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THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER "SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 107S VOLUME 101 NUMBER 90 WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1977 1 SECTION 24 PAGES Erika Frey, director of Pet Welfare, holds two of a litter of six pups Just minutes before they were put to death because there was no one to care for them until homes could be found. It is one of the frequent, unpleasant tasks for the very few special people who care enough to give of their time in behalf of helpless and homeless animals. A full picture page appears elsewhere in this issue. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD * There he was, curled up in our arms. There wa^no movement except occasionally when two big, brown eyes looked up at us with a message that clearly said, "Don't put me down." We aren't sure just how he got there. Someone just said, "Take him" and the chubby puppy settled as though this had always been his home. And no wonder! Just below was a small cage with six more wiggling "youngsters" that looked identical. Each was pushing and shoving for a share of the cramped quarters. ' * < It might have been a pleasant moment, except that these foundlings, with their pleading looks of friendship, were enroute to the executioner. There were no permanent homes for them; there was not even one person who would keep them long enough for homes to be found - ^ The only answer was for all of them to die through a term that partially masks the ignominious act. It is known as euthanasia, or mercy killing. As we stood over the cage - bystanders, staff members and the director of Pet Welfare - it was evident this was a time killkig act to forestall those Innocent puppies' deaths, Someone wondered if her apartment would be large enough to > just (me of them. But as all eyes focused on seven appealing "" " there was no answer. To choose one solved nothing. : as the incident was to animal lovers, the sad truth is that this is becoming a frequent, if pot daily, occurrence. Pet Welfare workers have the unpleasant task of taking cats, dogs, and whatever else is unwanted by unthinking owners - or no owners at all - and having them killed. • ' One Welfare worker (without payment) wonders where people think there -are open arms for all of these animal youngsters that come into the world. / "They're confusing babies and pets," she sputtered in justifiable anger after attempting to find good homes for four litters of cats "dumped" on her in just one week. And "good" is the correct word, for Pet Welfare feels these animals are better put to sleep mercifully than to be raised by owners who took them just to prevent their deaths. i All Welfare workers have the same story. Everyone loves a kitten or a puppy, at least sufficiently to save them from an early demise. But when gangly legs knock over a plant or hungry mouths put up a loud cry for immediate,attention, interest wanes. They are no longer cute, and too often nobody wants them. These are the pets that are allowed to roam, creating a nuisance in the community and swelling the animal population. It is of little interest that the law requires all female pets from pounds and shelters to be spayed. , The excuse that spaying denies them the right to motherhood is greeted by Welfare people with disdain. Their indignation is understandable when one realizes the tremendous number of animals that are put to sleep annually in this one small community alone. Too often, they say, this is-just an excuse to salve the conscious of owners unwilling to spend the veterinarian fees necessary. Is the problem really so serious? It is for anyone wtifrhas compassion on an animal population that is far too large for the number of people willing to care for them. On a recent visit to an area shelter, one Welfare worker watched proceedings over a two-hour period. In that time span, five animals were brought in for adoption. None went out. At the same shelter there were twenty-two kittens and fourteen adult cats, to say nothing of the dogs. A shelter representative reported there are few requests to adopt. Case histories are a story in themselves and they make unpleasant reading for animal, lovers. There was the Sunnyside truck driver returning from a business run in a western state. As he rounded a curve, the truck traveled onto the shoulder, striking a mother dog and several pups. The mother and all except one pup were killed. The driver, concerned for its welfare, picked up the remaining animal and brought it bade to McHenry. Because his family had two dogs, the driver and his wife sought out help from Pet Welfare, and the dog was placed. But how did a mother dog and six pups get in the "middle of nowhere" in the winter if someone didn't dump them there? Another case found an owner frantic for help to place a mother dog and four puppies three weeks old. She made the request Wednesday morning and was moving out of state the following night. What she didn't knotffor didn't care about, was that the small dogs were too young to be separated from their mother and the Humane society shelter cannot take puppies until they are at least six weeks old. , , • ^ One week found four litters of kittens abandoned in the city. Two were taken to Animal Control; one litter was kept by the person finding therrt until Pet Welfare could find homes; one litter, with eyes barely open, was picked up by a Pet Welfare volunteer and offered for adoption. There are rewards for working in this business, for which there fas no pay. But we challenge people to offer their services for that » reward. Too often it follows this pattern: A pet owner called asking Pet Welfare to take three adult cats for which she wanted good homes. There was a stipulation they would not be killed. When the Welfare representative said she would do the best she could, the caller responded in a huffy manner, "I don't think you're die kind of person I want to deal with anyway." ' This is Pet Welfare, but it could be almost any organized group devoted to humane treatment of animals. The rewards are few, but those few seem to be ample for a handful of individuals who treasure the simple creatures God has placed on Earth for man's enjoyment. KAF Police are continuing their investigation into an armed robbery 1 which occurred Thursday evening at the Elm Street Service station, 3603 W. Elm, McHenry. Arrested for the offense was Thomas E. Kane, 20, of Fox Lake. Authorities are sear­ ching for the weapon used in the robbery, a small-calibre handgun, as well as examining other areas of the case which remain unclear at this time. Approximately seventy dollars in cash was recovered from Kane's vehicle, which was impounded and searched by McHenry police. About $420 in cash and checks was taken from the gas station. Kane was arrested at about 9:30 p.m. Thursday, about one and one-half hpurs after the robbery was reported to McHenry police. After a statewide dispatch had been put out on Kane's vehicle, McHenry county Sheriff's Police Sergeant Larry Fortin spotted the Kane vehicle in the vicinity of Wilmot road and Johnsburg road. Fwtin, with assistance from Sheriff's Deputy Thomas Keane, suc­ ceeded in stopping the vehicle at the corner of Wilmot road and Middle street in Johnsburg. Kane was taken into custody, brought to the McHenry police station, and his vehicle was impounded. He / was interrogated throughout the night Thursday, and was then taken to McHenry county jail. I The frantic evening began at about 7:50 p.m., when police received a call from one of the attendants on duty at the gas station at the time of the rob­ bery. Police arrived almost im­ mediately, and learned that the offender fled on foot south between City Wide Carpet and the service station. It was also learned from witnesses to the crime that the offender had approached an attendant with a brown bag over his head, displayed a small calibre revolver, a?d without any conversation, emptied the register of about $420 in cadi and checks. McHenry Police Sergeants Gregory Burg and Robert Mickelsen along with Officers Robert Winters and James Molnar, made an immediate search of the area, but failed to And the offender. Through interviews with the numerous witnesses to the crime, it was learned that the offender was Kane, a former employee at the gas station which was robbed. A description of his vehicle state. Ateo, at about 8^25 p.m., Sgt. Burg recovered the brown paper that Kane had allegedly used to cover his face di^npg the robbery. The paper had cori&lfrom some garbage behinCthe City Wide Carpet buikUAg. Then, at 9r30 p.m., Sgt. Fortin observed the vehicle in question in Johnsburg, stopped it, and took Kane into custody. Thus far, he has been charged solely with armed robbery, although additional charges are pending further investigation. Free Circus Trip pqr 200 Local Youngsters The most excited young people in McHenry on Thur­ sday, July 28, will be the 200 who take advantage of the McHenry County Serine club invitation to attend the annual circus performance of the Shrine circus in Pecatonica, 111., near Rockford. Busses will leave West campus parking lot ] at 11:30 a.m. with the first 200 youngsters who sign up for the trip, which is free of charge. Boys and girls ages 8 through 13 are eligible to sign up by calling 385-0465. Each member of the Shrine club receives a quantity of circus tickets, for which he pays. As a club, sponsors are sought to offer busses and the entire outing is a summer recreation offering for local youngsters. , The McHenry County Shrine club is a member of Tebala Temple, Rockford. The Shriner* operate children's hospitals, which benefit from the circus per­ formances and other events. • # t* -a McHenry Police Sergeant Gregory Burg (top photo) cautiously enters a garage near the St Regis pub, believing the robber to be inside. Later the same evening (Thursday), county police apprehended Thomas E. Kane, ft, of Fox Lake far the robbery of the Elm street Service station. Roughly $400 In cash and checks was taken from the station, with approximately seventy dollars In cash and change being found in the Kane vehicle. In lower photo, an unidentified county deputy enters the Kane auto while (front left) Sheriff's Detective Joe Elsele, McHenry Police Lieutenant Robert Krans, lad Sgt. Burg look on. ' - ( STAFF PHOTOS-WAYNE FREE IMMUNIZATIONS Fr#e immunizations, for children in high school and under will be given Wednesday morning, July 27, frokn 8:30 to 11 a.m. in Room 102 of the New McHenry county courthouse, located on Route 47 north of Woodstock. Chamber Boosts Dues; Sets Window Competition To assure adequate funding for the McHenry Chamber of Commerce, the board has announced a boost in yearly dues. On the average, the in-, crease runs about 15 percent in each of four categfcies. McHenry has had the lowest dues structure of any Chamber in the county. The new fees become ef­ fective Jan. 1,1978, and will be as follows: Retail-Professionals, 3 to 5 employees, $80; 6 to 10, $80 plus $3 for each over 5 employees; 11 to 15, $95 plus $2,25 for each over 10. employees; 15 to 30, $105 plus $2 for each ova* 15 employees; over 30, $135 plus $1.50 for each over 30 em­ ployees. Maximum dues will be $250. Industrial: 3 to 5 employees, $80; 6 to 20, $80 plus $2 for each over 5 employees; 21 to 50, $105 plus $l for each over 20 em­ ployees ; 51 to 100, $155 plus ,75 for each over 50 employees; 101 to 200, $190 phis .50 for each- over 100 employees; over 200, $275. Financial: $5 psr million dollars of assets, with a $400 maximum. Small business-Professional: 3 or less employees, $55. Much conversation at the board meeting focused on plans for Fiesta days, opening Aug. £ and extending through Su "day, Aug. 7. Based on the theme, "Say ft With Music", the merchants' window decorating contest award prizes for first, and third places In U categories, most beautiful most original. Entries will accepted through July 29 calling the Chamber office 385-4300. (Continued on page 22) Meet On Water This is pert -and pretty Tracey Kotlw as she prepares for her role la the 1977 Little Miss Peanut contest sponsored by the McHenry Kiwanls club. Tracey will crown the new title holder la competition to be held Tuesday, July 2$, at 7 p.m. in the Legion home. Youngsters between the ages of f and 8 years will vie for the title. They mast reside within the McHenry high school district boundaries to be ettgUUe. The first thirty to enter before July 2$ will he Judged on poise, pertness and personality. An entry coupon appears elsewhere in this issue. 8TAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD • - • - W.V-- Members of the McHenry City Council will meet with officials of the Lakeland Park Water company Thursday night to discuss the possibility of the sale of the water company to the city of McHenry. Mayor Joseph Stanek called the Thursday meeting during the regular Council meeting Monday night. The mayor stresses that communications between the city and the water company are "just discussions," at this time. However, these "just discussions" are expected to be closed to the public. The1 mayor met with Tom Mathews and Frank Higgins, two high-ranking water company officials last Thur­ sday, and the three agreed that the aldermen should be in­ cluded in further discussions. Just how close the city is to purchasing the water company, no one will say. However, Mathews did say that "there is no unwillingness on our part to sell. Certainly, with the city putting in a new $300,000 treatment plant, if we had to duplicate it in Lakeland Park, it would cost at least half that, and it would be a duplication of effort and a duplication of expense. » "I would say the thing (an agreement) could be ac­ complished in a month. As fan. as the mechanics and legal requirements are concerned, that, of course, would take longer, Mathews added. Mathews explained that numbers for the sale have i discussed. There is no price," but rather sev< things to consider. "In going over the thing, we thought it best • meet with the Water andi committee.,.to go through chain of command," he • • In recent months, the Council has authorized mayor to discuss the company with Mathews Higgins, and to determine company's position on possible sale. This meeting is the first major in the possible sale, since earlier agreement was stt by petitions circulated by residents a few years ago With an award of a Title VII grant to provide a noon day meal, the McHenry, County Senior Citizens council an­ nounced recently that service at McHenry and two other centers will begin July 25. These meals will be offered to all persons 60 years and over, in McHenry, four days a week. - The McHenry center is located at the Moose hall an Rt. 120. The others are Marian Central, Woodstock, a tem­ porary location, and the jy Crystal Lake Walk-in cent Starting Aug. 1, the Walk-in center at the Methodist church in Marengo will be opened, and meals will be served Mondays and Thursdays. Sites in Cary, Fox River Grove, Harvard, and Huntley will be added as soon as possible. Registration information will be provided the first day the meals are served at each site. A registration card will be issued to each participant. The meals will be prepared at Marian Central high school, delivered by the McHefiry County Senior Citizens' council van, in warmers, to each site, and served hot to the par­ ticipants at th^ various centers. Each participant will decide for himself how much he can pay for the meal; a donation of approximately fifty cents will be suggested; however, no one will be turned away because of an inability to pay. Each noon-day meal will . include one-third of the daily R e c o m m e n d e d d i e t a r y allowances for senior citizens. An application has been' made t o a c c e p t t h e f o o d s t a m p program. A menu will be posted at each Site. Money given by the city and township will be used only for rental of the Moose facility, for salaries of the host and hostess, etc. The nutritional grant will provide the money for equip­ ment, including food warmers, plates, and food. W i t h r e c e n t s u p p o r t o f McHenry township officials, enthusiasm grows within the Senior Citizens Walk-in cen£h in McHenry. In mid-May, township of­ ficers voted $3,250 for the center. Added to the $4,500 received from the McHenry City Council, it brings the total funding to $7,750. Marge Jones, executive director of the McHenry County Senior Citizens council, eagerly set forth plans she would like to see executed. One of these fir the opening of the centera days a week, pifobably from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For the present, however, the hours will be noon to 4 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, and 10, a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. - J. jfM- '