VOLUME 99 - NUMBER 46 , FRIDAY, JANUARY.10, 1975 14 PAGES - FIFTEEN CENTS MCHENRY PLAINDEALER SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875 Open Whispering Oaks To School Buses Mother, Nine Children Homeless Following Fire Firemen from McHenry Companies I and III are assisted by a tanker and crew from the Nunda rural department in battling a( firein the Maras home, 1503 Hickory, Holiday Hills, late Tuesday There we sat on a grey Monday afternoon. The clock told us it was 4:04 o'clock. An empty desk told us we had time to take a look at the headlines of the Chicago newspaper that glared out the sad fact that we may soon pay a 5 per cent sales tax on gasoline to bail out a Regional Transporation Authority that isn't a year old. Just what we are bailing it out of might be a good question for a newcomer on the scene, for to date the RTA hasn't done anything. But those of us living in the six-county metropolitan area know we are offering a subsidy so it can bail out the CTA - better known as the Chicago Transit Authority. The bombshell came Saturday when we heard a reluctant board member, Dan Baldino, a former McHenry man, cast an aye vote for Milton Pikarsky as new chairman. Baldino was con sidered the strongest holdout against the naming of Pikar sky. Appearing weary as he explained his position, Baldino admitted to having doubts over his change in position but listed it as the lesser of two evils when the Governor threatened to take the responsibility of naming a chairman out of the hands of the RTA board if action didn't come soon. The smug members from the big city recognized themselves in the driver's seat. So did their opposition, who finally changed their tune to "Something's gotta give" and voted for Pikarsky. That set the wheels in motion. The temporary chairman almost immediately predicted that the board soon will con sider levying a 5-per cent sales tax on gasoline and a parking tax on commercial lots in Chicago. The gas tax, at the time of the RTA act, was expected to generate about $73 million annually, the parking tax $10 million. As we figure it out here in McHenry, part of the whopping $73 million is coming out of our pockets - for nothing. In spite of our most heated debates back in 1973 to keep out of the whole mess, we were constantly being assured that , we in the boondocks would benefit along with the metropolitan area. Now we are hearing that the RTA was created co stem the decline of the Chicago area transit systems, to roll back fares and improv^ service. afternoon. Mrs. KarenMarasand her family of nine children were left homeless. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD the scene for two and a half What area transit systems? What fares? What service? The temporary chairman reportedly said the RTA will have hardly enough funds during its first year of operation to maintain and sustain existing transportation systems and levels of service. But we have almost no systems or service to maintain, so why is our gasoline being taxed? Right now the RTA gets funds from three sources. By far the biggest amount -- $79.2 million - is from state sales tax collected in the RTA area. This is our money again. ' And insulting the injury we are suffering already, they tell us the CTA has been brazen enough to ask the RTA for $95 million during 1975, 47 per cent more than it received in public funds last year. Whether you use the old math or the new, all of this mumbo jumbo adds up to a tax onc gasoline in the future. If Uncle Sam decides to throw more fire on the fuel (pardon the pun) with additional tax, nobody will have to ask us to conserve energy. The billfold won't take the strain. It was almost a year ago that we small town newspaper folks were telling everybody we weren't buying the RTA and we didn't want it as a gift. Everybody out in the country listened but we were a little short at the polls last March. This great new system of one- man, one-vote sounded so democratic when the politicians introduced it a few years ago. What happened? Interrupting our thoughts at this time was a phone call with the telegram message that Mr. (Continued on page 4) A conflagration that followed what was described as "almost an explosion", left a mother and nine children homeless late Tuesday afternoon. Karen B. Maras of 1503 W Hickory, Holiday Hills, and four of the children who were in the house at the time fled to safety at 4:45 p.m. One of the Maras children turned on the Christmas tree lights for a last bit of holiday cheer. Almost immediately the fire started. Fire Chief Glenn Peterson said after the flames were under control that not a piece of a branch remained, only the trunk of the tree. The kitchen and living room areas were entirely gutted. All other parts of the tri-level home sustained heat and smoke damage. Peterson estimated the loss in excess of $15,000. However, he said rebuilding \yould be possible. 'sX McHenry Fire Companies I and III were assisted by Mutual Aid Nunda rural department members. They remained on Two Filings Recorded For City Election A lively interest in the spring city election has prompted early filings. Raymond L. Smith of 1511 N. Park street has filed in the third ward. In the fourth ward, there have been two filings, by Ronald H. Meurer of 4814 W. Prairie avenue and Walther E.I. Schaedel of 1613 N. Pleasant avenue. Deadline for filing is Feb. 10 for the April 15 election. The offices of one alderman in each of the four wards will be filled. The terms of William J. Bolger in Ward I, George Harker in Ward 2, Donald Howard in Ward 3 and Jerome Rogers in Ward 4 expire. hours. Members of the Maras family are making temporary homes with Mrs. Maras^Tster, Bonnie Hale, and wtfri neigh bors, /HrfTOale (^dnriels, in Holiday Hills. Within thirty-six hours, sufficient offers of clothing had been received. Anyone wishing to offer other assistance may contact the Gabriels, 2809 S. Tower drive, McHenry. Monday was a night of sur prises for City Council mem bers. Besides learning of the resignations of City Clerk Earl Walsh and City Treasurer Thomas F. Bolger, several aldermen were also surprised to learn that there was a restriction against school buses using streets in the Whispering Oaks area. The Council was made aware of the situation when Clint Claypool, a member of the Chamber of Commerce, reported that he had been approached at a recent Chamber dinner by parents with a six-year-old child who had moved into the Whispering Oaks area. Their child attends Landmark school but was unable to get bus tran sportation from his home even though lie is outside the mile and a half limit. The school director of transportation told the family that buses were restricted from using roads in Whispering Oaks. Claypool explained that he was appearing on behalf of the child He pointed out that it is about one-half mile from the child's door to a point where he must catch the bus because it is not allowed in the subdivision. He stressed that, "Ihe winter season is the time when transportation is needed." In checking the matter, Claypool said he talked to the director of transportation at the school and to Fred Meyer, superintendent of Public Works. Both men confirmed that buses were restricted from Whispering Oaks streets. Clavpool mentioned that he had brought this matter to the attention of an alderman two months ago and "he promised to call me but 1 haven't heard froai him." He saidj[ie had also talked to City Clerk Earl Walsh and he could find nothing on the records. Since it was determined that the restrictions were not im posed by City Council action, Claypool assumed that the decision was made at a com mittee meeting. He asked when committee meetings were held, if minutes were kept, were they open to the public and were the meeting dates published. Mayor Stanek replied that committee meetings are called at random by the chairnftm of each committee. They are pub lic, no minutes are kept and the meeting times are not published. "So many of them are spontaneous and some are even held on location such as at the sewer plant," Stanek ex plained Alderman Jerome Rogers assured Claypool that it was not through any action taken by the City Council that school buses were barred in Whispering Oaks or that weight limit signs were posted there. Alderman LaVerne Hromee asked, "Who made this decision?" Alderman George Harker replied that it was done by the Street and Sidewalk committee "of which I am chairman." Alderman Hromee said in her opinion it was a very foolish decision since she has seen Ladd's equipment trucks, gasoline trucks and other service vehicles on those roads with no restrictions imposed upon them. Harker explained that 98 per cei\t of the people in Whispering Oaks are of retirement age and are, for the most part, retired. "The original concept was that there was no need for school buses inasmuch as there were no school children in the area," he pointed out „ Harker also pointed out that buses cause safety problems. At one'time lie clocked a bus going down Front Royal drive at 60 in ph. "When you have to back out of. a driveway, you would have to use extreme caution or you could have a school bus in your lap," lie stressed "Buses are barred out of there because there is no need for lhem and they still are," lie asserted. Harker admitted that due to resale of homes in the area, six children are now living there and the matter will have to be given further consideration. Alderman Hromee disagreed that there have not been children in the area until recently. She contended that there were children living in Lakeland Shores who go to West campus and use- those streets. ' When she asked Harker if the Street and Sidewalk committee made the decision to post the weight limit signs, he replied that it Was done-"by mutual agreement . between the director of transportation, the "superintendents and myself as an alderman of that ward." Stanek interjected that Fred Meyer, as superintendent of Public Works, has the authority to post weight limit signs on city streets at his discretion Meyer was not in attendance at Ihe meeting. Alderman Jack Pepping pointed out that in some cases it is necessary to post tonnage signs in order to maintain the good condition of roads. He asked Harker if theweight of a school bus was more than those streets were designed to bear. When Harker answered, "Yes", Alderman Hromee quickly replied, "That is very strange. Does this mean that all the streets which fail to bear the weight of a school bus should not allow bus traffic? (Continued on page 4) School Bus Care-Storage Plan Progresses Locally Proposed plans for care and storage of school buses took form at Tuesday night's in formational meeting of High School District 156, held in the East campus library. A go- ahead was given for the Transportation committee to proceed as far as final agreement, when the board will make.its decision. E d w a r d N e u m a n n , representing the committee, reported on progress made in meetings with District 15. The study included plans for providing a place to keep the districts' fifty buses. Because some of the present board members have served only a short time, Neumann brought them up to date on highlights of discussion over the past four years. It was Arrest Four Youths For McHenry Burglaries, Thefts Four McHenry youths were arrested by city police this week on charges of burglary and theft. Robert and William Mueller of 4500 Parkway, McHenry, were named in the complaints along with two juveniles who were petitioned to juvenile court authorities on the same charges. Detective Sgt. Daniel Kin- nerk reported that on i'R""' formation received from McHenry County Sheriff's Detectives Larry Macheroux and Elof Borgeson, officials went to the Mueller home and recovered various items of stolen property. Recovered in the investigation were tools reported stolen from Edward T. Behrle of 1334V2 Riverside drive, McHenry last Oct. 8. The tools were valued at approximately $250. Also recovered was a battery charger valued at $23 which was stolen from the auto of Orval M. Pufpaff of 201 S. Draper road, McHenry. The auto was parked at Brake Parts company on Dec. 19 when tfrie theft occurred. One juvenile 'was involved in these -offenses. William Mueller wascharged with burglary and theft in connection with the Jan. 2 but-glary at the Andrew Kremier home, 907 Hampton court, McHenry. It was determined that one juvenile was an accomplice in the burglary of the home. An alarm clock and a push button telephone were taken from the summer home of William Corrie at 2606 Shorewood drive, McHenry The house was entered sometime after Dec. 30 A storage shed on the premises was also entered but nothing was stolen Sometime within the past two (Continued on page 4) President James Alt hoi 1 who first questioned why the districts should have to pay for bus repairs at a garage when there should be sufficient work for the schools to employ their own mechanic. He also called attention to the possibility of acquiring a steel building for bus repairs and for fuel storage. Outside parking in a residential area lias provoked increasing complaints. For several years the buses have been parked in an area on James street, near McCracken field. Under) a new law, buses must be properly warmed up before being put into operation, and the noise that results in the early morning hours has been an annoyance to persons residing in that area. A discussion was held on the possibility of using electric heaters in a hookup arrangement that would lessen warrnup time. Bus storage would be outside the repair building, with provisions for the electrical hookup Members questioned whether money could be secured for a building without a referendum Neumann pointed out that a program had been suggested and the legality ol it checked It calls for the establishment of a non-profit corporation that would contract with the school districts. The corporation would be able to approach banks to borrow money, and revenue from the Tran sportation Jund would repay this amount. Neumann in dicated that banks have ex pressed a willingness to cooperate. It Was estimated that bet-* ween one and five acres would lie needed. Asked for their opinions, board members expressed no objections and suggested the committee proceed up to making final arrangements. Assistant Supt. Tom Joynt reviewed site visitations made as part of the district's program and facility planning activities. Principal Gary Fields and three teachers visited a 2-2 system such as exists at East campus. Fields noted that the Quincy district received $845,000 last year in title funds, substantially more than the local district He said he could see advantages in some areas in the Quincy school, whereas in other areas McHenry ex celled He felt there was better communication between the two schools locally. Both Supt. Swantz and Principal Joynt viewed the four-year system at Shrewsbury, Mass , which has a four day week stressing very new approaches to education. (Continued on page 4) Youth In Actioh A Tribute A Profile Of Public Service The McHenry City Council was in full session and a husky alderman was losing an argument to a much smaller adversary. Suddenly, unable to control himself, the big man blurted out, "I can lick you". The smaller one retorted, "I know I can't lick you, but I 'll run you a foot race from here to the corner". Mayor R.I. Overton brought down the gavel. The year was sometime in the late 'thirties, shortly after Earl R. Walsh, as a young man, assumed the office of city clerk. Maybe it was the inexperience of those early years that marked this occurrence and others like it so indelibly on his memory. Last Monday night, with emotions at a high point, Council members learned that his thirty-eight years of out standing service to the city would soon come to an end. The city clerk, business man and Plaindealer sports editor had decided to retire from his office with the city. Only with a decision so momentous does the public the suc- take time to consider ingredients for such a cessful career spanning such a long period of time. Intelligence, fair judgment, an open mind, 'understanding, courage and ambition certainly must be included A sense of humor is a bonus that can't be overlooked. Earl Walsh had them all in good measure, plus an elusive quality that might be described as a knack for putting it all together. There were speeches to' give; (Continued on page 4) There is no lack of ambition here as members of Youth, Inc., get to work with brooms, dust cloths and an aftiple supply of elbow grease. They are working inside the former Willys Schreiner home on Main street which will be used as a temporary home for their recreational program. Permission to use the house until plans can be undertaken for the public library to expand was granted at the Dec. 30 City Council meeting, when members overruled a recommendation of the Zoning Board of Appeals. It was the encouragement these young people awaited so long. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD >