Chalkboard Thoughts

    Margaret Mary Gill was born on June 26th, 1964 to Anna Ochs Gill and Terrence Gill in Gary, Indiana. Margaret went by the nickname “Peggy”.    She went to Merrillville High School in Merrillville, Indiana.    In 1989, Peggy was working at the Days Inn Hotel in Merrillville along Interstate 65. She preferred the night shift because it was not as hectic and busy. Peggy was a little shy and the quiet hours suited her better. There was still plenty of work running the night audit, though.     At some point that night a man entered the lobby. He looked like an average guy. He wore the clothes of a construction worker or other blue collar employee. He was thin and tall. He had light brown hair and a lazy eye.    As Peggy looked up to greet him, he pulled a gun. He asked for all the money in the register. Peggy opened the register and gave it to him. Then he told Peggy that he was taking her too. He tol...

      Terry Jo Hastings was born November 16th, 1954 to Patricia and Ervin Hastings in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. (I was unable to find a photo of Terry Jo.)   Terry Jo Hastings married Harry Edward Greenwell but I haven’t found the year of their marriage yet.    On July 29th, 1972, Terry Jo’s father was killed in a freak accident. Ervin Hastings and other family members were out on a boat on the Mississippi River near Genoa, Wisconsin. The area where they were fishing is dotted with lots of small forested islands near the shore. A large tree fell directly onto Ervin and killed him. Other family members were injured as well. The tree roots had reportedly been loosened by heavy rains and high water.    Terry Jo was married to Greenwell at the time of her father’s death in 1972, according to her father’s obituary. The Hastings family managed to pull together after this tragedy. But, it would not be the only untimely death that...