Yipee-ki-yay (you know the rest)! This week we take a look back at 1988, when NYPD detective John McClane (a.k.a. Bruce Willis) lit up the box office with the U.S. release of ‘Die Hard,‘ a movie that revolutionized the action genre.

Cheap Trick topped the U.S. music charts with their power ballad, and first-ever No. 1 single, “The Flame.” Fun fact: Cheap Trick almost rejected the song after drummer Bun E. Carlos said “after we finished listening to it (the demo) was taken out of the cassette player and thrown on the floor and smashed.”

In sporting news, Florence Griffith-Joyner, also known as “Flo-Jo,” set a stunning women’s world record in the 100 meters, completing the sprint in an incredible 10.49 seconds, which would remain the fastest time in women’s track history for decades.

Here is what was happening in our Valley, as stolen from the microfilm edition of The Evening Sentinel!

Thursday, July 14, 1988

Staff Shortage Could Stifle Call For Park Patrols
ANSONIA – A lack of manpower could prevent 16-hour-a-day police patrols in John Gatison Park, police commissioners said Wednesday,

“We’re certainly sympathetic to the concerns about the park,” said Police Commissioner Howard Tinney. “But we’re short on manpower right now.”

The Board of Aldermen unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday recommending that an officer be stationed at the park from 3 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily.

That action came in response to vocal complaints from residents that the park has become a haven for drinking youths to play loud music, block sidewalks and sell drugs.

Kowarik Rips Dems
DERBY – John W. Kowarik, Republican Town Committee chairman, today denounced the Derby Democratic administration for “child-like” behavior in its response to questions raised by the GOP.

Kowarik pointed to the response to questions concerning the Police Building Committee’s recommendation of William J. Comboni, Democratic Town Committee chairman, as clerk of the works for the new police station.

“Evidentally, Bill Comboni and Rich Grande (mayor) have the same speech writer,” Kowarik said. “Whenever the Republicans ask a question of them, their response is always name calling. We are either empty barrels or now empty wagons that make a noise.”

Trash Plan Approved
OXFORD – Selectmen unanimously approved a plan to collect appliances, waste oil and car batteries at two town sites at a meeting Wednesday, pending a fee schedule from the proposed hauler.

The Solid Waste Committee recommended a plan to have residents bring appliances to an area near the town’s dog pound two Saturdays a month from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Under the plan, oil waste and car batteries can be taken to a pickup site near the salt shed at the Town Garage one Wednesday a month.

Board Approves Plan For School Drug Survey
SHELTON –High school and intermediate school students will be surveyed on drug and alcohol use in September.

The survey will be conducted by the Board of Education and Beverly Salzman, director of the city’s Youth Services Bureau.

Ms. Salzman said this would be first comprehensive substance abuse survey done in the schools since the 70’s.

Jobless Rate Declines Again
VALLEY – The unemployment rate in the Valley dropped slightly from 2.6 percent in April to 2.34 percent in May.

The May percentage rate is the lowest in the Valley in the last quarter of a century.

These figures were reported in data released by the Employment Security Division of the Connecticut Labor Department.

Of the six Valley communities, Oxford had the lowest unemployment rate at 1.8 percent, with 3,788 people working and 70 residents jobless.

Derby’s rate was highest at 3.0 percent, with 6,446 residents employed and 196 out of work.

Friday, July 15, 1988

Teen Tied To Seizure Of Cocaine Worth $900
ANSONIA – Police seized more than $900 worth of cocaine last month at the Riverside Apartments on Olson Drive, Detective Floyd Morey said today.

Detectives found 45 small packets of cocaine in an apartment in the public housing complex June 27, Morey said.

A 14-year-old Ansonia youth was referred to juvenile authorities in connection with the seizure, he said. Morey said police believe the cocaine was brought in from Bridgeport for distribution in area communities.

Action Pending Against Griffin In Report Case
DERBY – Griffin Hospital may face court action for failing to comply with state law in filing reports.

Sue Stanley, director of operations for the Commission on Hospitals and Health Care, said papers were filed Thursday afternoon against four other hospitals and “based on what happens there, we’ll decide whether to file against Griffin and some others.”

Griffin officials are aware of the state panel’s plan, according to an employee, but were not available for comment.

Seymour Cop Gets Shoplifter
SEYMOUR – An off-duty Seymour patrolman who saw a man and woman shoplifting razor blades in a Milford drug store Tuesday chased the pair and caught the man, Milford police said.

Patrolman Bailey Cook III apprehended Robert DeAngelis, 31, of Benham Rd., Seymour, in a parking lot. DeAngelis was charged by Milford police with conspiracy to commit larceny and larceny.

Patricia Morisette, 25, of Ansonia, was arrested a short time later after being involved in minor motor vehicle accident, police said. She was charged with conspiracy to commit larceny.

School Vandalized
SHELTON – Booth Hill School employees reported that eight windows at the school had been broken Thursday. A bench and storage box were also reportedly vandalized. There was no estimate of damage.

Boat Stolen
SHELTON – A boat worth about $2,500 was reportedly stolen from a dock on the Housatonic River Thursday.

Saturday, July 16, 1988

Ansonia Kids Get Their Kicks Out Of This Clinic
ANSONIA – For two days, 100 girls in kindergarten through eighth grade learned the proper way to march and kick.

And one of the first and most important things they learned was how to fluff pompons.

The 16 members of the Pompon Squad at Ansonia High Schol ran their first clinic recently for younger girls. They fashioned it after the clinics run for nearly 20 summers by the AHS cheerleaders.

The girls were taught jazz dancing and precision marching.

Promoted By Army
DERBY – Leo J. Pigaty, a Derby native, was promoted to the rank of major general June 29 by order of the Secretary of the Army. He is commander of the Defense Industrial Supply Center, Philadelphia.

Pigaty is the son of Sophie Pigaty of Seymour and Leo Pigaty of Derby.

Echoes On The Go
SHELTON – The Echo Hose Hook and Ladder Company responded to 44 calls during June.

Of those calls, there were 22 false alarms, four structure fires, one motor vehicle fire, four dumpster fires, one public service call, one water leak, two mutual aid calls, four standbys and five brush fires. No injuries were reported.

Sunday, July 17, 1988

The Evening Sentinel Didn’t Publish on Sundays!

Monday, July 18, 1988

Hale Set For Round 2
ANSONIA – State Sen. Gary A. Hale, 17th District Democrat, today announced he will seek a second term.

Hale was elected to the senate in 1986, defeating incumbent Republican John Consoli.

Hale served his first term as co-chairman of the Energy and Public Utilities Committee, and as a member of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.

Hale, 44, lives with his wife Barbara and daughter Lauren Marie. Before being elected to the senate. Hale practiced law in Ansonia. From 1980 to 1983, he served as corporation counsel for the city.

Among his first-term accomplishments, Hale said, was his work to help obtain more than $1 million in state funds for local projects, including $500,000 for the Lester Street sinkhole project and $250,000 for renovations at Nolan Field.

Scouts Due For Visit In Derby
DERBY – Two Sea Scouts, Richard Farmer and Stuart Fayle, from Long Eaton, a suburb of Nottingham and Derby, England, will arrive Wednesday in Derby as guests of Boy Scout Troop 3, and the Derby-Shelton Rotary Club.

The Scouts are members of one of the top 10 Sea Scout units in all of England. On Sunday, they will leave for the Housatonic Council Scout Reservation in Goshen, where they will camp with Troop 3 Scouts.

The Troop 3 tradition of inviting Scouts from England goes back 15 years.

Radar Patrols Out
SEYMOUR – Four motorists were charged with exceeding the posted speed limits by a radar surveillance patrol unit monitoring traffic Friday on Great Hill Road and Cedar Street. Five motorists were charged by the radar unit Thursday with traveling too fast on Maple Street, Derby Avenue and Pearl Street.

Pitman S.W.A.T. Draws Fire Of Union
SHELTON – Police Chief William K. Pitman has nixed efforts to start a special weapons and tactics team for the department, drawing ire from several union members.

The idea for the division, which would be comprised of a four-member first-entry, or S.W.A.T. (Special Weapons and Tactics) team and an officer trained in hostage negotiation, first came about under former chief Peter J. Siraco.

“Considering the size of the city and the police department, I don’t think organizing a team is feasible at this time,” Pitman said. “While I support one in theory, I have a responsibility to the department and the city to use money and men wisely.”

Tuesday, July 19, 1988

GOP Expected To Name Regula
ANSONIA – Republicans are expected to nominate Gail Regula Wednesday to oppose state Rep. Vincent J. Tonucci for the 104th District seat in the state House of Representatives.

“We think Gail will challenge Vinny on the issues,” said Republican Town Committee Chairman David Foote.

Ms. Regula, a former mayoral candidate in Ansonia and former chairwoman of the Board of Apportionment and Taxation, could not be reached for comment this morning.

Over the last few months, Regula has been a harsh critic of the current administration, including Mayor Thomas P. Clifford and the all the Democratic Board of Aldermen,

Ippolito Welcomes Probe On Complaints
DERBY – Superintendent of Schools Michael S. Ippolito said today he and the Board of Education welcome a planned state investigation of two complaints from a resident concerning the school system.

The state Board of Education responded to six complaints from Mary Kluk, two of which it has seemed substantial. The two complaints involve possible violations of state statutes.

The first concerns the Board of Apportionment and Taxation’s decision to place about $500,000 in funds designated for the school board into an account under city control. The second deals with the school board’s elimination of 11 positions that include the entire high school industrial arts, home econ and art departments.

Recent Graduate
SEYMOUR – Richard W. Jackson of Seymour graduated recently from Southern Connecticut State University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration/marketing.

While a student at SCSU, he was active in College Republicans, the Microeconomics Debate Team, the Business Administration Club and was treasure of the Marketing Club.

Jackson, a 1984 graduate of Emmett O’Brien Regional Vocational Technical School in Ansonia is the son of Mrs. Richard Sopko of Seymour.

Motorcycle Stolen
SHELTON – A motorcycle was stolen off Coram Road where it was parked Monday, police said. It is owned by Christopher Dodge of Bridgeport and is valued at $400.

Car Stolen
SHELTON – An automobile was reported stolen from the Curtiss-Ryan Lincoln-Mercury dealership on Bridgeport Avenue Monday, police said.