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THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER "SERVING THE CH AIN-O-LAKE S REGION SINCE 1875 VOLUME 96 NUMBER 136 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1972 10 PAGES 10 CENTS Plan Ground Breaking , Local College District State's Fastest Growing SB A Disaster Office Open One Day Weekly The large part of the population of McHenry looked at tiny snowflakes grow into larger ones early last week and lamented. Their thoughts were on shoveling sidewalks, wearing heavy boots and sliding into the car in the next lane. But pity the poor school teacher, especially if she happens to have a kindergarten class. The snowfall prompted us to go digging through some saved items for something that caught our eye early this fall. Somehow it seemed so much more appropriate Monday and Tuesday. T h e t h r e e - p a g e mimeographed sheet had been lost along the way by some youngster whose intention was to take it home to Mom. It contained all those little reminders that kindergarten teachers know too well, and Moms like to forget for just a few hours a day. Appropriately for November weather, the letter started off this way: "Dear Parents, As (Continued on page 7) A Small Business Ad­ ministration disaster office in Marengo will remain open on a once-a-week basis for an in­ definite period, Robert A. Dwyer, midwestern regional director of the SBA, has an­ nounced. Effective the week of Nov. 20, Dwyer said, the office in the Marengo village hall, 120 E. Prairie street, will be open on Fridays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The SBA phone number in Marengo is 815-568-8850. The disaster office has been open first on a six-day-a-week basis and then three days a week, since Oct. 10, following an SBA disaster declaration citing McHenry county as the result of heavy rains Sept. 17 and 18 and subsequent flooding by the Fox river. The declaration subsequently was amended to include Lake county victims of the Sept. 17-18 storm. The SBA disaster declaration enables home owners and tenants, business people, churches, private schools, and other non-profit organizations in the affected areas to qualify for low-cost, long-term SBA loans to restore or replace •damaged property not covered by insurance. Four Injured In Two Accidents Within Area Three people were taken to McHenry hospital by the Johnsburg Rescue squad after a one-car accident last Thur­ sday evening about 8:45 on Regner road, just north of Bay road, Pistakee Bay. Driver of the auto David J. Sieben of 2902 Regner road, McHenry, was not injured but his three passengers were taken to the hospital for treatment. They were Penelope L. Deutschman of 478 Porter, Crystal Lake, Christie R. Marsh of 300 Pauline, Crystal Lake, and Michael M. Kutanski of 8614 Ramble road, Wonder Lake. The Sieben auto was south­ bound on Regner road when the driver struck a match to light a cigarette and the acrid smoke (Continued on page 7) City Talks Of Proposed Water Plant Acquisition To pick up important time- consuming items which could not be fit into regular meetings, die City Council of McHenry convened Thursday evening in a special meeting. liie first item on the agenda for discussion was the proposed acquisition of the water plant serving Lakeland Park. As anticipated, no action was taken except to list many questions that will have to be resolved before the city can proceed with negotiations. After a lengthy discussion and many expressed opinions, it was decided to have the City Attorney draw a petition to present to the Zoning Board of Appeals covering height regulations of building oc­ cupancies where a portion of a building is commercial and apartments above the main floor. The Zoning map will be revised to designate areas for a new classification. Another subject of discussion was the Comprehensive Plan which has been prepared. A public hearing on the plan will be announced. State Police Weather Service The state police weather telephone at the District Two post is once again in operation. The period in which this phone is to be activated will extend through March 31, 1973. This reported information is routinely updated at ap­ proximately 6 a.m., noon, 6 and 10 p.m. daily. If weather conditions are extremely chan­ geable and warrant more current updating, these periods are changed accordingly. The recorded information will include data on road conditions in all the surrounding states of Illinois to include Wisconsin, Iowa, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan and Missouri as this information is provided to the state police. As an added feature, and as time permits, weather forecast information as received from (he Weather Bureau will be provided, The number to call is 312-742- 7642. Currently there is a sequential series provided which allows for three recor­ ders to operate to minimize the difficulty of the public in get­ ting through on this number. Dr. James Davis, president of McHenry County college, informed the board of trustees at last Thursday's meeting that, "We are the fastest growing Junior college district in the state". Recognizing this fact, the Illinois Junior College board has allowed that con­ struction for the new college campus be based on 1974 enrollment projection figures rather than for fall 1973. Ground breaking for the new campus has been scheduled for the spring of 1973, with oc­ cupancy planned for the fall of 1974. Dr. Davis also informed the board that he has been assured by a staff member of the Illinois Higher board of education that McHenry County students will have a place to go next fall for all types of health occupation programs. The courses will be held here or at some nearby college. Recently, requests for nursing and other health related programs have been much in demand by county students. A communication from David Berlo stated that the state has recently taken another step in the recognition of community colleges and their graduates. This step is the establishment of the Illinois State University Alumni Distinguished Scholarship competition exclusively for community-junior college students. There will be no financial need requirement for this scholarship. The stipend will be $1,000 for each winner and this coming spring, there will be eighteen winners. Full details of the competition will be released in the near future. The board moved to adopt a new grading policy for MCC as recommended by the North Central association and the State of Illinois. The college was criticized last spring for its grading practices from a standpoint that they were not consistent with the philosophies and objectives of the college or of the junior college system throughout the state. What was described as a major hangup involved the fact that MCC's grading procedures were much more restrictive and much more punitive than is ap­ propriate for an open-door community college. The new grading system will now put MCC in line with all other colleges in the state. Communications were received from Rep. John B. Anderson, Senator Charles H. Percy, Rep. Robert McClory and Senator Adlai E. Stevenson 111, informing the board of their support in the college's ap­ plication for federal funds under Code No. 01-HEFA-Titte (Continued on page 7) No Penalty Set New Tax Deadline Nov. 24 Clara Nell Is Recognized By First Lady Mrs. Clara Nell of 1601 W. Sunnyside Beach drive, McHenry, recently observed the anniversary of her fiftieth year of service to the Republican party. In recognition of the occasion, Mrs. Nell received the following letter from Mrs. Pat Nixon, wife of the President: "Dear Mrs. Nell, "I have recently learned of your outstanding participation in the democratic system over the past half century and want to thank you for your im­ measurable contributions. By playing so active a part in the political process, you have not only served your party, but your entire country as well. "Because our nation was founded on government of, by and for the people, your in­ volvement at every level of the elective procedure is a true reflection and actualization of your belief in this most treasured principle. Without concerned citizens seeking office and without others helping them to present and interpret their ideas and programs to the public, our freedom to select our leaders would be greatly impaired. For then there would be no alter­ natives, no choice and no democracy -- a most un­ fortunate condition for us all. Therefore, please know how very grateful we are for your dedicated efforts which have preserved and strengthened this cherished right. "With deep appreciation and all best wishes for your future successes, "Sincerely, "Pat Nixon" A photo of President and Mrs. Nixon accompanied the letter. SHARE TAX McHenry county townships and road districts have been allocated $25,111 as their share of $2,570,750 in Motor Fuel Tax paid into the state treasury during October. McHenry county taxpayers have until Nov. 24 to pay, without interest, any out­ standing remainder on the record $29,261,122.91 real estate and personal property taxes charged against them, Mrs. Audrey R. Walgenbach, McHenry County Treasurer, announced Monday. After Nov. 24, interest at the rate of 1 percent per month or any portion thereof will be charged on all delinquent taxes up to the time of the annual tax sale which is expected to take place in the month of January, interest rates change after the tax sale date, depending on whether taxes are sold or forfeited to the state. Total real estate taxes charged in McHenry county for 1971 were $26,241,069.06, per­ sonal property taxes were $2,914,470.39 and railroads, leaseholds and pollution taxes charged were $105,583.44. Distribution of taxes to taxing districts through Nov. 20 amounted to $21,256,604.54. Settlement of prior tax payments under protest have claimed $153,034.48 of this year's collections, and $487,735.55 is being retained in an escrow account pending decision from the U.S. Supreme Court (HI the constitutionality of the 1970 referendum on the personal property tax. All payments of individual per­ sonal property tax for 1971 are being held in this escrow ac­ count by the McHenry County Treasurer. The annual tax sale in January will follow the last payment deadline by two months or less, even though bills were five months late in issuance, Mrs. Walgenbach announced, noting that much of the lost time lias been regained at the collection end of toe tax cycle. In preparation for the tax sale, publication of the delinquent list and mailing of notices to delinquent taxpayers will follow in late December and early January. . Improvement O f Rt. 120 Begins i held Work is expected |to start this week, weather permitting, on a portion of highway improvement, from Draper road to Front street. A meeting was held On the site Friday morning, involving state engineers, contractors, utility companies representatives andSupt.of Public Works, Fred Meyer. The initial work will consist of building a detour to the north of the existing bridge. Also through the winter, some storm sewer work is earmarked to be done. Shown at Friday's meeting, from left, are Nick Steffens, resident engineer, Division of Highways, Department of Tran­ sportation, State of Illinois; Dick Doherty, field supervisor for Lakeland Con­ struction; Tom Olsen of Lakeland Construction; Meyer, Rick Remijan, Com­ monwealth Edison; Lee Reshel and Earl Smith, Illinois Bell Telephone. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD Flames raged through the beautiful Bull Valley home of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Schommer, 8327 Mason Hill road, early Friday af­ ternoon, leaving the large residence entirely gutted. Only the garage escaped. Fire Chief Richard Menzel of the Woodstock Rural Fire department estimated damage at $100,000, including structure and contents. Three dogs, family pets, perished in the blaze. Menzel said the origin of the fire was still undetermined. It had gained such headway when discovered that firemen were unable to control it until all of the interior was damaged. Mr. Schommer was at work in Chicago and his wife had left home early Friday morning. They reportedly had done much of the construction work on the home themselves, covering a period of several years. McHenry Company I and Crystal Lake firemen were called to supply water and manpower. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD $100,000 Fire Destroys Bull Valley Home i