Take a closer look at clothing and hairstyles from the ‘70s. –File photo.
The Peotone Vedette: April 9, 1975
There was plenty of pre-election news on the front page that week, including five candidates running for school board and nine candidates for the village board.
Among those running for the 207-U School Board on Saturday, April 12, were Dorothy Otten, Wayne Krapf, Kent Heatherwick, Chris Tsilis, and Gilbert Fox. Running for Peotone Village Board in the Tuesday, April 15, election were Leo Stender, W. Roy Hartman, Russel Beedy, Roger Hupe, Dennis Flowers, Helen Conrad, Alfred Depperman, Donald Doolin, and Barbara Anderson. Yes, believe it or not, with local elections usually showing a low voter turnout – these two elections were not on the same day and just a few days apart. Thank heavens, that is no longer the case.
Apparently, the Junior College Board seats were also on April 12, while park district candidates appeared on the April 15 ballot.
Guess this might be the predecessor of the modern-day Zoom call…
“Phone Seminar”
“VA physician Dr. James C. Folsom addressed nearly 300 Wisconsin physicians recently from his office in Washington. A special telephone hookup provided a two-way telephone seminar sponsored by the University of Wisconsin. Dr. Folsom is known for his research and work in problems of aging.”
Think this information is as true today as it was in 1975…
“Credit Cards Can Pose Dangers to Families on Budgets”
“With inflation crimping the style of family budgets, many homemakers are seeking every device possible to make their dollar go further. One of the most tempting of these devices is the credit card.
“But because these handy cards make buying things so easy, they can be dangerous, especially to families having trouble keeping their budgets under control, cautions Penny Scott, family financial advisor at Oak Park Federal Savings and Loan Association, one of the Chicago area’s leading thrift institutions.
“Credit cards have certain advantages: They are easier and safer to carry around than cash. They’re honored in many places that may not honor a personal check. You normally get 30 days to pay without interest and get a detailed receipt for your purchases that can be useful for insurance, budgeting, and tax deduction purposes. Once a month, you receive a consolidated billing for each card covering all the purchases made on it, so you make out only one check per card instead of many. Some credit cards enable you to get a cash advance at a bank, a handy lifesaver if you suddenly need cash.
“But helpful as they are, credit cards also have some drawbacks:
“Because they make things so easy to buy, they’re dangerous if you’re an impulse buyer. If you don’t pay within the allotted period, you’ll be charged 1 to 1-1/2 percent a month, that’s 12-to-18 percent a year. (Wow – have we traveled a LONG WAY!) If your card is lost or stolen, you’re liable for up to $50 for unauthorized use of the card. That may not sound like much, but if you lose a wallet or purse with 10 credit cards in it, you could be liable for $500. If you have duplicate cards for members of your family, you can quickly lose track of how much you’re running up in bills. This is a particular danger if your children use the cards. Also, billing errors have been known to occur, and you’re billed for purchases you never made.
“Sometimes it takes months to straighten things out. Meanwhile, because the computer says you never paid, your credit rating may suffer. You may lose your credit card, and the local credit bureau may list you as a bad risk. Eventually, you can set things straight, but it can be quite a struggle.
“However, if you must use credit cards: Limit the number of cards you carry. The very day you make a credit card purchase, debit your budget accordingly. Don’t give credit cards to your children. Pay your credit card bills immediately. Keep a record of your cards and their numbers, and if you receive a bill for more than you own, send a certified or registered letter to the credit card company and another to your local credit card bureau.”
The Beecher Herald: April 9, 1975
“PSC Paper Angers Board by Conflict of Interest Charge”
“The Prairie State College Board reacted angrily at its regular meeting on Thursday, March 27, to charges of conflict of interest published in The Prairie Statement, the college newspaper, of the same day.
“‘Is this flyer rumor or truth?’ Under that heading, the paper reprinted a communication from an anonymous faculty information committee, which charged possible conflict of interest to the award of the interior design contract for the new college building to Donald Pommer, husband of Meredith Pommer, secretary to Ashley Johnson, president of Prairie State.
“The flyer, which had been previously distributed around the campus, charged a memo from the office of the president had reported that a verbal report of the North Central Accrediting Agency said, ‘Need to watch the conflict of interest.’
“While admitting the exact nature of the conflict of interest was not spelled out in the memo, the communication went on to note the relationship between the Pommers and to charge his fee of $14,750 exceeded the bids of two others and that the board is now recommending that Pommer be paid $25 per hour above his fee for additional services.
“Board chairman Patrick Parisi termed the charges ‘irresponsible’ and ‘unfounded.’ Pommer, he said, submitted the best presentation for the work and, for this reason, was awarded the bid after extensive discussion by the board at public meetings.
“‘We (the board),’ he went on, ‘believe there is no conflict morally.’
“In addition, he condemned the Prairie Statement for reprinting the flyer. It was, he said, ‘beneath good journalism’ to print ‘these accusations and slanderous remarks.’
“He asked why no one from the paper was there, saying ‘Why don’t they ask someone here about this?’ He also asked the faculty to denounce the charges by issuing a statement saying it does not support them.
“Lee Albrecht, faculty representative to the board, called the charges ‘despicable,’ but protested that the faculty should not have to ‘stand here and defend itself ‘because the memo did not come from the faculty as a whole.
“After Besterfield, a board member and candidate for re-election April 12, then protested another faculty letter circulated on campus last week. The letter signed by faculty member Burt Barrett questioned the appropriateness of two candidates from the same firm running for election to the board.
“The two candidates referred to are Besterfield himself, who is president of Wilkes, Besterfield and Co., Ltd, an auditing firm for many public bodies, and James F. Tapscott, a candidate for the one-year term on the board, who is audit manager of Besterfield’s firm.
“Besterfield said he had not planned to run and therefore had encouraged Tapscott to seek the post. Besterfield continued that he had changed his mind when Johnson resigned from the presidency, because he thought it important for current board members to share in the decision on Johnson’s successor.”
The Monee Monitor: April 10, 1975
“Bank of Park Forest to Introduce ‘Drive Through’ Banking to Chicago Area”
–File photo.
“The Bank of Park Forest has begun construction of what is believed to be only the second installation in the United States, of a ‘Drive Through’ banking facility. The new installation will be constructed at an estimated cost of $600,000. The new ‘Drive Through’ facility has been designed to double the present motorist banking service capability of the bank, which will be increased from the current three windows to six. It will accommodate three lanes of traffic instead of the current single lane and will employ a pneumatic tube system for more speedy banking transactions. The new facility will be a two-story structure from which bank tellers will look down on cars.
“The current system will be retained throughout the construction of the new facility, which is expected to be ready for operation about October 1.
“In announcing the construction of the new facility, Martin Ganzel, bank president, said, ‘We are making this substantial investment in banking facilities for two important reasons. One – we are constantly alert to finding new ways of improving service for current and prospective depositors. Two – we regard this new facility as a vote of confidence for the future of the entire Park Forest area. We have great faith in the area and the people served by the Bank of Park Forest. We will continue to do everything possible within our power to contribute to the stability, sound growth, and prosperity of the communities we serve.'”
“Nuclear Growth”
“As of mid-1974, the U.S. had 49 operable nuclear power plants with a capacity of just under 32 kilowatts, or about 6.9 percent of the country’s total generating capacity. The United Kingdom, Russia, and France had a combined total of 55 operable nuclear reactors, with an aggregate generating capability of about 11,700,000 kilowatts. Estimates from 32 countries outside the U.S. indicate half of their electricity will be produced by nuclear power by the end of the century. This compares with 55 percent projected for the U.S. by the year 2000.”
The Manteno News: April 10, 1975
Of course with two elections just days apart, the front page of the paper featured candidates for both the village and school board, including James Burns, Dale Noble, Jacqulyn Hammond and Joseph Hilsenhoff, who were running for the school board.
Village board Independents were Mattie McConnell, Lee Perkins, Julia Link, and Charles Wilson Sr. Members of the Progressive Party running were Francis Wallrich, Howard Potts and Richard Cyrier.
How times have changed…this really isn’t much of an issue anymore as there’s a plethora of options for the handicapped today…we’ve come a long way!
“Bur Oak Library System Offers Unique Talking Books for Blind”
“Do you know someone who lost a hand or an arm? Someone in an iron lung? Someone with cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, or multiple sclerosis? If so, you can help this person fill his leisure hours, continue his studies, or keep up with the world around him. The Bur Oak Library System offers a unique federal program of talking books for the blind and physically handicapped. You cannot buy these books, and you will not find them in your local bookstore. Talking books are free on loan from your local library.
“The rewards and joys of reading best sellers, poetry, classics, and magazines now are available to persons with a visual or physical handicap. Call your local public library or the Bur Oak Library system to register for books and a machine. Make this program known to those who could benefit from it.
At Manteno Foods: Skim milk – 59¢/half gallon; Tropicana OJ – 69¢/half gallon; Corn King bacon – $1.09 lb.; standing rump roast- $1.09 lb.; and Pillsbury flour – 79¢ for 5 lbs.
Have a wonderful week and stay dry. April sure is living up to her “wet tradition.” Life is Good!!