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Drifting Causes Accidents ZERO VISIBILITY - This was the scene about noon Tuesday on Rt. 31 and Gracy road, where a multiple car accident resulted from almost zero visibility as a heavy west wind caused drifting, particularly on north-south roads. Numerous accidents were recorded throughout the county. STAFF PHOTO WAYNE GAYLORD Extremely high winds which caused drifting snow to block north-south roadways and reduce visibility to one-foot, was responsible for numerous multiple car accidents in the county Tuesday. From 11:50 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., thirteen accidents were handled by county deputies. Eight persons were taken to McHenry hospital for treat­ ment of injuries. Traffic was blocked up for about an hour Tuesday around noon when several cars were involved^ in an accident on Route 31 north of Edgewood drive, just north of Terra Cotta hill. David F. Rolow of 3113 Edgewood, Wonder Lake, was northbound on the highway when he noticed a vehicle in the ditch. He tried to avoid hitting it but was unable to do so. Kevin L. Schultz of 297 Millard, Crystal Lake, said he was south-bound and didn't see the Rolow car until he hit it . George L. Thompson of 3016 Scott avenue, McHenry, came upon the scene traveling south and said it was snowing so hard he couldn't see 2 feet in front of his car. Before he could stop, he hit the Schultz car which had been Involved in a previous accident. Schultz was just getting out of his car after the initial impact with Rolow's auto when his car was hit from behind by Thompson's auto. Schultz and Rolow were taken to McHenry hospital by the McHenry Rescue squad, where they were treated and released. The drivers indicated blowing snow cut visibility almost to zero. An accident in the 2300 block of Crystal Lake road Tuesday at 12:40 resulted in injuries to two persons. Taken to McHenry hospital by the Rescue squad were Arlene Wright of 5301 N. Thelen, McHenry, and Adolfo Maldonada of Island Lake. Mrs. Wright was a passenger in an auto driven by Joyce S. Klein of 11<> Greenwood avenue, Spring Grove, and Maldonada was riding with Andrew T. Irwin of 721 Lillian street. McHenry. Both were treated and released from the hospital. According to the police report, Mrs. Klein was north bound on the roadway when her auto skidded on the ice and snow. The car traveled into a ditch where it hit ^laldonada, who was standing in the area. Driver of the other auto, Irwin, 'said in an attempt to avoid hitting another vehicle, his car skidded into a ditch He and Maldonada were outside looking at. his damaged car when the Klein auto slid off the road and hit his passenger. Ice and snow covered roads caused a car driven by James A Thompson of 5403 W Westshore drive, McHenry. to hit a mailbox at 8902 Route 120. Thompson was east-bound on the highway when he lost control of the car due to bad road conditions and it went into a ditch The accident occurred Tuesday about 12:30, just west of Thompson road Sandra C. Macek of 2017 Woodlawn Park. McHenry, was driving north at 2021 N. Crystal Lake road Tuesday afternoon about 2:25. As her car rounded a curve, it started to slide on the snow covered roadway, causing her to lose control of the vehicle It went off the road and through a fence. No one was injured In one incident which oc­ curred Tuesday at 2:25p.m. on Route 31 about one mile north of Algonquin, a south-bound truck driven by Charles Lvkins of Pershing, Ind , was hit by strong winds and blown over onto the passenger side During the attempt to turn the vehicle on its wheels, it was again blown over on the driver's side by the high winds. No one was injured. Scott J Freund of 3909 W drove, McHenry, was cited by city police for improper left turn following a collision last Thursday morning at the in­ tersection of Main street and Crystal Lake road (Continued on page 9) 15 THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875 I CONTEST I VOLUME 99 - NUMBER 60 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1975 18 PAGES - FIFTEEN CENTS Apprehend Juveniles In Mineral Springs Burglaries Three juveniles were ap­ prehended in connection with the entry of two homes on Mineral Springs drive, McHenry, last Wednesday. The arrests were made after deputies investigated a report that youths had been seen at the unoccupied home of Robert Reidy at 410 Mineral Springs drive. The offenders fled the scene when spotted but a witness recognized one of them and reported the matter. A porch on the Reidy home had been entered by cutting the screen and plastic of the en­ closed porch. A neighboring vacant home owned by Josephine Dober of 404 Mineral Springs drive was also entered by breaking a window. Items taken from the home were later recovered. The youths were turned over to juvenile authorities. The home of Norman Levandowski at 901 W. Oak Hill drive, Spring Grove, was burglarized sometime last Thursday morning. Mrs. Levandowski discovered entry had been gained when she returned home from shopping. Inspection revealed every room of the home had been searched and left in such condition that it was difficult to make an inventory of the premises. It was determined a coin collection had been taken. Guns were removed from their place on a wall and placed on the couch. However, it was not determined if any had been taken. Further investigation is being made to determine the full loss A seventeen-foot fiberglass canoe was stplen from the crawl space' of the John Hildebrand summer residence With March 8 set referendum seeking an in­ crease of 5 cents in the Education fund rate of McHenry County college, this would seem an appropriate time to review the need. There is a need, to be sure. Aided by the advice of a citizens' advisory council consisting of a wide range of age groups, backgrounds, affiliations and geographical locations, the best answer is deemed to be the referendum. There are other solutions, and these have been studied and discarded. One is the tax warrant route, which has been followed in recent years. The college may borrow up to 75 per cent of anticipated real estate tax revenue and these loans must be repaid as the taxes are received. It is a costly way of financing the instructional program since the interest on these loans is projected to be more than $15,000 annually. Another solution studied by the council was a raise in student tuition. Now at $15 a semester hour, the MCC figure is third highest in the state of Illinois. The tuition was raised last fall and is now approaching the legal limit. Last September the trustees learned that in order to balance the budget, tuition for the second semester of this year would need to be set at $22 per credit hour. The faculty and administration felt this amount, which is the highestjjri the state for junior colleges, would have a drastic effect on enrollment. It was pointed out then that at $22, MCC would be charging the same tuition rate as Northern Illinois university at DeKalb, a four-year in stitution. Such a charge would take MCC out of the ranks of a community college and make it a very elite school since few could pay that high tuition. When the state Community college board learned of these plans for an increase, it urged the local college to try to pass another referendum before Christmas "to get the tax situation straightened out and get the tuition back in line with other community colleges". With these alternatives seemingly unadvisable, what happens next if the referendum does not pass? The college will be forced to further reduce services to the community and to reduce or eliminate programs. Or what would happen if there should be no more McHenry County college? According to state law, all communities are assigned to a community college district in Illinois. If MCC, District 528, did not have a college of its own, residents of the district could be absorbed by one or more of the surrounding districts. All of us would pick up the tax rate of the district we would be joining. We would need to pay off that in­ debtedness as well as help the absorbing district pay off its indebtedness. We would lose local control. With all of these facts sup­ porting a favorable vote, why did last August's Educational tax referendum go down to such an overwhelming defeat? There is no one answer The sliding economy even as early as last August made the public watchful of its purse strings. Also, the college did not widely publicize the referendum. The big majority stayed home, and to the surprise of ad­ ministrators and board members at the college, students did not give the hearty support expected. The August vote was 8 to 1 against the proposal. Ui McHenry only 52 voters were in favor; 696 cast negative votes. We cannot speak for the remainder of the county, but locally the public went to the polls with memories, and not all of them were pleasant. McHenry voters recalled the fiery lashing out of tongues by neighbors to the south when several pieces of local (Continued on page 9) at 7803 Circle drive, Wonder Lake, sometime last Wed­ nesday. A door leading to the crawl space had been pried open by the offenders. The unoccupied home of vacationing Henry Aubert at 7915 N. Solon road, Solon Mills, was burglarized sometime since Feb. 19. Taken from the home were an antique coffee grinder, several crystal bowls, hand carved statues and some items of jewelry. A complete inventory cannot be taken until the owner returns. Two television sets, a stereo set with two speakers, a wine rack with assorted bottles of wine, a radio, an electric drill, an air rifle, a pistol, seven pairs of snowmobile glasses, a flashlight and a set of socket wrenches were taken from the home of Whitey Lyster at 7316 North Oak, Wonder Lake. Sometime Monday night, the home was entered by prying off a screen and breaking a win­ dow in the residence. Sandra Weir of 7019 State Park road, Spring Grove, returned home Monday mor­ ning and discovered her home had been entered. Missing from the premises were a com­ bination stereo-tape player and about $470 in cash. Sometime last weekend, a building at the McHenry Sand and Gravel pit, 115 W. Route (Continued on page 9) Youth, Inc. To Hold Open House March I Youth, Inc., will hold open house at the new youth center in the Schreiner home, Main street near East campus, Saturday, March 1. The public is invited to tour the center between the hours of 6 and 9 p.m. to see the work ac­ complished by many local teen­ agers. Much painting has been done, and games and other equip­ ment installed. Youths between the ages of 13 and 19 residing in the McHenry area will be accepted as members. Nancy Randall, president, a sophomore at East campus, may be contacted for further information. Petersen Park Master Plan Revealed To City A proposed master plan for development of Petersen park was revealed by Alderman Jack Pepping, chairman of the Parks and Recreation com­ mittee, at a special City Council meeting Thursday night. Other members of the committee, Aldermen Edward Datz and Jerome Rogers, have worked on the proposed plan with Pepping for several months. The plan for the 34-acre park located on the north side of the city, calls for a swimming pool complex containing a 75-foot pool, wading area, and bathhouse; seven tennis courts; Babe Ruth size field. Little League size field; two softball fields and a field for junior football; service enter building containing an office, restrooms, warming area for winter sports participants, concession and storage areas; ice skating pond and hockey areas. Also planned is a picnic area with tables, grills anffbenches; nature area; two playground areas; restrooms; picnic shelters; walkways and bike paths; three parking lots and a man-made hill for sledding and tobogganing. Approximately 19 acres of the proposed park are located on the east side of the railroad tracks and about 14 acres on the west side. The east side is planned as the activity area and the west side as the picnic and nature area. Access to the park is available from Lakeland Park or from McCullom Lake road but there is no through traffic across the tracks. One pedestrian crossing is planned. Estimated cost of the physical property needs as outlined above is $567,400. "That would be for a totally developed park at today's prices," Pepping pointed out. He stressed that these were just "ball park figures" and not prices submitted to the city on bids The estimated figure does not include fencing, grading, seeding, water or sewer ser­ vice, electric service or the pedestrian crossing. Pepping explained the reason these items were not included is that it was felt most of this work could be done "by a professional park " staff (maintenance group)". The city would ultimately be paying for it in the form of salaries but Pepping said it could probably be done much more inex­ pensively by city employees than by bidding the work out. When asked what the ap­ proximate costs of fencing, grading, seeding, water and sewer service, etc., would be, Pepping said he would just be guessing and had no idea. However, the committee felt the major expense would be the access road off McCullom Lake road which would probably run a minimum of $50,000. Pepping listed reasons for park development because ms Alderman Jack Pepping points out location of tennis courts in the Master plan for Petersen park, which was discussed at the last City Council meeting. STAFF PHOTO-BARBARA GILPIN people of all ages are becoming more recreation oriented, open space is diminishing, the average individual cannot provide for his own recreational needs and development of the park would assure continued public ownership. Pepping also noted the city had a moral commitment to the State of Illinois to develop the property because it accepted the grant money to purchase the land According to the park committee report, local needs of the city call for professional parks management and ad ministration, a dependable, continuous source of adequate funds to run a park system and ;i lack of park facilities. The standard ratio for parks is one acre of developed park land lor every 100 people Based on a population of nine to ten thousand people in the city, McHenry should have ap proximately 100 acres of developed park land, Pepping explained. The city presently has 30 acres of park land in Whispering Oaks subdivision. 10 acres in other parks and 34 acres with Petersen park Pepping said this totals 74 (C ontinued on page 9) McHenry Youths Candidates For Air Force Academy Two young McHenry men have been named candidates to the Air Force academy by Congressman John B. An­ derson (R-Ill.) from the 16th district. They are among twenty-five candidates he named to four service academies. The two local youths are George H. Hansen. 709 W. Oriole trail, and Ted A Hon- ning, 401 Mineral Springs drive, both of McHenry. MCC President Explains Referendum Dismiss Ten Ethics Charges; Continue Seven Ethics charges against eleven McHenry county of­ ficers were dismissed and cases against seven others were continued by 19th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Charles Parker Wednesday morning. Proceedings were brought against thirteen McHenry County board members and four county officers by State's Attorney William J. Cowlin. Judge Parker dismissed the cases against Sheriff Arthur Tyrrell, Treasurer Audrey Walgenbach and eight of the County board members. The complaint of Cowlin charged that the sheriff, treasurer. Auditor Al Jourdan and Coroner Theron Ehorn and fourteen County board mem­ bers had failed to file a statement of economic in­ terests by April 30 as required. The cases against Ehorn. Jourdan. Robert Stoxen, Richard Klemm. Ronald Morris, Harold Freese and Edward Buss, the latter of McHenry, were continued until a later date. Judge Parker said Wednesday he hoped to dispose of the seven continued cases within thirty days, tie added (Continued on page 9) Dr. James Davis, president of McHenry County college, addresses members of the Woodstock-Mcllenry League of Women Voters at city hall in McHenry last Thursday. Seated near projector is Nate Pohl, MCC treasurer, who assisted in the presentation. Dr. Davis explained the need for a five-cent increase in the Education rate, which voters will be asked to support in a referendum March 8 throughout the county. He compared the tax bases for other community colleges as follows: William Rainey Harper, $0.11; Elgin Community, .139; College of Lake County, .13 and McHenry County college, .07 as of January, 1975. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD " 'Make College Count' for students in the McHenry Community college district. This is our theme and goal for the March 8 referendum." stated MCC president. Dr. James Davis, at the recent League of Women Voters unit meeting in McHenry. Dr. Davis and MCC Treasurer Nat Pohl both attended and brought a slide presentation explaining the need for the tax increase. Dr. Davis said, "Since 1968 there has been an overall in­ crease of 88 percent enrollment in credit programs. The head count has increased 101 per­ cent. Cost rise per student has been 11.6 percent. Deficit in the Educational fund is currently $185,000." Pohl was questioned as to the (Continued on page 9)