The Peotone Vedette: March 12, 1975
Last week, it was mentioned the ICG Bicentennial train had traveled through Peotone on its way to Memphis and New Orleans. Unfortunately, the special train is no more. Read on…
“Only Last week the Illinois Central Gulf’s Bicentennial train came through Peotone on its maiden journey southbound. Today, it is no more. Monday, at 4:15 p.m., the specially painted American Eagle locomotive struck a truck loaded with 150 barrels of crude oil at a crossing six miles south of Brookhaven, Mississippi. Engineer Thomas F. Dickerson, 57, of McComb, Mississippi, was pinned in the burning wreckage and died. Willie E. Reeves, the head brakeman, suffered burns over 35 percent of his body and is in serious condition. The truck driver, Lonnie Case, of Brookhaven, was not injured nor were the conductor and flagman on the train. The American Eagle was the lead of four engines pulling a short piggy-back train, making its promotional run during daylight hours only so everybody could see it. The engine is badly burned and may not be repairable, according to an ICG spokesman.”
“Special Meeting Set on Burglaries”
“Will Township Supervisor Vernon Drecksler has called a special meeting of rural residents to be held Tuesday, March 18, in the Will Township Hall to discuss what can be done about the recent rash of burglaries in the area. The sessions will begin at 7:30 p.m. Sgt. John Johnsen and Deputy Pat Barry of the Will County Sheriff’s Department will be present, along with Peotone Police Chief Tom Ivanoff. It is recommended only one member of each family attend the meeting, so homes are not left unprotected.”
“Radiation Therapy Patients of a Decade Ago Should Get Checkups”
“Dr. Joyce Lashof, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, has sent a ‘flash’ message to all general and family practitioners and internal medicine specialists urging them to have examinations performed on any patients who had radiation therapy to the neck or face area 10-to-25 years ago. Dr. Lashof said she is urging this action because of the apparent association between thyroid cancer and previous treatments by radiation for enlarged thymus, acne, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, or other conditions. Such treatment was not uncommon during the 1950s.
“According to Dr. Lashof, a Chicago study has reported results of examination of 100 persons treated during childhood with irradiation to the neck area who sought examination because of the association between the past irradiation and thyroid cancer. Thyroid abnormalities were found in 26 of these patients. Surgery was recommended in 18 cases and performed in 15. Seven of the 15 patients were found to have cancer of the thyroid, and in five cases the cancer had spread to other parts of the body.
“‘The interval before appearance of thyroid neoplasm has been from 9.6 to 25 or more years after exposure to radiation, depending on the age of the person when first exposed and the size of the radiation dosage,’ Dr. Lashof said.”
The Manteno News: March 13, 1975
Spring, Easter, a St. Patrick’s Day dance, Little League registration, and Girl Scout cookie sales were all mentioned on the front page that week.
Easter was early in 1975 as was indicated by the Manteno Interfaith Worship Service for Good Friday on March 28. It also was announced Girl Scouts would begin their 10-day door-to-door cookie sale campaign on March 14. In a previous edition, it was mentioned that in addition to the five different kinds of cookies at $1 a box, the Scouts also were going to sell boxes of sesame crisp crackers, plus an original blend of tea. Anyone remember that? Wonder how long those stayed on the list?
Manteno Police were on their way to the high school to teach!
“Officers Donate Time to Teach Classes at MHS”
“Through the cooperation of the Manteno Police Department and the Manteno School Board, classes concerning topics of paramount interest to students will be conducted by volunteers from the police force during school hours. Volunteers Sgt. Terry Beutein and Officer Don Sollers will contribute off-duty time to the project. Topics to be presented periodically include Safety for Drivers, Bicycles and Pedestrians, Narcotics and Drugs, and similar subjects of interest to students. Chief of Police Ben Piller is acting as coordinator of the project along with school officials.”
Here’s the text from an ad for Jim’s Clothing on Broadway in Bradley: “Jim’s Weekly Bargain, Special Lot, Men’s Suits and Sportcoats – 250 to choose from, sizes 36 to 52, regular, short, or long, values to $125, only $9.95. THIS IS NOT A MISPRINT, THIS IS THE RIGHT PRICE. Watch for our future bargains. Open Sunday from 12 – 5.”
“Students Invited to Attend Area ‘Career Expo'”
“At least 150 occupations will be represented at the All-Area Career Night on Thursday, March 13, from 7 to 10 p.m., at Kankakee Eastridge High School. Career Expo’ is sponsored by area high schools and is open to the public. There is no admission, and local students are encouraged to attend. Representatives of the numerous occupations will give descriptions and general information about that occupation, as well as individual accounts of experiences on the job.”
“Blood Pressure Clinic Attracts 218 Participants”
“Two hundred eighteen persons participated in the blood pressure clinic sponsored by local nurses during Illinois Nurses’ Week. Appearing at Butler’s store for their free check-up were residents from Manteno, Bonfield, Kankakee, Farmer City, Bourbonnais, Peotone, Momence, Bradley, Grant Park, DesPlaines, and McLeansboro. Out-of-state participants were from Eveleth, Minnesota, Heavener, Oklahoma, and Tallequah, Oklahoma.”
The Beecher Herald: March 12, 1975
“Beecher Spellers Third Time Champs”
“For the third year in a row, Beecher Elementary School’s spelling team brought home the Kan-Will Spelling Contest’s first place trophy. The 1975 written spelling contest was hosted by Wichert Elementary School on March 5, with Beecher’s team competing against five other conference schools.
“The contestants were given 100 words selected and pronounced by an impartial person chosen by the host school. Seventy-five of these words were chosen from a list of 500 the contestants had been able to study. The last 25 were selected at random. Of the 400 words spelled by each team, the rankings were Beecher 329, Grant Prk (yep, they spelled that wrong in the paper) 308, Peotone 307, St. Anne 299, Wichert 279, and manteno (also missed that capital M) 274. (I find it particularly funny these two spelling or capitalization mistakes were in the Spelling Bee Champs article.) For those of you who like a challenge, here are some of the words the contestants had to spell – bathysphere, frieze, irascible, monocotyledon, restaurateur, and swastika.”
“Drainage Assessment Hot Topic at Village Board Meeting Monday”
“Harry Bradshaw’s presence at the village board meeting Monday night gave the board members an opportunity to explain they were not the taxing body responsible for the special assessments for cleaning the drainage ditch. Bradshaw was surprised there weren’t more present, since he was sure his assessment of $1,700 for 40 acres must mean farmers with more acreage were hit even harder.
“Mayor Landis Wehling quickly informed Bradshaw the village also got a bill that covered, among other things, streets, alleys, sidewalks, etc. In fact, it was quoted every square foot of property in the drainage district was included, such as churches, railroads, community building, organization property, etc. Wehling advised anyone having questions to call the drainage district attorneys, B.R. Tongren and Thomas Clinton, in Peotone. It was pointed out the last assessment was levied in 1972, and the village also paid then.”
The Monee Monitor: March 13, 1975
“‘Rethink Schedule Changes’ Students Ask 201-U Board”
“Scheduling for Crete-Monee High School has had high priority for the student body, parents, teachers, administration, and school board members for the past two weeks. Students have been surveyed through the efforts of Student Government, headed by John Petruszak and, of the three classes who will be attending school next year, 65 percent indicated they do not wish to have seven class periods. If present plans of the administration are carried out, the school will go on a seven-period day, with school starting at 8 a.m. and letting out at 3:25 p.m.
“Petruszak and Bruce Todesco, editor of the school newspaper, the “Catalyst,” have not only surveyed students, but also teachers, regarding the length of class periods and their opinions or suggestions for having an earlier closing hour. All are agreed – students, administration, and teachers – study halls are not worthwhile and would like to see them eliminated. The students say, according to the survey, about 97 percent of the teachers would like to see shorter class periods. They believe they could present the same work as effectively and hold the student interest better with shorter class periods.”
Also, on the front page that week were some rather serious matters, including…”Worker Dies After Fall at Deer Creek Junior High.” A 28-year-old worker fell 15 feet after falling from a scaffolding.
“Exchange Street Accident Puts PFS Youth in Hospital”
“A car driven by Jeffrey Kellerman of Park Forest South was towed away in two separate pieces after skidding off the road, down an embankment and into a tree around noon on March 10.
“According to Will County Sheriff’s Policeman Gerald Mandarino, the 17-year-old lost control of his vehicle just after he passed a car driven by Mabel Brockhagen of rural Monee. Both cars were traveling west on Exchange Street. The police said the rear portion of Kellerman’s car struck Mrs. Brockhagen’s left front fender, causing the youth to lose control of his car. Kellerman’ car, when found by police, was wrapped around a tree and totaled.”
“Fire Destroys Crabtree Home”
“A fire of undetermined origin completely destroyed the home of the James Crabtree family on Tuesday afternoon, March 11. According to reports, the fire was discovered in an upstairs bedroom. Two small girls, five and six years of age, and their aunt were in the home at the time. They escaped unharmed. Reports are that the only household goods salvaged were some kitchen appliances.”
Have a great week – Life is Good!!!
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