Looking Back

Happy New Year – It’s 1973

By Arline Adamsick

The Crete Record: January 4, 1973

“No Petitions Out Yet in Village Election”

“No petitions of candidacy have been taken out yet for village office, although the first date to file is January 8. A survey of the incumbents reveal Mayor Ronald Christopher and Clerk Mariann Gemper definitely will seek re-election to the post they have each held for the past four years.

“Trustee Bill Bruin was not available for comment at press time, but he is believed to be planning to run again. Bruin, who served a four-year term previously, now is rounding out the unexpired term of Jack Davis, who resigned last February.

“‘I have given it some thought, but am undecided at this time, said Trustee Ervin Kueresten Jr., who is winding up a four-year term.

“Trustee Omar Thunherst did not respond to a phone call asking if he intends to run again. He is completing a four-year stint.”

“New Year’s Eve Accident Results in Injuries”

“An accident on North Main Street in front of the Checker Gas station on New Year’s Eve was reported by Crete Police as about the only incident to mar a quiet holiday season in Crete.

“About 1:15 a.m. on January 1, a car driven by Paul Gibson, 19, of Crete, pulled out of the Checker Station and turned to go south. It went into the northbound lane where it struck a northbound vehicle driven by James Duran, 21, of Chicago Heights, according to Crete Police Chief John Ruckman.

“A passenger in the Gibson car had abrasions on her forehead, and Gibson also had a cut on his forehead. Both said they would see their own doctors.

“Robin Duran of the same address as James Duran complained of pain on the right side of her mouth and in her neck. She was taken to St. James Hospital.

“Damage to the Gibson car consisted of the right front fender, hood, and radiator. The Duran car sustained damage to the left front fender and hood. Gibson was ticketed for wrong lane usage.”

“Village Board Receives Revenue Sharing Funds”

“By Bob Foster

“A couple of weeks ago the Village of Crete received a Christmas present, a check for $18,864 from the United States Treasury, with (almost) no strings attached.

“The present was revenue sharing, and it represented one-half the village’s share of the $5.3 billion being disbursed to state and local governments this year under the State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972. Another check for $18,864 should be forthcoming next month, representing the reminder of the 1972 payment. After that, quarterly checks will be received until the end of 1976, when the $30.2 billion program expires or longer if it is extended.”

The Manteno News: January 4, 1973

“Pass in Review…Nineteen Seventy-Two!”

“As 1973 begins a 52-week run, and the Manteno Theatre and 74 previews are not yet available, it is time for a review of the feature, which closed this week after a year-long run under the title ‘1972.’

“One year ago this week, the headlines in THE MANTENO NEWS were that the village board authorized Virgil Guimond to recommend the placement of an adequate storm sewer for the area east of the I.C Railroad and west of Rt. 54, which is in the process of being installed at this time.

“Also in January, 91-year-old Pearl Grant took a snowmobile ride with her grandnephew Kenneth Bertrand and an airplane ride with Jack Doran. An announcement was made concerning the remodeling of the Darb Theatre Building, plus Dr. William Gallagher retired as head of the medical staff at Manteno State Hospital.

“The community was shocked by the death of Lucille Thies on January 19. Temperatures reached -20 at mid-month, and the fire department reported a total of 236 calls during 1971.”

According to the article, in February the community heard from Delores Ferri, the Rotary’s foreign exchange student, while Maurice O’Keefe was named fire chief. Later in the month, the community enjoyed a farmers versus faculty basketball game.

In March, it was science fair and election time, with Daniel Walker edging out Lt. Gov. Paul Simon in the Democratic primary.

April’s news brought the village’s announcement that sump pumps would have to be connected to storm sewers or pumped onto the ground.

May’s safety program “Operation Red Ball” called for the placement of red balls in bedroom windows of children and invalids to help the fire department identify where extra help might be needed in case of a fire. Manteno Foods also began a 2,000-square-foot store addition.

Sixty-eight seniors were in the June graduating class at MHS, while unseasonal rains were responsible for the overflow of Rock Creek, at the south end of town.

In July, Congressman Roman Pucinski spoke at the Sportsmen’s Club, and the village held its annual July 4^th fireworks.

During August, the storm sewer project began, and Delores Ferri returned home after her 11-month stay in Colombia. Schools opened on August 29, plus it was the last month for publication of THE MANTENO NEWS under the leadership of L.G. Mansfield Sr., who was retiring.

In September, Patty Viall, the Rotary’s newest foreign exchange student, arrived in Argentina. September also brought the community the first offset edition of the paper, plus Manteno District 5’s enrollment was up by four students over the previous year.

October’s news included Kenneth Sneed being named police chief. The golf course committee proposed a completely new course on the grounds of the state hospital.

In November, the town voted “red” and gave President Nixon a two-to-one majority in the general election. Also, Father Tony Nugent was ordained to the priesthood, then celebrated Mass on December 3 at St. Joseph’s. Also in December, the Manteno Youth Center re-opened after being closed due to fire damage. Rev. R.L. Lunsford announced his retirement as pastor of the Manteno Church of the Nazarene at the end of the year.

The Peotone Vedette: January 5, 1973

It was holiday tournament time and, according to the headline, the Blue Devils brought home third in the Chatsworth Tourney.

Residents also were thinking about the upcoming April local election, with the first filing day set for January 3. In the contest, the terms for village president, clerk, and three trustee positions were set to expire. There also was a remaining two-year term to be filled.

Petitions were taken out by Howard Scrivens for village president, Evelyn Berry – village clerk, and K.F. Hauert, Lloyd Collins, and Warren Baker for trustees, plus W. Roy Hartman was in the mix for the two-year term. Wally Pollack also had taken out a petition packet, but there was no information on which position he was seeking.

This must have been rather exciting, but I imagine it might have been a bit frigid, as well….

“Balloonist Takes Flight Over Eastern Will County”

“That man in the balloon seen flying high over the Will County area Tuesday morning has been identified as Al Desmond, an Aurora contractor. His Tuesday flight was one of the longest in a series of approximately a dozen. The balloon descended safely near Beecher in eastern Will County. From his take-off point at the Aurora Airport, it was some 50 miles, state police estimated.

“The Tuesday flight lasted about two hours. He took off from Aurora in the early morning hours, when the wind was relatively calm – that’s important, then was seen above the Peotone area about 9:15 a.m., in the cloudless blue sky.

“Desmond’s daughter, Nancy, said her father is practicing and getting in his flight hours for a world championship balloon race in Albuquerque, New Mexico, next month.”

What was on the school menu for the beginning of January – chipped ham on mashed potatoes, chili with cheese, BBQ on bun plus soup, spaghetti and a salad, and tuna and noodles with some cole slaw. Dessert was either fruit or Jell-o.

The Beecher Herald: January 4, 1973

Sound a little too familiar…

“Gas Shortage Cutting Down Grain Drying”

“The Illinois Farm Bureau Board of Directors urged action be taken to alleviate a gas supply shortage, which has forced suspension of grain drying at a critical time.

“In its meeting here, the Board of the Illinois Agricultural Association, state-wide Farm Bureau, expressed its concern in the following statement:

“Illinois farmers and grain elevators are feeling the pinch of a natural gas supply shortage, which has reached a critical state. Because of this shortage, many farmers and elevators have been forced to suspend grain drying operations, thereby slowing the remaining harvest and jeopardizing the condition of wet grain already in storage. The situation is further aggravated by a current shortage of LP gas.

“The gravity of the situation in Illinois is underlined by the fact that 18 percent of the corn crop (175 million bushels) and 13 percent of the soybean crop (35 million bushels) are still in the field and will compound the drying problem when weather conditions permit harvesting. The combined value of the corn and soybeans yet to be harvested is conservatively estimated at $380 million. Added to that is the problem of the untold millions of grain bushels already in farm and elevator storage that cannot be dried down to safe storage levels because of the gas shortage.

“The Farm Bureau and its affiliates, FS Services, and the Illinois Grain Corporation have been working on the gas shortage problem on a day-to-day basis, but the situation now has reached a critical stage that demands the concerted efforts of utilities and government agencies.”

“David Mack Named Alternate to Naval Academy”

“Congressman Leslie C. Arends, 17^th District, announced David C. Mack, of Beecher, was named first alternate candidate for admission to the United States Naval Academy for the class convening in July 1973.

“According to Arends, nominees were selected based on scholastic ability, physical qualifications, and interest in pursuing a career in the Armed Forces. Principals and alternates now must compete in rigid entrance examinations, with alternates in line for appointment in the event principals fail to qualify or otherwise withdraw. Those finally selected for entrance will receive Service commissions after completing four years of study and training at the respective academies.”

At the Holiday Theatre: Held over were Walt Disney’s “Snowball Express” and “The Magic of Walt Disney World.”

*****

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season, got some rest, and now are more than ready for all that 2023 has to offer!!! Life is Good!!!