Looking Back

By Arline Adamsick

The Crete Record: February 15, 1973

Remember a request for rezoning a few weeks ago…

“Deny Liquor Rezoning for Service Station”

“A rezoning request by Cities Service to allow packaged liquor sales in their gas station, at the southwest corner of Steger and Kings Roads in Crete Township, was denied by a 23-2 vote of the Will County Board on Wednesday. Democrats LeRoy VanDuyne and Ted Grabavoy cast the only votes for approval.

“The case had been recommended by the Zoning Board of Appeals, but the County Board’s Committee on Zoning and Subdivisions made no recommendation.

“The Village of Steger had filed a valid legal objection, which requires a majority to override. Following the vote, former county board member and Crete Township Supervisor J. Merton West asked to be heard. He suggested ‘the county board should think for themselves and not let the villages think for them.’

“‘This building is just across from the Village of Steger, and they are going to zone for a liquor store there. Is this a selfish attitude that they are objecting or for the good of the community? These cases should be investigated a little better.’”

“Purchase Walkie Talkies for Police Department”

After opening business, the “chief item of discussion on the lengthy agenda was the purchase of three new walkie talkies for the police department at a cost of $2,240. Public Safety Trustee Wendall Regnier told the board this cost could be reduced by $600 for his department if the street, garbage, and water departments each purchased the old ones at $200 each.

“Trustee of Streets Bill Bruin and Trustee of Water Ervin Kuersten Jr. both had expressed interest in having walkie talkies for their men in the field and met twice with Regnier on the project. Trustee of Sanitation Omar Thunherst, who had not attended the committee meetings, objected saying the men did not need a walkie talkie.

“It was pointed out the same four workers and the Superintendent of Public Works were involved in all departments, and the walkie talkies would go with the men and not the vehicle.”

“Local Boys Commended in Preventing Accident”

“Four Crete boys, whose quick thinking and actions prevented what could have been a serious or fatal accident, have received a letter of commendation from the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad.

“According to Frank Javor, father of two of the rescuers, John Smith was attempting to locate a flare under the car seat when John Haseman was returning home from work and saw the car on the tracks with a train approaching.

“With the help of Paul and Francis Javor, David Maremontes, and Jerry Thompson, all Crete-Monee High School students, Haseman got Smith out of the car and managed to push it off one set of tracks before the train came. They also turned on the car lights and blinkers to warn the approaching train, which clipped the fender and bumper of the car, causing only relatively minor damage.”

The Beecher Herald: February 15, 1973

“Board to Form Junior College Advisory Group”

By Roger Schoenwald

“A citizen advisory committee is being formulated by the board of education to visit area junior colleges in which Beecher School District may be placed on July 1.

“The purpose of this Citizen’s Committee is to analyze the academic programs at Kankakee Community College, Prairie State College, and Joliet Junior College. The findings then will be put before the people who decide what junior college district they prefer. Anyone can serve on the committee. It was stressed at the meeting students, teachers, and citizens should participate.”

“Name Candidates for Village Posts”

“At the close of the period for filing nominating petitions, Village Clerk Leslie Myrick announced only five candidates had filed for the five positions in Beecher village government. A mayoral petition was submitted by Landis Wehling. Others seeking election are Mrs. Violet Meeter, village clerk; plus, Walter Boyens, Alvin Fugett, and Robert Williamson, trustees. The municipal election will be held April 17.”

“Commission Debates Need for Juvenile Detention”

“While conceding the question of building a juvenile detention home for Will County was properly a matter for the county board to decide, the Forest Preserve Commission spent more than an hour wrangling about it Friday afternoon.

“At issue was whether to transfer Forest Preserve land immediately to the county for that purpose, even though the subject of building a juvenile detention home has never come up.

“A new state penal code requires juvenile offenders be separated from adults, which is not presently the case at Will County Jail, where both groups stay while awaiting trial.

“County Board President Roy Hassert offered a motion tentatively transferring land back to the county from the Forest Preserve District, at the point of Cherry Hill Road and Rt. 52. His motion was subject to the approval of the county board to hire an architect to investigate the feasibility of building a juvenile detention home on the site.

“An effort to table the motion was an outgrowth of a committee to determine how best to use revenue sharing funds.

“Allan Mauer attempted to call fellow members attention to a comprehensive plan already prepared for use of adjacent property and owned by the county. Outside of the members of his committee, no one else had seen the plan, which calls for a new jail to be built there, nor were they interested in studying the plan during the Forest Preserve Commission meeting.”

The Peotone Vedette: February 16, 1973

At the Holiday Theatre in Park Forest Plaza: Walt Disney’s “The World’s Greatest Athlete” was held over an additional week.

“Village Board Acts on Construction, Subdivision”

“New construction and subdivisions were in the spotlight at the Peotone Village Board meeting Tuesday night.

“Edward Gall Sr. was present at the meeting and was informed his plans for a 12-unit apartment building to be built on his property on West Street appear to be in order, and he should present a final plat of the apartment with the proper footage and parking spaces to the board. Also, to be checked further is the construction for sewer and water service.

“A letter was read from the Plan Commission approving a re-subdivision of eight lots to two lots in the Jessen’s subdivision. The letter said in part: ‘The commission is aware of certain considerations regarding vacating of public ways and property and, if all considerations are accomplished, the commission will have no objections to a final plat as proposed. We do discourage the board from increasing the density of apartments from the original presentation.’

“Donald Bate was present at the meeting regarding a piece of property in the village, which appears to be a farm lot. He was advised that to sell another portion of this property, he would have to subdivide according to the village ordinance.”

In other business at the board meeting, St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church was given permission to serve wine at their dinner on March 6. And 50 years later, they still are serving wine…have you purchased your dinner tickets yet??

Whoever does not believe every second counts apparently has not been to a high school wrestling match…

“Just 60 seconds cost the Peotone Blue Devil wrestling squad its third straight Kankakee Valley Conference title last Saturday at Bishop McNamara High School. McNamara won with 94-1/2 points, followed by Peotone with 83-1/2, Clifton Central, 72, Herscher, 55, and Manteno 23.

“If you asked Peotone’s wrestling coach, John Young, what he wanted most last Saturday, it probably would have been to have wrestling matches run only five minutes and 40 seconds instead of a full six minutes.

“Both Peotone and McNamara had eight boys wrestling in the finals. The Blue Devils had four champions and four second place finishers, with three of the second place winners being out-pointed in the final 20 seconds of the matches.”

According to an ad placed by Vince Toepper, of Argo, Inc., there seemed to be a growing fertilizer shortage that possibly could increase to serious proportions by the time of spring planting, especially in the Midwest.

The ad featured an article from the January 18 Chicago Tribune, which attributed the shortage to: “An unusually wet fall, delaying crop harvests and reducing normal fall fertilization by as much as 50 percent or more; A shortage of railroad cars to haul fertilizer; A continuation of a year-long shortage of phosphate fertilizers, as a result of the government’s Phase 2 price controls; A shortage of natural gas used to manufacture ammonia for nitrogen fertilizers; and a change in the government’s 1973 feed grain price support program, designed to stimulate the planting of an estimated additional 15 million acres that will require additional fertilizer supplies.”

The Manteno News: February 15, 1973

“Last Call to Buy Golf Course Bonds”

“The Manteno Municipal Golf Course has progressed to 90 percent completion despite all the continuous rain and mud. The U.S. Golf Construction and Irrigation Company of Hammond has worked almost continuously through the winter and last week began the installation of the irrigation system.

“Enthusiastic contributors have supported this project by placing funds in escrow for the purchase of municipal revenue bonds. No village or Chamber of Commerce funds are being used on this project. The bonds will be issued March 1. Anyone wishing to fulfill his original commitment or any others wishing to purchase the revenue bonds should contact Charles Riker at Manteno State Bank before February 20.”

On sale at Kasco Foods: Celery – 25¢ a stalk (I needed celery last week, but not enough to pay $3 for it!!); radishes/green onions – 10¢ (as opposed to two for $3 in 2023); Banquet pot pies – 18¢ each; Scot Lad ½ gallon ice cream – 29¢; Libby tomato juice – 46 oz. can/31¢; rib steak – 99¢/lb.; and an eight-ounce box of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes – 18¢!! Now those were bargains!!

This was on the menu for Manteno schools: Smokie links, cole slaw, baked beans, and applesauce; hamburgers, French fries, relish tray, and fresh fruit; chili, corn bread, salad, and cake; pork sausage links, hash brown potatoes, and fruit; fish sandwich, cole slaw, and pineapple upside down cake.

Have a great week and don’t want to jinx it, but it’s feeling more and more like spring everyday!! Life is Good!!