Looking Back

By Arline Adamsick

The Beecher Herald: October 5, 1972

“Stumbling Block to New County Zoning Law Lifted”

“A stumbling block in the adoption of a new county zoning ordinance was removed Thursday by State’s Attorney Louis Bertani when he ruled only one general public hearing would be necessary before adopting the new ordinance.

“Bertani previously said he believed hearings in each of the 24 townships of the county would be needed before such an ordinance could be adopted. Bertani gave his new opinion at the meeting of the Zoning and Subdivision Committee of the county board. He stressed it was given as a matter of expediency, and because there is some question of the need for the hearings in the 24 townships. Other counties have made the revisions after holding only one hearing, he pointed out.”

“Scouts Volunteer for Community Project”

“Beecher Village Board Members had a pleasant surprise Monday night – visitors who had no complaints – in fact, it was three Boy Scouts, who were volunteering their services to carry out a planned project of local improvement. Jeff Fugate, accompanied by two friends, Kurt Wilke and Kevin Mulcahy, attended the meeting to ask permission to paint the metal parts of the six-foot bridges in the village.

“This is an Eagle Service Project planned by Jeff Fugate, who proceeded to outline his well-organized plan of action. He said he selected the project with the help of his advisor and parents. He felt it would qualify as a good community undertaking, because these bridges are used by many people and when they see an attempt has been made to beautify them, they might be inspired to improve the surroundings in other ways.

“He also felt it would be saving the village money, since the labor would be donated and, he hoped, that through this involvement of the Boy Scouts, village residents might be more aware of the value of the Scouting program, and they might be inspired to take more pride in their community.”

“Water problems have had a way of plaguing the Village of Beecher. Shortly after midnight last Thursday, Night Patrolman Don Stluka noticed water coming out of the ground north of the municipal building. He notified Fred Bernhard and Mervin Bewsey, who turned off the valves in the area. Bruns and Newbury Sanitary Service was called to dig up the trouble spot and repair the break in the six-inch water main.”

The Crete Record: October 5, 1972

Fire Prevention Week was in the offing, and the Crete Fire Department was holding its annual open house to celebrate the event.

“In the equipment display, it was hoped to show the new fire truck, a grass fire pumper, which has been promised for delivery this week. This new piece of equipment is not the traditional red but will be painted a lime yellow, as specified by the state. It has been discovered this new color is more easily seen both by daylight and at night and is the coming color in emergency equipment. (Guess that idea really didn’t really take off.) Along with the equipment display, the Crete Firemen will demonstrate a rescue operation and fire extinguishment.”

“C-M Homecoming This Weekend”

“Floats are being readied in garages throughout the area, and plans finalized for Crete-Monee Homecoming festivities to take place this weekend.

“C-M’s opponents for the Homecoming game will be T.F. South, with the sophomore game starting at noon, followed by the varsity game at 2 p.m. The King and Queen will be crowned at half-time during the varsity game.

“Floats are entered for the parade from the Crete Bulldogs Football Team, the new student magazine – ‘Shades of Light,’ the freshmen, sophomore, and junior classes, French Club, Spanish Club, and the Pom Pon squad. Cars with the class officers, cheerleaders, and the Homecoming Queen and her Court also will make an appearance. Hubbard Trail and the high school bands will furnish marching music, in addition to the appearance of a number of horses and clowns.

“The parade begins at Crete Elementary at 10:30 a.m. and marches down Exchange Street to the high school, where judging will take place. First, second, and third place ribbons will be awarded by the judges.

“The high school cafetorium is the scene of a Pep Rally during school on Friday, and then it will be transformed into a setting for the dance on Saturday night. The theme of the dance is ‘Jailhouse Rock,’ and will be held from 8 – 11 p.m. Advance tickets are $3 a couple, $2 per single, and $4 at the door.”

Candidates for the Homecoming King and Queen were: Freshmen – Floyd Wilson and Chris Kaufman, sophomores – Bob Loy and Donna Nicholas, plus juniors – Gary Gnade, Gail Gnade, Donny Scanlon, Diane Cronin, Ed Lippisch, Sue Riley, Dave Taylor, and Judy Christoff. Very interesting – but there were no seniors!!!

“Party Launches New Lounge, Changes at Crete Holiday Inn”

“A party at the Balmoral Holiday Inn Monday night launched the new Winner’ Circle Cocktail Lounge in what had been the lobby of the hotel, south of Crete.

“The festive gathering was also a way of introducing shifts in the corporate structure and management of the plush facility. Not least among the changes is that in its name. The Balmoral designation was added to the Holiday Inn to identify and locate it, as well as pick up a little flavor from the well-known race track just across the Calumet Expressway. It does not indicate any track money in the hotel property.”

The Peotone Vedette: October 6, 1972

Wilma Mort and Roger Beaver were selected as Queen and King for the 1972 Homecoming, but football fans went home a bit disappointed after Clifton Central beat the Blue Devils, 25 – 8. There also were pages of pictures in the paper, from the football game to the Royal Court, to parade participants, including the cheerleaders riding on a Peotone fire truck, as well as the football team jammed on an additional truck. There also were pictures of many, many, many, many elementary children on decorated bikes, lots of floats, plus Bensenville Home residents sitting on their porch and enjoying the festivities.

What a worry – what do you do with all that new housing that is called a condominium?????

“Condominium Plans Worry County Board”

“What to do about proposed condominiums in Will County unincorporated areas is a serious problem facing county officials.

“The Illinois Attorney General had ruled the county had no right to regulate them. He said developers need only file a site plat before applying for a county building permit.

“State’s Attorney Louis Bertaini, on Thursday, said he could not conceive the state would give the county the right to regulate land use on one hand and then take it away on another.

“‘Condominiums deal with land use,’ he declared. Viewed in this light, he said, he feels the county should exert some type of regulation over these extensive proposals.

“Several developers have announced plans for condominiums, but the county building department has not proceeded in issuing the permits.

“Bertani said he felt the county should require all developers to conform to the ‘minimum provisions of the land use act.’”

Sauk Trail Drive-In: “Silent Running,” with Bruce Dern, plus Paul Newman and Henry Fonda in “Sometimes a Great Notion.” At the Holiday Theatre in Park Forest, “Trinity Is Still My Name” was the feature.

How about this ad… Lichtenwalter Realty, between Elwood and Joliet, had an ad for a brand new home for $13,988, plus free kitchen appliances, including a dishwasher, oven, range top with exhaust hood, and a refrigerator. Now, that’s a deal!!!

“Edison Orders Equipment for Sixth Nuclear Plant”

“Commonwealth Edison Company announced Thursday it has contracted with Westinghouse Electric Corporation to supply the major equipment for two new 1.1 million kilowatt nuclear-fueled generating units. Edison Chairman J. Harris Ward said possible locations for the unit, which will comprise the company’s sixth nuclear power station, are still under study. The units are scheduled for service in 1980 and 1981.”

The Manteno News: October 5, 1972

“Sneed Named New Police Chief”

“Kenneth Sneed, 30, a former Kankakee patrolman for five years, was named Manteno Chief of Police at Monday night’s meeting of the village board. Chief Sneed also served 2-1/2 years as coordinator and training officer with the Kankakee Civil Defense. He presently is living in Kankakee but will be moving to Manteno in the near future.”

“Committee Proposes New Municipal Golf Course”

“A delegation of villagers, interested in a new municipal golf course for the Village of Manteno, appeared before the village board Monday evening to report on progress of the committee from the leasing of the hospital golf course to date. Chamber of Commerce President Donald Stauffenberg served as spokesman for the group, which consisted of Carl Cannon, Francis Smith, and Fred Marty. Merle Bloom, who has taken an active part in the plans, was not able to attend.

“Stauffenberg indicated the group had started with the idea of dressing up the existing greens, but because the existing greens were so small and the course so flat, this did not prove very interesting to a golfer. The group then checked with golf course designers now working on a course in Green Garden Township and secured a free layout of a completely redesigned championship golf course. It is a par 36, nine-hole, 3,037-yard course. There would be two sprinklers on every green and include two lakes from which to secure the dirt needed to build the greens and to water them.

“The committee reported it hoped to make this a municipal course and to finance it with privately borrowed money until revenues from the course could be used to pay off the loans, but they were asking the village to underwrite the project to ensure its success.”

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Have a great week – Life is Good and so is the weather!!! Driving down Rt. 50 recently, I noticed just a hint of color beginning to appear. Now where did I put that apple fritter???