School Year, Figueres, Bomb

One Year AgoThe new school year began amidcomplaints that schools throughout thecountry, particularly in rural areas, stilllacked desks, teachers and studentlunches.Representatives of the Municipalityof San José stormed into two of thecity’s best-known casinos on SuperBowl Sunday and shut down theirsports wagering operations, commonlyknown as sportsbooks or sport desks.10 Years AgoApoll showed President José MaríaFigueres (1994-98) was more unpopularalmost one year into his administrationthan his four predecessors, RafaelAngel Calderón (1990-94), Óscar Arias(1986-1990), Luis Alberto Monge(1982-86) and Rodrigo Carazo (1978-1982).Scores of residents of CiudadColón, west of San José, opposed constructionof a proposed garbage dump15 kilometers away, in a protest outsidethe community’s church.30 Years AgoA wave of terrorist threats consumedCosta Rica after a dynamiteplastic bomb exploded against the westwall of Costa Rica’s foreign ministry(Casa Amarilla), causing minor damageto the exterior and inside of the building,while President Daniel Oduber(1974-78) reported he received numerousanonymous threats of bombing,kidnapping and attempts on his life.Turrialba Volcano, east of IrazúVolcano in the province of Cartago,showed signs of “abnormal” activitywhen it started letting off more steamthan usual and the pool at the bottom ofthe crater started turning a reddish tone.(Compiled by María Gabriela Díazfrom The Tico Times archives.)