Looking Back… News items from the past pates of the Calhoun News Herald
100 years ago
April 8, 1926
Hattie A. Fluent of Richwoods precinct, announces her candidacy this week to the office of County Judge of Calhoun County subject to the decision of the Republican voters at their primary next Tuesday. Her announcement can be found elsewhere in this paper. Mrs. Fluent is the only woman aspiring for county office, she has three men opponents in the race. Mrs. Fluent is a self-made woman, having battled her way through life, receiving some hard licks as she went along. Thirty-five years ago she was left a widow, in very poor circumstances, with two small babies to care for, and today one of those babies, who still resides with her, is one of our county’s largest tax payers. During the World War while the son was under the colors, Mrs. Fluent operated the farm and raised crops to feed the boys in khaki. Mrs. Fluent, we believe, is qualified to perform the duties of the office of County Judge, if the voters see fit to nominate and elect her. She is a business woman with good judgement, and is a hustler. She believes that she is entitled to recognition at the hands of the voters and asks that her candidacy be given full consideration.
75 years ago
April 5, 1951
The Hanks Funeral Home ambulance, a black Chrysler, was stolen from in back of the funeral home last Thursday night just after Mr. Paul Hanks had come in with a body from an Alton hospital. He had just gone into the home when a 1949 Plymouth drove up and parked across the street. A man got out and started the ambulance motor and drove away. Mrs. Hanks, wondering why her husband was leaving again so soon, looked out of the window just as the car disappeared. The ambulance was found Saturday abandoned in Kansas where the driver had stolen another car. The Plymouth he had left in Hardin was one that had been stolen in Springfield. Pete Pethtel, town marshall, has received a $50 reward for finding and holding the Springfield car for authorities there. C.C. Hanks went for the car and found that three young boys, two 16 and one 15, from Michigan had been caught for stealing the cars after they had wrecked the one they took in Kansas.
50 years ago
April 8, 1976
Through the cooperation of the Secretary of State Office and the Calhoun-Jersey Educational Service Region, a replica of the Liberty Bell, mounted on a 19×7 foot trailer, will be located at various sites within the Calhoun-Jersey county region. Everyone is invited to view and ring the bell for this Bicentennial year. “During this Bicentennial year, the bell is being displayed at schools, libraries, shopping centers and other public facilities in all areas of the state,” Michael Howlett, Secretary of State said. Everyone observing the bell during its statewide tour is being invited to sing his or her name on a sheet of paper. The names and other memorabilia will be placed in a time capsule, which will be buried beneath the Liberty Bell when it is permanently mounted on the Capital grounds in Springfield at the conclusion of the tour. The capsule wil be reopened on the 300th birthday of the United States in 2076.
25 years ago
April 4, 2001
Work continues on connecting the new sewer line for the Calhoun Unit #40 middle school currently under construction. The existing line runs under Route #100 just south of the existing high school in Hardin. Workers are busy pouring concrete around the new sewer lines. By afternoon the rain began to fall and work once again was stalled.
