Looking Back

By Arline Adamsick

The Manteno News: September 12, 1974

Why on earth would someone – anyone – destroy warning signs and barricades?

“Destruction of Warning Reflectors Could Cause Death or Disablement”

“What could have been a near tragedy occurred Monday night two miles northeast of Manteno. Bill Fullerton’s car caromed off a huge pile of stone blocking the right-of-way. The stone had been dumped with a purpose – to keep people from driving off into the creek where the bridge is under construction. Less solid barricades have been run over, broken, and even burned by vandals, who apparently destroy without realizing what else may be destroyed as a consequence of their acts. Fullerton’s car incurred $1,200 in damages and he was hospitalized briefly as a result of someone’s thoughtlessness.

“Bob Boudreau, Manteno Township Highway Commissioner, already had replaced the wooden barricades and placed warning reflectors at the dead-end numerous times since work on the bridge was started. With the new contract let, the bridge may be finished by December, if all goes well. But what else will happen in the meantime as the result of the increasing destruction of township warning signs?

“Stop signs on country roads are pulled up, broken, shot at, or hauled away – each time being replaced at a cost of $25 to the township. Barricades, too, cost the taxpayers more and more as the need for replacement increases and costs of materials soar. It is time to reflect on what our potential cost in money and grief could easily be if these destructive practices are not curbed. The problem is community wide. Surely ‘fun’ need not be bought so dearly.”

Remember last week’s picture showing all those “cool” looking young men who needed identification? In case you are curious, here are the names of the 1948 prom-goers. There were more than a dozen residents who attempted to answer the question, but Ferne Fleber was the first person who correctly submitted the names and won a free “Manteno News” subscription for her daughter – Gloria. Here are the “cool” guys in the picture: Norman Provost, Bob Hilsenhoff, Francis (Sonny) Payne, Jimmy House, Lester Bedore, Lionel (Smudge) Caron, Wayne (Doc) Ritter, and Tom (Richard) Bergeron.

On sale at Manteno Foods: Center cut pork chops – $1.09 lb.; country-style spareribs or loin end pork roast – 89¢; Country Delight milk – 57¢ half gallon; two pounds Country Delight cottage cheese – 89¢; Thompson seedless grapes – three pounds $1; and two 9-oz. cartons of Cool Whip – 89¢.

The Peotone Vedette: September 13, 1974

The PHS Class of ’64 recently held their 60th reunion, but here’s the happy group from 50 years ago. –File photo.

“Village Hires Oliver as Fourth Policeman”

“In a move to enlarge the Peotone Police Force and provide better protection around the clock, the village board Tuesday night approved the employment of Jack Oliver as the fourth full-time policeman. He is a former Auxiliary Policeman and will serve the usual six months probationary period before gaining permanent status on the force.”

“Derailment Cause Is Still a Mystery”

“There was nothing wrong with the tracks, equipment, or speed of the Illinois Central Gulf freight train that derailed in Peotone on August 4, and harmonic action also is doubted as a cause. So stated officials of the ICG Railroad at a public meeting held in the Peotone American Legion Hall on Thursday, September 5. No other possible explanation for the near disaster was offered.

“Sen. James Bell put the question uppermost in many minds to Allan Sams, Illinois Central Gulf Vice President and Chief Engineer. ‘In your opinion, what was wrong with the track that caused the accident?’

“‘I’m satisfied this track did not cause the derailment,’ Sams replied. ‘I don’t know what caused it.’

“Police Chief Tom Ivanhoff said he had conferred with ICG officials after the derailment and the preceding one a year ago last March and, in both instances, the trains had left the tract at a ‘frog’ or switch north of the Wilson Street crosswalk. He said he was told the switch was difficult to repair. An ICG spokesman observed ‘The Chief is correct’ about both accidents happening at the same spot.

“The question of harmonic action, where a rocking motion becomes gradually more pronounced until one car becomes over balanced, was laid to rest by Jim Law, the ICG’s Division Superintendent, who said such action is more pronounced at speeds of 13-20 mph. Presumably the train was traveling considerably faster than that on the Class 4 track.

“County Board Member Bob Weidling commented, ‘You said the tracks and cars were in good action. If not those, it had to be speed.’ He was told the cause of the derailment was not excessive speed.

“Mike Benedetto, from the office of Attorney General William Scott, put the derailment in perspective, pointing to a state-wide problem. There are more trains here than in other states, he stated, with 13 percent of all railroad accidents occurring in Illinois. A rail accident is six times more likely to occur here he disclosed.

“‘We have talked to the railroad industry, the ICC, the legislature, and the unions about what can be done to avoid the problem,’ he said. ‘I am not here to chastise the railroad. We want constructive solutions to the problem of three derailments per day in Illinois.'”

The Crete Record: September 12, 1974

“No Need Now for Year-Round Schools”

“It was hard to tell Monday night whether the 150 parents jammed into the high school little theater for the school board meeting were there to protest the bus problems or hear the long-awaited outside report on year-round school. But there was no mistaking their loud enthusiasm for the outcome of the professionally undertaken feasibility study. Dr. M.P. Heller got no farther than: ‘Year-round school in 201-U would not be the best move at this time,’ when a wave of approving applause drowned the rest of his remarks.

“In determining the possibility of putting 201-U on a year-round basis, presenters analyzed what changes would be necessary in the community, facilities, curriculum, and operating costs. Besides the general conclusion that ‘There is no clearly defined need at this time to implement an extended school year plan in District 201-U,’ the report listed a number of more specific conclusions. Among these are: Enrollment projections for 201-U are extremely difficult, due to the vast amount of available land and the uncertainties of the housing market. Previously predicted explosive enrollment increases have not materialized at this time and probably will remain reasonable through 1976.

“After 1976, student enrollment could increase to the extent that a crisis situation could develop relative to the housing of students. Currently, both the junior and senior high school facilities are over-crowded, but all elementary, except Crete Elementary, are operating within capacity of the facilities. The existing curriculum in the high school and in the majority of the other schools in District 201-U does not indicate a successful transition to an extended school year plan.”

“Complaint Heard on Stiff Dog Ordinance”

“Tickets to the tune of $100, issued in connection with the new dog ordinance, brought Dr. F.H. Campe to the Crete Village Board meeting Monday night asking for clarification of the ordinance and the duties of the warden.

“The ordinance has caused favorable comment from about two-thirds of Crete residents, who have expressed their opinions, Trustee Wendall Regnier reported, but Dr. Campe was vehement in the belief it was not being well administered.

“He said that when he had taken his dog for rabie shots in Steger, he had understood this included his dog license for Crete. Then when his dog was picked up from his property, he was asked by the warden if a dog laying in the field next to his property was his dog, too. He apparently did not answer and told the board he was issued two tickets for a dog that did not belong to him.

“Both Regnier and Mayor Christopher agreed he should not be charged a fine for a dog if it does not belong to him, and Christopher said he would talk to the animal warden and ‘you will be treated fairly.'”

The Beecher Herald: September 12, 1974

“Junior College Vote Set for October 5”

“The back-door referendum to determine whether or not District 200-U remains in the Kankakee Community College District has been scheduled for Saturday, October 5. The polls will be open from noon until 7 p.m., at Beecher High School. Residents are asked to vote a simple yes or no on the junior college question.

“Beecher explained the area failed to take steps prior to July 1 to attach itself to an existing junior college district, as required by law. As a result, the Community College Board conducted a public hearing in Beecher and, following the hearing, made a decision the school district should be annexed to KCC.

“As provided by law, Beecher residents signed a petition opposing the annexation. The petition was filed with the State Community College Board, which in turn directed the calling of an election. If the majority of voters oppose the annexation, the school district will remain outside a junior college area pending further legislation. Residents of the area attending any junior college will have to pay the out-of-district rates and fees.”

“Pomeroy Rejected Again”

“The Will County Board Tuesday again turned down a motion to name Oren Pomeroy Jr. the Supervisor of Assessments, a position he now holds on a day-to-day basis because of the failure of the board to appoint a successor to the post he held four years. The vote was 12-11 against the appointment.

“Ed Kusta, R-Lemont, said the board’s action in again failing to name a Supervisor of Assessment could lead to a lawsuit against the board. Hassert responded, ‘That’s just newspaper talk.’ (Check out next week’s Looking Back for more on that issue.)

“Kusta also suggested Pomeroy be named supervisor, with Olalde as his assistant, admonishing it would be a way out of a dilemma that ‘should have been solved four months ago. I think someplace we should be reasonable people.’ But his plea fell on deaf ears.”

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Have a wonderful week and enjoy this beautiful fall weather – isn’t it grand? Life is Good!!!