
of errors.” Micro switches, a frozen
bolt, delayment of a portable drill
and a hacksaw, dead batteries,
and finally a cold front forced the
delay for another day. Also, the
article noted that a hard freeze
was expected for the previous night
and through the day as well, could
cause a problem with water lines
on the launch pad.
The countdown resumed after
the ice inspection and normal com
puter checklist was completed. At
about 11:37, a beautiful $1.1 billion
Challenger lifted away from the
earth. I could hear hooting and
hollering in the background as I
listened to a NASA commentator
read out the readings. He noted
three engines running normally.
About that time, Houston told the
crew that the ship had achieved
full engine power. “Go at throttle
up,” he said. Pilot Michael Smith
replied, “Roger, go at throttle up.”
The next instant, a flash from
Challenger’s underside, then
smoke. My heart stopped and I
was praying, “please fly out, please
fly out.”
There was silence on the televi
sion as I watch two solid rocket
boosters spiral away from the big
ball of smoke. Then a voice broke
in, “obviously a major malfunc
tion.” I thought, “no kidding.”
Then the NASA commentator
said, “We have a report from the
flight dynamics officer that the
vehicle has exploded.” “Flight
director confirms that;” (silence.)
I couldn’t believe that it had
finally happened. The shock would
linger on for several weeks. I finally
cried when during the memorial
service, a formation of four T-38
jets, roared in a tight, low pass
over the space center in Houston.
One craft split off and wheeled
upward in a steep climb toward
the sun and then swept out of view
into the clouds.
... David Wiles (Cosmo)
Who’s Who have been selected for 1986-87 academic year at
WCC. They are: Freda Owen, Tamara Triplett, Robin Triplett,
Dana Michael, Helen Markle, Patricia Blevins, Ramona Marsh,
Phyllis Tevepaugh, Linda Nance, Rose Staley, Keith Mastin,
Angela Wilhelm, Bobby Harless, Sandra Hudspeth, Wanda
Burns, and Cecelia Johnson.
Saint
Valentine’s
Day Massacre
On February 14, 1929, in a gar
age at 2122 North Clark Street,
Chicago, a group of five men gun
ned down six henchmen belong
ing to the George Moran gang, the
North Siders.
The massacre was never official
ly solved. It was believed to be the
work of A1 Capone’s gang, Moran’s
rival. Three of the killers were,
however, dressed in police uni
forms, so it was another common
assumption that a few corrupt cops
killed the Moran gangsters for a
load of hijacked booze.
Only one person was ever ar
rested in connection. About a year
later, police recovered the murder
weapons in the home of Fred Burke.
Burke, a professional killer.
Chicago has memorialized the
massacre, even making the murder
scene a tourist attraction. The build
ing was eventually torn down in
1967, but the bricks, owned by a
Canadian businessman are selling
for $1,000 a piece.
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COLLEGE DAY
Twenty eight colleges were on the campus at WCC on January
19,1987, to talk to students about transferring to the university
level. They came from as close as ASU to Pembroke State Uni
versity in the eastern part of the state.
Representatives Robert Bubly from Clemson University, S.C.
and Deborah Brown from East Tennessee.
DID YOU
KNOW:
‘‘Where Were
You When
‘Challenger’
Exploded?’
It is believed that February 14th
is the day in which birds find their
mates for life.
It was 28 days into the new year,
and high expectations and good
wishes were the hopes all around
the world. But the wishes did not
come true, not for America.
Challenger exploded on January
28,1986, killing all seven aboard. I
remember watching the explosion
from my favorite chair at home. It
was something that was imprinted
in my mind, and I’ll never forget it,
like when many people heard of
John F. Kennedy’s assasination,
they’ll always remember where
they were. So I asked several peo
ple this question: “Where were you
when Challenger exploded?”
Daniel Billings
I was over at one of my friends
house. It came over the national
TV news.
Reggie Wiles
I was getting ready to go to
school, and was watching, “The
Price is Right” when it was inter
rupted.
Robert Walker
I first heard it on the radio then I
watched it on TV.
Wanda Burns
I was watching TV and it came
over on a special report.
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I saw it on the television in the
student commons.
Pat Hays
My mom and I watched it live on
the satellite dish.
Helen Markle
I was in the commons with a
friend joking about the shuttle not
launching, when the special report
came over the TV.
Denver Owens
I saw it several hours after it
happened on national TV at home.
Stanley Blackburn
I heard it on the radio a few
minutes after it happened.
Charlie Earp
I was eating at the Santa Fe
Restaurant when I heard some
waitresses talking about it.
... David Wiles (Cosmo)
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Creative
Writing
Blair Hancock is urging all those
interested in writing to sign up for
the Creative Writing class offered
on Tuesday nights.
This class is for all types of wri
ters - famous or non! Whether
your writing is creative, technical,
or even if your secret passion is to
write term papers, the class is the
experience for you.
Blair is also asking for sub
missions for this year’s literary
magazine. She accepts writing
from students and staff - you do
not even have to sign up for her
creative writing class to submit
your writing.
See Blair Hancock in the Tech
nical Arts building for more de
tails.