Looking Back

By Arline Adamsick

The Beecher Herald: January 15, 1973

Several things were happening at the Beecher Police Department, including the promotion of George Stadt to full-time policeman. Stadt had served as an auxiliary policeman for three months. With the promotion, the village police force stood at three, including Chief Mervin Bewsey and Don Stluka.

According to the article, Stadt had “served as a military policeman in the Army for two years. When asked why he decided to be a policeman, he said, ‘I guess my interest began back in the days when I was a Captain of the Junior Policemen, a youth organization in Grant Park. I have always thought it was a rewarding job in that you have opportunities to help people, and you are involved in upholding the laws of the community, state, and nation.’”

The department also took possession of a new squad car. “The 1973 Delta 88 Olds was equipped with the ‘police package,’ which included an extra heavy-duty alternator, heavy suspension, and a police calibrated speedometer. It had a twin-sonic vision bar light system on the roof, which provided more vision and protection. The car was hooked up 24 hours a day to the ISPRN (Illinois State Police Radio Network),

To all you former Girl Scouts, do you remember ‘Sit-Upons”?

“Brownie Troop 291 Makes Sit-Upons”

“Twenty-one girls were present for the January 23 meeting of Brownie Troop 291. After attendance was taken and dues collected, the girls were divided into two groups. The first-year Brownies made sit-upons, using leather and yarn. These are required Girl Scout equipment and are used when sitting outdoors. Second-year Brownies went to the Flatlands Designer Craftsmen Shop for a demonstration in pottery making.”

“Attorney General Files Suit Against Auto Manufacturers”

“Illinois Attorney General William Scott filed suit against General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co., and Chrysler Corp. charging the three giant auto companies with conspiring to unreasonably restrain trade in governmental motor fleet sales.

“Scott’s suit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Chicago, charged the defendants with violation of the federal Sherman Antitrust Act and with violation of the Illinois Antitrust Act.

“Attorney General Scott alleged that since May 1970, General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler have conspired to eliminate or greatly reduce price concessions made to dealers in connection with fleet sales to the state and local governments. The result has been a tremendous price increase for the state and other governmental agencies, amounting to as much as $900 to $1,000 for each car purchased.

“The state alone purchases approximately 1,300 vehicles a year, about 600 of which are police squad cars. Cost of the alleged conspiracy of the auto manufacturers to deny dealers price concessions on fleet cars amount to more than $1 million a year lost to the state.”

The Peotone Vedette: January 16, 1973

“Bond Issue Approved; Begin Preliminary Work”

“Peotone Village Board Tuesday night began the preliminary work toward the letting of bids and beginning construction of the newly approved storm sewer project for the village.

“Peotone residents Saturday approved a $439,000 bond issue for the construction for the storm sewer by a vote of 336-to-144, with three spoiled ballots.

“Jim Mulford, village engineer, said much of his preliminary work already has been completed and, hopefully, bids could be let sometime in early March. Mulford said he could see no reason why work could not begin almost immediately and should be completed in about three months.

“Chairman of the Drainage and Sewers Committee Leo Stender, Superintendent of Public Works Homer Clausing, and Mulford are to stay in close contact with each other so plans can proceed as quickly as possible.”

“Two people were killed Thursday morning in an accident at 6:58 a.m. on I-57 just north of Joliet Road. Pronounced dead at the scene were Joy Aird, 31 of Riverdale, the driver of the 1968 Olds, and Roy Shriver, 44, of Grant Park, driver of the station wagon. According to State Trooper Michael Cofield, the Aird auto was northbound and went out of control, crossed the center median, and struck the Shriver car. The Shriver car burst into flames immediately upon impact. Peotone firemen quickly extinguished the flames and worked nearly an hour with their rescue saw and hydraulic jacks to free the victims. Both bodies were pinned in the wreckage.”

Well, this is one way to get tickets to the Super Bowl…“Crystalle Siefert, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Siefert, Peotone, was one of 12 lucky students, who – with her parents – were guests of the Perfect Subscription Company at the 1973 Super Bowl in Los Angeles and Disneyland, January 12-15. Crystalle became eligible for this award when she participated in the annual magazine sales contest, sponsored by the Peotone High School Chapter of the FHA last fall. By chance, her name was the one lucky name drawn from the names of many teenagers who had participated in school magazine contests. Crystalle represented District 7, of which Don Munch, Joliet, is sales manager.”

To be fair, last week I asked if you recalled the names of Chevy cars for 1973. So here are some 1973 Ford models to ponder – LTD, Pinto, Maverick, Torino, and Mustang.

It was not a great week for safe driving. In addition to the fatal accident on page one, there were two other area accidents. On Thursday, Gerald Bach and John Brown, both from Peotone and in their twenties, and Robert Perkins, 33, of Manteno were in an accident on Rt. 50, approximately one mile south of the Wilmington Road. The men were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

On Sunday morning, two men escaped serious injury when their cars collided just south of the Wilmington Road on Rt. 45, although their cars were severely damaged. Apparently, one of the men fell asleep at the wheel and crossed the center line.

The Manteno News: January 25, 1973

It was approaching election time in Manteno…

“Three Full Slates for Village Offices!”

“Village trustee Harold Jacobs heads the slate of the Good Government Party, which lists incumbent Village Clerk Gerald Hildebrandt running for re-election and a slate of three trustees, including one incumbent and one former mayor. The slate includes incumbent trustee Jerry Pearce, former trustee and village president Leo Hassett, and Gordon St. John as candidates for the three trustee posts.

“Village President Gerald Jarvis leads a ticket of the United Party. The Jarvis slate lists Judith (Wilson) Kisiel for village clerk. The three openings for trustee are being sought by incumbent trustee Richard Balgeman, building inspector Donald Taylor, and Wendell Marr of Vine Street.

“Former village trustee John T. Smith heads the slate for the People’s Party. Mary Fortin is the candidate for village clerk, with the party adding a full slate of trustee candidates, including Leroy Kuntz of Lakeview Drive, Bob Blommer of South Oak Street, and life-time resident Rick Cyrier.”

“Village Board Votes to Issue $100,000 Revenue Bonds for Golf Course”

“The Manteno Village Board, at a special meeting on Monday, voted unanimously in favor of the issuance of $100,000 in revenue bonds to finance the construction of the golf course at Manteno State Hospital. The bonds will not represent a general obligation of the village but will be payable solely out of revenues from the operation of the golf course.

“The action paved the way for the bonds to be issued in the amount of the pledges to date, in order to pay for the expense of construction of $52,361. The complete ordinance will be set out in next week’s issue of the MANTENO NEWS and will take effect 10 days later.”

“Township Receives Federal Revenue Share Checks of $27,863”

“Federal revenue sharing checks in the amount of $27,863 have been received by Manteno Township, according to Township Supervisor Jack Shonkwiler. The Town Board of Auditors decided to put the funds in a separate account, pending a decision on their use.

“According to Shonkwiler, if taxes are not frozen, the funds might be used to reduce property taxes by six-to-eight percent. He indicated a study is being made to determine if the funds can and should be used for this purpose.”

The Crete Record: January 25, 1973

“Hear Proposal for 30-Acre Annexation”

“A proposal to erect a 328-unit apartment complex, with commercial center, and annex it to Crete was presented to the village board Monday night.

“Sheldon Rosing told the board he is an attorney for the owner of a 30-acre parcel at the southwest corner of Dixie Highway and Old Monee Road. The land, which is entirely vacant, is held by an owner trustee, but the beneficiaries to the trust agree to the proposal. Rosing said, ‘No names of owners were given.’ Rosing was accompanied by Al Tenuta, who was not further identified.

“The parcel fronts 1,000 feet on Dixie Highway and goes back to the C & EI Railroad tracks, about 1,200 – 1,300 feet. The corner piece of 200,000 square feet or 4.59 acres, would be set aside for commercial development, according to Rosing. ‘We hope to have a large discount store there,’ he said, indicating the developers have three stores in mind.

“The rest of the property would be given over to 328 apartments. A preliminary plat showed six lots with four unites each, 11 lots with eight units each, and 18 lots with 12 units each. All would be rental units, not condominiums, said Rosing, and the buildings would not be high.

“No more than five apartments would have three bedrooms, Rosing said, with the majority being one- and two-bedroom units. ‘There will be no load on the school,’ he added.

“Mayor Ronald Christopher pointed out the board had just received a communication that evening from School District 201-U outlining its new policy regarding land-cash donations from developers. Copies of the guidelines were given to Rosing.

“The attorney requested the property be annexed to the village already zoned for commercial and apartment units, but Mayor Christopher indicated it would have to come in as residential and be rezoned unless the new zoning were stipulated in a pre-annexation agreement.

“Rosing and Tenuta said they were well aware no annexation can be accomplished before Crete has solved its sewage treatment problems, which may be two years away.”

At the Holiday Theatre: Held over for another week, Walt Disney’s “The Sword in the Stone.”

Have a great week and hope you are enjoying the fact it’s the end of January – the very longest month of the year – or so it seems!!! Life is Good!!!