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Limit I The Spirit Of Christmas 8npt Robert Swartzloff, left, present* check to Greg Allen, a junior who won first place for his Christmas carl design for School District 1M. Others are Trish Frisby, Junior, second place; Pam Hanna, senior, third; and Brad Smith, sophomore, honorable mention. STAFF PHOTOS-WAYNE GAYLORD Tax Picture Is Bleak For 1978 According to the best information available to him at this time, Willard Hogge, supervisor of assessments for McHenry county, estimates that the multiplier issued by the state Department of Local Government Affairs (DLGA), before tax bills are issued, will be in the neighborhood of 1.20. This would be for real estate property assessments for the year 1977 for tax bills issued in 1978. Hogge noted that the multiplier for 1976 for tax bills paid during the current year was 1.0745. He said that his projection for the coming year is a difference of .125. Hogge said that the simplest way to visualize this increase is to take the example of a home and lot assessed by the township assessor and approved by the county board of review at the level of $10,000. With a county equalizer issued by the DLGA, for this year of 1.0745, that $10,000 piece of property is assessed at $10,745. If the equalizer goes to 1.20 as projected for the coming year, the property will be assessed, for tax purposes, at $12,000. Hogge points out that he has no direct involvement in tne taxing process and does not wish to comment on that facet of the matter. However, if all tax rates stay the same as the current year, based on the new assessment level, all taxpayers would have bills increased proportional to the .125 difference in assessment. THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875' VOLUME 102 NUMBER 40 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16. 1977 2 SECTIONS 26 PAGES 20' District SEDOM 15 Allows * Classrooms In a lengthy discussion Tuesday night, the board of Grade School District 15 took noteworthy action concerning the future educational offerings of Special Education (SEDOM) locally. Dr. James R. Albert, SEDOM superintendent, was present to outline the long range plan for permanent classroom housing. One of the priorities he presented was a proposal for four classrooms to be either purchased from, or con­ structed as additions to District 15 schools on a "lease and maintain" basis. Member Tim Althoff said he could foresee problems. One, he noted, was the confusion that might exist in the mind of the public if District 15 should need to build regular classrooms at some future time, and questions could be raised about a second building program. Dr. Albert assured that if buildings should need to . be erected at a particular school for general use, SEDOM would be satisfied to hav* its classrooms moved to another location or would build new classrooms. Albert told board members the reputation of McHenry county's SEDOM programs is recognized throughout Illinois. Following more discussion, Member Dorothy Vick moved Musin9 And Meanderin Amidst the joys of the ap­ proaching holiday season comes a period of trial and tribulation for most parents. It's Christmas toy shopping for young ones in the family. How do you stay within a limited budget when the children say they want every toy they see advertised? This is a true dilemma, but officials of leading stores featuring toys say it doesn't have to be bewildering or unreasonably exensive. Parents will have to be the judge of that. Of one thing they can be sure, children are as eager to keep up with the Joneses' kids as Mom and Dad are to keep up with the Joneses. The latter can find out what is "hot" in the world of toys by watching a few children's TV programs. . What can parents expect to find on the toy shelves this year besides the usual array of trucks and dolls and sports equipment? The phenomenal success of the movie "Star Wars" has created a demand for robot- type toys and afew are already on the market. The majority of "Star Wars" toys, however, won't hit the market until next year, according to toy makers. Manufacturers wore caught by surprise by the appeal of the movie and the toy demand it created. You can bet a good many kiddies will be asking for one of "Charlie's Angels" - in doll form- or toys from "Donny and Marie" and "The Six Million Dollar Man". They're favorites. "Sesame Street" long ago proved the appeal created through TV and these products have become a staple on the toy shelves. Purchasers are warned to examine toys carefully and not assume there is any relationship between the play value of a particular toy and the quality of a movie or TV program which has the same name. Video-type games are said to be less expensive than they were last year and feature new variations which allow children to pretend they are driving a car. In the midst of the dilemma, leaders in the toy manufac­ turing business remind that parents should realize they can still make their children's holiday season very enjoyable with traditional toys such as puzzles, coloring books and lovable plush animals. After Charlie's Angels? They must be kidding! KAF Snowmobiles High Priority For Thieves As Flakes Fall The theft of three snowmobiles was reported to the McHenry County Sheriff's department during the weekend, all in the McHenry area. Robert Sallaz, 1907 Woodlawn Park, McHenry, complained Dec. 8 that his snowmobile disappeared during the night while it was parked next to a garage at 1918 Orchard Beach drive. The vehicle was described as a black 1971 Arctic Cat Puma and it was tarried on, a red Gator trailer. On Dec. 10 at 9:25 p.m., Lenore Freund, 2410 N. Cuhlman, McHenry, lost her snowmobile after she had left it parked with others alongside the Longhorn Steak House on Route 120, Lilymoor. The missing snow vehicle was described as a white with blue trim 1977 Polaris 440. A third stolen snowmobile was found after it had been reported stolen, the sheriff's office said. Frederick Fichtner, 5508 E. Lake Shore drive, Wonder Lake, said early Dec. 10 that his snowmobile was missing from where it was parked at his residence. Later, while he was on snowmobile patrol, he ran across the abandoned vehicle along Stillwell drive, south of Barnard Mill road. It was found that the ignition switch had been tampered with so that it could be driven without a key. Two stolen cars were recovered in the area over the weekend, the sheriff's office reported. An abandoned car was found in a field along West Ellen, near Barreville road, McHenry, at 3:25 p.m. Dec. 11. Deputies found that the auto was the property of Loretta Garrett, 9815 Main street, Hebron, which had been reported stolen in Hebron Dec. 6. At 4:25 p.m., hunters reported another car found in a field along Ramble road at Wonder Lake. Deputies checked and found this vehicle was reported stolen in Wood­ stock Dec. 7. Both local police departments were notified and arrangements were made to remove the stolen cars. Daughter Of McHenry Pastor Killed By Train Jennifer Jane Gallaugher, 27, of Waukegan died Monday evening. Dec. 12, beneath the wheels of a North Western commuter train. She was declared dead shortly after arrival at St. Therese hospital, Waukegan. Mrs. Gallaugher was the ..daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. Ralph Smith of McHenry. - She was employed by the Special Education district of Lake county. Besides her parents, she is survived by her husband. George, director of the Lake County Youth home; three sisters and the maternal grandparents. Memorial services were held at 4 o'clock Thursday in Faith Methodist church, Waukegan. Memorial gifts may be made for children in the area of mental health. The McHenry County Grand jury has returned two in­ dictments following its session Dec. 12. William Brims, a village official of Prairie Grove, located between McHenry and Crystal Lake, was indicted on a charge of holding two village offices simultaneously. The indictment noted that he was elected to the board of trustees of the Village of Prairie Grove April 15, 1975, and during his term he was also appointed by the president of the village board as the treasurer of the village. C * . The state's attorney's office noted that a conviction on this charge can result in a maximum sentence of one to three years imprisonment. . . > ' The Grand jury also returned a three-count indictment charging aggravated battery against Kevin Rairie, 5206 W. Route 120, McHenry; Joseph A. Justes, 2004 Central drive, McHenry; and Thomas- Mueller, 4418 Clearview, McHenry. The charges resulted from an attack with a deadly weapon (a glass mug > against a .Bruce Siegert, which caused wounds on his neck and body requiring fifty-two stitches to dose. The alleged attack took place Oct. 29, 1977, in McHenry. MCC VACATION Offices at McHenry County college will be closed from 4 p.m. Dec. 23 until 8a.m. Jan. 3. Shopping for Christmas trees has begun, according to reports received by the McHenry County Sheriff's department. However, some persons prefer to cut their own, which is permissable under certain conditions. But several complainants insisted to the sheriff Dec. 12 that these conditions did not apply to them. At 8:25 a.m. Peter Schneider, 3020 N. Riverside, McHenry, advised that during the night One of the spruce trees in his yard had been cut down. And the culprit found that he m. u _ couldn't drag it away with him and bad to leave it in a ditch north of the driveway. At 2:15 p.m. Herbert Polinski, 405 Crestwocri, McHenry, reported that a Christmas tree shopper had removed a 7-foot blue spruce from his yard after carefully cutting it off with a saw. that the four classrooms be constructed with r SEDOM funds, the site to be decided later. t Althoff cautioned that the board must make certain SEDOM will both build and maintain, to which Dr. Albert agreed. A vote passed the motion, with only Gary Lockwood in the negative. It was emphasized that these classrooms would be built entirely with SEDOM money. The other proposal that met with approval was providing space for a Junior high school Behavioral Disorders classroom. Tim Kelly, SEDOM representative for this district, had notified the administration that the student population of the class would be made up entirely of District 15 students. There will be no cost loss incurred by the district. In fact, it was recognized that the district will save transportation costs at a rate of $48 per day, or $6 per child. In addition, the district will receive about $1,750 for the lease of the classroom space and operating expenses. Three alternatives were presented. Mrs. Vick's motion, which carried, calls for providing classrooms for students with behavioral disorders the last semester of this year and all of 1978-79. Fred Kusch was reappointed as administrative member and David Cain as board of education member on the SEDOM board of directors. Permission was given to employ two teachers for learning disabilities resource positions in compliance with Illinois rules and regulations pertaining to Special Education. The need to comply has arisen because of the number of students who need service locally. Approval was given for the second semester of this year, with an estimate cost of $12,000 for teachers and the initial costs of setting up a classroom, not to exceed $1,500 for both teachers. The administration pointed out that the only alternative to this recommendation is non­ compliance with state and federal statutes.. Also in order to comply with a public law, it was necessary to approve start-up costs not to exceed $1,500 and to employ a teacher at an estimated $6,000 for this semester in forming an Educable Mentally Han­ dicapped class at Hilltop school. The need was pointed out as resulting from students who are presently on a district waiting lis!. Presently, both existing elementary classes of this type are at capacity. Some talk concerned referendum planning for 1978. Alternative schedules for possible dates throughout the school year were given but there was no action. The administration reviewed factors which make con­ sideration of the referendum necessary. The district expects the increasing assessed valuation to continue into the near future and there is a "modest improvement" in next year's state aid formula "hinted at by Governor Thompson". However, administrators point out that these income sources can't be expected to overcome the operating deficit. The increasing assessed wealth does increase the property tax revenue, they said, but it has not been sufficient to offset rising costs due to inflation and new mandated state and federal programs. With Gary Lockwood voting in opposition, the board ap­ proved participation in * community education program for which developmental and technical assistance is available from the Illinois Office of Education through a Community Schools act grant. Lockwood said he didn't like the way the presentation was written, which failed to clearly state details of the project. District 15 was one of ten, schools selected for par­ ticipation. TTie purpose, according to a Jetter from the state board ef education, is "to provide selected individuals frofti selected communities in Illinois awareness and skills in developing a community-wide Responsibility Education program. Between three and five people will be attending statewide meetings, selected from the school administration, teachers, other agency staff people and citizens. Members agreed to the ad- ministration recommendation (Continned on page 16) Car Destroyed By flames After Hitting Deer On Road A McHenry resident's car was totally destroyed by fire after it struck a deer on Bull Valley road, east of Valley Hill road, at 5:15 p.m. Monday, • according to the McHenry County Sheriff's department. ' Paul H. Schweder, 2609 Wyandotte, McHenry, told deputies he was driving east on Bull Valley, and as he came over a hill, he saw a deer standing in his traffic lane. He braked but could not avoid hitting the animal. <After the impact, a fire broke out under the hood of the car, and before the Woodstock Fire department could arrive to extinguish the flames, they had spread ; through the entire car and destroyed it. The fate of the deer was not indicated. , A ticket for fpllowing Ooo close was issued to Mark S. Dial, 1700 Riverside, McHenry, after a rear end collision on Thompson road at the Hogbac intersection, at 11 a.m. Mon­ day. His car struck the rear of a vehicle driven by Dean P. Yarashus, 8601 Dorr roadi, Wonder Lake. Yarashus said he was eastbound and had slowed for the curve when his vehicle was hit in the rear. Damage to each vehicle was estimated at over $100. A skidding car hit another (Contfnned on page 16) Two Grand Jury Indictments Name Four McHenry Area Men Recalling The Wilderness