WLS Channel 7 - Eyewitness News At 5pm (Part 1, 1978)

Here's Part 1 of a complete edition of the Eyewitness News at 5pm on WLS Channel 7. This is from a recording of the studio feed, so there are no commercials - instead we get to see some off-the-cuff moments where the anchors are waiting to go back on the air. Features John Drury, Terry Murphy, Bill Frink, Johnny Mountain, Bob Petty, Hugh Hill, and others. This part includes the following stories:

(opening cut slightly - recording starts late) (opening voiceover by ??)

A rash of minor accidents after continued snowfall and slick roads cause an emergency traffic plan to be activated. (A "Coming Attractions" for The Blizzard of '78)

Letter sent to Waukegan police may provide clue to the murder of 12-year-old Lisa Ann Slusser, or it may be a hoax. Features comments from Louis Harceg - Chief Investigator at the Lake County Sheriff's Department. Jim Gibbons reports. (Note: It appears this murder may have finally been solved in 1990 - more details to come when we get the old news articles)

34 people at Homewood-Flossmoor High School treated at local hospital for exposure to Chlorine gas. Peter Karl was on the scene and spoke to some of the students.

CTA and union officials agree to a tentative contract agreement

CTA work crews completing work on girders supporting the Dan Ryan El stop near 18th & Clark. Footage of 313 East 63rd shown.

Illinois Appellate Court rules that people injured in CTA accidents can sue only for actual damages, not punative damages.

RTA approves 17 million dollar improvement program for Northwestern commuter service

Captain in Villa Park Fire Department, Evan Natez (sp?), dies while fighting a house fire, apparently of a heart attack

25-year-old Steven Schmidt (sp?), a Melrose Park man, dies in early-morning fire at the Embassy Motor Hotel at 2930 North Mannheim in Franklin Park. Chief of the Leyden Fire Department, John Sassmann speaks about the incident.

Edward Grobner (sp?), a businessman from Pekin, Illinois, was robbed and non-fatally shot in a hold-up at the Holiday Inn on Lake Shore Drive near Ohio Street.

An Eyewitness News exclusive - Hugh Hill reports on the story of an off-duty police officer, Edgar Williams, who shot a 24-year-old man, Kevin Hill, and the ensuing investigation. (His partner John Patton was also off-duty) A witness to the incident contradicts the offical police report. Recreations sketched by Joel Oppenheimer.

This aired on local Chicago TV on Thursday, January 12th 1978.

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