WMAQ Channel 5 - NewsCenter5 Special Report - "Winter Of '79" (Part 1, 1979)

Here's Part 1 of a NewsCenter5 Special Report on WMAQ Channel 5 about the great snowstorm of 1979. Features Jim Ruddle, Jim Tilmon, Chuck Henry and a report about the Mayoral cover-up called "No Blizzard Plan" by Dick Kay featuring former deputy mayor Kenneth Sain and Mayor Bilandic's Press Secretary Celeste Jurkovich. Also features a report by a young Andy Shaw with Helen Marcyan, LaSalle School Principal, and William Jackson, school bus driver.
This aired on local Chicago TV on Wednesday, January 24th 1979 during the 9:30pm to 10:30pm timeframe.
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[@timrobinson9657]

Because of this mess with the Mayor and how Chicago handled this blizzard made way for Sweet Baby Jane to become mayor of Chicago

[@americangiant1003]

Not to mention Mr. Sain only got the job as an snow adviser because of his ties to then Daley machine. And did I mention Mr. Sain ties to organized crime lol.

[@waltersulkowski1545]

But Janie let us know about the “evil cabal” including Ed Burke.

[@TomandAmyinthePI]

I was 19 YO in '79 and had to shovel our entire driveway after that snowstorm was over- I still have Popeye forearms to this day...lol

[@TheBandit7613]

I was 14 in 1979. I moved away after I graduated H.S. I moved with $250 and some clothes in an old Jeep. I'm close to retirement in sunny Las Vegas and have never regretted my decision. I still have the jeep, restored to showroom condition! Vehicles don't rust here! It's 79* here and 29* in Chicago.

[@rkgaustin9043]

$90,000.00 in 1979 is $324,848.61 today.

[@rkgaustin9043]

I survived the blizzard of '79!

[@thebrotherhoodofsleep9857]

RKG Austin I remember this, when Chicago was Chicago!

[@ramencurry6672]

Proper clothes is the key. 3 layers of pants, winter face mask, ski goggles for severe wind, real winter gloves. This would also apply for a normal January in Chicago too of course

[@paulakpacente]

This blizzard started in December of 1978. I was in Lansing, Michigan with no luggage when they closed Lansing airport as well as O'Hare. I rented a big Chrysler and drove to O'Hare. As I was standing in line a man tapped me on the shoulder and asked if he could go with me. I said, "Who are you?" He produced an ID proving that he was a pilot with United Airlines. He had flown with his wife to NYC, but got diverted to Lansing and had no money. I drove the entire way which took about 6 or 7 hours. It was a hair raising trip. Then the company I worked for who sent me to Lansing refused to pay for the rental car. However, a few weeks later the pilot sent me a check for 1/2 of the cost, and the check was good. I was 24 then, but I wouldn't even consider making that trip today.

[@edgetaker]

The CTA was a disaster for weeks. My mom never knew what time I would walk in the door in the evening.

[@rkgaustin9043]

OMG! Andy Shaw when he was a teenager!

[@marquishoward3529]

RIP Jim Tilmon

[@1thetvzone]

Jim Tilmon did worked at WBBM/ CBS2 Chuck Henry worked at both KABC 7 & KNBC4 currently now in Los Angeles [twice] Andy Shaw worked at WLS/ ABC7

[@song4you80]

How sad I was 16 Years old.

[@kennethoats2322]

Dick Kay.... before the beard. 👀

[@izzysvids]

rocking the Turtleneck too!