50 years ago: Drug problem wasn’t unique to O’Fallon, but the solution was
Looking back at stories that appeared in the O’Fallon Progress 100, 75, and 50 years ago:
100 years ago, May 14, 1925
Four automobiles, one an ambulance, figured in a smashup on the Lincoln Trail (Highway 50) about 6 o’clock Sunday evening in two separate crashes, both of which may have resulted more seriously.
The first crash occurred at the intersection of South Lincoln avenue and the Lincoln Trail in which an automobile driven by Joseph Louis was struck by a light delivery truck driven by E. C. Turner of near Lebanon.
Louis was traveling south while Turner was going east. The former’s machine was hit on the rear fender and was thrown a distance of nearly 25 feet overturning when it was knocked off the concrete slab. Louis suffered cuts on the right hand and his father, Frank Louis, who was riding in the machine received injuries to his chest and cuts and bruises. The car, a new Ford sedan, was damaged about $400.
A party who witnessed the accident telephoned to Schwarz Brothers for the ambulance and while the car was going to the scene it was struck by another machine driven by Lottie Owen, of Centralia, near the intersection of the Trail and Cherry street.
The ambulance had turned from Cherry street onto the hard road and was traveling along the right side of the highway when the woman, driving in a reckless manner, slipped off the concrete and struck the ambulance on the right rear fender, rebounded and again crashed into the ambulance on the right side, tearing away the running board and damaging the body and a door. Leonard Schwarz, driver, escaped unhurt.
Mrs. Owen and her husband, who accompanied her, were arrested by Officer Tiley. The police detained the woman but gave the husband his liberty to return to Centralia where he appealed for help to get them out of the trouble. He arrived the next morning with several friends who agreed to pay for the damage to the ambulance.
His wife was arraigned before Judge Earl E. Asbury where she pleaded guilty to a charge of reckless driving and was assessed a fine of $5 and costs. Their machine, a Hupmobile touring car was only slightly damaged. They admitted to the police that they had partaken of several drinks while in East St. Louis from where they were returning to their home when the accident happened.
Turner also appeared in Asbury’s court Monday afternoon and pleaded guilty to a charge of reckless driving in violation of the revised city ordinances and paid a fine of $6.00.
75 years ago, May 11, 1950
Pvt. Gilbert Oberbrockling, of Scott Air Force Base, pleaded guilty to a reckless driving charge in Justice of the Peace James T. Holliday’s court and was fined $10 and costs.
The soldier was charged with driving his car over the full length of a strawberry field from First to Second Streets belonging to truck gardener A. S. Daugherty Friday night. He was arrested by Officers Herman Hemmen and Nick Hemmer.
The previous night Officer Hemmen arrested James R. Fischer of Granite City for failure to observe the four-way stop at State and Lincoln. Hailed before Justice Holliday he pleaded guilty and was assessed a fine of $5.00 and costs.
Jack Hemmer, night attendant at Hilles Service Station, who is known to have had varied experiences in his work, had a new one near midnight Friday when a customer drove up in a brand new delivery truck with the remark “fill ‘er up.”
After being accommodated the liberal customer started to drive away without settling for the gas. “Big Jack” lost no time in reporting the incident to his dad who happens to be Chief of Police.
The Payless gas customer, somewhat under the influence of something stronger than water, did not get far before he was in the clutches of the law. Deprived of the car keys he was ordered to sleep it off in the truck where he remained until the next morning.
With insufficient funds available, St. Louis friends came to his rescue. In departing he courteously apologized to the police, as he expressed it, “for making a fool of myself.”
50 years ago, May 15, 1975
The drug problem in O’Fallon is not unique to this city. However, the way the problem is being handled and the ways it is being fought is unique in many ways.
The Drug Awareness Program was formed in January by some concerned mothers of children in O’Fallon who want to nip the drug problem in the bud. Mrs. Ross Blake was one of the founders of the group that is now comprised of some 25 mothers.
“A family incident made me want to find out more about drugs and why children get started on them. I wanted to find out where the drugs came from and how they were used. I wanted to know mainly for the safety of my children,” she said.
The program has now expanded into a community wide project involving the high school, grade schools, the chamber of commerce, the police department and several other civic organizations.
“We wanted a big enough program so the problems couldn’t be swept under the rug,” Mrs. Blake said.
The organization started to meet at Mrs. Blake’s house but the program has caught on so well that the group meets at Carvil’s Restaurant every Wednesday morning to accommodate all those attending. Various speakers have appeared at the meetings of the drug awareness group.
Roy Winans, juvenile officer for the O’Fallon Police Department was one of the speakers.
“The group is definitely an asset to the community. We co-operate with each other. I try to help the parents with some of their problems and they help me with my job,” Winans said.
Robert Bellina, principal of O’Fallon Township High School, agrees that the group will help with the drug problem.
“The group is quite beneficial to the community. The parents learn how to spot problems and where to get help,” Bellina said.
During the summer months, the group plans to change from weekly meetings to meeting twice a month, possibly having one meeting in the day and one at night to let those parents who work have a chance to attend a meeting. And the parents do learn at the meeting.
Actual marijuana has been burned at one meeting to help parents become acquainted with the smell of the plant. A drug addict has talked to this group to warn of the hazardous effects of drug addiction.
“We have all learned a lot through the group and we want to learn more,” said Mrs Blake.