Looking Back

By Arline Adamsick

The Crete Record: March 9, 1973

Remember in last week’s paper that it was reported the school board voted on the issue of married teachers being employed in the same department? Apparently, the idea turned out to be rather controversial…

“Ban on Married Teachers in Same Department Lifted”

“A controversial resolution passed by the 201-U School Board just two weeks ago was rescinded Monday night, but only long enough for it to be rewritten in a more legalistic way.

“The resolution that ‘no additional husbands and wives be employed in the same department and preferably not in the same building’ had passed by a split four-three vote following a late night executive session February 19. It came just as Industrial Arts teacher Greg Reisig was being recommended to fill a vacancy in the high school English department, where his wife already was employed.

“The Crete-Monee Education Association cried ‘foul,’ and high school students backed up their teachers, turning out in great numbers for the board meeting Monday night to protest the resolution and support Reisig. Several students and teachers challenged Board President Ed Epstein to state the reasons behind the resolution. He replied that ‘in the judgment of the board, it’s better educationally.’

“English Department Chairman Thom Thompson, whose wife also teaches in the same department, pointed out there have been husband and wife teams in the school district during the past 20 years, and he was not aware of any problems arising therefrom.

“Epstein said the policy did not indicate there have been problems in the past, but that it could cause problems from a managerial point of view…

“According to one comment, ‘If there is going to be such a rule, it should cover the whole building, not just one department. If I taught in the same building as my wife and was mad at her, I would make it a point to see her, even if she was in another department.’

“Board member Jerry Rice said he had talked to the school attorney and was told it is ‘perfectly legal’ to have such a policy, and some other districts have a similar ruling.

“The board went into executive session to reconsider the case in light of its effect on Reisig. When members returned to the board room, Lloyd Allison moved and Kenton Viers seconded a motion to rescind the resolution. The motion passed with only one dissenting vote cast. Allison then called on board member Jerry Rice to return with a differently worded policy regarding teachers married to each other serving in the same department.”

The Beecher Herald: March 8, 1973

The Bobcats were done for the season, but the team put up a good fight against Bishop Mac in the regional tournament, 70-77.

“By Jim Baker,

“The Irish from McNamara gained revenge over the Beecher Bobcats last Wednesday, 77-70, in the Bobcats final game of the season. The first quarter ended with Beecher on top, 20-16, but before the half was over the Irish grabbed a 40-35 lead. The Cats came out cold in the third quarter and fell behind 63-50. Luckily for the Irish, they brought along their four-leaf clovers, because they certainly needed them to stop the wounded Bobcats in the fourth quarter.

“The Beecher cagers used a dynamic full-court press, led by their two hustling guards, Gene Adams and Jim Kaczynski, to whittle the Irish lead to only three points at one time. Chuck Kebert played a superb game, as he was the high scorer with 24 points. Doug Brands showed his shooting ability by scoring 16 points for the Bobcats.

“The Bobcats ended their season with a 2-6 conference record and were 4-20 overall. Although the Cats only had four victories on the season, they were right in almost every game.”

Apparently, there was an interest in a 1916 cookbook compiled by Zion’s Evangelical Lutherans Frauenverein (Women’s Club). Here’s the recipe for “Pork Cake, Mrs. J.W. Knuth: One pound fresh pork, chop fine or grind with meat grinder; one pint boiling water – let stand till you mix the following – 2 cups syrup, 1 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon each of allspice, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon. Mix with the first with 4 cups flour, 1 tablespoon soda dissolved in a teaspoon of vinegar, and all the fruit you want – walnuts, figs, raisins, almonds, currants. Bake slowly. No eggs, no butter.”

One of the things I find most interesting about very old recipes is there seems to be A LOT of information missing, such as: What kind of syrup did they use? How long do you bake this and at what temperature? What is the size of the pan? I also remember my Great-Aunt Em made the most heavenly sugar cookies, but the recipe was lost when she died. It heavily consisted of “a handful of this, or a handful of that, plus several “pinches” used for measuring other ingredients. Somehow, it was very, very hard to duplicate!!

But how about this recipe for Sponge Cake from Mrs. John Korhauer: “Five eggs, 1 cup sugar, beat up good; 1 cup flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder.” Seems one might have better luck with the Pork Cake!!

The Peotone Vedette: March 9, 1973

Lots of school news was on the front page of the paper that week, including: “Linda Kneisler Paces Speech Team in District,” “Wrestling Clinic for Elementary, Jr. High Boys Slated,” “Band and Chorus Contest Saturday,” “Frosh-Soph Five Advances to Finals of Tournament,” “Junior High Chorus in Contest,” “Peotone Third in Kan-Will Spelling Contest,” and “No School in Peotone Monday.” Even though the articles were short, they pretty much filled the entire first page.

Also on the front page: “Peotone Churches Observe World Day of Prayer,” which was celebrated March 2, at the First United Presbyterian Church, with representatives from Immanuel UCC, St. Paul’s Catholic Church, St. John’s UCC, Peotone United Methodist, and Green Garden Methodist Church.

The American Legion also was planning a Birthday-Dinner Dance on May 19 – Armed Forces Day, with veterans asked to wear their uniforms, if possible.

Apparently, the Legion also was selling “bar stools,” with a maximum of 12 purchased with a sealed bid. The highest bidder would then choose his requested number of stools, with any leftover stools then being chosen by the second highest bidder. This format would continue until all the stools were purchased.

“Dr. James Nadler to Head State Veterinary Group”

“Dr. James H. Nadler of Peotone recently has returned from a scientific meeting in Arlington Heights, the 91^st annual Convention of the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association. While attending the convention, Nadler was named president-elect of the association. He will serve as president-elect in 1973 and succeed to the presidency in 1974.

At the Holiday Theatre, “Shamus” was held over for a second week, with “Tom Thumb” also being shown as a matinee on Saturday and Sunday.

How about this in the “Personals:” “I, the undersigned, do declare a TRUCE with Mr. C. Tieri, as of 12:00 p.m., February 28, 1973. C. Qunell” Anyone out there also need to publish a “truce” with someone???

The Manteno News: March 8, 1973

This topic is near and dear to my heart, having five family members as kidney transplant recipients, with my nephew undergoing number five just last week…. Have you signed your driver’s license to be an organ donor? If not, on behalf of many, many very grateful families – please consider doing so!!

“Carl Tibbie Gets Kidney Transplant”

“Tuesday, through the miracle of surgery, Carl Tibbie received a kidney transplant from his sister, Mrs. Charles Hamilton. Their parents are Mr. and Mrs. Ray Tibbie, all of Manteno.

“Members of the family reported to THE MANTENO NEWS that both Carl and his sister were out of surgery and in recovery rooms shortly after noon on Tuesday.

“Carl, who has suffered from kidney-related problems since birth, underwent major surgery in 1964 and 1972. In 1972, the surgery was for the removal of his bladder, spleen, and both kidneys. Since that time, Carl has had to spend 15 hours each week connected to a dialysis machine, which purifies his entire blood supply. With the transplanted kidney, Carl will be free from that machine.

“In June, Carl will graduate with his classmates from Manteno High School, although the frequent surgery and health problems prevent him from attending school. His parents credit Charles Sullivan, high school principal, for helping Carl get into a correspondence program so he could make up his lost schoolwork and keep up with his class.”

According to the article, “The University of Illinois Transplant Center has performed more than 100 kidney transplant operations since its founding in January 1968. A successful kidney transplant depends greatly upon patient and donor having matching blood types. Hospital officials tested members of Carl’s immediate family and found three sisters, including Mrs. Hamilton, to be possible donors. The two other sisters considered were Miss Brenda Tibbie, of rural Kankakee, and Mrs. Daniel Burklow, of Manteno.”

On a very personal note, the University of Illinois – Chicago still is performing their many, many life-saving miracles. My son was such a miracle two-and-a-half years ago and was the first patient in the world to ever have both the removal of his damaged kidneys and the placement of his transplant kidney done robotically. Generally, the damaged kidneys are not removed unless they pose a problem for the patient.

In the many years that have passed since Carl Tibbie’s transplant in 1973, and with the development of newer meds and techniques, a non-compatible blood type is not necessarily a disqualifier.

My son and daughter-in-law were part of a four-patient match that morning in 2020 – technically called a ‘paired kidney exchange.’ My daughter-in-law, Julie, who was a potential donor, was not a match for my son, Chris, but there was another family who had a similar incompatibility issue, as well. Julie was a match for that family’s patient, and their donor was a match for Chris. As a result, each failing kidney patient was able to receive a closely-matched kidney in record time.

If there is an incompatible blood type issue and such a special “match” is not available, there still are other options. Currently there are meds/treatments to specifically address that issue.

It’s never too late, please consider signing your driver’s license to be an organ donor. You have no idea how grateful and what a life-changing action that is for the receiving family. Life is very Good!!!