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Looking Back

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By Arline Adamsick

The Crete Record: March 1, 1973

Seems there were three top stories on the front page that week, including “Board Moves to Revise Village Building Code,” “Seek to Designate Band Shell as Historical Monument,” and “School Board Adopts New Hiring Policy.

“School Board Adopts…”

“The 201-U School Board, in a split four-three vote, adopted a new policy that would prohibit the employment of married couples within the same department. The policy is not retroactive, so it would not affect the many couples already working in the same building, some in the same department. The new policy was adopted following an executive session after the regular board meeting on February 19.”

“Seek to Designate…”

“The 60-year-old band shell in Crete Park may become an historical monument if actions taken by the Park Board and Village Board are followed up. In a letter to the village board read at their Monday night meeting, the park commissioners presented a resolution pointing up the reasons why the band shell should be commemorated.

“Constructed by the Woman’s Civic Club of Crete and dedicated June 14, 1913, the charming cement structure has ‘played a vital part in the life of the residents of Crete as the focal point of civic events and celebrations’ for many years.

“It has been used at various times by the Crete Coronet Band, Crete Commercial Band Club, Crete Concert Band, and various ethnic bands, as well as a stage for performances of visiting musicians. It also has been used as a facility for the presentation of various speakers, lecturers, demonstrators, and choirs at numerous civic and patriotic gatherings. Last year, it was even the scene of a wedding.”

“Board Moves to Revise…”

“A move to completely revise the municipal building code, originally adopted in 1948, was initiated by the Crete Village Board Monday evening…Emphasis will be on establishing a strict code for apartment buildings, unknown in Crete until fairly recently, dealing with new and improved building products now on the market, and revising building fees upward to conform with current prices.

“For many years, building inspection fees have been based on a $12 per square foot building cost figure, whereas today’s costs are closer to $20, Mayor Ronald Christopher said. He suggested the village establish a cost figure of $17.50 per square foot as an average.

“It also was suggested plumbing inspection fees go from $4 to $6 per fixture, and the electrical inspection fees be raised from $2 to $3 per circuit. In the past, 80 percent of the inspection fees have been rebated to the inspector, but a new law abolished all ‘fee offices,’ so flat sums must be established for inspectors’ wages, rather than a percentage of fees collected.”

The Beecher Herald: March 1, 1973

“Bobcats Bow to St. Anne in Finale” was the front page headline in 1973. What a difference 50 years makes, as the Bobcats played St. Anne on Valentine’s Day in 2023 and the outcome was quite different. The Bobcats beat St. Anne, 66-49, in the RVC Tourney and were 9-0 in the RVC, but here’s what happened in 1973…

“By Jim Baker

“The St. Anne Cardinals walked all over our Beecher Bobcats on Friday night, 79-45. The Bobcats had a lead only once in the first few seconds of the first quarter, as the Cats jumped out in front 2-0. From then on, it was a matter of watching St. Anne’s 6’-9” center, Jack Sikma, block shots and work his way to a 35-point performance. The loss to St. Anne allows the Bobcats to finish the regular season with a 2-6 conference record and the Cardinals of St. Anne finished with a conference record of 8-0.”

“A Message from Police Chief Bewsey”

“Police Chief Mervin Bewsey has two messages he wishes to convey to the citizens of Beecher – one concerns dogs and the other auxiliary police.

“There have been complaints about stray dogs, and the police department is picking up the wandering animals as fast as possible. Citizens are reminded that Section 6210 of the Village Code says: ‘No person shall cause or permit any dog owned by him to run at large within the limits of the village.’ A further reminder, there is a penalty, and offenders can be fined up to $200.

“Any young man between the ages of 21-35 interested in becoming an auxiliary policeman in the Beecher Police Force is asked to secure an application from Chief Bewsey. The applicant must have been a resident of Beecher for at least six months, in good health, and have no previous police record.”

On sale at Jewel that week were: Strawberries – 3 pints/$1; cherry tomatoes – 3 pints/$1; radishes or green onions – 10¢/bunch; Pillsbury crescent rolls – 3 tubes/$1; Pillsbury Bundt cake mixes – 74¢; Del Monte tuna fish – 35¢/6-1/2 oz. can; Stokely tomato sauce – 8¢/8 oz. can; and Banquet frozen fried chicken – $1.48/32 oz. pkg.

The Peotone Vedette: March 2, 1973

There was a lot of potential building discussed at the village board meeting…

“Board Hears Plans for Construction, Subdivisions”

“If Tuesday night’s board meeting was any indication, construction should be booming in the Village of Peotone in the coming months.

“Ralph Yunker and Ken Pearson were in attendance and presented their preliminary plat of the Nick Hauert property recently annexed to the village, to be known as Walnut Bluff subdivision. After some discussion, the board voted to turn the plat over to the plan commission for their consideration.

“Mr. Brandt, subdivider, Paul Rathje, owner, and John Burdick, engineer, presented a preliminary plat of a portion of the Rathje property on the west side of the village and asked that a portion of the land be rezoned.”

After some discussion, they were told to ask for the rezoning of the property, along with a plat for the village board, followed by the village sending it on to the plan commission.

“Ed Gall presented the plat for his 15-unit efficiency apartment building. After some discussion concerning water and sewer, the board moved the village install a water main along the park property on West Street and Gall to install the main along the east side of his property to his south boundary. A hydrant is to be installed at the south end of the line. Gall also asked it be put in writing that his plat and building appeared to be satisfactory.

“Dale Osborn, representing Richard Kunkel, was present to poll the board concerning the construction of a six-unit apartment building instead of a four-unit on lot 10 of the Jessen Subdivision. After some discussion, it was suggested that as long as he has ample square footage, he could erect a six-unit building, if it is approved by the building committee.”

At the Holiday Theatre: It was “Shamus.”

Whenever I look at school lunch menus for the week, I often wonder what today’s students would think of them…such as: Pizza, green beans, pickles, and brownies; Ham and beans, cole slaw, corn bread, and cookies; Tomato soup, toasted cheese, deviled eggs, and Jell-o with fruit; Juice, hamburger on bun, bean salad, pickles, and peaches; and finally, lasagna, corn, pineapple, and bread. Some of those items really stand out as questionable, including bean salad????

The Manteno News: March 1, 1973

“Seven Contractors Bid on High School”

“Bids for the new Manteno Community Unit High School were opened by the Capital Development Board in Springfield on Wednesday, February 21. None of the bids were awarded at that time but will be studied by the Capital Development Board.

“There was much interest by bidders, with seven general contractors bidding; five electric contractors; six plumbing contractors; 11 heating, piping, refrigeration, and temperature control contractors; 11 ventilating and air distribution contractors; and two testing and balancing contractors.

“According to Superintendent Gus Ferri, if the low bids are approved by the Capital Development Board, the school will be built within the budget appropriated. The total budget, with the Capital Development funds, is $1,857,900. This includes Community Unit District bonds of $775,000.

“The building site of the new high school is one block north of the present junior high school, facing east on Maple Street. It will consist of 26 classrooms, in addition to the physical education or music facilities, or combination study hall, cafeteria, and serving kitchen. Total footage of the new high school will be approximately 78,000 square feet.

“All this came to pass from the formulation of the Citizen’s Advisory Committee in the fall of 1969 and the referendum passed by Mantenoans in the fall of 1971.”

People were aware of pollution 50 years ago, even though, all these years later, the problem still exists…

“…As We See It…”

“Ocean Pollution: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has reported ocean pollution far more advanced than anyone assumed – after a long and thorough investigation. Testers found 50 percent of the ocean along the eastern seaboard badly contaminated, 80 percent of all Gulf and Caribbean water badly polluted, and 90 percent pollution in the waters of the Bahamas and West Indies! The Pacific isn’t yet so badly fouled!

“Such contamination is certain to affect sea life, such as plankton, on which so many species of fish depend for survival. As sea life is reduced, human life is correspondingly threatened.

“The cause of pollution is well known. Too many cities, such as Miami and New York, dump sewage and trash into the sea. Larger and larger ships blow their bilges at sea. More and more industrial pollution is dumped. As the population of the world grows, the rate of contamination grows.

“The problem demands action at international ecological conferences, at the U.N. and individual countries. The United States, through federal and state pollution policies and strict enforcement of pollution laws, should set the world an example, necessary in any event from the standpoint of self-preservation.”

And at Kasco that week, for every $5 purchased, one could buy a pound loaf of Butternut Homestyle bread for only 8¢.

*****

That’s it for this week – and Happy March. Hope it didn’t come in “like a Lion.” The first and earliest spring flowers are beginning to peek through and next week – on March 12, clocks return to Daylight Savings Time. If that doesn’t mean spring is just around the corner – not sure what does!! Have a great week – Life is Good!!


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