Looking Back 7/20/22

By Editor | July 19, 2022 |

25 years ago
July 16, 1997
The Joe Page Bridge was the scene of a fatal accident on Friday, July 11, when a farm truck slammed into the center bridge span as it was being raised.
Master Sergeant Graden of the Illinois State Police in Litchfield reported that the accident happened at 4:14 p.m.
“The center segment of the bridge was being raised and was about four feet above the roadway level surface. A 1973 Chevrolet farm truck driven by Darrell A. Krause, 51, of Kane, was going west crossing the bridge. The truck went through the bridge gates and struck the center bridge span. As a result, the truck caught fire, and the cabin was destroyed. Krause was alone,” Graden said.
“We don’t know for sure what happened. We’re still investigating. The incident will be reconstructed by an accident reconstruction officer,” Graden added.
Authorities are checking into the failure. An autopsy is also being conducted to look into possible health problems.
Both sets of gates had been closed, an alarm was sounding and red lights were flashing to warn drivers that the lift span was being raised to allow a towboat to pass below on the Illinois River.
“It will be thoroughly investigated,” Graden said.
The truck was situated in the middle of the bridge roadway, according to a nearby motorist.
Krause had been to Hardin earlier in the day when he had delivered a load of grain to the Jersey County Grain Co.’s elevator. He was returning with another load.
Calhoun Sheriff Richard Meyer was on the scene in less than five minutes after the accident happened carrying fire extinguishers.
Others who were close-by also came to the victim’s aid with fire extinguishers.
Meyer said that even though it was inside the Calhoun County limit by 50 feet, the Greene County authorities are handling it. Meyer is not objecting to their investigation.
At first it was announced that the bridge would be closed the entire weekend. However, after the truck was towed away at 8:30 p.m., Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) workers began making repairs. There were fewer repairs to make than were anticipated.
“Both sets of gates, the wooden arm and the steel arm, along with cable, had to be replaced,” Meyer said.
John Burke, Bureau Chief of Information and Public Assistance with IDOT, said that the bridge was tested and inspected well before reopening it.
“Our records show that the bridge was back in operation at 1:20 p.m. on Saturday,” Charlie Herzog, Services and Development Technician for IDOT, stated.
Traffic was rerouted by way of the Kampsville and Brussels ferries until the bridge was reopened.
Greene County Coroner Dean Bishop said that there will not be any new information until after the inquest.
“I’m waiting on several reports that have ot come back first— area reconstructionists, state police, autopsy reports. I hope within 30 days. It could be longer,” Bishop said.
Bishop’s Deputy Coroner Rick Hires pronounced Krause dead at the scene at 5:15 p.m.
Krause was the son of Geraldine (Godar) Krause of Kane and the late Arthur Carl “Art” Krause. Krause worked as a farmer in Greene and Jersey Counties and was formerly a construction ironworker.

50 years ago
July 20, 1972
Gov. Richard B. Ogilvie has approved legislation to restore the observance of Veterans Day to Nov. 11 from the fourth Monday in October.
Senate Bill 1385 amends the Illinois School Code, SB 1386 amends the Illinois Veterans Act and SB 1387 amends the Negotiable Instruments Act affecting banks to comply with the change in day’s observance.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and other groups worked to have the date restored to the 11th. That date, once known as Armistice Day, officially announced the end of World War I on the 11th day of the month, 11th month of the year, the 11th hour of the day.
In concurrence with legislation enacted by the federal government several years ago, Illinois changed state holidays to Mondays.
Since that time, Veterans Day is the second holiday to be moved back to its original date.
The observance of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday recently was switched back to Feb. 12.
In a recent speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Springfield, Ogilvie made the following comments on the importance of Veterans Day observances:
“The men of the VFW know the terrible price of freedom. We know that freedom is not free, it costs money, and sweat, and blood, and yes, the lives of brave men.
“It is a price we are willing to pay, because the alternative to freedom is tyranny. And that is no choice at all.”

75 years ago
July 17, 1947
Henry C. Meyer, agent for the Prince Basket Company of Pittsburg, Tx. began work Monday on the construction of a warehouse to store apple baskets.
The building, a concrete block with large dome roof structure, is being built on the vacant lot west of Mr. Meyer’s home in west Hardin.
The Main Construction Company of Nebo are the contractors.

100 years ago
July 20, 1922
Mr. Emil Gresham and Miss Opal Talbert, two very popular young people of Hamburg precinct, were united in marriage at high noon last Saturday, July 15, 1922, by Esq. C.C. Campbell of Hardin.
The wedding was performed in the nice newly built and newly furnished office room of Attorney C.C. Worthy.
Mr. Worthy, being a personal friend of the young couple, they chose to be united in marriage in his office, he with his stenographer, Miss Ione Wilkinson, acting as witnesses to the ceremony.
Mr. and Mrs. William Lammy, the latter a sister to the groom, also witnessed the ceremony.
The bride is a pretty and accomplished daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Talbert, very highly respected citizens of Hamburg precinct, and the groom, a very fine young man with splendid habits and very industrious, is a son of Mrs. Logan Gresham.
The young couple will make their home on a farm in Hamburg precinct and they have a large number of friends who join with the News in wishing that neither will have cause to regret their step taken in married life.