By Arline Adamsick
The Beecher Herald: November 14, 1974
“Village Board Discusses Library District Possibilities”
“The citizens of Beecher will be faced with the choice of renewing the Bur Oak Bookmobile contract for another six months and work toward and hold a library referendum or let the two-year demonstration end and terminate all local public library service.
“This was brought to light at the village board meeting Monday evening when a letter was read from Charles DeYoung, director of the Bur Oak Library System. The letter stated the last visit of the Bookmobile (unless other arrangements are made) will be on Thursday, December 26.
“Through the efforts of Mrs. Marcelle Bernard, the bookmobile project began in Beecher on December 14, 1972. She was instructed in getting donations from the village government, Women’s Welfare Club, Bernard Division of Dover Corp., Zion Lutheran PTL, and Beecher PTO to underwrite the project.
“The project served as a demonstration of public library service to area residents, with the hoped-for result in the establishment of a tax supported public library district with permanent library quarters to be established in Beecher.
“The service was renewed for one more year to January 1, 1975, with the understanding this was to be the last year this demonstration experiment would be provided for the area.
“The letter pointed out Peotone had held a successful district library election, and Grant Park has decided to form a district library along the boundaries of their Grant Park High School District. They hope to hold this election in December or in early 1975.
“DeYoung added: ‘It would be impossible to try to legally set up and to hold a District Library Establishment Referendum in the two months left in this year – so the Bur Oak System would be willing to grant one more extension – this one for six months through June, 1975, but only if it is agreed and understood that a District Library Referendum will be planned and held during this extension period. On the successful holding of such an election and the legal establishment of such a library, the tax funds won’t start coming for approximately one year. The Bur Oak System then will extend the bookmobile service on a contracted basis for another additional year until your library can get under way.’”
“Is Everyone Wealthy in Beecher?”
“Discussion by the board of education at its regular meeting on Monday evening of the continuing problem of finding a crossing guard for Rt. 1 prompted Herman Fisher, board president, to ask, ‘Is everyone wealthy in Beecher?’
“Supt. Jack Keller reported he met with Police Chief Mervin Bewsey, who has been unable to find an applicant for the crossing guard position. He added, however, that two policemen are on duty at the arrival and dismissal times and at the noon hour.
“Keller believes if he were allowed to pay them, he could find guards from among the upperclassmen at the high school. Mrs. Betty Johnson replied she does not approve of paying students for school-connected work and suggested junior high students be used for crossing patrols. Supt. Keller stated this would interfere with their classroom time and, in addition, he believes older students would not obey younger ones. The general consensus of the board was such work would be too great a responsibility for such young students.”
The Manteno News: November 14, 1974
“Methodists Plan Nursery School”
“The Manteno United Methodist Church is completing plans for the opening of ‘U are U’ Nursery School on January 6, 1975. The preschool educational experience will be for children ages three, four, and five. Two half-day sessions, lasting 2-1/2 hours each, will be available. Tuition cost will be $12.50 per week, or a reduced monthly rate of $50. Parents of preschoolers will be sent additional information, including registration forms, later this month. Registration will be held in December, prior to the opening date. Volunteer workers are needed to help with the nursery school. Those interested should either call or stop by the church office for an application.”
It took a while for this idea to come to fruition…34 years to be exact!
“As We See It…Ban Smoking”
“Some 200 people recently petitioned the Illinois Pollution Control Board to ban smoking in public rooms and on public transportation. They demanded adoption of a nonsmoker’s bill of rights. The right to clean air is a logical one; since smoke inhalation now is known to cause cancer and other diseases, one can understand the concern of nonsmokers over air needlessly polluted by tobacco addicts.
“Appeals similar to the Illinois petition have failed in the past. This ambitious effort may also fail, but the day will come when non-smokers are no longer forced to breathe polluted and unhealthy air – so others can risk health and life for their addiction.” It only took 34 years to get that cleaner air for Illinois residents – January 1, 2008.
The Crete Record: November 14, 1974
“Three Youths Injured in Hayride Accident”
“Three young people from Lansing were injured Tuesday night around 8:30 p.m. in a hayride accident when the gate of the rack they were riding on apparently broke. They fell out and were run over by the third rack, according to Will County Sheriff’s Police.
“About 50 teenagers from Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Lansing departed on the hayride from the Richard Drexda farm on Goodenow Road and were riding on three hayracks pulled in tandem by a tractor The tractor was driven by John DeBoer of rural Chicago Heights.
“According to Sheriff’s Police Officer Pat Barry, the end gate of the second hayrack apparently broke and the three youths fell off, at which time the third rack ran over them. The accident occurred on Bemis Road in Crete, one half mile east of Klemme Road.
“Steven Kooyanga, 14, was taken to St. James Hospital for observation and was then transferred to Wesley Memorial Hospital in Evanston. He is listed in serious condition with internal injuries, numerous broken bones, and head injuries.
“Vernon Lich, 15, was taken to St. James Hospital, where he is listed in fair condition with head injuries and a fracture of the skull above the eye. Also taken to St. James was Jill Hoogewerf, 14, who was treated and released, according to Officer Barry.”
“U.S. Attorney Hits Soft Sentences by Judges”
“The prevention of crime is not being helped by ‘these starry-eyed sociologists who think the answer to everything is to treat everybody nice,’ Assistant U.S. Attorney D. Arthur Connelly complained at a recent meeting of the County Police Chiefs’ Association.
“Heated remarks by the chief of the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney were sparked by a question of whether or not he had any way of knowing if his division was preventing any crimes.
“‘I think the judges are the ones who prevent the crimes by the sentences they impose, and they haven’t been too helpful,’ Connelly answered, ‘and neither have the probation officers.’
“‘All these sociologists think we ought to abolish penitentiaries, and 70 percent of the crime is committed by people who have been committing it all the time,’ Connelly said. ‘And the judges give them three years…and some parole board lets them out in six months so they can do it all over again That’s a lot of nonsense.’
“‘It’s the same thing they keep talking about; for 20 years they’ve been telling me this is the way to solve the criminal problem, Connelly continued. ‘That’s a lot of baloney.’
“‘The way to solve it is when a guy sells 30 ounces of cocaine, give him 20 years in the joint and let him stay there 15 years. At least he won’t be selling for 15 years.’ He later added the electric chair is ‘the best deterrent.’” Wow – why don’t you tell us how you really feel???
The Peotone Vedette: November 15, 1974
“Senior Woman’s Club Will Conduct Postal Survey Here”
“Trustee Warren Baker reported to the village board at their regular meeting Tuesday night that the Senior Woman’s Club has agreed to conduct a door-to-door survey of Peotone residents to determine if they want mail delivery or not. The women will receive literature answering all the questions likely to be raised before they begin their canvas.
“One of the requirements of the U.S. Postal Service before city delivery service can be established here is that a poll must be taken of all box holders and 75 percent of the residents must be in favor of delivery.
“Delivery, if it comes, will not be porch-to-porch. Rather, mailboxes will have to be set up at the curbline, all on one side of the street. If patrons do not want individual mailboxes they can opt for a cluster of 18 mailboxes in one unit, which is provided by the Postal Service, exclusive of installation. Because of rising costs, the post office says this is the only manner in which Peotone can obtain delivery, which is to curbside mailboxes rather than to the houses themselves.”
“Supervisor Appointment Could Spare Board Suit”
By Kathy Chapp, Will County Press
“If the county board appoints a supervisor of assessments by January 25, its 27 members will be out of a lawsuit brought against them last September by State’s Attorney Martin Rudman. If the appointment is not made, proceedings will continue January 25, as stated recently in a ruling by Associate Judge John Verklan.
“The continuance was suggested by Rudman, who had asked the court to compel the board to appoint a supervisor of assessments. He explained he thought the new county board may reach a decision without a court mandamus. In the past, the board has failed several times to appoint a supervisor from the three candidates qualified by the State Department of Local Government Affairs.
“Oren Pomeroy Jr. is one of the three candidates and has been working as supervisor of assessments without a contract since his expired last March. The issue is a political one that, as far as Pomeroy knows, has not occurred anywhere else. County board members could not possibly evaluate him on his ability, he told the Will County Weekly Press last week because ‘I think no one on the board has near enough comprehension of the job.’”
Have a wonderful week – Life is Good!!