/ f XVUNC,A THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER V. . "SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875 Bans* VOLUME 96 NUMBER 9 FRIDAY, MARCH 5, I97I 14 PAGES TEN CENTS Signals Approved For Main Street Crossing If drivers on Elm street give an occasional thought to yes terday, they probably wonder how traffic ever progressed at the intersection with Front street before the state allowed the electric signs to be install ed. But the number of cars has increased, and even with the assistance of the light there are problems. A local resident stopped in our office this past week to see if someone might spearhead an effort for a green arrow allowing a right turn for north bound traffic on Front, most of which turns east. He point ed to the long wait that exists when west-bound traffic turns south on an arrow and east- bound cars are- stopped. With the addition of the second arrow, the congestion which extends a block and a half south at cer tain times of the day would be eased. Quite a number of cars could round the corner .and be on their way, relieving the long wait from Waukegan road into the intersection, as well as north-bound traffic. Some city officials have been approached on the suggestion, and we are told they were fa vorable to the proposal. Pos sibly the state will require less proof of need in this small ad dition than was needed for in stallation of the original signal system. Many vehicle drivers and pedestrians will be pleased with a report that McHenry's petition to the Illinois Commerce com mission for flashing light sig nals at the Main street rail way crossing has met with ap proval. The Commerce commission set forth that 80 percent of the signal cost should be paid by the state of Illinois out of the Grade Crossing Protection fund. The cost to the city is set up on the basis of 10 percent but not to exceed $1,070. In addition, the city will have to widen the approaches to a 24- foot width. The Chicago and Northwestern Railway's portion of the cost has been set as the balance of cost after the computation of state and city contributions. While McHenry does not have many trains, there has been some concern about the Main street crossing, especially since the traffic increase fol lowing building of the West campus school. In another precautionary measure, the City Council vot ed approval of installation of alarm systems in the sewer lifts to serve immediate warn ing of any failure in opera tion. It was reported that McHen ry has received $74,000 in back taxes and protested taxes cov ering several years. During the fiscal year, any funds not immediately needed have been invested and portions called in as needed. Judicious handling of the extra tax money has been the order since the coming year will not bring the extra income. The ordinance covering the Lee J. and Carol Cooney zon ing petition was passed, mod ifying Ihe Zoning board's rec ommendation. A commercial district is established along Illinois Rt. 31, a distance of 157 feet east from the front lot line. Center street will have single family residences, a dis tance of 102 feet from the front lot line. In between will be apartment buildings. A petition for annexation of two lots owned by John V. and Shirley M. Lenart of 709 Lillian St., was approved. TTiis was initiated when the McHer- ry County Board of Health found a defective septic system at the location. Connection to the city sanitary sewer will now be made. Consideration to a franchise for taxi operations will fol low information researched by the city attorney. With some changes being pro posed for alterations in zoning classifications, the mayor di rected each alderman to sub mit ideas to the city clerk for compilation. The list will be sent to each alderman and, when agreed upon, turned over to the city attorney for preparation of a petition to the zoning board of appeals. As previously reported, many early requests have been received for permission to hold tag days during the coming months. The committee on this question is expected to submit a report at the next meeting. Register For April Voting The county clerk's of fice will be open Saturday, March 6, from 8:30 a.m., until 4 p.m., to enable qual ified residents of McHenry county to register for the April 6 election. Registra tions must close twenty- eight days prior to the township election. Because of this no one will be able to register to change their present registration after March 8. Registrations will not be open until April 7, 1971. Be sure you are reg istered properly if you wish to vote prior to April 7. Community Shelter Planning Has Start Within County It is disheartening, even for those of us who are long time residents to learn of the grow ing number of burglaries which continue to plague our home community. We wonder, then, the feelings of those who have no loyalties of long standing but have recently moved to our area. The thought entered our mind Monday morning when we learn ed that a resident of only eight months found irreplaceable old pictures and a family album had disappeared from his car park ed near the home. The fact that they were not returned when found worthless makes one lose faith in human nature. Work toward obtaining a com munity shelter plan in McHen ry county had its start late last month. When completed, Civil Defense authorities hope that everyone will know the location where they may seek shelter against radioactive fallout in, the event of a nuclear attack. The first step began when the U.S. Army Corps of En gineers came to McHenry county to survey buildings to determine their suitability for use as fallout shelters. The engineers will remain for sev eral weeks. All building own ers will be contacted prior to entrance and the information obtained is available only to the county and local Civil De fense organizations. If a building is designated as a fallout shelter the Civil Defense office will contact the owner to obtain a license a- jjreeraent prior to any further action. This agreement grants immunity from liability to the building owner when such use becomes necessary. Questions regarding this Community Shelter program will be answered by contacting John J. Shay, director of Civ il Defense for McHenry county, at 338-6400 or 338-2040 exten sion 78 or 79. Mr. Shay ur ges cooperation from all county residents. An evaluation of how to an ticipate what to do in an e- mergency and to plan joint ef forts in case of a disaster will be undertaken by McHenry County Manufacturers as social, tion. The disaster committee will discuss the areas of most im mediate concern and ask John Shay, McHenry County Civil Defense director, to arrange a seminar on most urgent topics, Jack Dick, chairman of the com mittee, said this week. Shay made the offer to help (Continued on page 14) Summer Homes In McHenry Community Are Burglarized Almost missed a comment on the recent wedding anniversary of a popular McHenry couple, Mr. and Mrs, Otto Pyritz. It was their fifty-third, and we understand the spirit of the oc casion would have done credit to a couple half their age. But then, it isn't surprising, for McHenry's Mr. and Mrs. "San ta Claus" have been showing the rest of us how to stay young for a good many years. (Continued on page 14) The summer residence of An- neta Wilson of 3101 S. Water- view street, McHenry, was burglarized and the interior of the house was extensively damaged in a recent break-in reported to sheriff's police. En try was made through a win dow which had been broken on the south side of the house. Furniture was broken, the kit chen sink was ripped off the wall, and there was other dam age. The home was completely ransacked. Missing were can ned foods from the cupboards, fishing poles, tackle and various tools. The vandalism was dis covered March 1. Chester Hansel of 3709 E. Lake Shore drive, Wonder Lake, who had not been at his summer home since last fall, arrived there Friday and dis covered that his house and gar age had been burglarized. A 7^-horsepower outboard motor was taken from the garage and the house was ransacked. Miss ing were a table model clock radio and a pair of binoculars in a case. Loren G. Miller of 532 Lake- view, McHenry, reported that his home had been entered sometime Monday. Entrants was gained through an unlocked rear door. Mis sing were a color television set in a walnut cab inet and a 17-inch portable TV set. A suspected vehicle was seen in his driveway by a neigh bor at about 1 o'clock in the afternoon, but he could not be lo cated by deputies. Charges Pending After Car Crash North Of City Charges are pending in an auto accident which occurred Tuesday on McCullom Lake road, one mile west of Route 31, north of McHenry. William G. VonRiddern of 15 Oriole trail, Crystal Lake, stat ed he was driving east on Mc Cullom Lake road when a car driven by Charles F. Gale of 5108 Hilltop drive, Wonder Lake, approached from the op posite direction, took the curve too wide, crossed the center line and struck him. Gale said he was traveling about 60 m.p.h. when he saw VonRiddern pass another vehicle and as he did so, Gale struck his car. Two McHenry high school students, Randall W. Miller of 4214 W. Crystal Lake road, and Michael S. Holm of 4410 Ashley drive, both of McHenry, were slightly injured in an auto accident Tuesday afternoon about 3:30 at the south entrance of McHenry high school West campus parking lot. The in jured were transported to Mc Henry hospital by the Johns- burg Rescue squad. Driver of the other car, Ches ter D. Gorecki of 720 St. John's road, Woodstock, told police he was south-bound on Crystal Lake road and as he approach ed the south end of West cam pus he noticed cars were lined up,) coming out of the school parking lot. He slowed, andthen he Miller car pulled out and Thomas L. Miller of 2604 Shore wood drive, McHenry, told' vehicles collided^ authorities that his auto, which was parked in his driveway, was entered by opening a vent window. Taken from the car was a tape player and fourteen tapes. The loss was estimated at about $200. Miller said he pulled up to the stop sign at the parking lot, looked both ways and then pulled out. No tickets were is sued in the mishap. Bomb Scare At Hospital Considerable excitement was created by a bomb threat made against McHenry hospital late Wednesday evening. Police Chief Kenneth Espey said an area resident received a phone call at 10 o'clock, informing him that the caller had placed a bomb at the hos pital which would detonate at 11 p.m. McHenry police offi cers were notified immediately, and for an hour Chief Espey and Fire Chief Glenn Peterson searched the premises as mem bers of Fire Company I remain ed at the fire house in case of an emergency. A complete investigation con vinced police that the threat resulted from a crank call. Observe Girl Scout Sunday March 7 is being observed as Girl Scout Sunday, and mem bers of local troops are plan ning to attend the church of their choice in full uniform. Worship services are sched uled as follows: St. Mary Cath olic church, 8 a.m.; St. Pat rick Catholic church, 8:30 a.m.; Mount Hope church, 11 a.m.; St. John the Baptist Catholic church, 10:30 a.m.; Zion E- vangelical Lutheran church, 10:30 a.m.; Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran church, 10:30 a.m.; and Faith Presbyterian church, 10:30. All Girl Scouts from Ring- wood, Wonder Lake and Rich mond are asked to contact their leaders for the time of ser vices in their area. Pioneer Center Work Explained At C of C Meet Bob Lambourn, director of the Pioneer Center for the Ex ceptional at McCullom Lake,, and Paul Wang, the center's work coordinator, were present at the Tuesday meeting of the McHenry Chamber of Com merce board. The purpose of their visit was to better ac quaint the board with the aims of the program and to ask for any support the C. of C. can give to it. In the short business meet ing that followed, it was an nounced that Bob Mortell will assume responsibility for resuming publication of the newsletter. Also, Jack Dick was named to head the reactivated industrial committee. A request made by West cam pus to solicit gifts for a school project was allowed. In other action, the board voted to limit speakers at their meetings to brief talks so that necessary business can be act ed upon in the allotted time. A retail meeting was an nounced for the next week. (Continued on page 14) PROGRAM FOR RETARDED -- Sen. Karl Berning, left, discusses ways to maintain and improve effectiveness of program to aid handicapped residents of McHenry county with Robert Lambourn. Lambourn is executive director of the McHenry County Association for the Retarded, with headquarters in this com munity. Gov. Ogilvie's announced program to increase financial support to improve care of physically and mentally ill has in creased responsibility on existing health care organizations. DON PEASLEY PHOTO Sen. Karl Berning and Rob ert Lambourn, executive direc tor of the McHenry County As sociation for the Retarded, met last week to discuss ways to expand and improve the ser vice of the association to han dicapped adults. Lambourn said increased fi nancing of health care programs which Gov. Richard Ogilvie seeks, places organizations such as the McHenry County Association for the Retarded in to a position of opportunity as well as increased responsibil ity. Sen. Berning has been invol ved with the association's de velopment since it was expand ed in the late 1960's, and is familiar with state-wide needs to expand aid to the handi capped residents of the county. At present, the association is responsible for thirty-seven people at Pioneer center and fifteen pre-school and nursery- school age children at the Day Care center. The Day Care center is op erated in Christ the King church school rooms, while Pioneer center is in the headquarters building at McCullom Lake. Ex panding needs for adults assist ed through Pioneer center is causing a space problem for the board of directors, and it currently is evaluating space availabilities in the county. Lambourn said one need which he discussed with Sen. Berning includes money to add a speech therapist and a phys ical therapist to the staff. Twenty-One Indictments Returned By Grand Jury The Grand jury met Tues day, March 2, and return ed twenty-one indictments to Judge James H. Cooney in Cir cuit court. The following were indicted: James Morelock, 5011 Ritz road, Marengo, theft over $150. Gerald Duwayne Steele, Win nebago county, burglary. Praxedes Q. Reyes, 418 Flat Iron road, Harvard, aggravated battery. Robert J. Learned, 3045 Thorntree, Palatine, theft over $150. Anthony Maletti, 1307 First street, Haeger's Bend, Algon quin, aggravated battery. Carl Hanson, 6212 Edgewood road, Crystal Lake, five charges of theft over '$150. John V. Torres, 8021 Birch- wood, Wonder Lake, forgery. Richard J. Golbeck, 100 Pine court, Crystal Lake, posses sion of narcotic drugs. Douglas L. Koppen, 2411 S. Lilac, Holiday Hills, McHenry, aggravated incest. Kenneth A. Uelman, Hide-Ho Motel, Hebron, theft over $150. Arthur Paul Johnson, 121 South drive, Lakemoor, aggra vated assault. Larry Savage, 1228 Union avenue, Belvidere, one count of burglary and one count of theft over $150. Jack L. Christie, 1106 Acre lane, McHenry, one count of theft over $150 and one count of theft under $150. Larry Campbell, Route 2, Belvidere, one count of burglary and one of theft over $150. Robert B. Bland, 717 Devon shire, Crystal Lake, posses sion of a narcotic drug. David Richard Woodson, 75 Mary lane, Crystal Lake, pos session of narcotic drugs. Jerry M. Williams, 174East- view avenue, Crystal Lake,pos session of a narcotic drug. VANDALISM Deputies investigated a re port by Stanley Allen of 2112 Orchard Beach drive, McHenry, that an unknown vehicle had knocked down approximately 40 feet of chain link fencing as well as two 48-inch posts on his property. Outstanding Students Recognized By College Jean Marie Gende and Pat rick E. Pierce of McHenry are the winners of the second Stu dent Achievement Recognition competition at McHenry County college. Miss Gende is a soph omore majoring in sociology "Spirit Of '76" Theme Of Farm Bureau Drive PREPARE FOR CONCERT -- Carl Kohrt, standing in left rear of picture, is shown with his excellent McHenry Junior high band, which for the past two years has won top honors in state competition. The young musicians will be heard in concert Thursday, March 11, at 8 p.m. in the Junior high school gym. There is no admission charge. Also appearing withe program will be the chorus, directed by Pat Berkland. PLAINDEALER PHOTO 1 p Farm Bureau members are "feuding" again, but the feud actually is a renewal of a friend ly and vigorous membership drive campaign that finds all members hoping to add at least seventy-six new members to the growing membership list. This will be the third year for a North-South rivalry, Fred Pedersen, Algonquin, member ship drive chairman, explains and the committee calls this 1971 effort the "Spirit of '76." "We need seventy-six new members to reach a milestone in our total membership, 3,100," adds Pedersen. "Last year the North won this com petition, but two years ago the South team, which I captained, won. This is the runoff year." Pedersen heads the South team again, while Richard Ar- seneau leads the North team. He's the Richmond township di rector and co-chairman of the committee. The teams include the nine northern townships on Arseneau's team and the eight southern townships on Peder sen's team. The drive continues through March 17--it began in late Feb ruary-- and during the first week of March the drive be comes an all-out door-to-door campaign with representatives of the affiliated companies and Farm Bureau concentrating their efforts in that manner. In a departure from past drives, the committee is seek ing the help of all 3,024 pre sent members and making them a part of the membership drive team. Directors in each of the seventeen townships have sent letters to members in their townships explaining why they need their help to locate pros pects and assistance in signing them into Farm Bureau. „ Pedersen cites some of the ways Farm Bureau is helping farmers, an increasingly small percentage of the population in this county. " We are becoming increasingly involved in local affairs. This includes pollution control, conservation and eco logical activities, junior college (Continued on page 14) and Mr. Pierce is a sopho- mdre majoring in liberal arts. They were selected over eighteen other entrants as being the two who best demonstrate progress toward desirable ed ucational and career goals. Each will receive $100 in cash and a certificate of merit. Their names will be added to the plaque displayed at the col lege offices. Already on the plaque are the names of last year's winners, Joan Leahy and Eldred Lee, both of McHenry. Miss Gende and Mr. Pierce will represent McHenry County college in the northern district competition of the awards pro gram at Chicago in March, where ten schools throughout the area will be represented. Winners there will receive $250 each and the twelve state fi nalists -a man and woman from each of the six districts will compete in Chicago April 28 for the top two state prizes of $1,000 each plus a trophy. All forty-six public junior colleges in Illinois are participating. Preliminary selection was made by a joint student-facul ty-administration committee. Final selection was made by a committee of community lea ders: Mrs. Marjorie Lam- brecht, Marengo, secretary- treasurer of Woodstock Fabric Store, Inc.,; Eugene Maxwell, principal, Woodstock high school, and James Zoellick, ex ecutive director, Lake Region Y.M.C.A. The Illinois Association of Community and Junior Col- (Continued on page 14)