100 years ago: Local officials hand off scarlet fever epidemic to state authorities
100 years ago, Feb. 4, 1926
At a joint meeting Tuesday night of the city health officers and the members of the boards of education, the scarlet fever situation was discussed and plans formulated in an effort to check further spreading or probable epidemic. The bodies decided to secure an officer from the state department to take charge of the situation.
Dr. Robert C. Cook, of the State health department, arrived here yesterday afternoon and immediately took charge. A trained nurse from Springfield is expected to arrive here about Friday to assist the board of health in the schools where the contagion is most prolific at the present time.
Dr. Cook will remain in this city for several days to take care of any new developments which may arise.
Dr. Cook last night furnished a Progress reporter with a statement regarding scarlet fever, which is as follows:
“Scarlet fever is one of the most treacherous diseases of childhood. The disease itself is often apparently mild, only to be followed by severe and dangerous complications, such as mild ear trouble or kidney conditions.
“Every parent and citizen owes it to the city and school board to cooperate in the matter of reporting contagious disease and in assisting in the enforcement of quarantine. We too often wait until there is serious sickness or death before we are aroused to the fact that scarlet fever is a dangerous disease.
“It is the duty of every physician, teacher, parent, or other citizen having knowledge of a known or suspected case of scarlet fever to report the same to the local health officer at once. Scarlet fever is in the community and the parents of any child developing sore throat or rash, should have the child examined by their physician. In all cases of scarlet fever, quarantine must be maintained for a minimum period of four weeks, and until all discharges from the nose and throat have ceased.
“It is unlawful to sell milk or other food stuffs from quarantined premises. Empty milk bottles from these premises should not be returned until the disease is terminated, and then only after they have been sterilized.
“All citizens are responsible for the reporting of contagious diseases and the observance of quarantine rules. The penalty for failure to comply with the above rules is a fine not exceeding $200 for each offense. Existing conditions make it imperative that the Board of Health must rigidly enforce these regulations and penalties without fear or favor.”
75 years ago, Feb. 1, 1951
A bake sale and bazaar for the benefit of the March of Dimes campaign in O’Fallon will be given starting at 10 a.m. tomorrow in the V.F.W. home on West First Street by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Progressive Miners of America.
Home baked pies, cakes, coffee cakes and doughnuts are to be provided for sale. The bazaar will offer needle work and other items of interest to home makers. Articles to sell will be accepted from others besides members of the auxiliary.
The Rotary Club is conducting its campaign among O’Fallon’s business places. Early reports indicate quick acceptance by business men of their responsibility to aid the drive. A final report of this activity will be made next week.
Members of the O’Fallon Woman’s Club are conducting a drive among individuals and the employees groups.
Progressive Mine Workers of America Local No. 75 are expected to hold their usual solicitation among its members early this month.
The March of Dimes campaign raised money to fight polio.
50 years ago, Feb. 5, 1976
Magazines felt to be obscene by city officials were removed from the racks of local stores last week and one store operator removed one week’s issue of The Progress and other selected area daily newspapers.
The January 22 issue of The Progress had been banished by the Plaza Drugs East but the management restocked the shelves with the newspaper last week.
“If the city can tell me what magazines I can and can’t sell, I can pick what newspapers I want to sell,” said Neal Gavin of Plaza Drugs East, as the reason for removing the papers one week.
Plaza East had the largest number of “nudie” magazines in the area which were removed last week. Adult paperbacks were also taken off Gavin’s shelves. In its place was a sign telling the would-be purchaser of the situation.
The sign read, “The city of O’Fallon has taken the position that certain magazines are obscene. Some of those were on these shelves. This store will always obey the strictest letter of the law. Should you not agree with the city position, contact your local alderman or the mayor. The management of this store will not make any definition or judgment on the law or its application.”
The sign also listed the names and phone numbers of O’Fallon’s mayor and aldermen.
Gavin said the sign was put up to keep people from “running nuts through the store looking for the magazines.”
Gavin also said that he knew nothing about the obscenity ordinance until information about it was published in The Progress two weeks ago. When asked if he would fight the ruling or seek a compromise in the dispute, Gavin said, “No comment.”
Joe Keck, owner of Plaza Liquor, said he was disturbed that the city was so vague in telling merchants what magazines to remove.
“They just told us to take the obscene magazines off the racks. That could mean Time magazine to some people,” Keck said.
Keck said that the magazines removed from the racks last week have been sold in O’Fallon for many years. “It seems inconsistent that magazines can be received through the mail and not purchased in a store,” Keck said.
Dan Smith, owner of Smith Drugs, said the removal of the magazines was “ridiculous.” However, Smith said he will not fight the removal because “it’s not worth the time over a bunch of magazines.”
Alderman Robert Lillie, chairman of the Health and Safety Committee, and Mayor Gary Mackey, said there are no plans to meet with the store owners to work out a compromise on the sale of the magazines.
“Until the Belleville court situation is worked out, we will stand pat with our ordinance,” Mackey said.
However, it seems that one local merchant is not satisfied with the city’s ruling and continues to sell the magazines under the counter for now.
“I’ve run out of Playboy now, so I don’t have anything to sell,” the person said.