I * The Computer Innovation In Shopping l»AGE 19 - PLA1NDEALER-FRIPAY. OCTOBER 24, I|75 Chuck Sowers, manager of McHenry National Food store, points to UPC symbol code on box. At left is the new computer cash register without scanner. After thorough testing of the scanner in various parts of the country, the innovation in grocery shopping will be brought into the area. One of the innovations that has caused no little amount of interest among the shopping public is concerned with the new Universal Product Code (UPC). As stores convert to the new system, scanners will be seen replacing cash registers. The new system is designed to check out groceries in seconds, resulting in a con siderable saving of time. The new datachecker, now being tested in the McHenry National tells nearly every detail of the shopping trip. Everything is spelled out, in cluding not only the purchase information and items eligible for food stamp purchase, but a description of the cash tran saction, and correct amount of change. The checker will charge a deposit for bottles, but the machine automatically subtracts the tax. It will record food stamp purchases which are not taxable from the general merchandise, (clothes pins, soap, etc). This will be the machine used when the scanners are attached. The UPC symbol is a code readable by the scanner and each series of bars and num bers designates the company and the product. For example, the number for Kraft's 7'/4 ounce package of macaroni and cheese dinner is 21000-65883. The first five digits (21000) idehtify Kraftco corporation as the manufacturer and the 65883 identifies the product. At the checkout point, the scanner reads and records the code as the checker passes it ' over a small window and records the number. This number goes instantaneously into a mini-computer which has prices recorded. In a fraction of a second, taxable items are noted, taxes computed, food stamp credits figure, sale items identified, coupons credited and everything is recorded on the tape, including the name of the item. Another of the advantages in the new system is that the receipt has a list of the products purchased next to each price so consumers can comparison shop and also have a record when they get home. If one has purchased, for example, Maxwell House coffee, the cash register tape will read, "Max Cof - $2.58. Or another example, Wyler's Chili Seasoning will read, "Wyl Chil Sea - $0.39. Retailers are in favor of (he new system because of greater accuracy at the register. Since a complete inventory is kept on computer as each sale is en tered, store managers can reduce out-of-stock and provide a better rotation and fresher products. It also reduces the cost of price marking each item and cuts warehouse costs. DATE STORE NUMBER REGISTER NUMBER S = FOOD STAMP ELIGIBLE ITEM SPECIAL COUPON SPECIAL REFUND NUMBER CONSECUTIVE NUMBER 1975 08 ST REG 1 23 1 s 1 00GR TX GROCERY TAXABLE s 2.29MT TX MEAT s 79PR TX PRODUCE s 59DEL TX DELI 1.89G-M TX GENERAL MERCHANDISE s 1.59GR TX .40GR BOTTLE DEPOSIT CHARGE s 79BK TX BAKERY 9.79TTL SUB TOTAL INCLUDING TAX . 15CP CR VENDOR COUPON CREDIT S0801 15NCP TX NATIONAL'S COUPON CREDIT 9952 40REF CR BOTTLE RETURN CREDIT 9.09TTL TOTAL OWED BY CUSTOMER 500CKT CHECK FROM CUSTOMER 4.09TTL REMAINDER OWED BY CUSTOMER 5.00C T CASH FROM CUSTOMER _ 8 64ITL TOTAL EXCLUDING TAX 45TTX TAX 9.09TTL TOTAL INCLUDING TAX 10.00TND AMOUNT TENDERED BY CUSTOMER 19 CST 91CHG CHANGE TAX FACTS From A to Z, whatever the 5small business, the Internal Revenue Service points out there's a common charac teristic to almost every suc cessful enterprise-good records. According to the IRS, good records are important to the success of a business because they: . help keep track of profits . help determine depreciation allowances and enable the business person to get full tax deductions . show which business income is taxable and which may not be taxable . substantiate information provided on tax forms and help answer a tax examiner's questions during an IRS audit . establish reportable ear nings for social security pur poses. Business records need not follow any particular form to meet IRS requirements, as long as the records clearly establish all income, deductions, and credits. The Internal Revenue Service is ready to assist persons operating small businesses and to provide free pamphlets covering a variety of business topics. Stop in at your nearest IRS office or call the IRS toll free number 800-972-5400 for ad ditional information. Two light-weight sweaters are warmer than one heavy one. The space between the two provides insulation - and helps keep your body heat close to you. FIFTY YEARS AGO (Taken from the files of Oct. 15, 1925) The Plaindealer, with this issue, is opening up a new department of the paper covering social and club ac tivities of McHenry and near territory. Mr. and Mrs. William Vanderboom of Volo were pleasantly surprised Saturday evening when about fifty relatives and friends came to help them celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding an niversary. A new card club was organized recently by twelve of the McHenry ladies with the view to holding a party every two weeks. The first meeting was held with Mrs. Nick Freund. Those joining the club are Mrs. Nick Freund, Mrs. iter A. Freund, Mrs. Joseph J. Freund, Mrs. N.E. Barbian, Mrs. Joseph Miller, Mrs. Frances Kalen, Mrs. Albert Purvey, Mrs. John Kilday, Mrs. Simon Michels, Mrs. Ben Stilling, Mrs. John Weber and Mrs. Julius Keg. John Hogan has purchased a new Star touring car through the agency of Herman Schaefer. Little Warren Jones, son of Vaughn Jones, won first prize in the year and one-half old baby contest at Maywood recently. J.J. Ryan, formerly of Woodstock, now a resident of McHenry and foreman of the Plaindealer office, reported to the Sheriff Thursday morning to be on the lookout for an automobile bearing the license plates which were stolen from his car when it was parked near the corner of Green and Elm streets. District Deputy Frank Daily of Woodstock will be present at the next regular meeting of the Knights of Columbus to install the newly elected officers. FORTY YEARS AGO (Taken from the files of Oct. 17, 1935) Five thousand bushels of apples hanging red and rosy, from branches breaking with their weight, covering the ground where they have fallen because of ripeness and piled high in baskets, hand picked and waiting a buyer - this is the sight which greets the eyes of a visitor to the Clay Baird farm south of McHenry where the largest apple crop in the history of the farm or in the history of the countryside is being har vested. A perfect October day dawned on Oct. 16 for the lovely autumn bride, Miss Elvera Blake who was united in marriage to Mr. Alex Justen. The ceremony was solemnized at St. Mary's church with Msgr. Charles S. Nix, pastor of the church, officiating at the nuptial high Mass. The Mothers club is spon soring a library benefit card party at Erickson's hall Oct. 23. Through the efforts of the members of the Mothers club, McHenry has the promise of a library which will be organized in the near future. Mrs. Dora M. Colby Waldorf died Oct. 8,1935, at her home in Yakima, Wash., from a heart attack. She was born June 7, 1878, at McHenry. The Rev. R.W. Pinell, newly appointed pastor of the local M.E. Church, and his wife, spent the weekend in McHenry where Rev. Pinell officiated at the church services of the M.E. Church. Rev. and Mrs. Pinell came here from Oklahoma. Alby Krug, manager of the National Tea company store, is enjoying a vacation this week and it's with double pay, too, as a reward for winning a contest in increased sales put on by the company this summer. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO (Taken from the files of Oct. 26, 1950) On Sunday. Oct. 29. all Girl Scouts in McHenry are urged to observe Girl Scout Sunday by attending the church of their own denominations in a group and, if possible, in uniform. In the Spring of 1948, the VFW auxiliary of McHenry decided to revive Girl Scouts locally. James Faulkner, 24, an employee of the McHenry Mills, Inc., for the past three months, suffered painful in juries to his foot. It was badly mangled and he was taken to the Woodstock hospital for treatment. Ernest Peter Schaeublin, 18, of Route 2, McHenry, was enlisted in the U.S. Navy Oct. 16 and is now undergoing training at the Naval center at Great Lakes. Next Tuesday evening, Oct. 31, the younger children will be treated to moving pictures (cartoons) in the high school auditorium from 7 to 8:30. From 8:30 to 10 o'clock, the older students through high school age are invited to the school auditorium to see some very fine sports movies. The McHenry businessmen's association will be putting this on for the children. R.I. Overton and sons, Richard and Paul of the R.I. Overton Motor Sales, with 400 other Oldsmobile dealers from the Chicago zone, traveled by plane to Lansing, Mich., to witness the production of the 500,000th rocket engine, the high compression 135 hor sepower engine used in the Olds 88 and 98 series. The McHenry men made the trip in one day. TEN YEARSAGO (Taken from the files of Oct. 21, 1965) The body of Mrs. Joan Marie Florek, 31, mother of four children who had been missing from her home at Lakeland Park for ten days, was recovered from McCullom Lake Sunday afternoon by Ken Loesch of the McCullom Lake police department. McHenry Savings and Loan association has exercised an option to acquire the American Legion property on Green street, it has been announced by Arnold J. Rauen, chairman of the board of the association. Six applications for con struction permits have been received by the Illinois Division of Waterways. Among them is one of the city of McHenry to construct a bridge over Boone Creek.at Millstream drive between Clearbrook avenue and Grand avenue. Forty-one1 ' members and guests of the McHenry Woman's club enjoyed a bus trip to historic Galena Oct. 12. Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Weingart returned home this past week after being hospitalized as the result of a two-car accident near Point Pleasant, W. Va. They were enroute home from a trip when the crash occurred. Dr. Eugene Unti has opened a dental office in Glen Ellyn, it was announced this week by the Chicago Dental society. Harold R. Hobbs, McHenry, recently terminated a career of more than thirty-eight years with Commonwealth Edison company starting in 1921 as a groundman. On a cold day, run your fingers around the windows. If you can feel cold air blowing in through cracks between the window frame and the wall, the cracks should be caulked. If air is blowing in between the window sash and frame; or between the upper and lower sashes, the windows should be weatherstripped. When it's time for the patient to come home . . . ! \fi RENT A HOSPITAL BID Your patient needs the bed comforts of a hospital, at home. Our easily adjustable beds make home nursing easier. Reasonable rental rates by the month. Call now and reserve a hospital bed for your patient soon to come home. - Need it? Rent it! member IUe Rent HW £u#ujUiuuj! 385-3232 904 N. FRONT ST. american rental association McHENRY, ILL. Prepare for winter nowf CLEAN & SERVICE Gutters & Downspouts ONLY Remodel & Insulate with brand name aluminum steel siding AT SPECIAL FAIL PRICES! HOME Gutters Unlimited 2912 MICHAEL ST. WONDER LAKEL ILL. 60097 Ph 815/653-9720*15/385-9^27 Dolars & Good |ense ftj WUUmmJ.3tmrUm Parkland Middle school pupils, Susy Dober, Naoma Argy and John Brzenk. left, and Heidi Reihansperger and John Sraka, right, are shown with Ms. Kay Powell, who spoke to Language Arts classes of the school on the importance of listening skills for the blind. Skills For Blind Are Presented To Parkland Classes The sixth grade Language Arts classes of Parkland Middle school had the privilege of having Kay Powell speak to them on the importance of listening skills for the blind. For the past several weeks the students have been studying listening skills and the importance of good listening habits. Ms. Powell explained the importance of listening when sight is gone. Classes also enjoyed seeing Pert, Ms. Powell's seeing eye dog, work through various commands. She explained the training period for seeing eye dogs and their owners. The demonstration was followed by a question and answer period. This is the first of several assemblies planned for the sixth grade. Expect Nitrogen Fertilizer Supply To Drop Slightly Jimmie D. Lucas, county executive director of the McHenry County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, said recently that nitrogen supplies for the current fertilizer year are expected to be slightly below that of 1974-75. "Anhydrous ammonia production would be reduced by an estimated 670,000 tons from July 1975 through June 1976," Lucas said. Lucas indicated that the estimates are based on a recent telephone survey by a govern ment interagency fertilizer task force contacting anhydrous ammonia producers to determine the impact of expected natural gas cur tailments on production. "The projected drop in the July-December period is about 250,000 tons, with about a 380,000-ton decline for the first quarter of 1976," Lucas said. The decline during the April- June 1976 quarter is expected to total less than 40,000 tons. About 554,000 tons, or 83 percent of the reduction in tonnage will be in plants served by distributors dependent on natural gas supplied by in terstate pipelines, the task force reported. A drop of just under 10,000 tons is estimated for plants on intrastate natural gas pipelines. Plants on in trastate pipelines account for an estimated 36 percent of total annual anhydrous ammonia capacity^ Lucas said that even though increased activity in the economy will increase in dustrial anhydrous ammonia use over last year, some new plants have started or will start production during the year. Inventories at the beginning of the year are the largest on record. These tend to counter losses in production resulting from natural gas curtailments. Hence, by holding net trade jQl if yon rent- an apartment or house, an economical State Farm Tenant Homeowners Policy can protect your furniture, clothes and other personal belongings against many perils. It can protect you against liability lawsuits, too. Let me give you all the details. Dennis Conway 3319 W. Elm. McHenry 395-7111 S T A T E F A R M I N S U R A N C E « Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there State Farm Fire and Casualty Company Home Office Bloomington. Illinois unchanged in the task force projection, net domestic supplies of nitrogen available for farm use in the 1975-76 year are expected to be slightly below those of last year. Instant Replay r\ Special Consultant to AVCO Financial Services Second incomes have many effects on families. In recent columns. I've been discussing some of the problems that can result. Today though. I'd like to discuss one of the hidden benefits. In many situations, the second income is the wife's income Where this is the case, some thought should be given to using that income to develop a credit history in the wife's name only. Married women have traditionally had difficulty establishing credit in their own names. This often goes un noticed until the woman is widowed or divorced and then finds trouble getting credit because she has ifione already established. So. once the wife takes a job, it's a good idea for her to maintain separate checking and savings accounts in her own name. The next step in establishing credit is applying for it. First try for a bank or department store credit card. If you are unsuccessful, try an in stallment purchase at a store. Once you have established a good payment record, you should have no trouble getting regular credit at most places of business. Once you are earning an income of your own, see to it that you get the credit you deserve. It may pay off later. Readers' questions are welcome and should be sent to P.O. Box 2210, Newport Beach, CA 92663. HERE AND THERE IN BUSINESS With the arrival of chilly autumn mornings, be sure your family is ready to enjoy a safe and comfortable heating season by following these tips from Northern Illinois Gas company on chimney and furnace care: . See that your chimney is clear of obstructions. Chimneys can deteriorate and block the flue passage. Assorted debris also can obstruct the proper venting of combustion products. Serious illness can result if these products are not expelled. , Use the "match test" to make sure your chimney is venting properly. First, operate your heating plant long enough so the flue pipe becomes hot. Then hold a match to the edge of the diverter. A flame drawn up the flue means you have proper venting. If, however, the flam€ is blown down, turn off your heating plant immediately arid have the chimney checked and cleaned. October Truck Load Sale SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25th O W E N S C O R N I N G FIBERGLAS INSULATION 3*4* irxfk- 15" x 3tf» Paper Face A t/*QQ Fiberglass Insulation....??.^:.?.. 6 | 15" x 6" Paper Face £f\2Q Fiberglass Insulation 9 ALEXANDER LUMBER 909 North Front St.-McHenry III. / S