April 22nd was ‘Environmental Day,’ 49 years ago

A day set aside for concern about ecology in 1970 quickly became known as ‘Earth Day.’ But at first, politicians weren’t sure what to call that red-letter day.  La Crosse Mayor Warren Loveland issued an ‘Environmental Day’ proclamation, in which he said the nation must find adequate and feasible solutions to overpopulation, and air and water pollution.   

Overpopulation in the La Crosse school district was forcing two city schools to find room outside their buildings for 6th graders.  Summit and Jefferson Schools were transferring 6th grade classes to rooms at Franklin and Roosevelt schools.  The older kids would have to change buildings to make up for growing enrollments in 1st and 2nd grades.   

Federal appeals judge Harry Blackmun, from Rochester, was nominated by President Nixon to fill a Supreme Court vacancy.  Blackmun said he had been called both liberal and conservative.  Blackmun is best remembered today for writing the majority opinion in the ‘Roe vs. Wade’ decision on abortion.  

And one of the biggest hit songs in America that April was by the Ides of March, called ‘Vehicle,’ in 1970, yesterday in La Crosse.