Looking Back

By Arline Adamsick

The Beecher Herald: April 26, 1973

“Form Committee to Push for Annexation to KCC”

“By Roger Schoenwald”

“Two members have split with the Junior College Advisory Committee and formed the Committee for Annexation to Kankakee Community College. Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Waldvogel are members of the new committee, whose existence was made public by a letter mailed to area residents last Tuesday. It has been alleged the committee is backed by KCC personnel.

“In a telephone conversation with this “Beecher Herald” reporter, Mrs. Barbara Waldvogel refused to disclose the names of the committee members or how many people are on the Committee for Annexation. She said people do not want their names made public when ‘trouble’ is pending, and it is ‘no one’s business’ to know the committee members until the committee feels the time is right to disclose the names of its members.

“Mrs. Waldvogel said the committee’s lawyer, Dan Ziglis of KCC, currently is drawing up a petition of election for KCC. She also stated the petition has not been circulated, and the committee will await the outcome of the board of education poll before taking further action.

“Mrs. Waldvogel gave numerous reasons for splitting with the Junior College Advisory Committee:

“•She charged ‘the committee isn’t working together’ on the Junior College question it was designed for.

“•She charged ‘committee members were not impartial’ when they were chosen for the committee. She said that most of the committee members were biased toward Joliet Junior College.

“•She charged that no proof has been made available supporting the efforts of the Junior College Advisory Committee that Beecher can join the JJC District.

“•She charged five members of the Junior College Advisory Committee, who were present at the last board of education meeting, presented information favoring JJC.

“Mrs. Russell Jacobson, publicity chairwoman for the Junior College Advisory Committee, said the findings of the committee are not biased. She said the committee’s intent is to present the facts on the three schools to the people so they can decide. The mailing of the poll by the board of education shows the committee wants to follow the desire of the people, she said.”

Just a side note: Also, in the paper that week was an article stating Peotone had filed a petition to join Joliet Junior College. With Peotone’s action, it would be possible for Beecher to also petition to join JJC, as Beecher would become contiguous with the JJC area.

Daylight Savings Time arrived more than a month later in 1973 than in 2023, as Sunday, April 29, was the scheduled arrival of the time change in the area.

The Peotone Vedette: April 27, 1973

This just proves – every single vote counts…

“New Trustees Seated at Village Board Meeting”

“Trustee K.F. Hauert, Warren Baker, Lloyd Collins, and W. Roy Hartman were sworn in by Village Clerk Evelyn Berry at the village board meeting Tuesday night.

“The old board convened the meeting to take care of the paying of bills and canvassing the election results. Village Clerk Evelyn Berry told the board that since the trustee race between Robert Cross and Lloyd Collins was so close, the candidates, Village President Howard Scrivens, the village clerk, and the chief of police recounted the ballots on April 18. There were seven ballots that were questionable as to whether or not they were spoiled, and they were sealed in an envelope and sent to Joliet for a ruling.

“The village attorneys, who delivered the ballots to Joliet, sent a letter to the board stating the County Clerk and the State’s Attorney both declined to give an opinion. The village attorneys presented a written opinion on each of the seven ballots, which gave Cross four more votes and Collins two. This gave Collins 218 and Cross 217 votes. Following the reading of this opinion, the board unanimously voted to accept the canvass results.”

“Board Awards Contract, Sells Bonds for Storm Sewer Project”

“Peotone Village Board awarded the contract for the storm sewer trunk line and sold the bonds to be used to finance the project at an adjourned meeting Thursday, April 19. The bids for the storm sewer project were opened at 11 a.m. on April 19 and turned over to Village Engineer James Mulford for evaluation. The contract for the project was awarded to the low bidder, Alpha Construction Co. of Hazel Crest, for $422,010.75.

“Other bidders were: Loitz Brothers Construction Co., Inc. Grant Park, $446,667.75; Hulet Corporation, Oak Forest, $438,704.75; D’Andrea Construction Co., $471,964.90; and J-P Construction Co., Chicago Heights, $458,858.65. Construction on the project is expected to begin in about a month.”

At the Holiday Theatre: “Fidler on the Roof,” with still no sign of an outdoor theatre opening, but it had to be soon!!

The Crete Record: April 26, 1973

“Village Board Approves New Crete Library Site”

“The Crete Public Library has acquired the Joseph Hager property at the northeast corner of North and Main Streets as a permanent library site.

“The library board presented a resolution to the Crete Village Board Monday night seeking approval to purchase the property. The library district boundaries are the same as those of the village, and its finances are administered through the village board.

“According to the resolution, $36,500 is to be paid for the real estate, and another $22,000 earmarked for improvements. Cost of equipment and furniture is estimated to be $6,000. The village board approved these expenditures and authorized the library board to negotiate a $30,000 mortgage, with interest not to exceed 5-1/2 percent, payable semi-annually over a period not exceeding 15 years.

“Library board member Mrs. Vernon Batterman said they had long hoped to obtain this parcel as a permanent library site. Members had toured the house with Hager last week and agreed it is an ideal location.

“The library began life almost 10 years ago in one donated room of the old Blim house on Benton and North Streets. It expanded into room-after-room of the house, then moved to its present spacious rented quarters in the Gilbert Fink apartment building at 534 First Street.

“The immediate next steps are unclear, pending a meeting of the library board April 26. The mortgage on the Hager property has yet to be signed and all financial details worked out. It also appears the property will have to be rezoned for library use, but that may not be a major hurdle since the village board expressed its enthusiasm for the site.

“Whether the existing house will be renovated for library use, temporarily or permanently, remains to be decided. Mrs. Batterman told the board, ‘Whatever is done there, we will seek professional help from an architect. It won’t be a patched-up job.’”

“52 Years of Public Service End as Art Luecke Retires”

“Arthur Luecke retired from service to the Village of Crete Monday night – again. For an active octogenarian, Art Luecke has done quite a lot of retiring. He first retired in June 1953, after a 34-year career as Crete Village Clerk. After a year and a half out of office, he was prevailed upon by then Village President Kenneth Stephens to ‘help him out for six months’ as village treasurer. That post lasted a mere 18 years.

“His official retirement Monday night brought to a close a total of 52 years of public service. He was recognized by the village board members and those in the audience with standing applause, an unprecedented action for a village board meeting.”

The Manteno News: April 26, 1973

“The Winds of Change in Manteno…are Heard by Don McCann”

“Manteno Community Unit District Board Member Don McCann was a breath of spring at Tuesday evening’s board meeting, as he proposed three new procedures designed to bring the board of education back to the people who support this million-dollar industry.

“A large group in attendance sat through a routine reorganization meeting and committee reports but were jarred out of their lethargy when McCann proposed that a tape recorder be used to record the proceedings of the board and minutes be typed verbatim from the recording and made available to the public.

“McCann’s second proposal was that school administrators, other than the superintendent, attend board meetings on a rotating basis – a different principal at each meeting. Superintendent Ferri suggested all administrators attend all meetings. McCann stated he didn’t want to burden the administrators, while Ferri replied he felt it was part of their job. McCann accepted the amendment to his motion to read that all administrators attend all board meetings.

“McCann also proposed that school administrators meet with taxpayers in formal and informal meetings and report to the board as to the number and points of discussion, then bring back the questions raised. While he felt some latitude could be allowed, he suggested groups of five or more could ask for any administrator of their choice for a discussion group. All three motions were passed.”

Kasco Foods ad for the week included: Dressel’s chocolate cake – 79¢; celery – 19¢ (I just paid $1.79); Scot Pride bacon – 89¢/lb.; pork steaks – 69¢/lb.; and Scot Farm buttermilk biscuits – 8¢/8-oz. tube.

*****

Have a great week and try to enjoy this crazy up and down weather – no wonder sore throats are common. One week it’s 80, and the next week there’s a freeze warning. My poor ferns still haven’t stuck their noses out of the garage – dumb purchase at the moment, but they were so lovely and such a good deal. Life is Good!!!