Forty Years Ago

Chuck “Bubba” Whelpley was more than a good police officer during his 30 years on the force here. While cruising east on the Eisenhower a call came from Brookfield that three subjects – would-be robbers – were highballing it down the Ike. Whelpley turned on the lights and accelerated.

The trio’s car came into view, and then did its own acceleration. After much dangerous zigging and zagging, Whelpley fired two warning shots. The car turned off I-290 and sped south on Cicero Avenue. Before the chase ended, squads from Chicago and four suburbs were involved. It was Whelpley, however, who curbed the suspects.

You’re a good man, Charley Whelpley.

The fate of Forest Park’s swimming pool was resolved by voters who said “Yes” to having a pool for the coming summer. More stringent safety regulations and better hygienic measures from the county had jeopardized use of the facility indefinitely. The 2-1 vote came down 1,538 in favor and 749 against. Mayor-to-be Lorraine Popelka, whose longtime avocation was park swimming instructor, turned out to be a strong advocate.

From the Feb. 15 and 22, 1968, Forest Park Review

Thirty Years Ago

Even at the brink of spring a cold is for all seasons. Hence, the timeliness of this piece from the Jan.18, 1978, Review. The common cold is common because we’re all subject to it the year ’round. (Some of us may have two colds at the same time.) Viruses and germs are the dirty little buggers that cause colds. Just one can invade your nose or throat, find a soft, cushy host cell, settle in, multiply (heh-heh) and destroy the luckless host along with a million of its relatives. (Sounds like warfare and carnage.)

Let’s skip the smarmy symptoms and cut to prevention.

1. A cold can’t be starved, so eat good stuff; and maybe for the first time in your life, actually drink eight glasses of water in a day. 2. Crash. Blow some serious ZZZs. And exercise. (Ha!) 3. Up the humidifier, lower the thermostat. 4. If your best friend has a cold, make a temporary enemy out of that person. 5. Stop complaining. Nobody cares. They have colds of their own. (Remember, some may have two.)

From the Jan. 18, 1978, Forest Park Review

Twenty Years Ago

With the heightened awareness of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, this seems like a worthwhile mention today. A 91-year-old sheltered care resident at the Altenheim was found by police at 4:55 a.m. at the White Hen Pantry, 7660 Madison St., bleeding from a small cut on the head. He had wandered from the home unnoticed. Before the police returned him, the man said he and his wife were driving when their car broke down. It was soon determined that he had been a widower for 13 years. A nurse said he was sleeping during a 4 a.m. bed check. Interim administrator Tom Gora surmised the resident left the facility through the main entrance since it was the only door not wired to the alarm system.

Correction: “In the Feb. 14, 1988, issue, hours at the Bulk Mail Center service window were given as 7 a.m. Monday to 5 a.m. Saturday. A postal official said the correct hours were 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.” Regarding the former – That Was the Workweek That Was!

From the March 9, 1988, Forest Park Review

Ten Years Ago

It’s been 10 years since the waiving of Forest Park’s residency requirement. Long a point of contention with village employees, the rule of “work here-live here” was finally shown the exit door. Those responsible for banishing the policy were commissioners Tim Gillian, Laureen Thornton and Tony Calderone. Commissioner Jerry Jacknow and Mayor Lorraine Popelka voted to retain the requirement.

The reversal of this ruling was particularly unfortunate for Patricia Murphy, who had served eight years as health inspector, only to be “reluctantly” fired weeks after she and her husband had moved to another home in a nearby suburb. To complicate the matter, Mrs. Murphy’s husband suffered an injury at work requiring extended medical care.

From the Feb. 28, 1998, Forest Park Review