Published: January 03, 2009 07:42 pm      

Worry like it’s 1999?

BLUEFIELD — A decade was about to end. People across the country wondered if a widespread computer glitch would shut down ATMs and launch nuclear missiles. In the theaters, Darth Vader was about to begin his journey to the dark side and film students were being trailed by an unseen witch. Consumer confidence was high and there was violence in Kosovo and Chechnya.

The year 1999 was, quite frankly, rough.

Now 10 years later, another year ending with “9” has dawned. A dog named Marley and a plot to kill Adolf Hitler are sharing movie screens. Violence is brewing between Israel and Hamas while nuclear rivals Pakistan and India glare at each other. Consumer confidence has dipped to a low point as the world’s economy hits a hard road.

The year 2009 doesn’t look like it’s going to be any easier.

A review of Bluefield Daily Telegraph microfilms show that the last month of 1999 hinted of the fears building up for the turn of the millennium. One Dec. 1, 1999 headline stated that “Fear of Y2K glitches may be worse than the glitches.” Authorities were worried that people fearing major computer crashes would spark major bank withdraws. On the plus side, portable generators and emergency supplies were selling well.

The Year 2000 Problem, better known by the acronym Y2K, was based on the fear that computer dating systems unable to make the jump from Dec. 31, 1999 to Jan. 1, 2000 would start widespread computer failures affecting everything from banking systems to national power grids.

Like the rest of the nation, 911 centers in southern West Virginia and southwest Virginia prepared for telephone failures by setting up radio relay systems. Local people stocked up on bottled water and fuel while others bought up non-perishable food.

As Dec. 31 approached, the Telegraph featured stories such as “Y2K on Schedule. White House hopes to avert panic” and “New Year’s no day off for police.” White House officials pointed out that flight delays, crashed ATMs and cell phone failures happened every day regardless of any millennium bugs.

Fortunately, only minor problems were reported when the calendar rolled from 1999 to 2000.

Jump forward and you will see a Dec.1, 2008 front page headline that reflects pending fears, too. This time people are wondering if they will have any money to withdraw from their banks. Fears of hard economic times inspired the headline “Recession fears have West Virginians braced for a costly winter.” Inside page headlines featured automotive workers urging a government bailout of the troubled automobile industry.

When 1999 and 2009 are compared, the issues facing the region and the nation sometimes mirror each other.

For example, on Dec. 27, 2008, the Telegraph ran the headline “Cash-strapped states cut juvenile justice programs.” Roll the calendar back, and you will see that state finances are making the news again. On Dec. 7, 1999, Gov. Cecil H. Underwood warned in the story “State’s financial future ‘uncertain’” that state departments should be prepared to make 10 percent cuts during the upcoming fiscal year.

The needs of families facing rough times has not changed, either. The Christmas Day 2008 edition of the Telegraph featured the headline “Bluefield Union Mission serves more than 300 families on Christmas Eve,” and the Christmas Eve edition featured the hundreds of children who benefited from the Telegraph’s annual Community Christmas Tree.

It is soon apparent that seeing so many families in need is not a new phenomena. The Dec. 11, 1999 Telegraph has the Richlands, Va. story with the headline “Pantry benefits needy families.” More than 361 families were served by a food pantry during a two hour period.

When the final front pages of the 1999 and 2008 editions of the Telegraph are compared, there are more similarities. In 1999, there were still tense preparations for any Y2K problems and the top local story was the collapse of Keystone Bank in McDowell County.

Fast forward to the eve of 2009, and one sees that another financial issue — national economic collapse and its limited impact on the region was a top story. Another top technological issue — the advert of digital television signals — was making headlines.

On the international scene, wars and natural disasters had their shares of the headlines. According the Dec. 22, 1999 edition of the Telegraph, earthquakes killed 18,000 people in Turkey and more than 3,600 in Taiwan, Columbia and Greece. Hundreds of thousands of people fled wars in Kosovo, East Timor and Chechnya.

World news just before 2009 isn’t any calmer. American troops are still in Iraq and Afghanistan and nuclear rivals India and Pakistan are glaring at each other while Israeli troops wait to see whether they will invade the Gaza Strip and fight militant Hamas fighters.

Both 1999 and 2009 have mixes of trepidation and hope. In 1999, the nation and the region faced the uncertainties of Y2K. In 2009, the uncertainties sparked by troubled economic waters made the headlines. Fortunately, local stories of generosity to people in need offer hope and help demonstrate that despite troubles in years present and past, the calendar will move on to another year and its possibilities.

— Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com