<o THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER "Serving The Chain-0-Lakes Region Since 1875" Volume 86 -- No. 52 -- 3 Sections McHENRY, ILLINOIS. THURSDAY, MAY 4, 1961 18 Pages -- 10c Per Copy Musin Each week there appear more signs that the summer season is fast approaching. ( We talked this week with the enthusiastic leader of the •McHenry municipal band, Stanlev Vycital, arid he reports a YMy real interest on the part of local 'musicians. The first practice will be held at 8 o'clock next Monday evening, May 8, in Landmark school gym, the site. of city i band rehearsals some yean 1 hack. Plans call for weekly concerts to be given in the various business sections, much as they occurred on a new Tule initiated last year. . Vycital is eager to hear from adult musicians who might be interested in joining. It was a most enjoyable evening that several of us from the Plaindealer office spent as dinner guests of Northern Illinois Gas company in Crystal Lake last Thursday evening. _ This annual get-together was ll^un several years ago, for the purpose of company officials becoming better acquainted with the press. We have yet to meet more genial hosts and hostesses. Following dinner, President. Marvin Chandler of the company explained briefly progress made in this area in the past year. His talk was informative ami interesting and gave the pifss some facts which should prove useful. Postmaster James Hettermann found an interesting coincidence as he was examining a portion of the charred garage near the post office which burned two weeks ago. What appeared to be a street number under a system which must hgge been in effect many years ago, gave the garage an address of 1342. Under the new address system, it is also in the 1300 block. There is talk of a pageant to be held in connection with Fiesta Day and the 125th anniversary of McHenry's founding next summer. Folks who lived in our community in the cfcjtennial year still remember the excitement and enthusiasm over the 1936 pageant, which was one of the highlights of that event. A little cooperation among many people may result in another memorable program summer. ^._of modern day's most oftenused inventions, and probably the one taken most for granted, is the telephone. Our thoughts turned to this little instrument during the past few weeks when announcement of the new All-Number system was announced. That little instrument is responsible at times for more pleasure, relaxation and saving of time than any other household innovation in the last half century. At other times, it is 4j||kally as responsible for consternation and time wasting. However you look at it, the telephone is surely here to stay; at least it appears to be with statistics which tell us that nearly half of all the phones added in a year are in the United States and our country continues to account for more than half the world's total service. 'Barents of teen-age children may find this hard to believe, but the distinction for being the most talkative nation bei longs to Canada. If you think * you have problems, mom, just think What they would be if you were a Canadian. ' On the other hand, consider how fortunate would be your lot if you resided in Greenland nr on Pitcairn or the Gilbert jftands, where there isn't a single telephone. Or even better, can't you imagine the frustration of the woman in the United Kingdom's Virgin Islands, where there is only one phone and no one can answer her call? K. A. F. NOTICE TO OUR . ADVERTISERS •The Plaindealer has learned that businessmen in McHenry have been approached by solicitors'using the name of our office and saying that they were endorsed by us. No such persons will be representing the Plaindealer unless they have a letter signifying our endorsement ILLINOIS COACH BRAUN GUEST SPEAKER MAY 9 AT ROTARY'S SIXTH ANNUAL SPORTS BANQUET One of the highlights of the spring season for the past six years in McHenry has beer the annual Rotary-sponsored sports banquet, which this year will be held on Tuesday, May 9, in the high schorl cafeteria at 7 p.m. The dinner will honor all athletes of the school except the football squad, which received special recognition last fajl. Present will be varsity members of the basketball, wrestling, track, cross country and baseball teams. Earl R. Walsh, sports editor for the Plaindealer and a Rotary member, is chairman of the dinner. A highlight of the evening will be presentation of trophies to outstanding players in the various fields of endeavor. Anyone desiring tickets may purchase them immediately at the school or from Rotary member, Dan Justen. An outstanding speaker has been secured in the person of Howard J. "Howie" Braun, now in his twenty-first season as Illinois' head tennis coach. He has had only two teams finish in second division in Big Ten championships and in 1946 he produced a title-winning squad. Braun's chief interest as an under-graduate at Illinois was basketball, but he played two seasons on the varsity tennis squad and was a semi-finalist in the Big Ten doubles one year. Since joining the Illinois" athletic staff, he has maintained both interests, directing inter-collegiate tennis and serving on the basketball coaching staff under both Doug Mills and Harry Combes. While in service, he coached the?' ©feraview Naval' basketball team, which won fifteen of twenty-one games against top rank competion in the Middle West. The selection of Braun is especially timely this year, when the McHenry board of education is anticipating the installation of new tennis courts to replace those destroyed to make room for the last addition to the school. Honor Coaches Honored along with the players in the various sports will be Athletic Director L. J. Mc- Cracken and the following coaches, John Thomas, Clifton Fulton, William Hutchinson, Dean Hargis, Paul Mandli, Charles Cuda, Robert Hendricks and Donald Seaton. Cheerleaders to be recognized for their work in creating enthusiasm in the crowds throughout the year are Sherry Evans, Ardis May, Tiina Keerberg, Shirley Thornton, Pam Munroe and Janet Eckstein. Paul R. Yanda, who directed the school band, will also come in for his share of recognition. "RANDY" COMSTOCK FIRST BABY BORN IN NEW HOSPITAL NEW PHONE COPE IS EXPLAINED W THIS COMMUNITY Illinois Bell is providing its McHenry customers with stickers for their telephones which show a time-saving three-figure cod£ R. C. Zahn, Illinois Bell manager, said this week. The three figures --"815"-- are called an "Area Code" by the company. People in many distant cities can use them to speed their calls to McHenry telephones. They simply dial or give the operator the "815" followed by the seven digits of the McHenry number, and the calls are quickly completed. Ultimately, everyone in the United States, as does McHenry, will dial their calls direct to and from every telephone. This requires that no two telephones have exactly the same number anywhere. Zahn said. -- The telephone industry has divided the country into more than 100 geographic areas. Each area, such as the one in which McHenry is located, has its own three-figure code. Within each area, all sevendigit telephone numbers are used only once. For example, the telephone business office number in McHenry is 385-9981. This is called a local number, and it occurs only once in the 815 area. (Continued on Page 8) Randall James Comstock weighed 7 lbs., 6 ozs., when he arrived at 8:30 a.m. May, 1, the first baby born in McHenry hospital. The mother and father, Gloria Jean and Richard W. Comstock live at Pistakee Bay with another son, Richard Lewis, who will be 3 years old on July 2. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Karpinski, paternal grandparents, live in Johnsburg and maternal grandparents, Mr, and Mrs. Raymond Johnson, live in McHenry. Mr. Comstock -has lived in McHenry most of his life and Mrs. Comstock has resided in this area since 1957. The new baby was presented with many gifts from McHenry merchants. ^ fRUOK unw Members of Company I were called out on Crystal Lake road test Saturday afternoon to extinguish a truck fire believed to have been caused by defective wiring. There was little damage to the vehicle. Outstanding Youth Honored "the Wonder Lake area Kiwanis club honored outstanding young graduates of three local grade schools at the annual merit award dinner, hdd la§t Thursday, April 27. ' Especially honored were Louise Sompel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Sompel, and James Meyers, son ol Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Meyers of St John's school, Johnsburg; Diane Johnson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sverre Johftson, and Jack Wilcox, nephew of Mr, and Mrs. H. Remle of Johnsburg public school;' Linda Gallas, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Gallas, and Lee Habich, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Habich, of Harrison schooi. Dinner was enjoyed by fortythree members and guests prior to the presentation of the awards to the young people, who aire included in Districts 12 and 36. McHenry Khvanis will honor other students at a later date. Gordon Fossum presided at the organ, and a number of young folks were seen in special dances. They included Judy Conway. Diane Adams, Michelle Rasmusscn, Holly Worm, Cheryl Jones, Delphine Wisniewski, Debbie Varese and Diane Cody. JUNIOR HIGH MUSICIANS RATE HIGH IN CONTEST As more than eighty high school musicians prepare to participate in the annual state music contest in Villa Park next Saturday, May 6, word comes from Paul Raasch on results of the Junior high contest held last week in Ashton, 111. There were eight first place soloists, including Ricky Piatt, cornet, and Lorna Gladstone, flute, with second division solos; Paul Schwegel, Richard Looze and Leota Stinespring, clarinets, Sara Borchardt, alto saxophone, James Arbogast. (Continued on Page 8) Princess Title Sought By jykHemry Area Cimrls The McHenry county dairy princess contest and the state ADA dairy princess contest were among important pieces of business discussed at the last meeting of the McHenry County Dairy Promotional council, held last week. Three young ladies from the McHenry area between the ages of 16 and 21 have already been entered in this year's contest. They are Miss Dorothy Adams, sponsored by Certified store; Miss Darlene Schaefer, sponsored by McHenry Local Pure Milk association; and Miss Pat Hogan of Ringwood, sponsored by Federal Land Bank of Woodstock. Henry Edgerton announced that the state ADA recently selected the county's bid for the state contest to be held Aug. 19 in Marian Central Catholic high school auditorium. Charles Weingart of McHenry will head the banquet committee. Elwood Howell, local dairy farmer and member of the state ADA board, along with Bill Waterman, Henry K. Edgerton and others have been working out plans to make the 1961 contest outstanding for the forty girls who are expected to be competing for Miss Illinois state dairy princess. Expect Big Contest Between ten and twelve girls will probably be entered in the locpl contest, *from which a state 'contestant will be named. McHenry county for the past two out of three years has captured the state title. Miss Mary Ann Granger, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Granger of McHenry, won in 1959, and Miss Dorothy Olbrich of Harvard was the state princess the following year. In connection with the dairy promotion will be another dairy tour, which was started last year and was well attended. Bill Waterman was, re-elected president of the County Dairy Promotion Council at last week's meeting; Russell Kellahan, vice-president; and Henry Edgerton, secretarytreasurer. NEW STREET SIGN NO This attractive new sign at the corner of Richmond road and Pearl street is one of thirty to be erected by the city of McHenry this year, at a cost of $13 apiece. The first of these to be installed will be in locations where one sign has been missing. The signs are of white enamel background with black letters and are easily read. "SOUND OF MUSIC" TO BE HEARD W CITY AGAIN MAY 7 In response to many requests, Ann Varese will again do her interpretation of the Broadway show, "The Sound of Music", this Sunday, May 7. at the Junior high school at 3 p.m. Those who saw the performance several weeks ago will be glad to hear that this is a family affair, and children are especially invited, although they must be accompanied by an adult. Mrs. Varese portrays Maria, the part Mary Martin had on Broadway, Irma Blomgren is the Mother Superior, "H" Stinespring is the telegraph boy, and the Trapp children are played by Kathy Monahan, Ray Spohr, Jr., Howard Griffith, Jr., Nicki Nardi, Rory Marshall, and Lee and Vicki Varese. The accompanist is Verna Schlofner. An interesting sidelight on Irma Blomgren, whose talents seem to have been hiding here in McHenry, is that her brother, Edgar Borup, is with the State department as a public (Continued on Page 8) Mayor Takes Offke Kotalik Studio Photo Newly elected mayor, Donald Doherty, is shown at left as he officially took over his duties at the city hall last Thursday evening. With him are Mayor George P. Freund as he concluded a long term in office, and City Clerk Earl R. Walsh, who swore in the new mayor. 1000 TAX ILL'SBff WITHIN COUNTY $10,781,472 Will Be Collected To Set AU Time Record McHenry county's growing population this past week started receiving information OIJ their share of what amounts to the largest tax bill in history, according to Treasurer Harry C. Herendeen. The total amounts to $10,781,472.71 compared to $10,107,852.21 last year, an increase of $673,620.- 50. ;The tremendous task of notifying the public of their tax indebtedness required about 68,- to be placed in the mails, containing 70,000 rea? estate tax statements and 23,- 000 personal property bills. The first installment of real estate tax is due before June 1, with interest of 1 per cent each month added after that date. The second installment of real estate is due Sept. 1, with the same penalty after that date. Personal Tax Deadline The entire personal property tax bill is due before the June 1 deadline. The customary tax sale wil! be held on or after Oct. 17. Payment of taxes may be made directly to the county treasurer, or to any bank in the county, all of which have been designated as official collectors by the treasurer until the second installment becomcs due in the fall. The board of review will hear any complaints filed by taxpayers. INJURIES RESULT FROM ACCIDENTS ON CITY STREETS Mrs. Armand Natali of Island Lake sustained possible fractured ribs in an accident which occurred in McHenry last Thursday afternoon at 5:30 o'clock when the car in which she was riding collided with another at the corner of Riverside Drive and Pearl street. McHenry police said Armand J. Natali was driving east on Pearl and stopped at the intersection. He failed to see the approaching car and turned onto Riverside Drive just as another vehicle, driven by Marilyn Monahan of Joliet. approached from the south and struck the Natali car. Mrs. Natali was treated at McHenry hospital for injuries. Sandra L.. Norton of Wonder Lake struck a pole at the Legion parking lot and south Green street at 8:45 last Friday evening as she attempted to avoid another auto which had driven alongside her vehicle. The Norton car was damaged. Mark Josten, 7, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Justen, was hurried to McHenry hospital last week when he was struck by a car driven by Jack Cvevos of Lakeland Shores as the child drove his bicycle across the intersection of Pearl and Green street. Officers said Cvevos told them he was driving west on Pearl and stopped at the intersection. When he started to cross, the child drove the bike into the side of his car. (Continuod on Page 8). NURSE RESCUES FISHERMEN FROM NEARBY WATERS Two unidentified men, one from Chicago and the other from DesPlaines, have a McHenry nurse to thank for being rescued from an uncomfortable, if not dangerous, predicament last Thursday as they were fishing near Fox Lake. Mrs. Emily Fjellstedt of Long Lake \fras on her daily route by cabin boat to McHenry hospital when she passed the two men in an outboard motor boat ,ir. the middle of the lake. She was about to pas:- them by when she noticed an apparent signal for help in the form of a handkerchief held on the tip of the fishing pole. On drawing near their boat, she found that the motor had stopped, and in attempting to row to shore their oar had broken. From 6 o'clock until 7:30, the two men had been shivering in the cold, the high wind lashing waves into the boat. Mrs. Fjellstedt took their, aboard her craft and brought two very grateful men to shore. Remember the Viscountsponsored 'teen dance at the Legion home Friday night, May 5. Council Hopes To Open Right-Of-Way To Ease City Traffic RECOGNIZE FINE ACHIEVEMENT IN NEW HOSPITAL Congratulations Are Telegraphed By President "The combined effort of those in your community who worked together in bringing better health facilities to the area is an example of generous and responsible citizenship." With these words in a congratulatory telegram, President John F. Kennedy and Abraham Ribbicoff, U. S. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, jointly expressed the keynote of ceremonies dedicating McHenry Hospital's new eighteen bed building last Sunday. Illinois Gov. Otto Kerner was among many other prominent persons in public life, and the business and medical fields who expressed admiration for the fine achievement for improved medical care locally. Two prominent McHenry officials and James M. Lennon, hospital president, participated in a unique ribbon cutting ceremony. Former McHenry mayor, George P. Freund, a director and vice-president of the hospital, and his successor in the mayor's post, Donald Doherty, who was sworn in- as mayor last Thursday, cut a clothesline of diapers in honor of the hospital's maternity department. Others Take Part Other members of the hospital's board of directors who took part in the ceremony are Ralph Bennett, treasurer; Joseph A. Conerty, secretary; (Continued on Page 8) Successful "Alert" Program Brought To Conclusion Sunday One of the most extensive "Operations Alert" ever held in McHenry was reported a success by Civil Defense Director Joseph Grobel this week. The start of operations in McHenry began Just prior to 3 o'clock Friday afternoon, when loud blasts of the siren hurried pedestrians to take shelter in the nearest ouilding. Mr. Grobel and Mayor Donald P. Doherty made a tour of the city during the alert and reported it to be about 95 per cent successful. In only one case, wardens neglected to see that shoppers were off the street. Arriving hy caravan at 5:45 on Friday evening were the Civil Air Patrol, communications personnel and others from Skokie. Saturday, at about the same time, the mayor of'Skokie and city officials began arriving by plane. Both times, Mayor Donald Doherty was on hand at the V.F.W. grounds to greet the guests. In all, about sixty were served Saturday night at the clubhouse. About fifteen members of the Civil Air Patrol were located at Gault field, near Greenwood, and kept in constant communication between that point and the V.F.W throughout Saturday. Thirtyfive were stationed in McHenry and another fourteen at Eadie field in Skokie, where communications were also maintained> Mr. Grobel said notification of the attack came from the Canadian border, and the simulated bombardment took place in the Woodstock area. C.A.P. officials from Skokie who took part in "Operation Alert" in McHenry were Lt. Basset, commander; M/Sgt. Evers, executive officer: Sgt. NaDolski, operations officer; M/Sgt. Scheiner, transportation officer; and M/Sgt. Zaloschan, coordinator of women. McHenry men are encouraged to start at once raising beards in anticipation of the 125th anniversary of the city. PAUL JESSUP WINS OXFORD SCHOLARSHIP Paul F. Jessup, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul S. Jessup of Country Club subdivision, has been awarded a scholarship to Oxford university in England. The award was made by the English Speaking Union, which PAUL JESSUP awarded only two such scholarships in the state of Illinois. Mr. Jessup, a graduate of the McHenry high school, received his degree in business financing at Northwestern university and at present is studying for his master's degree at Harvard university in the international affairs school. Two years of study are required for his M.A. degree, and one of these must be in residency at Harvard. He will complete this in June and plans 'to leave for Oxford in the fall, where he will be under supervision of a Harvard adviser. In "England, Paul will pursue a course of study similar to what he is now undertaking. The international affairs school equips the student for governmental work or for international business. Three meetings in a five-day period kept the City Council chambers buzzing with activity as the old fiscal period bowed out and made way for the start of a new year. On Thursday night of last week the Council convened for the annual meeting as Mayor George P. Freund presided over his last meeting over a long and honorable career in city government. All bills presented were paid and the city left in a sound financial position as will be shown in the publication of City Treasurer Thomas F. Bolger's detailed report. After negotiating for some lime, the Council voted to accept the proposal of the J. Alton Lauren company for the purchase of a right-of-way for a road to be constructed between Waukegan Road and Elm street at a cost of $8,500, However, the purchase is contingent on the city receiving sewer easements in adjoining property owned by the seller. Two bids were received on a new radio for the- police and the Council voted to accept the low bid of $724 submitted by Motorola sales division. Th§ bid to furnish a General Elee* trie radio was $746. Near the close of the meeting, Mayor Freund appointed Aldermen Bolger, Brown and Conway to canvass the votes of the recent election and the judees' reports were found in order. As the meeting closed, May-, or Freund gave the new Council sound words of advice and urged unity & the years ahead. Special Meeting Following adjournment of the annual meeting, all newly elected officers took their oaths of office and were called to order for a special meeting by the newly elected mayor, Donald P. Doherty. Aldermen Donald H. Schaefer and Ray-, mond L. Smith answered roll call for the first time. Answering roll after several years experience were Aldermen William J. Bolger, Charles D. Brown, Harry M. Conway and Theodore Pitzen. Seventeen Class "A" alcoholic beverage licenses were approved, the only new license being issued to Elmer Steinsdorfer, who took over the location previously operated by Winfield Hasrberg. The American Legion Post, No. 491, renewed its club license and three renewals of Class "C" package liquor licenses were approved for pharmacists, Thomas P. Bolger, Nye Drugs, Inc., and Millstream Drugs, Inc. At this meeting, the Council voted to engage ihe services of J. W. North & Co. to make the annual audit of city books. Regular May Meeting On Monday night, the Council met in regular session. Mayor Doherty, with Council app r o v a l , a p p o i n t e d s t a n d i n g committees for the new year. John E. Looze was re-appointed as city attorney, Mayme Buss as city collector and Fred. J. Meyer as superintendent of public works. Results during the past year prompted th^ Council to extend Fred J. Meyer's appointment for a tw4 year term. Other appointment^ will be completed at the nexfc regular meeting. Chairmen of the various s t a n d i n g c o m m i t t e e s w e r e named as follows: Finance* William J. Bolger; streets, alT~ leys and sidewalks, Charles Brown: public property, Hayr' mond Smith; recreation and parks, William J. Bolger; license, Harry Conway; public utilities. Theodore Pitzen; band, Donald Schaefer; pur-; chasing, Harry Conway. The library board will be composed of George P. Freuncf. William J. Bolger, Earl R. Walsh. Mrs. Gretta Goodell. Mrs. Clarence Anglese, Mrs. Vernon Kramer, Mrs. Robert Weber, Mrs. A. J. Wirtz and Mrs. Fred Bienapfl. The board of health includes Dr. Peter Griesbach, Leo J.' Winkel and Carl N. Weber. High on the list for the current year is the drainage problem near the athletic field. A meeting has been arranged (Continaed oa Pap 8)